Religion Stifles Creativity, Self-expression and Individual Freedom

In the midst of a diversified society, communities tend to hold individuals to many set standards and stereotypes. One may compare the poor man to the rich, the black woman to the white, and even in the United States of America, the Christian family to the Muslim. Despite the many unique characteristics individuals and communities have, it is the institution of religion that places strongholds on individuality thus harboring conformity. Religious communities expect their members to assume a certain shape, to fit a particular mold; restriction essentially diminishes individuality while accepting conformity. In the twenty-first century, a time period that encourages creativity and individuality, it is the very institution of religion that ultimately shuns individualism by promoting conformity through religious group membership, the coercion of viewpoints, as well as the oppression of “different” views and the ostracism of the individuals who have different beliefs.

Although there are many religions, each is essentially its own group. Society willingly utilizes labels such as Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish, and etc. to represent its many religious groups as well as to identify the members within the group. Religious group membership is the beginning stage of conformity. The term “group” alludes to the commonalities; the shared likes and dislikes of a religious group. In the religious sense, the members’ beliefs and convictions are the core of the group; however, the mere aspect of grouping shuns individuality by embracing common beliefs over individual beliefs. In David G. Myers’ “Ingroup and Outgroup,” he makes the point that “In short, it appears that people’s attitudes are formed partly as mirrored images of s...

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...espect to the individuals who practice or follow a religion, does the addition of a form of membership truly outweigh one’s right to freely act as an individual? Religion is like a copy machine…it has a mission, and it sets out to mirror its purpose and beliefs without any blemishes or imperfections, blemishes that in this case mean individuality. In their attempt to shape their followers into the ideal group members, religions place restrictions on individuality. And anyway is it not the individuality and eccentricity of “divine beings” that are the very foundation of religion?

Works Cited

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. Self-Reliance. 7th ed. Littleton: Tapestry, 2011. 97-99. Print.

Myers, David G. Ingroup and Outgroup. 7th ed. Littleton: Tapestry, 2011. 113-115. Print.

Winter, David Brian. But This I Can Believe. 7th ed. Littleton: Tapestry, 2011. 31. Print.