Rough Draft Article Against Religion

An Argument against Religion
The concept of religion has existed, in some form, since the beginning of human society. Although main stream society may readily accept the idea that religion adds value to and advances the human race, in reality it does more harm than good by impeding scientific advancement, breeding extremism, producing violence, and perpetuating stereotypes and discriminatory ideals. Religion is little more than a social control that will soon be obsolete.
Religion has managed to be opposed to almost every significant discovery or research through out recorded time. When Galileo dared to suggest that the earth in fact orbited the sun, he was declared a heretic and forced to recant his findings in fear of suffering persecution. During the crusades countless works of art were destroyed if they were deemed to be blasphemous or pornographic. Even today, religion continues to challenge scientific discovery by attempting to discredit the theory of evolution and instead preach creationism. Anything that impedes scientific discovery impedes human advancement and is harmful.
While religion serves as an obstacle to discovery, it has the opposite effect in the cases of extremism and violence. The notion of organized religion serves as a vehicle for extremist groups and violence. The deaths that come as a result of suicide bombers and hijackers who believe they will be rewarded in the afterlife are a direct result of religious propaganda in the Islam faith. Abortion clinics that are bombed by Christian extremist groups always prove to be the most ironic. To voice their supreme belief in the protection of human life, they are taking it with their own hands. While these incidences may be occur in single instances, throughout history there has been events on a much larger scale.
When considering violent events resulting from religious influences, the Crusades without a doubt resulted in the most deaths. In the beginning of American society, the Salem witch trials took the lives of numerous falsely accused citizens and painted a perfect picture of religious extremism at the conception of a new society. Many years later a man by the name of Adolph Hilter caused a mass murder of the Jews in Germany in the name of a superior race. Most recently the religious extremist group Al Queda took thousands of lives after hijacking airplanes carrying innocent civilians. The warriors of traditional religion are now applying a method of total war in their attempts to enforce religious ideals and practices.
Religion, in addition to causing countless acts of violence, perpetuates oppression and discriminatory behavior against numerous groups of people. Homosexuals are quite often a common target of religious groups. There is a negative connotation to homosexuality when discussed by religious groups and many view the act as mere sin. While everyone is entitled an opinion, the opinions of dominant religious groups have a far reaching grasp that even affects our laws. Because religious opposition to gay marriage exists, homosexuals have been denied the lawful right to marry. It is religious ideal that has lead to a discriminatory act against homosexuals.
At first glance religion appears to serve a valid purpose to society as a whole, but things are not always as they seem. Whenever there exists an organization that wields as much power and influence as organize religion there will be corruption.