Is Religion good for the world?

If we define Religion as a program of gaining spiritual reward, then it is not.

Everyone is trying to sell us something by telling us we need it. Whether it’s a car, a vacation, or a toaster, the pitch is the same: you need this for you. Religion has been given the same pitch; they say “be religious” because you need salvation, or enlightenment, or inner peace. They tell you to be religious for your personal gain.

When everyone is looking for personal gain, bad things happen.

But then there is Judaism. In Judaism, it’s not about what we need, it’s about what God needs. It’s about what’s needed of us, not by us.

This is a much people way of thinking. Not “what do I need?” but “What is needed of me?”