Imagine a reformation of religion

From the advantage of 95 years of hindsight, I’m wondering if religion itself is the real problem in our world today.

In my youth, I heard echoes of The Troubles in Ireland. Later on, the Holocaust took place in Europe, followed by the Rwandan massacres, and now ISIL wants us all to convert to Islam or else.

One could therefore make the case that religion should be abolished.

However, given the massive sums of money involved in all forms of religion, perhaps one last attempt at reformation could be tried. Imagine if every mosque, synagogue, church and every other manifestation of religion had to operate under the following four rules: • no subsidies such as freedom from

paying municipal assessments (pay up by Dec. 31 or close the doors); • members are not able to use their

financial support as a way to reduce their federal income taxes (no charitable receipt for your contribution); • membership must be open to all

supporters without regard to marital status (single, married, divorced), or to sexual orientation; • it must be engaged in activities in the

immediate vicinity to ensure that all residents are adequately fed, clothed, housed and cared for (affordable housing, guaranteed income, health and legal clinics).

Would your or my religious institution survive under these achievable conditions? Let’s raise the subject and get the answer.

Russell A. Plumley St. Catharines