A large percentage of the world's population has become either opposed to religion or has some antipathy towards it. What could be the reason for this? The vast majority of the world's population are but believers! In some ways they all live spiritual life! Yet why should there be such an antipathy? I have only done basic lessons of religion as a domain of study. Since what I know is only a little bit of Christian Scriptures and spiritual theology, I think that Jesus' positions in the Bible provide some clues to answer the above question.
There are some who say that Jesus was not a founder of religion, but rather who opposed religion. In a sense, there is some truth in their claim. Which means, there is also some error.
Jesus was not opposed to religion; not even a specific religion. Jesus was only opposed to some of the rigidities and positions of the Jewish religion of his time.
What were the stubborn positions of religion at his time?
Some people had assumed power by claiming that they were the religion and that they were the protectors of God.
What was their religion? Religion for them was following the commandments and statutes of God to the letter. Naturally, those who failed to follow the law were excluded from religion. Thus, the religion of his time ousted many people from it and closed its doors.
When the basis of 'religion' was taken to be 'the law', faith naturally became secondary; love, humility, and mercy were dropped out. Instead, power, arrogant pride, and abuse of freedom became the trademarks of religion. Jesus certainly opposed such a form of religion.
What is necessary is not the exercise of power - but of service.
Law is only for the sake of love - in it's absence.
Humility and compassion should be the basis of religion.
Look at all the prominant parables that Jesus told. The parable of the wicked servants who wanted to take over the vineyard, the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector who went to pray, the parable of the prodigal son, the parable of the good shepherd, and the parable of the good Samaritan are all pointing to the above-mentioned things that Jesus wanted to communicate.
Love for the brethren must be combined with love for God.
Not the law / sacrifice, but mercy it is the main thing. Arrogant pride is not the basis, but humility.
The very same things happened gradually in the Church that had emerged as an alternative form of religion. Today law has become the basis of church-life. Faith, love, humility, and mercy have got pushed aside. Instead, power, arrogance, and abuse of freedom have sunk deep into the church. The arrogant 'elder brothers', who did not realize humility and mercy as the core of religion, have expelled or clamor to expell the 'younger brothers' who didn't follow the law.
Let's go back to where we started. The answer to the question, 'Why so many are anti-religion?' is apparently the general degradation in the core attitudes of religion. It seems that the excommunicating attitude of the self-appointed proteges of religion who think that the law is the basis, is the reason for the increasing anti-religion attitude of the world. They are happy about it because their goal is not the love of God, but to make an exclusive club of religion.
