Today's religion makes me sick.

There are zealots doing almost anything is the name of their religious entity. There are people who believe that the Sago Mine tragedy was God's punishment to West Virginia for harboring homosexuals. No, that's not a joke. If you look up Fred Phelps, you will agree that people like him warp religion into a harsh, punishing and divisive force instead of the soothing, forgiving and uniting force it should be.

Religion itself is not inherently bad.

For many people, religion is a good thing. It can be a preventative measure, for instance.

"Instead of resorting to gangs, crimes, drugs, etc., people can take comfort in the fact that there is a higher power," said Nitro senior Crystal Parsons.

Unfortunately, some people have taken religion and abused and misinterpreted it for their own personal, selfish gain.

One of the major problems with the abuse of religion is that it is being used to justify almost everything. The Crusades, for example, were a series of wars between Christians and Muslims for control over the Holy Land. Suicide bombers are promised great things in Heaven for dying for their religious cause.

Abortion meets religious debate. Gay rights meet religious debate. The Iraqi war meets religious debate. Table games meet religious debate. Both sides of the capital punishment issue meet religious debate. Totally insignificant things even meet religious debate.

Some people are just opposed to religion. Extremists and radicals may have ruined it for them, or some people may want something more fact based.

Or maybe they've been turned off religion because of what they see and hear in the news. Religion is rarely discussed in the media unless it's with a negative connotation. The table game referendum late last year is an example of that.

In religion, people are taught to respect one another, but many seem to have conveniently forgotten that. "Religions teaches tolerance, but seriously, do you see tolerance?" said Nitro freshman Shadae Clark.

Religion has the potential to do both good and bad. The main problem is that it seems many people have lost their way and resort to extremism and radicalism, instead of following their religion's original purpose.

To the people who are good religious people (not those who want everybody forcibly assimilated into their religion or else be destroyed or oppressed): good for you and keep doing what you are doing.

To the people who have become lost in a sea of extreme misinterpretations and abuse of the Holy Text: shame on you. You are bringing down everybody else who calls themselves your religion.

If you feel that your religion helps you, it probably does. If you feel that what you or someone else is doing in the name of a higher entity is wrong, don't idly stand by and trust that it is a good thing. Speak up; you may prevent the next religious-based attack.