The purpose of religion, What is it? Options

[rushx]

Well I was just kinda thinking of why religion was created and if it was effectively serving it's purpose. It kind of makes me wonder as I keep seeing people using religion as a way to justify their thoughts, actions, and biases. And so i'm asking the great people of CreateBlog.com so see what they think and if it is justifiable.

[*tweeak*]

religion was created originally to explain what went on in the world, ie the egyptians and their gods for things such as rain. often, it contains unscientific reasons for why scientific things occur, like God made the earth, but without anything to back it. it has however evolved into something that gives people someting to believe in, and have faith in. it also helps enforce moral value, as the law often recieves little respect

[TheSilenceInDict...]

One little theory I have is that it gives people hope...something to strive for in life. It also gives them purpose, a reason for why we are here. Redemption, motivation and all that.

Imagine how devastated many would be, how they would easily give up on life if they found out that there is no afterlife, there is no hope, and all we have to look forward to is just...this - and this is all there is to it.

[xquizit]

Humans seek religion because from very early on, humans have always been troubled by the inevitablity of death and the meaning of life. They seek to find purposes and satisfactions in life that would transcend the needs and desires of everyday living and thus give human existence greater dignity and meaning. Religion helps satisfy this longing.

[jambaJUICE]

Faith. Duhh.

if everyone based everything on Science, the world would be even more cruel then it already is. there would be no boundaries. There would be artificial intelligence, clones, etc. roaming around because Science says its okay to explore and expand your limits.

With religion, we believe there IS a God and a heaven, and every living thing was created by him. Not by man.

[pandamonium]

Faith. Duhh.

if everyone based everything on Science, the world would be even more cruel then it already is. there would be no boundaries. There would be artificial intelligence, clones, etc. roaming around because Science says its okay to explore and expand your limits.

With religion, we believe there IS a God and a heaven, and every living thing was created by him. Not by man.

im not saying your wrong.. but i dont believe that all religions are created just by Faith. all kinds of people have different ways of believing of God/Gods all ways are different.

but i think you are right about the whole science thing. there would be no boundaries if we didnt believe in a greater source or God.

[heyyfrankie]

religion was created originally to explain what went on in the world, ie the egyptians and their gods for things such as rain. often, it contains unscientific reasons for why scientific things occur, like God made the earth, but without anything to back it. it has however evolved into something that gives people someting to believe in, and have faith in. it also helps enforce moral value, as the law often recieves little respect

i totally agree! and i guess that we have religion to find how to get the heaven, nirvana, or whatever your religion believes in. and how to live right, stuff like that. i think

[rushx]

I agree with wat xquizit said. That religion allows us to find spiritual satisfactions. Actually in my view, science can never undermine God, and that whatever discoveries they make are just used to explain the blueprint that God laid out.

I think religion was originally created for the purpose of explanation. But I think that now it is more to help the person on a more individualistic level for morality and what not.

[jambaJUICE]

im not saying your wrong.. but i dont believe that all religions are created just by Faith. all kinds of people have different ways of believing of God/Gods all ways are different.

but i think you are right about the whole science thing. there would be no boundaries if we didnt believe in a greater source or God.

Well the thing with faith, is that faith leads up to many things.

[wayne]

Humans seek religion because from very early on, humans have always been troubled by the inevitablity of death and the meaning of life. They seek to find purposes and satisfactions in life that would transcend the needs and desires of everyday living and thus give human existence greater dignity and meaning. Religion helps satisfy this longing.

erm... what roxy said.. ehh.. yeah.. rox!!! u rock!! haha... u always have the right freaking answers girl

[azn_r4pf4n]

Faith. Duhh.

if everyone based everything on Science, the world would be even more cruel then it already is. there would be no boundaries. There would be artificial intelligence, clones, etc. roaming around because Science says its okay to explore and expand your limits.

With religion, we believe there IS a God and a heaven, and every living thing was created by him. Not by man.

thats true

[sikdragon]

Humans by their very nature believe deep in their heart in something above. Religion whatever it is identifies the invisible world by giving it meaning and understanding to a certain point of why things are.

[lanbexx]

from an atheist point of view, i believe religion is a way to fill in the gaps that we dont know. Humans are afraid of uncertainty, and try to do anything to prevent it. Why do we die? not how but why? no one knows so we try to make answers that please us. Why do we live? "because god wanted us to" is the reason many religious give. We try to create answers that please us rather than face uncertainty. thats why many suiciders are atheist rather than religious. They would rather die than face the uncertainty of tomorrow.

[Mr. Psychotic]

(didn't read anything anyone said but.....)
The Purpose religion is to brainwash the human mind.
That is all...

[rushx]

(didn't read anything anyone said but.....)
The Purpose religion is to brainwash the human mind.
That is all...

Brainwash the human mind from what? I'm asking you so that I can see your point of view before I say mine in a wrong way.

[sikdragon]

from an atheist point of view, i believe religion is a way to fill in the gaps that we dont know. Humans are afraid of uncertainty, and try to do anything to prevent it. Why do we die? not how but why? no one knows so we try to make answers that please us. Why do we live? "because god wanted us to" is the reason many religious give. We try to create answers that please us rather than face uncertainty. thats why many suiciders are atheist rather than religious. They would rather die than face the uncertainty of tomorrow.

Religion existed before uncertainty. That is a fact, just thought you should know that. Saying that all humans fear uncertainty is about as wrong as you can get. Yes some humans who were never discouraged from the fear of the dark or birds and other such uncontrollable creatures feel a need for control and fear the uncontrollable or just resent it. Many humans do thrive on uncertainty such as: explorers, pioneers, rebels, those who participate in extreme sports and even some expirimental scientists. uncertainty makes life worth living and yet there are some certainties that can only be questioned by fools and those in denial. These certainties would include: gravity, sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, existence, logic, abstraction, and even God. Every early culture embraced some sort of higher power. The wisdom of our ancestors a most priceless possession is at risk of diminishing to the world of extinct realizations and philosophies like so many others. Something for nothing is the hot ticket in this age of self-improvement. Civilization is crumbling under divided foundation as the obesity of the human mind fills it's arteries plugging one side from another keeping the masses stupid and the greedy rich and yet no one sees it or some see only half of it and neglect the other.

knowledge becomes fact becomes history becomes legend becomes tale becomes mythology becomes lie becomes nothing. The bible has lived through it all and is still the utmost authority on life.

[stryker76]

for many religion is everything Moral foundation, Hope, Faith, and for some something to make people feel we are not alone, that there is something else beside us. Every has reason for doing what they do whether they realize it or not. religion is there for the people in general....sorta of still makes us Animals that we cannot realize where we really came from.....rthat we kno we exsist just not y....

[aznxdreamer]

so people have hope, faith, and a reason to live.

[sammi rules you]

Faith. Duhh.

if everyone based everything on Science, the world would be even more cruel then it already is. there would be no boundaries. There would be artificial intelligence, clones, etc. roaming around because Science says its okay to explore and expand your limits.

With religion, we believe there IS a God and a heaven, and every living thing was created by him. Not by man.

psst.
those who aren't religious don't believe everything was created by man.

and sik - people existed before religion, and all people feel uncertain at some point so no..religion was not created before uncertainty. uncertainty is an emotion.

[espionage]

Not a reason to live... a reason to do something while living.
And be happier while living.

[sporadic]

Religion is like a security blanket. It tells you how to believe in what you believe in, and assures you that you're not alone in the world.

[smile4me]

hmm..this could be seen from the religious standpoint and the er..nonreligious standpoint.
from the religious standpoint, i guess you could say that it wasn't really "Created". from that point of view, it was more...just there. its true. its always been like that.
from the nonreligious standpoint, its like what everyone else was saying: security, a reason to do things, a reason to celebrate..a reason to live. without it, what exactly would we be here for? (well, from the scientific view, we're just here b/c we're here. but from the religious standpoint, we're here for a purpose..etc)

[*RiC3xBoy*]

well, for me, i think religion is just a cusion for pplz so they wont fear death as much