Why Religion?

[Sean K]

Kennas, one you may not have on the list.

My mum and sister went to Kenya to build houses in slums for poor people.
Not with a church, I don't think they are overly religious, if at all.
I hate it when church groups go overseas to build houses, it's almost like they have an agenda even if they are changing someone's lives.

But anyway, all the people they met in the slums in Nairobi, people with the crappest lives they could ever imagine, also had the strongest belief and praise of god of anybody they'd ever met.

So why religion for these people with nothing? I can only imagine "blind hope". I don't think anything else comes into the equation for them.

I feel very lucky that I don't need religion.

OK, I will add 'hope'.

 

[Bobby]

So whatever the source of a religion, the head dude, is supposed to be a bouncer, prison warden, policeman or something else ... perhaps a promotion girl at the Formula One, that is good on the eye ?

Whenever a pigeon takes a crap, the head dude should 'move' the crap to the pavement, instead of some poor soul's head ... **** happens ?

Why religion ? Good question ... weakness or the need to hold onto something solid 'which apparently' religion isn't, could be replaced by, why alcoholism ? The latter substance does exist, it is real, and has a hold on many.

Hello Weird , see your point ! I,m into some real stuff

Kinda ironic the supreme being of the universe has done more harm then good .
Praise the lord ? ? yes sir thanks for all the monstrosities .
Guess he knows I'm not a fan

 

[Sith1s]

Trick is, some religions promise great after life if you suffer in the Earthen life, some religions even chuck in virgins if you die for the cause.

Well if you want a chuckle the Flying Spaghetti Monster in all His great noodliness has a Beer Volcano & a Stripper Factory in our heaven!

Ha top that!

 

[Sith1s]

I'm thinking if God doesn't have a sense of humour then surely thats why he invented it....

Of course our God must have a sence of humor.

One example - The Platypus.

Enough said lol

 

[darkside]

So whatever the source of a religion, the head dude, is supposed to be a bouncer, prison warden, policeman or something else ... perhaps a promotion girl at the Formula One, that is good on the eye ?

Whenever a pigeon takes a crap, the head dude should 'move' the crap to the pavement, instead of some poor soul's head ... **** happens ?

Why religion ? Good question ... weakness or the need to hold onto something solid 'which apparently' religion isn't, could be replaced by, why alcoholism ? The latter substance does exist, it is real, and has a hold on many.

Most people agree shakiness of hands, not turning up to work, destroyed relationships ... this is a train wreck waiting to happen , so what is the solution ? We could replace this with another physical substance, perhaps Valium ? Where do we separate the real, from a chemical reaction, and also lies/stupidity/brainwashing .... to finding something that seems to work and makes someone functional and not a harm to others or themselves, perhaps even happy ?

Not a harm to other's , do you live in the real world, do you own a TV , some woman just let her child die , while she thought the power of prayer would help her , people are killing each other in Gaza daily in the name of religion ,priests are tampering with kiddies like there is no tommoro and you think it's no harm to others , perhaps you should have a look at your moral compass, or at the very least , eat those valium like smarties. And Weird maybe you should just hand over the keys to the "astra with modded roofracks, i think your a danger to yourself and the public with those beliefs.

 

[gordon2007]

Re: Leave Religion Off ASF

I've got a bit of a twisted reason as to why religion was created.

I honestly believe that in much older times it was easier to explain something you do not understand as a consequence of religion. ie since back in ancient times they had no idea why a cyclone happened and neither did they have much warning. Without that knowledge they just believed it was something they did wrong that pissed off the gods.

Basically, to me religion was something used to answer questions that ancient civilization didn't have an answer for. It has since over the many years taken on it's life and changed in many ways. But in a way it's still so simple, mankind still does not know the true beginning of itself, and as a consequence many people choose to believe we were created by god.

Is this the way you wanted this thread to go kennas?

why we are religious as a species, ...

I've been compiling the reasons why, and will have a consolidated list out shortly.

 

[Mr J]

Re: Leave Religion Off ASF

My intent was for this to be a constructive discussion on why we are religious as a species, not to argue the good and bad of it all. Obviously that was wishful thinking, and poor moderation...

There's nothing wrong with trying to be thought-provoking. You have to rely on people carrying it through with an open mind though.

 

[Sean K]

Re: Leave Religion Off ASF

I've got a bit of a twisted reason as to why religion was created.

I honestly believe that in much older times it was easier to explain something you do not understand as a consequence of religion. ie since back in ancient times they had no idea why a cyclone happened and neither did they have much warning. Without that knowledge they just believed it was something they did wrong that pissed off the gods.

Basically, to me religion was something used to answer questions that ancient civilization didn't have an answer for. It has since over the many years taken on it's life and changed in many ways. But in a way it's still so simple, mankind still does not know the true beginning of itself, and as a consequence many people choose to believe we were created by god.

Is this the way you wanted this thread to go kennas?

Yes, will move this across to the thread, and include on the list.

Assign cause to the function of the environment.
Explain the unexplainable.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

I don't think it necessarily follows that the big bang was an accident. It's entirely plausible/possible that the big bang may be the mechanism by which god (if there is one) may have created everything.

On the other hand you could argue that the big bang created god, if you were a godbotherer who doubted the parable of the chicken and the egg.

gg

 

[MS+Tradesim]

Here's a cat for the pigeons...

Why religion?

It's intellectually, emotionally and experientially fulfilling.

I was raised in a cult, became an atheist, started looking at the foundational level with logic, then epistemology and philosophy, then history and eventually formed conclusions that lead me to where I am now.

 

[darkside]

Here's a cat for the pigeons...

Why religion?

It's intellectually, emotionally and experientially fulfilling.

I was raised in a cult, became an atheist, started looking at the foundational level with logic, then epistemology and philosophy, then history and eventually formed conclusions that lead me to where I am now.

I suppose i should consider myself lucky that my parents didn't try too hard to brainwash me with their evil beliefs and of course i would not even consider inflicting that form of child abuse on my own children as i find the
idea that a man had to die for my sins revolting. If God was truly omnipotent he could have simply forgiven us. What kind of God, would execute one child in order to forgive it’s others? Every free thinking reasonable person would call an individual like this sadistic, insane and cruel. So why would you worship a child killer, What about a judge that would allow my child to be executed in lieu of my sins? I can't see judge Judy allowing that, yet your Mesiah thinks it's cool !!!!!

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

This thread reminds me that I must pop off to confession before I take my journey to Kazakistan. They used be on Saturday mornings before they changed the name to reconciliation I think.

gg

 

[gordon2007]

OH, you're going to look at monitor's puddles of oil to see first hand for yourself?

This thread reminds me that I must pop off to confession before I take my journey to Kazakistan.
gg

 

[Sean K]

This thread reminds me that I must pop off to confession before I take my journey to Kazakistan. They used be on Saturday mornings before they changed the name to reconciliation I think.

gg

gg, for some cultural enlightenment, perhaps you could do a bit of research in Kasahkstan and it's religious history and why they believe in a God or gods and make a report on return.

 

[happytown]

in 'the god part of the brain' alper contends that we are hard-wired to believe in god/religion literally as a defence to our greatest fear/threat, that being death

cheers

 

[Julia]

in 'the god part of the brain' alper contends that we are hard-wired to believe in god/religion literally as a defence to our greatest fear/threat, that being death

cheers

Ah, I've been waiting for someone to move onto the 'life after death' thing.
i.e. it's just too frightening to think that when we die that's the stone cold final end. Much easier to imagine some comfy warm heaven to which we have earned entry by our struggles to please God during our earthly tenure.

Pretty powerful motive to behave well if we believe God is judging our behaviour on earth and then deciding whether to let us into Heaven or consign us to the fires of Hell.

And many religious devotees do really believe in a literal Heaven or Hell.

 

[StockPiles]

Ah, I've been waiting for someone to move onto the 'life after death' thing.
i.e. it's just too frightening to think that when we die that's the stone cold final end. Much easier to imagine some comfy warm heaven to which we have earned entry by our struggles to please God during our earthly tenure.

Pretty powerful motive to behave well if we believe God is judging our behaviour on earth and then deciding whether to let us into Heaven or consign us to the fires of Hell.

And many religious devotees do really believe in a literal Heaven or Hell.

Why dont you jump on a CHATROOM !! This forum is for Stocks and Shares discussions -- You really are such a spec in the scope of the universe - an insignficant piece of dust with a life span not worth mentioning. Only your ego keeps you alive, without it you would surely kill yourself as soon as you become aware of your own existence !

 

[GumbyLearner]

On the other hand you could argue that the big bang created god, if you were a godbotherer who doubted the parable of the chicken and the egg.

gg

I think it's because discussions about the second law of thermodynamics and chaos theory are just too difficult. We just all live in the cosmos of random order and congregate in groups to worship a deity.

Are there any other examples in nature of groups of animals worshipping deities?
This question has always baffled me. :venus:

 

[Julia]

Why dont you jump on a CHATROOM !! This forum is for Stocks and Shares discussions -- You really are such a spec in the scope of the universe - an insignficant piece of dust with a life span not worth mentioning. Only your ego keeps you alive, without it you would surely kill yourself as soon as you become aware of your own existence !

So why are you posting on the subject?

Why not stick to the Stocks and Shares, huh?

 

[Duckman#72]

Why dont you jump on a CHATROOM !! This forum is for Stocks and Shares discussions -- You really are such a spec in the scope of the universe - an insignficant piece of dust with a life span not worth mentioning. Only your ego keeps you alive, without it you would surely kill yourself as soon as you become aware of your own existence !

Stockpiles, hopefully judging by your avatar this might mean something to you.....

EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!

Duckman