Why Religion?

[Bobby]

So why are you posting on the subject?

Why not stick to the Stocks and Shares, huh?

Probable god himself working his mysterious ways through some poor dick-head ?

 

[Sean K]

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

Will add that to the list.

Is tied up in anything else mentioned though?

I'm trying to categorise all the reasons at the moment.

 

[Sean K]

Why dont you jump on a CHATROOM !! This forum is for Stocks and Shares discussions --

The irony of this post is killing me.

 

[Sith1s]

Hey Kennas,

I don't think this has been raised yet. (and will probably get some form of nasty reply back for having the nerve to think of this)

What about as being used as some kind of control method for the masses. The ancient Egyptian Pharohs were worshiped as gods ect, and probably exists in some of the minor cults...

 

[Sean K]

What about as being used as some kind of control method for the masses. The ancient Egyptian Pharohs were worshiped as gods ect, and probably exists in some of the minor cults...

Control mechanism

I don't think it's been raised.

I'm not sure if this is why religion originated, but it could certainly well be a reason why it has survived. People in power have used religion as a tool to control people. I think it is the key tool Moses used to keep the Israelites going while they wandered the desert for all those years. And Yahweh would have been pretty handy when they marched back into Canaan and slaughtered most of the tribes living there. In fact, Yahweh ordered this I think. According to Moses, anyway.

 

[jonojpsg]

The irony of this post is killing me.

hehehe good one kennas love comments about irony

Hey Kennas,

I don't think this has been raised yet. (and will probably get some form of nasty reply back for having the nerve to think of this)

What about as being used as some kind of control method for the masses. The ancient Egyptian Pharohs were worshiped as gods ect, and probably exists in some of the minor cults...

Are you serious?? Amazing that no-one has mentioned Marx yet - opiate of the masses and all that?

 

[spooly74]

Control mechanism

I don't think it's been raised.

I'm not sure if this is why religion originated, but it could certainly well be a reason why it has survived. People in power have used religion as a tool to control people.

If you backtrack that thought, couldn't religion be an Essential mechanism?
Perhaps humans needed religion as a tool to control themselves.

 

[Sean K]

If you backtrack that thought, couldn't religion be an Essential mechanism?
Perhaps humans needed religion as a tool to control themselves.

Could be a tool to control ourselves. Might be imprinted.

An article I posted earlier discussed a scientific/Darwinian reason for religion related to the flight/fight response.

If you perceive a thread, our flight sensor makes us run, even though there might not be anything there. Similar to a rustling of bushes in the jungle. The automatic response is to be believe it might be something. It's a survival mechanism.

So, maybe that's another reason why religion has come about.

It's a flight response, just in case a God/gods are sitting in judgement. Better to err on the side of caution, than to be eaten by that tiger!

 

[mastatrada]

Perhaps the creator (if there is one) is not omniscient. I should use the term ‘creator’ instead, as the term ‘god’ conjures up other images of an omniscient figure, etc. It’s difficult to believe in an omniscient creator, because if there were he wouldn’t let people suffer and die needlessly, unless he doesn’t care about us, or enjoys watching us suffer of course.

To ask the question "why does god let bad things happen" is a form of anthropomorphism- if there was a god he would have a completely different range of morals to the humans of today. In fact the humans of 100 years ago had a completely different assumption of what was kosher, and it has changed much through history, while the same god has been worshipped.

 

[Sean K]

In fact the humans of 100 years ago had a completely different assumption of what was kosher, and it has changed much through history, while the same god has been worshipped.

I'm not too sure if religion has stayed too static over the past few millenia. In fact much has changed. We are predominantly a cafeteria religious lot. There are hundreds of rules in the bible, that if followed would make us all look quite mad. Rules like: not trimming the edges of your beard, wearing all white, not mixing cotton and linnen, strictly following the Sabbath, blowing a horn at he start of each month, shooing away a pidgeon off it's nest holding up the egg and making a prayer, the list is endless. Add in some animal sacrifices here and there, or maybe a human or two to appease the gods, and we'd all be in jail.

So, while the title of the big cheese has remained 'God', a damn lot of his laws have been overlooked or interpreted in a more modern way to suite the day. As they should be.

 

[Sean K]

Here's a summary of some of the answers so far. Some cross over and some more scholarly than others.

1. An explanation for the unknown.
2. There is a 'universal power' – let’s call it God/gods or religion.
3. A control mechanism.
4. We are hardwired to believe in things greater than us.
5. Because it helps us to survive.
6. A means of power and control where the most successful became established and widespread belief systems.
7. Religion is an essential part of our being - God made us so it is a natural process for us to want to know him.
8. One of the needs for religion was explained that people could not handle the idea of finite lifespan of human being. Without having something some people would find hard to find motivation to live life.
9. Religion is there for those who need to believe in something which I believe is a large proportion of the population. They feel more at ease having a belief that explains the great unknowns i.e. life death etc.
10. For anyone practicing any religion you will get many answers, one for myself that comes to mind is that it centers me, and also helps me see the best in humanity and appreciate nature, and also understand my flaws, and try to better myself.
11. If humans are created by God and had communion with God in the past, then logically there will be a belief in God which gets passed down and corrupted over the ages, but that belief is still there.
12. Cultural and social indoctination/framework.
13. To cope with existential crisis.
14. A process-derived artifact of human development.
15. There is/are supernatural entities interacting within this universe.
16. A natural desire to search for something higher.
17. Religion is a form of delusion and those who suffer it are pawns of that self manipulation.
18. PM says religion keeps him grounded.
19. Religion provides a framework of moral laws by which to live your life.
20. He exists simply because we believe he does.
21. To identify agency
22. It provides a meta-narrative and structure for a person's life, defining purpose and significance.
23. For the purpose and direction it provides; because they find meaning in it.
24. If you're born to Catholic parents you become a Catholic.
25. Because it's a multi billion dollar business and helps control and keep the population in fear.
26. Hope.
27. Assign cause to the function of the environment.
28. Religion was something used to answer questions that ancient civilization didn't have an answer for.
29. Explain the unexplainable.
30. The big bang created god.
31. It's intellectually, emotionally and experientially fulfilling.
32. Much easier to imagine some comfy warm heaven to which we have earned entry by our struggles to please God during our earthly tenure.
33. A flight response to aid in survival.

 

[jonojpsg]

I'm not too sure if religion has stayed too static over the past few millenia. In fact much has changed. We are predominantly a cafeteria religious lot. There are hundreds of rules in the bible, that if followed would make us all look quite mad. Rules like: not trimming the edges of your beard, wearing all white, not mixing cotton and linnen, strictly following the Sabbath, blowing a horn at he start of each month, shooing away a pidgeon off it's nest holding up the egg and making a prayer, the list is endless. Add in some animal sacrifices here and there, or maybe a human or two to appease the gods, and we'd all be in jail.

So, while the title of the big cheese has remained 'God', a damn lot of his laws have been overlooked or interpreted in a more modern way to suite the day. As they should be.

Cmon kennas, if you're going to talk about the Bible, let's keep it all connected and well defined. There is a New Testament and an Old Testament, and it's pretty clear in the New Testament that most of the laws that you mention here are only valid for the times in which they were given, that is prior to Jesus. Example being law to not eat meat from cloven hoofed animals, birds, etc. which Jesus clearly debunks, "It's not what go into a man that matters, it's what comes out."

Of course if you're a Jew and only stick to the Old Testament then yep, you'd be doing some pretty strange things!

BTW your list is looking pretty comprehensive - good work! Oh and out of interest, what is the record reply rate for a thread on ASF, coz 250+ replies in a week has gotta be up there.

 

[Sean K]

Cmon kennas, if you're going to talk about the Bible, let's keep it all connected and well defined. There is a New Testament and an Old Testament, and it's pretty clear in the New Testament that most of the laws that you mention here are only valid for the times in which they were given, that is prior to Jesus. Example being law to not eat meat from cloven hoofed animals, birds, etc. which Jesus clearly debunks, "It's not what go into a man that matters, it's what comes out."

Of course if you're a Jew and only stick to the Old Testament then yep, you'd be doing some pretty strange things!

BTW your list is looking pretty comprehensive - good work! Oh and out of interest, what is the record reply rate for a thread on ASF, coz 250+ replies in a week has gotta be up there.

Hi Jono, this wasn't meant to be just about the Old a New Books, but religion in general, which includes all the old Pagan stuff, including indigenous beliefs found in the Americas, SE Asia, and even Australasia. But we tend to just focus on the religion of our bible(s).

250+ in a week!! I'm not sure what the record is, but probably something about religion, or climate change...