can someone explain the reason for religion to me?

Question

i doesn't matter if its from a religious view point or a scientific view point i honestly jus don't get why ppl belive in god and jesus... i'm not lookin for jesus freaks to jump down my throat about following their lord and saviour i'm jus honestly curious

Answer 1

Its a comforting way for people to have answers to things that cannot be explained. Oh and its an obvious money maker that is tax free.

Answer 2

It is hard for some people to believe that this is all there is.

Cultures across the globe have all created some sort of "god". Even now, there are cultures that modern man has left alone to evolve on their own. In the jungles of Indonesia for example, Helicopters that were running relief supplies to the people affected by the earthquake and devestation afterwards in Dec 04 found cultures that had never seen modern technology. A picture that I saw shows a person with a bow and arrow, pointing it at the helicopter. He was defending his lands and people. He had never seen a helicopter from the looks of it and was trying to chase it away by shooting at it. If you were to go and visit that culture, you would most likely find that his people believe in a higher being. Be it god, the earth, elements, whatever.

Man has created a superior being in every culture, in some form or another because of the prevailing thought "Is this all that there is" and to some that is a very scary thought. Some look to science to answer the same question. Devil worshipers have to believe in a god of some sort, as the devil would be the opposite of god.

Everyone is trying to find balance and meaning, and there are many ways that people go about that search.

Of course the flaw, or bueaty, of the existence of god for me, is that if he exists, and I do not believe in him, I am still his child and he will love me and accept me no matter what. If he does not exist, what have I lost? Nothing.

Answer 3

Science, logic, reason, and critical thought have long been regarded (by religious people) as the enemies of religion. Considering that those are the tools of highly intelligent people, it should not come as a huge shock to learn that intelligence (or lack of it) has some connection to religious belief. In fact, there are about 20 studies, conducted over a period of 80 years or so, that reveal a statistically significant NEGATIVE CORRELATION between intelligence and religiosity. In plainer language, that means that they found that the more intelligent a person is, the LESS likely that person is to be religious.

If you think about it, those findings make a lot of sense. Intelligence tests mainly provide an indication of reasoning ability and problem solving ability... logic, reason and critical thought. These are the very qualities that see through religion, and recognize it for what it is; i.e., religion cannot survive the glaring light of reason and critical thought. This was well understood by important figures in religious history. This is why the early church destroyed all the 'tainted' (non-canonical) writings, which were in conflict with dogma... Greek philosophy, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, engineering... all the good stuff. By this means, Christianity dragged humanity directly into the Dark Ages.

Just to illustrate the point, let's see what Martin Luther, the 'father' of protestantism, had to say about 'reason' and secular knowledge:

"Reason must be deluded, blinded, and destroyed. Faith must trample underfoot all reason, sense, and understanding, and whatever it sees must be put out of sight and ... know nothing but the word of God." ~ Martin Luther

"Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but -- more frequently than not -- struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God." ~ Martin Luther

"There is on earth among all dangers no more dangerous thing than a richly endowed and adroit reason... Reason must be deluded, blinded, and destroyed." ~ Martin Luther

"Reason should be destroyed in all Christians." ~ Martin Luther

Christianity is essentially a criminal business enterprise... in fact, it is the world's longest running and most successful Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) scam. The product they are selling is 'salvation'... and the 'pay plan' doesn't kick in until after you're dead. What a racket! FORTUNATELY, it only works on those who are gullible enough, and sufficiently lacking in critical thinking skills, to fall for it. UNfortunately, THAT accounts for about 62% of the population of the USA. (There are a lot more people who DON'T know how to think properly than there are people who DO know how to think properly.) That is why there are a lot more religious people in the USA than there are 'Free-thinkers'... including Atheists. Also, Christians are generally too dense to realize that proselytizing (spreading the 'good news') is a key element of the Christian MLM MARKETING PLAN, which was instituted after Christianity lost the political power that had previously allowed them to simply torture and kill anybody who did not comply. Now, they attempt to just pester people to death, through persistent obliviousness and obnoxiousness. If you stop to think about it, you will realize that Christians are very much like the Borg, on Star Trek Next Generation: "You will be assimilated. Resistence is futile." I would not be surprised to learn the thoughts of Christianity provided the 'creative spark' for the Borg concept.


Interestingly, statistics on supernatural beliefs count the USA on a par with backward, developing Third World nations, rather than among modern, advanced industrial powers.

Answer 4

Alright, I'm a Christian but I won't jump down your throat, don't worry. I was raised in a Christian home and so that is a big influence on me. My parents make me go to church and latley I've been realizing why most people don't belive in God and that's because there is no proof. Even as a Christian you better believe that I question Gods existense every single day. Is he real or not? But heres the thing: Lets say I'm wrong, and there is no God. So I pray and follow something/someone who doesn't even exist. And I get crushed by a semi truck today. I'm dead. Well, what did I lose? My life, of course, and I followed a fake God, but thats it. I still can have fun and enjoy life. But let's say I was right, and there is a God and heaven and hell, and I die. Well Id go to Heaven. So basically, by believing in God and following him, I have nothing to lose. Although it really doesn't make sense to me why he wont just show himself to everyone, including myself, it seems like the most logical reasoning to me. I mean, it makes more sense than the Big Bang Theory. Going this way, I have nothing to lose by following God, where if I didn't, I could lose my eternity in heaven. Thats the way I see it. Better safe than sorry. And it's not like Christians can't have any fun, cause if they couldn't, I might have to reconsider.

Answer 5

Scientifically:
Religion started when people couldn't explain why things happened. "Thunder must have been made by god, because he is angry". Or "i've been cursed by the goddest of love, that is why i committed infidelity".

Religion is just a way to explain the unexplained, or to have purpose for everything... Why are things alive? and other things not? Why are some animals under the waters, while others walk on all fours? What chose that? If evolution caused that, then why are their so many varities?
What will happen when i die? Why do people kill each other? Why do people hurt others? is it sin?
Is there a reward for being good? Is there a reward for being bad? Why did my dad hurt me? Why did my mom leave my dad? Why do some people hurt themselves? Why do people commit suicide but people with the same problems dont.

ALL of those questions are from people of faith, questioning their existance in this world. "Why?" Is the most important question.

Politically:
Religion in a politcal perspective, was used to bring peopelt ogether, and to fight for what the king thought was right, it was often used as a basis of control. Holy wars, over land, and owenership was hugely undeiable, and it wouldn't have happened if people didn't believe god was on their side.
Having a main religion in any government causes the hea dof that government to have more control, just by mentioning 'god' in his speaches. the more god you introduce into people's lives, the more they are under the will of the 'lord'.

Religiously:
Everything has a purpose, at least thats what god teaches us, hat is a reason for us being on heart, and that we must follow his laws, in order to be rewarded into heaven. Thats a few differant religions. Other religions believe that they will be reincarnated as something else, often to resolve issues in their past life, or be reincarnated as their spiritual animal, or creature.
Others believe they will become an energy form that will carry out good will, to others. The list goes on.

But people need religion to do good. People with Religious morals, (but not too much aka Yates case) are typically good people. Although they can be very overbearing. But they want to do good in life, so they are rewarded in after life.

People need insentive, pretty much.
Or to not feel alone.

I'm christian, but i do good based on my own morals, i have developed, i wouldn't do anything that could hurt someone else's feelings. and i dont believe god would punish me for most of the 'sins' people believe exist. Because god says he forgives, like a father, or mother, your mother wont wish you dead if you do something against her will. She would forgive you, as long as it wasn't something like murdering someone innocent.

Answer 6

Because some people NEED that in there lives in order to be a better person. More power to you...if at the end of the day God made you help a fellow human being out or Karma, or guilt or the judge is making you do community service LOL jk.......what does it matter as long as you get the same results.

But I agree with you it's really frickin' annoying when you have tolerance for others peoples beliefs but they don't have tolerance for yours and are complete hypocrites.

Answer 7

History: look at history.

Every society which has NOT believed in God/religion in some way --- collasped and failed.

Isn't that enough?

I'm not talking about God/Jesus/Christianity -- I'm talking about ANY religion. Who cares what religion you are?

If God or Allah or Buddha or Vishnu (or whoever) wanted ONE religion, don't you think there would only be ONE?

We are all in this thing together. It doesn't matter HOW you worship God or the spirits or whatever religion you have -- AS LONG AS YOU HAVE ONE!

THAT is what's important. History proves it out, regardless of your belief system. God is God, no matter what name you put to him, or what belief system is your favorite.

What about all the religions that used to be and are no more? Another religion simply took their place. God never left them, he never does.

It's no more complicated than that.

God is infinite. Infinity means everything, includes ALL of us, right?

The only people making it more complicated are themselves insane and should be totally ignored. Morons operating on their own vested self-interests, or self-righteousness beyond all reasonable intellect or sanity. (That is the cause of wars.)

Study ALL religions. Study ALL philosophies. Only then will you truly know God.

The belief system is Man's design and it's for a man to chose.

God is Infinite. He knows no boundaries, and neither should you, as long as you follow his path.

Answer 8

It will be difficult to discuss the reason for religion without a clear definition of the word itself. there is what i think must be the first step.
"I think whereas I am" ( Des Cartes ). where do we come from? evolution or creation? Do you think we are perfect? of course not. That idea of unperfecness we are feelling comes from the Perfect One. there are 2 types of normes; the writen ones (Religion, state or government laws...) and the unwritten ones (our moral, our own judgement of whats wright or wrong).
Would you wanna live in a world without norms whatsoever? I think not.
we all need some typr of norms to be able to live in harmony and enjoy the bit of time we have on this earth.
I hope you get the point. there is the reason for religion. Only God nows.

Answer 9

There are a lot of reasons - probably too many to list.
People want a way to understand things that they just can't grasp - like why bad things happen to innocent people. Religion is one way of understanding why there is evil - for some people.
It offers acceptance to people who otherwise feel like outsiders.

From another standpoint, it's a way to control people - like..'if you're bad you go to hell' - divine retribution and all that.

Belief in a God and prayer offers some people a listening ear when no one else seems to be listening.

Those are a few reasons...but there is an almost infinite list..

Answer 10

We all have a "religion" it just is whatever we place the most importance too. For many this religion takes a formal approach and includes worship of a God (or Gods) and for some it takes a less structured form and includes Faith and belief in Humanity, allegiance to Money or A particular person. The belief in something BEYOND ourselves apears to be hardwired into us. As a Christian I think this is correct we were CREATED to worship.

Answer 11

It arise out of our will to live. Many people cannot face the fact that they die and cease to exist so they have to believe in an after life. God explains all that cannot be explained - including an after life. Unfortunately there's not much left that cannot be explained without God. Given the violence and destruction which religion causes perhaps it is really a societal psychosis.