Why does 99% of the world population feel they need religion?

Question

Why does it take a book or belief system dating back thousands of years to make people know how to treat each other? Is it not just common sense that everyone should treat people how they would like to be treated? Religion seems to divide many more people than it brings together. I personally don't know if there is a god or not. I am curious but I also seriously doubt any religion holds the answer. I'd love to know if many people out there feel the same as me on this.

It's amazing how many people focused on the bad statistics of my question instead of the underlying meaning. And I never said religion had to include God by the way. But the truth is about 90% of the world's population believe in some form of one or more higher power(s). And to the guy who dared me to look my kids (I am a father) eyes and tell them they are a quirk of nature, my kids know exactly how I feel about religion and God. I teach them that it is logical to treat others as you wish to be treated. How can anyone logically expect to be treated with respect if they don't treat others with the same. No God or religion is needed to understand this.

Answer 1

They are poorly educated

Answer 2

Six billion people may have sixty billion questions to be answered.
To answer these questions we use our senses (and supported gadgets), we use our rational mind or common sense, we use our intuition...but usually we reach wrong answers, because our knowledge is limited. We also use the Holy Books, and since our mind is limited we cannot understand them precisely. That is why there is more quarelling than agreement among us .
And that is why we need religion.
In the time of Buddha, He was the only perfect Teacher to illuminate the human mind. It is the same with Christ, Muhammad... in their times.
The teachings of these Manifestations of God now become confused because men have added to them their limited and false knowledge. Now although many people wrongly criticized those Divine Teachers, any reasonable men must admit that no other human teachers can establish such honorable schools for millions of peoples through tens of centuries.
Based on the promises of those Divine Teachers, we happily see that the Loving and Living God has sent another Divine Teacher for our time: His Holiness Baha'u'llah. Only Him, as the return of the Holy Spirit, can teach us where are the teachings from God and which are the addition of men. He also says that after Him over a thousand years, another Divine Teacher will succeed Him, and this divine educational process will continue forever.
Pray that all rational beings will seek and find rational things.

Answer 3

The important thing is not to have a religious "system", but to have a personal relationship with God through his son, Jesus Christ. This relationship was made possible by Christ paying the penalty demanded by the Holy nature of God.

Mankind was created to have a relationship with his creator. This is why most people feel the need to have some kind of concept of "a god" or some "religious philosophy". Therefore, religion is a person's attempt to reach, understand or please God by their own efforts.

Unfortunately, even though we subconsciously know we need God, often times we don't want the real God, but a God that fits our personal bias and comfort level. That is why there is such a divergence among the major religious systems of the world. Different people are comfortable with different rules.

Nevertheless, all of this is for naught, because the real truth is objective and absolute. God either exists or he doesn't. God either judges sin or he doesn't. Heaven and hell either exist or they don't. So, it therefore becomes imperative that each of us truly seek what is real and not just what we naturally gravitate toward.

For example, if Christianity is true, then all of us are accountable to a God whose standards we can not live up to and whose standards can only be met by having a proxy to live the perfect life that we could not live but who took the punishment we deserve. The Bible asserts that the only way to reach God is by faith in Jesus Christ and that, if we seek God by our own human reasoning, we cannot find him. Indeed, the Bible actually states that human reasoning about God actually led people to crucify God when he was in human form.

On the other hand, other religions would most definitely contradict the statement that Christ is the only way to God. They might think of him as a good person (if they acknowledge his existence at all), but they have a completely different way to reach God and possibly a completely different concept of who or what he is.

The problem is that contradictory beliefs cannot all simultaneously be true. Therefore, each person is left with a choice that they must make. Since the consequences of making the wrong choice can be dire, each of us should make it a top priority to discover what the truth really is with a minimum of personal bias.

God isn't trying to play hard to get or be confusing, the confusion comes about because people want a way to live how they choose but still feel that they have met the need they have for God, so they invent and/or choose a god that "works" for them (according to their own definition of "works").

Therefore, examine the claims of the various religions and of the Bible seriously and with an open mind and heart. The Bible is more than capable of withstanding intense scrutiny and many who have seriously examined it with an open mind (even those initially hostile towards it) have come to the conclusion that it is accurate and dependable (in spite of themselves).

So, in conclusion, it is not that we need religion at all, neither to know how to treat each other or how to know God, what we need is an objective source of truth and revelation from God himself, which I believe is the Holy Bible. So, take the time to examine its accuracy, its reliability and its claims.

Answer 4

I feel the same way you do. But beyond guidance people need a purpose! We need to know why we are here, what we must accomplish before we perish like the many who came before us. This is where religion comes in. At least where it should. Now adays religion is used as a way to feel superior and pass judgement on others. This is not what christianity was intended for, at least not what jesus had in mind. I am a christian. I believe that Jesus holds the way and purpose to God and life. But dont be disappointed by those who call themselves christians yet know little or nothing about the historical Jesus. They just fallow what they where tought. Read the Gospels and find out for yourself what Jesus plan and vision of life really is. You will be surprised.........Pleasantly!

Answer 5

It's not about "religion," especially man-made doctrine, it's about God. In ancient times, before the Bible, Qu'ran, etc, people believed in God; they had belief systems. They knew there was someone out there bigger than themselves and that there would be an afterlife, we know this by how they buried their dead etc. As a Christian, my beliefs tell me the way to God is through Christ, therefore, I following the teachings of people that came before me. Just as ancient people followed the teachings of their ancestors. The need for religion felt by 99% of the world population, tells me that God is real. I don't think that many people could be wrong.

Answer 6

I understand where you are coming from. I also think some people need religion because if gives their life meaning, makes them feel safe and secure. I think, for some, the thought of no God and to think that when you die, that is it, there is nothing, it frightens them. It could also explain that when religion is challenged some believers get defensive. They believe in their religion so strongly that if it is challenged and some good points are made, doubts are possibly put into their minds and their whole world could be questioned.

Answer 7

A majority of people have a feeling there is a God or Gods and as a societal creature humans tend to congregate under one roof thus generatng the variety of religions that have prolifferated over the centuries. Religion give structure & form to daily life, providing guidance & life lessons.

Answer 8

Only about 85% of the world's population is religious, and my personal belief is that the need to believe in a god is part of people's genetics. Some people say they can actually talk to god, and others (me included) feel no connection whatsoever, so I have to think that the idea of God is a brain function, just like all our other perceptions.

Answer 9

We believe and need religion simply to be wise and keep the path. Human brain is intelligent and generally it means easy adoption to conditions. And that means no human rules that could not be overruled in changed conditions. And the humans found the way to create virtual perception of conditions by propaganda. The human can also develop mass destruction and damage of natural processes. Make a mixture of no religion and this ability and you will get most horrifying scenario of self destruction.
Again: we believe and we need religion to keep on path.
PS I think believers would not explain why atheist do not need God.
So is it wise that atheists like to explain why people need God?

Answer 10

Hi! I am an Anglican - but I dont need religion - In Anglican & church of England churches - most of the worshipers are old people - who are convinced that it is nearing their time - and think by attending church and parting with a few quid at collection will buy their name onto St Peters VIP guestlist... All religions are a Con - if we want to pray to our God who ever he/she maybe - if indeed there is this such person/being .. we should do it in the privacy of our own Toilet . and keep our thoughts to our self.. Religion ... causes too much trouble... and if there is a God - by God we need him to make an appearance Now !

Answer 11

Your statistics are incorrect.

Religion: Mans feeble attempt to reach God by his own power and strength.

There are a lot of people who have a Relationship with Jesus Christ that is not religion. Jesus opposed Religion. Read the book Of John.