Do Gods exist? What is the point in religion?

Question

I don't have a problem with religious people, that's their business. But how can a person live their life following a religion and they don't even know if some one just made it all up when they were bored? I think religion just restricts your life. If you believe in individual things like not having sex before marriage, or not drinking alcohol; thats fine why can't you just do that? Why can't you just follow your own morals rather than having to follow someone elses rules?

There's never been any scientific proof that any religion is right or that any religion or god is real, or that following any religion makes you a better person or that following a certain religion sends you to heaven when you die (if you believe in heaven). How can so many people devote their lives to such an unsure thing?

Answer 1

Religion exists because people need it to exist. It's a way of getting out of personal responsibility for our actions and for getting past what we find hard to understand. For example, "I'm evil because of Satan's influence on the world." Or, "We don't know why X tragedy happened because we cannot know the ways of God." For those who feel too weak to take responsibility for their own lives and actions, religion offers a comforting "all part of God's plan" way out. Such people are so weak that they need to see their constricting rules imposed on others so that their own beliefs (and sense of self) are validated.

I take responsibility for my actions. I don't need a 2000 year old book that's been so retranslated and politically motivated over the years that the actual source material is lost telling me what to do. All we really need is a loving, nuturing environment to guide us in the development of empathy, sympathy, and reason--combined what we call a conscience. A well-developed conscience is of greater value to the world than someone who can quote the Bible backwards and forwards.

But that's only half of it. The second half of what makes life really worthwhile is what we're doing now: posing and debating questions. A questioning mind pursues answers, even when the answers shake the foundations of our current beliefs. A questioning mind is a living, growing mind--constantly expanding and reshaping itself. Some mourn when death comes to the body. I mourn the deaths of all the minds trapped by the dogmas of the world, especially religion.

You may think that you will never find the answers you're searching for, but I think you already have. The answers are the next questions forming in your head now as you read this response, propelling you forward and expanding your horizons. Good luck. Keep questioning.

Answer 2

Not all people are religious (e.g. my dad). Some choose not to be because they don't want to face the downs of a religion, some never feel the need to be a religious person. However, it is a known fact that religious people live longer because they live more peaceful lives. Religious people live more peaceful lives because they believe that if they make a sin, they will eventually be forgiven if they try hard. Also, believing in Heaven, Hell and Afterlife also adds to this, because it helps people see beyond death and make them more content in terms of what they get at the end of their lives - many are certain that they will be re-born or go to Heaven and be happy for days on end. Some also believe that if they pray a lot all of their sins will be forgiven and they will be purified. In short, I think you get the idea. There's an awful lot more - and I could go on anf on explaining...But I'd rather keep it at this because if you don't believe in it there really is no point. So do Gods exist? For some people they are everything and they may well do. The point in religion? Living a longer, more peaceful life I guess!
Hope this helped you in some way...
xx

Answer 3

Let me tell you my opinion about this. How could people ever do good when there was not a source of good? Everything in this earth has to have a source, you know, otherwise it will end. How could people be born already with that sense of what is right or wrong, no matter what culture they are from, and know exactly when something is good or bad? How could anything be in order in this world if there was no one to make things work? Just wonder what a total disorder would be like. Would you like to live in a such a place? I wouldn't. So if there was not a model of good and perfection, how could we ever know what good was like? I don't think you would be even asking this question, for there wouldn't be any computers at all, because nobody would be able to make anything right. Think about that. Do you really think there is nobody controlling all that happens? Giving us the option of making choices, not being just puppets, and yet having mercy when we make the wrong ones? Remember that: when He leaves this world, as it is predicted to happen in a not far future, then the chaos will take over. There will be a time when it will be too late to understand this... Think about the right choice to make, time is running out very quickly!

Answer 4

Does God exist, I know he does. Because the alternative is we are all that there is no one above us that know more, or no one looking out for us, no one we can rely on. Frankly I do not want that kind of responsibility. I like knowing that I don’t have to come up will all the answers; that I can turn to a higher authority for help.
Also if there is no God then we got here by evolution, which means all we have is our lives that is all, what we do now we are not responsible for after we die, because there is no one to answer to. Yes it is liberating in a way, you can make your own morals and judge for yourself if you are good or evil. However, it also frees you to do whatever you want with no responsibility. (I don’t think that is such a good thing, considering what humans are capable of doing) On the subject of morals, who gave us morals? Was it society, maybe instinct? If it was we ourselves that gave us morals then we can change them can’t we? We could decide that murder is fine, or that stealing is fine, but we don’t. Why? Could it be because some basic morals are hard wired into us? If so how did that come about?
I could go on, but for these reasons I have to believe that there is a God.
As for religion, at one time I was very religious but I am not anymore. But that does not mean I can’t believe in God or that he does have a purpose for his creation.

Answer 5

Dr. Robert S. DeRopps noted that organized religion is the oldest con game. The point of it is that priests charge for their services. Making strict codes of behavior is a way to make people feel guilty. The priest can relieve one's guilt he created for a fee. This is like poisoning a town's water supply and selling antidotes. Jesus said thinking about sex is a sin. Any normal person does that, so everyone is guilty. How vile anyone is to concoct such totalitarian systems to enrich himself. What misery it has caused. Many people are masochists and go along with such stuff. DeRopps also noted that you cannot get a refund if you are not satisfied with the Heaven for which you paid preachers. It is a safe con game, because no one returns after dying. Many very intelligent men haven't believed in gods. Thomas Jefferson told his nephew that he wouldn't disagree if the lad decided that there is no God after a critical study of the Bible.

Answer 6

I believe there has to be a higher being. If we all came from a bit of jelly, how is it we did not all evolve at the same time.
The problem with religion is at some stage it is a breakaway movement from the original religion. There is I believe one god its just has many variations of how people see that.
The problem is some religions are forced on people. Some are part of their culture and some are what people want. You do not want to believe that is up to you. However like everyone you will not know the truth until you die. It maybe too late then.

Answer 7

You have just summed up my view entirely. I'm not religious, but I have morals. Again, I agree to the "each to their own" attitude, but how come there are so many who can't see through the fiction of religion and see an organised way to get money and control from the populous, and the reason for countless wars? I need some shred of proof to even consider believing in anything.

If one of the religions was actually correct, then there'd be some shred of proof. This would be developed upon, and the other religions would die out as the "real" religion proves itself. This hasn't happened, so not one of the religions are true.

Answer 8

It is not an unsure thing. God is real. His prescence is obvious to me everyday. I see the wonderful things he has done for me and my family everyday. I see the wonderful things he has done for us all everyday. The unbelieving and rebellious do not see it, because you need him to reveal his love to you. To do this is easy. You don't even have to go to church. Just close your eyes and pray that you are a sinner. That you have lost your way. Even that you are looking for answers. You can even be angry and question why. But in the end, confess you are lost and need some help. Let him know you are willing to try and need help. I garuantee you feel different after that prayer. From there, read and study the bible. Read Luke and John and learn about Jesus. Read Romans & Ephesians and learn.

There is a God. There is a Devil. He will try to convince you this is stupid. Have the Lord chase him from your mind. He will seek and destroy you if you let him.

It is wonderful on this side of the Lord. He can change you and your life for the better. Just try. You'll feel it immediately.

Answer 9

Whether gods (or God) exists we'll never know for sure I think. Religion, though, is another question. Religion first of all has the purpose of keeping society under control, influencing the mobs and so on. Secondly, it may provide support for individuals who are dependent on institutution and give them a sense of belonging. The covert purpose of religions (or the people who represent the heads of most religions) is, however to create chaos and war.

Answer 10

In the words of Mr Dan Brown, from his novel Angels and Demons : 'Since the beginning of time, spirituality and religion have been called on to fill in the gaps science did not understand. the setting and rising of the sun was not once attributed to Helios and a flaming chariot. Earth quakes and tidal waves were not the wrath of Posedion. Science has now proven those Gods to be false idols. Soon all Gods will be proven false idols. Science has now provided answers to almost every question man can ask'

dont get me wrong i am a catholic and i believe in our god but this quote makes a lot of sense to me.