This includes those of you who like to play word games and say that your superstition is not a religion, but a relationship with Jesus, Allah, Buddha, or whoever. And to those who like to say that your religion isn't a religion, but is spirituality.
2006-08-09 10:53:51 · 17 answers · asked by 自由思想家 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I don't think religion is meant to give purpose to one's life--if anything it is supposed to give guidance. That's all. Most religions are just collections of stories, lessons, and traditions that are meant to teach some basic, underlying belief about life. So those who turn to religion to give meaning to their lives kind of miss the point all together.
2006-08-09 11:01:25 · answer #1 · answered by Micky Dayla 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I see religions in general as the only institutions that offer any purpose for life.
If you just crawled out of the slime and there is no God... no higher level of conscious control over all the elements of the universe ( creation) if we just live and die... then what is the purpose. Civilization is decaying, societies are far worse off now that 50 years ago. In a godless universe mankind is a plague, a virus destroying everything the earth has to give.
2006-08-09 18:08:30 · answer #2 · answered by zero 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion/faith gives me all of my meaningful purpose in life. Serving God, serving my community, reaching others, teaching people, helping them to find growth and happiness.
There are literally billions of people on this planet who find that they get their most meaningful purpose in life from their religion, be it Christianity, Judaism, Hindu, Islam, Scientology, Wiccan, Voodoo, or whatever. Studies show a full 80% of the population of the earth practice a religion of some kind and it is meaningful to them.
Heck, even athiests find meaning for themselves in their religion (or lack therof) by coming on this board and heckling the stink out of us!
2006-08-09 18:08:51 · answer #3 · answered by Paul McDonald 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you can really say that it fails to give any meangingful purpose to life. You could say that it hasn't given you any meaningful purpose to life, but you can't really speak for everyone else. I can say that I haven't got any meaningful purpose from Buddhism but that doesn't mean someone else hasn't. Everyone is different and everyone responds differently to things. In the same way that people respond differently to music, people respond differently to religion and some are affected and some aren't.
2006-08-09 17:59:15 · answer #4 · answered by iamsupermanurnot 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anyone who claims to have a personal relationship with Buddha obviously doesn't follow his teachings. And buddhism really isn't as much a religion as a way of life, it requires no faith and compares faith to ignorance (in a non-condescending way). But to each his own.
2006-08-09 17:59:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
For many, religion does not do as you claim. Rather, it provides meaning and purpose to one's life.
But one must search to find that meaning and purpose. I truly believe that this responsibility lies with the individual. So it is possible that one may not find that religion provides meaning and purpose to life.
So - while it may fail in your eyes/heart/mind, that doesn't make it so for everyone.
And sorry if that's playing some "word games".
2006-08-09 17:59:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does for some people. Just because it doesn't for you, doesn't mean it doesn't for everyone.
I know people who would feel totally lost without their religion in their lives. Personally, I have a hard time understanding it, but I accept that it works for them.
The whole key is accepting....I'm not religious. I have friends that are (by my standards) VERY religious. However, we care about each other and religion is not a part of our friendship.
2006-08-09 18:00:03 · answer #7 · answered by Kaia 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion much like life is neutral. Religion can cause serenity, carnage, and anywhere in between. As Religion teaches it enslaves, as Religion saves, it condemns. But tell me, what in life doesn't.
2006-08-09 18:07:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christianity does give a meaningful purpose to life, to serve God. Athiests have no purpose in life so I guess they are the ones who are lost.
2006-08-09 17:58:56 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
your the devils son. lol j/k. religion is man made i say. whenever you feel sad, angry, depressed, happy, excited(even sexually).they are all feelings. i think that spirituality is a feeling that a person gets. maybe you can compare it to love or revenge, whatever you have felt already.its like god is your mom: how do you feel when your mom catches you doing something wrong. its like that with god if you put it in your mind he is watching you 24/7. well good luck getting your spirit going :-)
2006-08-09 18:07:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋