Why is religion so important?

Question

It seems to me that in the UK you go to school do a bit of RE (religious education,yes its probably called something else now),leave and that is it.Only my sister and her family that I know of go to church and the kids hate it too.So why do so many amercans go to church and big it all up?Its a club really,somewhere you can make friends and have a coffee afterwards.If so many people cant be bothered with it all why is the world such a mess? Yes we all know about Bush so leave him out of it.

Answer 1

It's not important to many people but to some it is a hope to cling to, a hope that their is life after death and that they are going to a better place and all their sins will be forgiven and that their 10% of their earnings the donate to the church will put them in good stead with the so called almighty, oh my how they will be disappointed when at the end of their life all they get is eternal darkness !

Answer 2

I think that religion, as an idea, has become something gross and twisted. All the spirituality of organized belief has been wrung out by meaningless rituals and corrupt leaders.

But as a Western society, we need belief. But serious belief means being responsible for it, so most people go to church, say they're good "Christians" or good followers, of whatever organized belief they buy into, and leave it at that.

But dropping belief at the doorstep isn't believing at all. Going to church doesn't mean your a good anything. It's just a step that leads no where, if you only do it to appear right.

Spiritual belief is a whole other thing, and whether or not you think you're saving your soul, or just making sure it keeps up with the Joneses, it comes down to the fact that people need to believe they believe.

Answer 3

People use religion for many things such as to fill a void or deficit within their lives, or to live their life by if they are weaker of mind. It seems to be important to some people in order to give them a sense of identity with the masses. They don't want to be on their own and they don't like anyone elses's idea of a religion either. Funny how wars are started over this stuff....

Answer 4

Because most humans beings believe in some form of life after death, and have many seemingly unanswerable questions about life on earth, religion was instituted to provide answers on both pre- and after-death experiences, and in most cases, to provide a system of morality and living to bring the devotee to the ideal state of afterlife. Most religions also claim to answer the ultimate question, 'Why Are We Here?' (and no, the answer is not '42'). In Christianity's case, the answer is to serve God and obey His commands. Of course in most churches in America Christianity is paid mere lip service; churchgoers say one thing in the pews and then go out and do another in their daily lives. Hence most of the world views American Christians as a bunch of hypocrites (at least many Europeans have the honesty to admit they are atheists) and our churches continue to decline in support and numbers.

As for your snide comments about President Bush, you don't see Christians deliberately fly planes into skyscrapers and ruthlessly behead innocent civilians. So why don't you go pick on Islam for a while?

Answer 5

You're speaking in very general terms. Instead of talking about religion in general, I would say, a relationship with Jesus Christ is what is important. Jesus said He was the only way to the Father. I've been going to a good bible teaching church for about ten years, and I've been studying the bible, too, for ten years. It's changed everything. I have gone from being a confused, fearful person to a person who is confident and assured, full of joy. There are many "religions" out there, there is only one savior, and that is Jesus.

Answer 6

Religion means "relationship w/ God", This mean it can be many many different forms, or kind of relationship. In history, man continued searching for the Purpose of Creation & the wonder of Life itself. However, Man (compare with other creature) acknowledge his intellectual capacity, the ability to think & make things and understand. Athough man realized his own capacity & has limitation continue quest for the Truth that Somebody might be greater than him create all these including himself. And the wondruos of The Greater Being who has the supreme power became mistery to human. But God himself reveal himself thru selected person, people whom want to establish "relationship w/ Him"; various culture, tribe & nation have different beliefs on the form on the Greater Being. It is important to know what is God's purpose in this life so, that we might understand what would be the future for us creature. & the metaphor for these continuing jorney is religion. "relationship w/ God"

Answer 7

its not so mucchg religion thats impostant, its faith, and NO they r not the same thnig. Every one craves to know where we come from, their religion is jsut a way of expressing how they believe we came to be here, as most religions differ, but that all comes down to faith. I personaly believe Science is a new religion as its coming up with a lot of answers for everything, giving people FAITH that there is some thing more.

Answer 8

It's a terrible means of social manipulation. It's possibly the single most dangerous and harmful institution that has ever existed on earth.

Answer 9

it is just the brainwashed christians that go the like me never go it is so boring and all thay do say you have sined just for living it just one big con to keep the churches runing

Answer 10

It is only important if you think it is. Most of us need something outside ourselves to rely on. To most it is their partner and/or workmates but to some they need some form of religion.