Is selfishness the creative force for most religions?

Answer 1

Yes, Yes Yes, not only for selfishness, but also for greed, strength and domination.

We poor humans blames everything from the devil to another religion for our mistakes and sorrows except ourselves.

Answer 2

I'd have to say no. I first became a Christian when I was 13, but backslided when I was 15 until just a few months ago, when I went back to church.

I went back to church not for the fear that I'd miss out on salvation and a blissful afterlife, but because being with God really gives me a sense of peace. After coming back to Church, I realize that my life without God previously was very selfish - it was always about me, what I wanted, what I desired, without any thought for anything else (although I never saw it as wrong).

But now because I want to live in God's image, I am more patient, more forgiving, more considerate, to others, and it gives me a serenity that was never present before.

Maybe you can argue that this is selfishness - I am a Christian only to experience peace within myself, not because I want the world to be a better place, etc, but at the same time Christianity has taught me that fulfillment comes more easily in embracing those around you, rather than embracing just yourself.

Apart from my personal experience, you might feel that people who do horrendous things in the name of religion are selfish, but many times there are many other reasons for it. Often, they see no other way out of their poverty, their desperation than to commit these acts, and they turn to religion and violence for answers. So it is not religion that causes the acts of selfishness, but desperation and hopelessness. Religion is just a convenient excuse for them to try and claw out of their abyss.

Answer 3

Yes. The selfishness of wanting to live forever. People are willing to follow their religion anywhere and do anything (as proven by history) for the chance to live forever. They are willing to let their religion murder and oppress, without question, in order to secure their own well-being.

What can be MORE selfish then wanting to live forever?

Answer 4

Not necessarily the force for religion in general, but for the exclusive attitude that 'we're going to heaven because we're special and you all will burn in hell' attitude is very selfish. The driving force is the religious leaders who enjoy their position of power over people who will follow what they say.

Answer 5

Religion seems to have emerged from man's inability to explain things in his world. Over time it has evolved to be the justification of his view point. Sometimes I wonder whether or not religion is a waste of time.

Answer 6

For the religion of Atheism it is 100%

Answer 7

I think, believe and expect that this leadership is bad for the many and good for a mercenary plutocratic predatory few. Bad for the many because such leadership produces racist war mongers that imagine Armageddon to be a means to an end of achieving for themselves divine eternal bliss. Good for a mercenary plutocratic predatory few because such leadership generates greater profits from the sale and manufacture of products and services of a beast of a military industrial complex.

Answer 8

I think it is only for Islam. Islam do not allow religion conversion under its Islamic law. They are afraid to lose the population of their own people converting to another religion. That's what I called SELFISH.

Answer 9

No, the Devil is the creative force behind most religions because He seeks to rob God of worshipers and draw them to himself.

Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

2 Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Answer 10

Yep..some people will say Atheism is but i don't think atheism ever asked people to scale the walls of Jerusalem for it. *er erm*