Was religion created to explain the things we couldn't?

Answer 1

I think so. I think God/Religion is basically a manifestation of human insecurities. From early times in human history, humans have had religion, and most of the gods were nature related which probably helped them to explain things like why the sun rose and why the rain fell. Later in time, with the birth of Catholicism, the focus of religion I think turned to not going to hell. Which answers another big question, where do we go in our afterlife? If you're good you go to a good place if you're bad you go to a bad place. So to answer your question, yes.

Answer 2

No. Religion was set up to create confusion and as a substitute for true worship.

Religious leaders are happy to explain things for a price.

A generation or so after the religion is founded some sincere believers come along and attempt to expand upon or excuse what their fathers couldn't explain. Their works are viewed as essential additions to the original confusion and great libraries are built to house all the excuses.

Let me reuse your question: Was hunting created to get something to eat? The answer is no. Hunting is a natural response as is religion. Neither hunting or religion was "created" but are simply something that men do. Religion exists because man knows there is something beyond himself and that that something is his creator.

The first worship on earth was monotheistic. From monotheistic worship all religious practice has mostly descended into polytheism or just decadence bar none. Today almost everything is a religion from science to terrorism.

If religion was created to explain things we couldn't, why don't we have The World Wide Church of the Unexplainable Woman?

Answer 3

No more than environmental groups were created to "explain" to anyone vulnerable enough to be duped into believing the myths they dream up in order to control how you think and behave.
And it helps if there's a 'donate' button in the form of a collection plate.

It's all about mind control.

If you believe there's a guy "up there" keeping an eye on things, then you gotta' believe there are 72 virgins waiting for you if you strap a bomb to your belly and get on a school bus and send all the kids off to their great reward.
That's what religion is sadly.
--
Bud

Answer 4

I strongly believe it's the other way around. Things we couldn't explain created religion. It's a question of faith. I'm surprised by all the answers. We have such a materialistic society who doesn't believe in God and consider religion as a convenience. It's a sad state of afffairs.. that the moral fiber of today's youth is gone.

Answer 5

Yes. And so was God. Whenever man cannot explain something along comes the magic term, "God created this, did this, that and the other." Religions were created by those who want to lead, control and benefit from the followers and gullible, those who do not question but follow.

Answer 6

NO.

Religion was created so that people who share the same beliefs can congregate in a formal or semi-formal setting. They would share an identity, and encourage the members of this fraternity in upholding, developing and applying these beliefs collectively.

Almost always, these groups would have a leader.

Sometimes, though not always, they might even practice some form of deism, or worship and belief in a deity(ies).

Thats religion.

Answer 7

No it was created to control the masses from doing what a few didn't want..then we created government when people started disobeying religion. Next came money..Still the power of the few over the masses..Next?

Answer 8

Lots of people seem to think so, personally I wouldn't have the first clue about anything in this paradox we call life. I'm with Thomas Edison when he said, "We don't know one one-millionth of a percentage of what there is to know". Although, I think it is probably even less than that.. Mystery reigns supreme no doubt about it!

Answer 9

Yes. Superstition and Magic were the precursors of the invention of God and Gods. The Golden Bough is the most comprehensive study in this area: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Golden_Bough

Answer 10

Assuming there was an oral tradition, mythology accomplished the same thing. I'm guessing religion superceded mythology and became indistinguishable from it as time passed.