Religion? What is it? What makes a person want a religion? Why are so many people against it? What makes one?

Question

These are every day questions people ask each other. No matter what religion you believe in or don’t believe in you are still faced with these questions. How do you answer these questions?

Answer 1

Religion and god is as real as the tooth fairy....primitive man needed the 'religious experience' to survive in a hostile universe. The unknown was explained by the supernatural, the idea of an afterlife cushioned people from the grim aspects of death, in short, it was a survival mechanism developed within the temporal lobe of all human brains.

Modern man has developed rational thought and controls much of the environment, to the extent of knowing how 'things operate'. But obsolete genes do not die overnight, therefore you'll always be seeing people believing in religion, god and the supernatural.

I read about some interesting studies by scientists of the temporal lobe regions that are 'mis-firing' or giving off 'unbalanced' neuroligical signals. Some of the studies are intrigueing, they can duplicate 'religious experiences' in blind tests of humans.

It was already known that the more primitive limbic system of our brains contain the raw emotion where our religious beliefs spring forth. The development of the cerebral cortex (or the thinking and rational part of the brain) is only a recent development in humans, say the last 40,000-100,000 years.

It is also well known that the 'god-gene' (for lack of a better description) is triggered during times of duress, high anxiety, near death or starvation, and other high emotional episodes. It was our survival instinct that developed this so-called god-gene. Now, scientists can atificially trigger that response under laboratory conditions by narrowing the focus to the temporal regions of the brain. Further studies are being conducted to study this gene and its effect on our development as a species

Answer 2

There are many definitions of religion, and most have struggled to avoid an overly sharp definition on the one hand, and meaningless generalities on the other. Some have tried to use formalistic, doctrinal definitions and others have tried to use experiential, emotive, intuitive, valuational and ethical factors.

Sociologists and anthropologists see religion as an abstract set of ideas, values, or experiences developed as part of a cultural matrix. Primitive religion was indistinguishable from the sociocultural acts where custom and ritual defined an emotional reality.

Other religious scholars have put forward a definition of religion that avoids the reductionism of the various sociological and psychological disciplines that relegate religion to its component factors. Religion may be defined as the presence of a belief in the sacred or the holy. For example Rudolf Otto's "The Idea of the Holy," formulated in 1917, defines the essence of religious awareness as awe, a unique blend of fear and fascination before the divine. Friedrich Schleiermacher in the late 18th century defined religion as a "feeling of absolute dependence."

The Encyclopedia of Religion describes religion in the following way:

"In summary, it may be said that almost every known culture involves the religious in the above sense of a depth dimension in cultural experiences at all levels — a push, whether ill-defined or conscious, toward some sort of ultimacy and transcendence that will provide norms and power for the rest of life When more or less distinct patterns of behaviour are built around this depth dimension in a culture, this structure constitutes religion in its historically recognizable form. Religion is the organization of life around the depth dimensions of experience — varied in form, completeness, and clarity in accordance with the environing culture."

(Winston King, Encyclopedia of Religion, p 7693)

Having a religion is part of the survival instinct. Many people don't want to believe they will ever cease to exist. Religion has caused so much suffering in the past and still continues to do so that many people find it revolting.

Answer 3

a structured belief that can become a believed reality. for a needed comfort in the unknown or the belief of how it should be lived on this rock with our emotional states. because they don't believe in the way these people try to control the world and they just believe its all a lie for everyone gets angry when believed they where lied to. the wonder for truth in the human spirituality and how we are not happy with the current situation and want a controlled environment to satisfy our wants or there wants. I've tried to understand these subjects for a while and this is what i have found. so this is just me i could be right on all of it or just some or none but the more that believe the my way the more it will grow or vice versa.

Answer 4

If you believe in a supreme being or higher power, why do you need others to tell you why and what for is there a reason? Why do you need books and opinions of others to tell you what you believe or not believe is the truth or a lie. It is you opinion, not anyone else's. Religion is the track of politicians and greedy so-called priests who tell you how and what to do to people who cannot think for themselves. I believe in God/Higher Power/SupremeBeing, but I do not believe in Religion.

Answer 5

religion is a belief or idea some one has about a higher being. people want religion in their lives because religion can explain the unexplainable, or tell you what is right ans what is wrong. Religion answers poeple's questions of why are we here, or what is our purpose and who created us. poeple need answers and thet is why man created religion. it is also for control, govt used to use religion as a controlling method, ie........... if you steal or kill you will go to hell, makes peopleafraid to disobey the govt. People are against it for the last reason i stated. the govt control etc.............. this is my opinion, and i don't expect anyone else to share with me.... thanks!!

Answer 6

Napoleon said: "history is a tale which 2 people agree upon".
maybe the same goes for religion. i think these questions must be defined by the individual asking them.

sometimes, words distort what is in the heart.

Answer 7

I'm anti-religions
why?
what do religions bring? If you believe in God... there's no need for religions... ..religions, the cause of many wars... who did Hittler kill?? wasn't the jews... didn't he go against religions? trully many wars are caused from religions... people are against eache other cause of religions and i don't think i'll go to hell cause i'm anti religions ...

religions bring nothing good....
it makes you believe life has color while you are black and white....
believing in God is enough!!! no need for religions!!

Answer 8

Religion is here because uncertianty is here...

When we don't know something or don't want to know something...

When you would rather believe in something by not knowing it...

If we know about god then religion becomes a science...

Since we don't know much about god, then it can't be a science and can't be explained in scientific terms...

Then it comes down to faith in your religion...