Why did the concept of religion get such broad acceptance in human history?

Question

Why did religion and the concept of God get such popularity among human beings?

From the days of cavemen religion has played a big part of humanity.

Is it because of any/some/all of the following or something entirely different?

1) Man needed hope. The concept of God looking after us is a big hope isn't it?

2) Man is afraid of death. So, if there was no God, there would be no heaven. If there is no heaven then that means there is no after-life.

3) A tool to control society. i.e. what Da Vinci code proposes. Religion was created to control a group of people.

4) There was actually a son of God who taught his followers to love. i.e. The story of Jesus is indeed mostly true.

I personally think it is because humans fear death and they needed a concept of God to battle the inevitability of death.

What do you think?

Answer 1

Maybe that's a part of it.

But I also think man needs to have something to help keep order during life as well!

Freud described behavior as based on sexual energy, focused into the ID or evil child devil Satan, Ego, or rational adult intellect and Super Ego, the parent or God that sees all and punishes bad people.

The rational EGO developes by balancing ID and SUPER EGO.

Ego is the free will part.

I see it, I want it, I have to have it, but it's wrong, so my rationality tells me to do what.

That's the central issue.

What does the EGO side with.

If a Girl thinks if she does wrong she will end up in the lake of fire, then she might tell boys, I will not kiss you, let you see my breasts or what's between my legs. I marry once. Let's get to know each other and in maybe 5 or 6 years without sex or kissing we we like each other we might get married, then you get it all.

Would you rather have that girl or the 14 year old who lets every boy on the block do her?!

No matter how yu face it, unless Anarchy previals GOD always enters into it. For an atheister father HE IS GOD and HE'LL take your IPOD away and lock you in your room and take your cell phone away (and you'll rot in a lake of fire!)
for the Religious, God will get you!

God is what keeps you in line. God is bigger than the biggest Bully and when you see a bully's carcus dead in the forrest you tell eveyrone GOD DID THAT and the rest of the bullies start to fear for their lives.

Maybe GOD did do it!

Answer 2

Your first three are all partially right. Originally. religion was used to explain all the stuff our ancestors didn't understand. People probably weren't afraid of death till all this brainwashing about hell came about. I am sure there are many late life conversions for those that drank the koolaid. As soon as religion became organized, it became a tool for power. Perfect example is when we added "under God" to pledge of allegiance around 1950 so those dumb commies would know our God was gonna kick their butt. Now these religious nuts try to make it sound like it has always been there and only a traitor would want those words removed. Unfortunately, mankind has short memories and are easily swayed by charasmatic smooth-talkers. The worst part is religion strips man of the idea of responsibility. People can blame things on God's will. Or worse yet, use a threat of going against Gods will to control the masses, which they do all the time. When some idiot like Pat Robertson goes on TV and says the hurricanes are the fault of all those gays, I don't understand anyone that would want to worship a God that arbitrarily kills innocent folks for the behavior of others. Someone please explain how this is a loving God.

Answer 3

Gods explained the unexplainable for most of history, so by the time we found the answers to how the universe works, its just a matter of human nature to repeat the past and to follow the teachings of your relatives and elders. Eventually though, most people will realize the stories in the bible are about real people, but no supernatural powers where involved.

Answer 4

In the old time, religion was considered as "science" to them.
It is used to answer things that couldn't be explained at that time.

In the contemporary society, Science is playing religion's role like old time to answer human's questions.
and religion just become as "historic culture" for some, and many use religion against science.
Religious people want the power, which they used to have in old time, always!

Answer 5

I do enjoy someone who has only looked at there life threw the smallest window. Talk to millions of Muslims, Many more Hindus. Taoist, Buddhists. I wasn't trying to be sarcastic with the window simile, only realistic.

Answer 6

have you ever dream meeting some one and hear true story that they even never tell you?
have you ever ever feel empathy?
ever see ghost? vision?
some people cheat death by technology, if it is for evade death, technology is the answer, eg: cryogenic, stem cell research, even medical practice, Mose put a silver snake to void poison bite, but nowadays, no one use that professionally

Answer 7

three. religion has controled people and their money for centuries.

Now, they appear to just want money.