afterall self awareness dawned on the human race only about 80 to 100 thousand years ago right? that was the very moment the term religion came into existance, because our ancesstors came into contact with reality, and invented a powerful being who could save them from becoming extinct.
dont you think that the idea of a god is based on fear rather than reason?
2006-09-07 16:14:09 · 34 answers · asked by music 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The idea of a god can be based only on fear, but this is a primitive understanding. People whose faith is more developed have a much deeper understanding of God than you describe.
Human beings can hold on to some universal goodness as you suggest, but believers believe that God has taught us the best way to be good, and that we can acheive goodness by studying and following His message.
Religion doesn't end with a primitive fear of extinction, it goes much deeper than that. That's why people can spend their whole lives studying their religion and trying to know God, but still feel as if they are only scratching the surface.
2006-09-07 16:27:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
You're looking at "religion" from the outside, not the inside. Religious people ARE hanging onto some universal goodness. Being part of an organized religion gives us guidance and roots, a way to learn more about God and show our love. We may not be perfect all the time, we know we are sinners, but the rush of love and peace that we get from being in God's house and singing songs about God's love... that's a very special relationship with God and one another.
Fear? No. Reason? Maybe. Love? Yes.
2006-09-07 16:22:45 · answer #2 · answered by mia2kl2002 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
What book are reading that says the human race started 80,000-100,000 yrs ago???? I think it was about 10,000 yrs ago.
I could literally type for hours on this one. But I'm going to make it short and sweet. Through my 35 yrs of reading and researching and talking with non-professionals and professionals about the universe, planets, our earth's formation, etc etc. I have decided to believe in God. When I question anything the answer always turns to God. Therefore I don't fear Him, I reason with Him. God makes complete sense to me, even though I have a lot of questions for Him.
My theory is this:
If God exists and I believe & follow Him I will go to Heaven.
If God exists and I don't believe, thus I don't follow Him, I will go to hell.
If God does not exist and I still choose to believe, I will have had a good life and will die and decay and worms will eat me. If God does not exist and I choose not to believe I will have had a good life and will die and decay and worms will eat me
2006-09-07 16:29:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Religion is based on there been a powerful being that suppose to effect the believer in it in someway. Lets say heaven being part of a few many religions is suppose to give people hope that they will end up there should they follow it and not burn in hell as the religion says it will should you not follow it.
In the end it depends on the religion. Buddist? (how ever you spell it) has a god but isnt based on fear, but rather reincarnation. If you are good, then you will have a good after life when you are reincarnation.
2006-09-07 16:21:16 · answer #4 · answered by pik 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
first off, i dont think that fear means just being afraid. I worship God out of fear and reverance, fear being a respect, to be in awe of him, kind of like the fear or respect you would have for a king of your country....after all, He is our king, right? The fear you speak of, well, I don't follow God because "if i dont i will go to hell" kind of thing. The reason? Well, there are lots of reasons, mainly my reason would be because He deserves it. After all He has done for me I could never repay, and also because the reason we were created was to worship Him to begin with. It is my hope, my future, and my only reason for living. For me, that is enough. Being good, that isn't good enough, there is much more than that. To say all you need is to be good is too general, and allows for many mistakes and interpretations. To put it simply, God Is Good, Sin is bad. Love God, Hate sin, and trust in His love. AMEN
2006-09-07 16:26:54 · answer #5 · answered by 2shy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God IS universal goodness.
the "idea" of God is not based on fear.
Because He simply isn't an idea, He is a fact of life.
My opinion is that people like to discredit God because of fear of admitting there is a greater being out there that has the infinite power to create. It's like a painting refusing to admit that there was an artist.
2006-09-07 16:19:49 · answer #6 · answered by SJ 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
haha I love the way you think...we are exactly the same...I am a man of science and philosophy...I believe people choose to believe in any religion because it gets them by in life rather than asking questions...some people need to be told what to believe rather than think on their own, I don't mean any disrespect to any religion...however, it is proven that the Bible was written atleast 500 years after Jesus died by people that did not even know him...and was re-written by an emperor as a means of conrol over his pupils...the battle of religion vs science will continue until we are all extinct from this world...we continually kill each other instead of asking why? I do believe the idea of God is based not on fear but hope that we are destined for something better in this world than what we know? If someone needs to hold on to the idea that we are going somewhere later on, why not? I don't but then again I am atheist...I agree with you fully
"Religion doesn't end with a primitive fear of extinction, it goes much deeper than that. That's why people can spend their whole lives studying their religion and trying to know God, but still feel as if they are only scratching the surface. "
Don't mean to rain on your parade but religion does end with extinction, people spend their entire lifes trying to prove their religion is correct and the right one...and millions die, religions is the number one cause of death in the history of mankind...think again
2006-09-07 16:23:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
It blows me away to see all these responces on here utterly dishonoring God. And I'm not writing on this 'Religion & Spirituality' side for points. It's just so sad to see so many people not believe in God. And not only not believe in Him, but then be so disrespectful. God has done so many things in my life that just could not be labeled "coinsidence"... Things that I know deep deep down in my heart that I know He is there. I'm so sorry to hear that you dont have that aswell. I'm sure in your life you have probally prayed to God and asked Him to show you if He was real or not, And maybe you feel like He didnt show you like you would have wanted Him to, but know that in His right time, He will reveil it to you.
2006-09-07 16:31:19 · answer #8 · answered by CarrieJean 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
what is universal goodness?
you may have your ideas on right and wrong, but are they the same as mine?
though an unbeliever, i do recognise that religion has shaped very extensively our ideas of morality.
prehaps your belief in the existance of a "universal goodness" is a result of religion itself?
2006-09-07 16:31:54 · answer #9 · answered by xzang 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Without God there IS no universal goodness. Love is the only universal goodness and He IS love.
2006-09-07 16:21:30 · answer #10 · answered by married_so_leave_me_alone1999 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋