Why do some people assume if there was no religion that there would be a world of chaos?

Question

What has religion got to do with living your life the best you can?

Not wanting to start any kind of a debate, just curious.

Will: You don't really know that, no one does.

H.B.
The reason we have so much wars and terrorism not is because of the religion factor. Or don't you listen to the news. Having religion or God in the equation is just making everyone hate each other more because they want us to believe their God and we want them to believe theirs.

Brooke: Why then do you call yourself a Christian, if you would do things, bad things, if you werent' afraid you would not get into heaven. That is a very poor excuse for being a Christian, and your God isn't going to look on that very well. Don't you know as a Christian you have to not only live it but believe it as well? Wow, please don't let me be standing by you when the time comes.

Grandma susie:
We have laws to help keep the people and the nation in check. We will always have laws even if we don't have religion.
Can't you see that? (Meant in a nice way, not critical)

moominboy1982: What happened to the parents teaching the children to be moral upstanding citizens? The first place a child should learn morals is at home not in the church by some preacher who will scare the hell out of them by telling them they will go to hell if they don't mind.
Bull Crap

madnoelle: I never thought of that. The world and people have always had some sort of religion. I guess religion helps some people work together better and that makes sense. I personally like the Native American Tribes way of worship. I believe they had it right in many ways.
Thanks for the insite.

Answer 1

I guess people have never existed as a society w/o some sort of religious belief. The ancient Egyptians had their religion, same with the Greeks, and the different Native American tribes. Since existing w/o would be entirely new & different, I assume that's where the chaos theory comes from
But, if a monotheist thinks the world will descend into chaos w/o their particular religion, how on earth do they think societies survived in other lands or during different time periods?

Answer 2

There is an equal possibility of a society descending into anarchy and chaos or remaining stable and functional, many social structures have been formed and are operational in human society dependent upon the systems of government, legislation, justice, morality etc, without the religious process being present, the success of any social model is dependant upon the level of quality present within its individual members producing a collective standard.

It is interesting to note that within nature these same structured social bodies are operating very effectively. bees and ants for example have solid systems and social mechanisms such as division of labour, a class system, a monarchy equivalent etc.

The point that many people make about the co-relation between war and religion is justifiable, but to what degree is this fighting motivated by political/economic agenda's rather then a pure religious platform?

Pure religion and spirituality is another platform entirely and although the anger and frustration that is generated, quite understandably toward the spiritual process when it is maligned with worldly pursuits, is justifiable and reflects keen intellect, we should be careful at the same time, not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

To discuss further:-Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari ([e-mail])

Answer 3

There are things that I know I would do if I weren't a christian. I have morals & live by them because I know I have to to get into heaven. If there were no religion in the world, people would not live a good, moral life because they would not be trying to live right since there would be no place to go when you die. It is natural instinct to be selfish. But people holds back because it is the right thing to do. Without holding back there would be chaos in the simple fact of everyone would be fending for themselves. We would not be able to trust anyone. Not even major coorporations. Because without religion, there are basically no morals, and without morals, people are evil. I'm not saying this discribes everyone.... I'm sure if there were no religion, there would still be good, trustworthy people out there. But there would definitely not be as many as there are today & the evil would take over this world.

********TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION********
You misunderstood me:
I'm not saying that I wish I could live bad & sinful. I love my religion & the way I am because of it. I wouldn't hurt a fly & I am such a loving, forgiving, truthful, CHRISTIAN person. I am saying, our religion keeps us in check. There are times when I want to lie to take the easy way out of situations. You can't tell me you have never done or wanted to do this. Every human being has the urge to sin. That's why living a christian life is so amazing & rewarding. I do not take easy ways out. I do it the right, moral way. And I am so proud of that. I don't do it just because I HAVE to, I do it because I choose because I love my Savior. How dare you say I don't truly "believe". If I didn't believe in christianity, why wouldn't I be athiest? I don't know what religion you are, but in christianity we believe only God can judge us. You do not know me & where I stand with the Lord. I know when I die I am going to be with Him. My point was, if I had been born into a world where there were no such thing as religion, I would do these things that I have the urge to do. As well would everyone else. We wouldn't know not to. Hence, this world would be chaos.

Answer 4

Some people are made to have structure around them. They must have rules. Without rules they just don't know what to do. They go crazy. My 6 year old daughter needs to be reminded once and a while of the rules of polite society.

Nice to see that you see most people as good.

Answer 5

Religious people are afraid of reality so they use religion as a prop to get through life. The world of chaos without religion idea is just a lame rationalization they use to justify their delusion.

Answer 6

Because they need the threat of hell to live their lives in a moral way, whereas some of us just desire to help others and be nice to other people because WE WANT TO. Religious people often assume that non-religious people are evil, when really we are good, because we choose to be, not because we are scarred of something.

Answer 7

Some people feel without a divine moral code people would just go around killing a raping each other. It doesn't make much sense to me but I guess it tells you a little about them.

Answer 8

well without it we (in europe) wouldn't have had the dark ages, the roman empire might've lasted a lot longer etc...

but, then again religion , as a tool for teaching morality , has been very useful in creating the world we live today.

so i agree, that without religion we would be worse off as a world.



EDIT: point to paradise, isnt that kind of thinking which started the christian crusades against muslims? nothing against religion or its followers but please leave your soapbox off-line. :)

melrae1116, if you notice, i used past tense, besides. look around, see many parents instilling decent virtues in their kids? not many i'd bet...

Answer 9

Because those people really believe that they would be out of control maniacs if it weren't for the bible telling them what not to do. It is odd isn't it?

I find that I behave just fine without a book of scripture telling me what is right and wrong.

Answer 10

without religion to lay the original guidelines, who is to say what is wrong and right?
How would you know you aren't supposed to shoot everyone who angers you? If I wanted your car and I took it away from you would Ibe wrong? why? I wanted it. Nobody would live the best they could, because we would all be extremely selfish and even if we were non-violent, there would still be an absence of morals which would leaad to other things worse than violence.