What is the point of religion anyway?

Question

I lead a clean life and satisfy my own demands, what value is there in believing in a higher form of life?

Answer 1

Religion has some good philosophy behind it. You can take a closer look at some of this philosophy found in religion and if you boil it down to more basic components, this is, eliminate all the miracles, angel, appearances, virgin births, prophets, saviors, and rudimentary explanations of natural phenomena, and there is something to be said about us as human beings. A value to believing in a higher form of life?, not really, enjoy this gift of life that nature has bestowed upon us, this place is really great, blue sky, trees, oceans, furry animals, and some good people too. Keep living that clean life and enjoy!

Answer 2

None whatever, if you are satisfying your own demands you won't be needing someone else including a higher form of life to satisfy them for you, but are you really satisfied if you feel the need to ask the question and what about you satisfying someone elses needs or maybe even better, sharing the mutual needs and satisfactions of others.

Answer 3

After reading your elaboration, it screams to me, "Religion is for YOU!" I feel as though religion began because people needed something to believe in. They needed some reason not to murder, rape, steal and committ other unethical acts. Religion was like a nice little cure-all. It brought groups of people together to accomplish something good (yes, this is absolutely a positive aspect, but there is so damned much hypocracy it's almost not worth it!)
It's a shame it has gotten the whole world in an uproar with it's wars and people turning against people. Religion, which should FIX all these problems, is slowly becoming the focal point of them.
Religion, in my opinion, is for the weak minded. People need a way to channel their energies and faith and the spiritual side of their soul, so they turn to solid things rather than nurturing themselves independently.
Does anyone really know what happens when we die? No. Plain and simple. They DON'T KNOW, because those who have passed are no longer here to share their stories.
I feel as though any person with strong free-standing moral values doesn't need religion. They can stand on their own and not cling to ideals set before them in books and stories that contradict themselves. I think religion was put into place thousands upon thousands of years ago so that rulers could keep order among their people. I DO think spirituality is important (whatever that means!), but by way of religion, you can count me out! Too much controversy and no rewards. I'll just be a good person on my own, thank you.

Answer 4

Religion is not about belief. Religion is about symbol.

In my opinion, religions are arguments couched in symbolic, mythic language regarding how people should live together in society. They are not 'belief systems' or an assertion of how the past 'was'. I do not believe much of what the Bible says about Jesus, however, I do believe that the *story* of Jesus is a good myth through which to convey ideals of love, peace, justice, tolerance, sacrifice, and the like. I think that religious language is a compelling way to express these often ephemeral ideals, such that when we talk of Jesus' love we are really talking about the importance of this reciprocal relationship in society. So the benefit of religion is not belief in a higher form of life, but rather the ability to use the powerful symbols of religious language.

Answer 5

that is for most people a personal thing. i for one believe and why is that well i had a near death experience. what i saw and felt is real to me and i know what i know. i been though war and i stop believing and i was mad at the world and GOD. but how can you be mad at something that you say is not there. LOL you cant. well i know that when i child fall from a second floor window and her head was wall buckled in and it popped back out and she is find something helped her. i can not tell you to believe but if all you have is yourself and you fall into a depression who can you call on who can you talk to yell at and cry to? that is what to me is the most important thing i believe i am not alone and there is something out there that love me and will help me. even if it just the thought. in hard time bad time low times and there is not one else around it nice to think that i have that as you call it the higher form. but like i said i know more i seen the devil and i have felt the hate he has for us and the wanting of our soles i have felt the love and good that GOD has for us. so for me it not religion it believe..

Answer 6

IT amazes me how many people try to answer a question such as yours with authority thus: "religion is just an abitrary contrivance of man. end of story."

It would seem that religion's near-omnipresence in cultures (not individuals) validates something about it, affirms something true about it.

The fact is, any of us who can think at some point ask questions about ourselves, our origins, our futures, our fortunes. I don't see other animals doing this. Further, I can think of nothing in our nature or experience that we could analogize to omniscience, omnipresence omnipotence. This said, I have to ask myself: where did this concepts come from if not from our experience?
Religion , when properly observed, does serve a purpose. It reigns our behaviour, because it raises our awareness that we are subject to someone greater than we are. This One sees all, knows all and judges all. A person who really believes this will be deterred from doing many things that he might do otherwise, because his doings would otherwise not be known.

Indeed, it is this last that I believe irks so many. I believe that many vehemently deny a Divinity because they cannot reconcile themselves with the idea of being subject to someone else's will. This is called rebellion last time I checked.

Finally, do not confuse religion itself with people who do evil in the name of religion. Consider for instance, the 17th century European 'religious' wars. If you have not already done so, read closely the primary sources (that way you can interpret the events yourself) of the time. A close reading will reveal that the motivation behind the widespread war was control over land, money and people, NOT the assertion of one doctrine or another. The latter was simply an excuse for self styled religious organizations (who operated more as governments, complete with their own armies) to exert more control.

Answer 7

Karl Marx said that religion was "Opiate for the Masses". I believe that religion is a great way of controlling a lot of people.

Answer 8

i dont know about "religion". but to me, its pretty freaking obvious that we didnt just APPEAR out of nothing. we came from somewhere. the human heart longs to know god whether they realize it or not. i know some atheists say they arent spiritually lonely, but i have a feeling thats not true. its like this: my heart needs to know where i come from, why im here, and where i belong. it hurts without god. it wants to know why it has to hurt.

most of all you want a deeper love. the worlds so cruel these days, its even more evident. but its just that you need to know god and love him and know how much he loves you.

thats why theres "religion". theres a jesus-shaped key hole in your heart.

Answer 9

From where I stand, religion is a way to get answers for questions that don't have answers.

Answer 10

that is great that you live a clean life and you can satisfy your demands, ....read between you own lines, you are making your self out to be a God, maybe in your own mind you are, no matter how good a person is or thinks he or she is, there is always room for improvement, after all, you are only human....and humans tend to do the wrong thing.....and right now you are saying that you are better than everyone else....WOW must be nice to be so perfect......