I dont understand how people can get so caught up in their religion that they refuse to accept the beleifs of anyone else. I mean when it comes down to it, we all know NOTHING. The whole religious stories and wutnot are mere myths. How is it that we undoubtfully beleive the story of Adam and Eve and the snake as the TRUTH but we dont beleive in Cinderella. I mean we don't know! So wuts the point of the billion religions out there- all so different and contradicting? It makes no sense to me.
2006-10-18 12:38:53 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Sociology
Religions in are often required to answer the theodicy questions (justification of God). Why are we here, for what purposes, what happens to me when i die, why is there suffering. Those are the main ones, and humanity has needed answers for most of its history (only recently are we seeing a movement toward a lack of necesity to these basic metaphysical questions).
Depending on who you ask you get different answers, for some in sociology, religion was an opiate to keep the masses in their place. For others it was important to keep social order and prevent social dynamics from getting out of hand. Still for others it was the hope of society, that along with the sciences a better society could be created.
Part of the problem with many more rigid faiths is that you have to be able to take seemingly problematic issues and believe in them wholeheartledy in order to be devoted to a specific code or deity. It is a bit of you cant take the bits and pieces one likes and completely disregard the others. Still its important to recognize there are many out there who are not so antagonistic about their religion and are very open to others interpretations or beliefs.
But many people have to "know" otherwise they cant garner the security that having prescribed answers to their theodicy questions give them.
Lastly, religion is a social creation, societies determine what is revealed to them by their specific gods. As there have been quite a few societies in play at some point in history, there have necesarily been quite a few gods as well.
i think i tackle everything there in piecemeal, an important thing to consider at least in my opinion, for the majority of believers still, despite the increasingly vocal fundamentalist element, are just trying to find some security in an increasingly frightening world. Why not let them find it? Even if we cant know if its right or wrong if it provides someone with peace and doesnt hurt you or i, does it have to be so bad?
2006-10-19 00:19:57 · answer #1 · answered by blindog23 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As an Atheist I see it like this.
People have fears, the religion that answers their fear in a way they LIKE is the way they lean. Once a religion has the slightest hold on anyone, further indoctrination is easy. If you are afraid of hell and I can convince you there is no hell, then I can probably convince you that instead of hell you go to a rose garden and serve some time before you go to a really nice place for eternity.
Now that I have converted you to my religion, would you please put 10% of you annual salary in the offering plate. Oh yeah, religion is there to make money, lots and lots of money that is both tax free and untraceable.
Everything, and I do mean everything done by any church I have ever seen, studied or been a part of is about one thing and only one thing. Separating people from their money, as much of their money as is humanly possible and in as short a time as is humanly possible.
They will give you a hundred reasons for their existence but listen carefully and you will begin to disassemble them in minutes.
Born Methodist
Raised Presbyterian
Ordained Universal
Now an Atheist.
2006-10-18 20:11:21 · answer #2 · answered by gimpalomg 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are two kinds of belief. There's the instinctual belief that we all have of something beyond the explained, where we believe in things like luck or get afraid of the dark without a good reason, things where we get a little overimaginative like that. The organized religious kind of belief is to help us cope with our imaginations and make sense of our otherwise irrational hopes and fears. We believe in religions because we don't want to be in a world where our minds are just totally screwed up; we'd much rather have a reason. Also, religion serves as a community, bringing people of similar backgrounds together. Sameness, or at least similarity, is comforting, and community can become an extremely important part of one's sense of self. The same sort of thing can be found going on in sports leagues, clubs, political parties, ethnicities, etc. People can get downright murderous over sports (like, notably, soccer [football for Europeans]) because they identify very strongly with their chosen community, because they believe in their team. People can very easily get murderous over their race, too. It should be no surprise that religions can become the cause of fanaticism.
2006-10-18 19:54:52 · answer #3 · answered by Fenris 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At its best religion provides a sense of hope and a place of sanctuary for people.
At its worst, well, look around you, it can get pretty bad. The vast majority of the wars and suffering this world has seen have their roots in religion. More specifically, the side affect of religion where people think that their belief is the only "correct" belief and therefore everyone else must be wrong. From there, its a slippery slope because once you think you are better than someone else, you separate from them. Separation leads to ignorance, ignorance to fear, fear to anger, and then anger to hate. And I think we all know what hate leads to...
2006-10-18 22:00:20 · answer #4 · answered by Westward 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From what I've come to understand, religion serves the same purpose as politics and sports: it's a means to group people and unite said group under a common thought base.
Although in the case of politics and religion, it can also be a means to control people.
2006-10-18 20:33:25 · answer #5 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am Catholic. Yes, I am into my religion. No, the Bible is not a myth. I do not deny other people their beliefs. All I can do is try to be informed about my own beliefs if I am asked. And, comparing religion to fairytales is so way off base. Everyone has to believe in something....and I believe I will go to Heaven. Hope you get get over your fears and maybe I will see you there......
2006-10-18 19:44:02 · answer #6 · answered by Kiddo 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if you know the meaning of facts and myth (fairy tales)... cause myths are stories which were not done... it was just made from the imagination of some people... while the stories in the BIBLE were believed to be true and factual... when it comes to religion, well, for me it's not important... cause religions is only the sect or organization where you belong... the most important is your RELATION to God... how are you related with HIM, or what you feel about HIM, and what you could do for HIM is what matters...
2006-10-18 19:47:53 · answer #7 · answered by danieldenzel2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
and there is such a thing as santa, the easter bunny and the tooth fairy. More to the point why do kids have to attend RE lessons at school, what a waste of time!
2006-10-18 19:47:21 · answer #8 · answered by untanuta 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion was formed for a couple of reasons...
I think one of them is how to cope with death (afterlife sounds good, ay?)
The other is an aid to discipline...an ideal of how to live
Finally, it is a quest to see where we all came from.
It does do good things if you strive to higher ideals...It is not all bad.
2006-10-18 19:48:04 · answer #9 · answered by Robin F 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
gurl, they dont make sence ta me neither!!! i really dont worship anyone. i believe there is a god- but i aint into all that sh*t!!! feel me?
2006-10-18 19:41:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋