Why we believe in religion?

Answer 1

People choose religion because they believe that they can earn their way out of dying, and more they can earn a golden ticket straight through the pearly gates. Or even a ticket back to earth. Depends on which version of the same lie you buy.

Somewhere along the way, humanity bought into the idea that 'immortality' is attainable. Since then we have been dishonest with ourselves that it's true and if we just tick all the boxes on any given religion's sign-up form, we will not die.

Think the new world religion should be 'Truth'. If we don't know what happens after death - why don't we just be honest and say that we don't know. Why lie?

As for religion being the 'Opium of the masses'? True enough - people are addicted to it, they lose their sanity without it, and even tell lies to cover up the facts. Living in reality is no easy task - it takes courage to admit you don't have the answers, and that there are alot of unknowns. There is no great big man in the sky feeding your mind telepathically with answers to life.

Religion deals specifically with dodging reality - It's too damn harsh.

Answer 2

Originally, it most likely comes from attempts to explain things that don't have clear explanations. Before electricity was understood, how do you explain lightning? Before weather could be predicted, how do you explain drought? Before biology was understood, how do you explain why there are different species of animals, or why are humans considered special (by humans)?

In less ancient times, it's really mostly a political tool. Churches go up, people go in, church tells them things, people believe and fear the threat of hellfire, or whatever. Governments are run by people, those early-taught belief structures have a very strong influence, so at the end of the day, the Church and those associated with it have a lot of influence by riding the religion.

People tend to believe in things because they think they need to, or they were indoctrinated so young they don't see the other ways, or sometimes even because they really, truly believe in whichever religion they've gone for. For the true believers I cannot say what makes them believe. For the rest, at some level they probably see it as harder to live without some god, or set of gods (or the lack of any god, though atheism is a special case) to believe in than it is to accept life without them.

Answer 3

Good question ..my people still have miscoceptions of the term religion itself. Religion(as interpreted today) is a part of set of conduct set by a society. Society doesnt mean merely a group of people...it in effect means that group of people who have
1. Common way of thinking
2. Common way of worship
3. Common way of life
Once these things are in place the society as a whole grows.
Philosophies like Hinduiasm (as called now) encompasses way of thinking, way of life and way of worship. But today people have reduced it to only way of worship and this has led to crarks and communal riots.
Its a proverb from Vedas that "dharme rakshetee rakshita" that is if you save your religion u can save yourself. Again this is misinterpreted cause dharma that is religion which normally encompasses the above 3 ways, is often reduced to mean only way of worship.
If we look in the broader aspect and include way of life and way of thinking then we have scope for getting every one togather in one thinking hat. Every religion has common principles that can help us grow and develop. It is we who neglect and just blindly "believe" what others say in name of religion. If we study our religion and have an open mind to study ther religion we would understand why religions came in at the very first place and why our ancestors believed and intellectually followed it.

Answer 4

Only the misdirected and weak-minded believe in religion. They are held captive to it due to the long multi-generational traditions of their regional cultures from Hinduism to Catholicism. No where can the One True God be found in any "religion", for He is not the author of it. In fact, it is a detestable thing to God, calling it the "Whore of Fornications." Religion is authored by the "Other".

Answer 5

We do not believe in religion. People who genuinely believe and follow in toto can be counted on fingers. We only want to belong to a group - it is groupism mentality which makes us profess belief in a particular religion.

Answer 6

The irrationality of religion has a scientific basis. It goes back to our cave man days when man was very insecure living in a hostile environment. The cerebral cortex of our brain (the complex thinking apparatus) is a relatively recent addition.

The more primitive underlying limbic system, the seat of our ancient emotions or innate temperaments, is in all of us. Humans use both systems. In times of trouble, people still pray for intervention by the god(s). Prayers are requests by persons to have the laws of the universe repealed in their favor.

People who are rational, relying on their cerebral cortex, look at all the absurdities in religion. Christian dogma expects people to believe the fairy tale of Noah's ark, although it is patently impossible to squeeze even samples of billions of the world's animals into one small ark. Rational persons consider such stories ludicrous.

The bible account of the creation of man and the universe is in such contradiction to irrefutable facts that a rational person cannot help but laugh about such fantasies.

Have you heard the saying "there's no atheists in foxholes?" Its because in times of danger, humans revert to the primitive part of their brain for security. We needed religion to survive in a hostile universe back in the cave man days.

Answer 7

Many do not outgrow the familial situation and desire a father figure to teach and guide them. Besides, it removes a lot of responsibility from them. Organized religion is all about power.

Answer 8

Religion is the process of the self to see the false as false to arrive to what is true.
This movement is true action to free the mind from all illusion.

Religion is not organization, or group of people.

Our problem is we don't see the false as false or we are not really religious.

A true religious mind is not anchored to anything, it is free and moving with the truth.

Belief, faith or any movement of the self is not religion.

Answer 9

I think you meant to write , "Why should we believe in religion? The answer is to feel complete and know that there is meaning in life and the afterlife. To live being a skeptic is not really living to one's full potential

Answer 10

I was born into this religion but once I matured I had an oppurtunity to choose whichever religion I found good or becom an athiest. We believe in religion cos its always good for us to know tht there is God who is supreme , who will guide & protect us in difficulties, who is our provider.