Why do people think they need religion?

Question

Can't people see that religion was just created to scare people and keep the low and uneducated fighting with each other so the higher-ups could stay in power?

The Bible was not written by God, it was written by men, with the purpose of controlling people unable to think for themselves. And today it's still working.

And why do religious people think that their kids need religion to learn morals? You can teach your kids to be good people without religion. And furthermore, religion teaches kids the undertones of religion, such as hypocrasy. "It's okay to speak out against gays, as long as you keep your own gay liasions secret."

And how can people say that Jesus being nailed to a cross is beautiful? You people are sick.

Answer 1

The majority of religion today has most certainly proved to be very hypocritical and has contributed to many of the world's most disgusting tragedies. Many religious leaders have done just what you refer to, in my own words, 'kept the "low" low, caused and/or promoted ignorant war efforts and given undeserving people power to cause harm to others.' I agree that many are still in this vicious cycle today and Jesus referred to people damaged by this kind of thing as "sheep without a shepherd."

When people allow human ideas to dictate their choices and claim their choices are based on scripture this leads to the kinds of things we see in the world today. If you were to take time to study the scriptures themselves you would find that almost all religions claiming to use it as their source of direction are not.

The scriptures themselves, in Revelation chapter 18, refer to the form of religion today as "Babylon the Great," "the great harlot," and describe "her" actions as disgusting and inexcusable. They explain she is involved in "shameless luxury," and that she has 'committed fornication with the governments and the merchants of the world,' referring to the meddling of religion in politics and the huge marketing schemes involved in many of the holidays that are celebrated for religious reasons, but that really fleece people of their hard-earned money.

So, I, though being someone who respects the scriptures and has a reverence for God, agree with much of what you said. I've spoken with many people such as yourself who are disgruntled with the atrocities committed in the name of religion and who have found a source of comfort and hope when they take a moment to reflect on the scriptures themselves.

It is possible to find "the true religion." But you have to look at the "blue print" to find it. Just like people who work in a bank are trained to identify counterfeit money, not by studying EVERY SINGLE trick a counterfeiter might use, but by becoming extremely familiar with the "genuine article," millions of people worldwide have been able to identify the "true religion" through a careful and diligent study of God's Word to find the many huge differences between mainstream religion today and the truth found in the scriptures.

Some identifying marks of "true religion" are:

1) Base their teachings on the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16, 17)
2) Worship only Jehovah and make his name known (Psalm 83:18; Matthew 4:10; John 17:6)
3) Show genuine, unselfish love for one another (John 13:35)
4) Accept Jesus as God's means of salvation (Acts 4:12)
5) No part of the world (John 18:36)
6) Preach that God's Kingdom is mankind's only hope (Matthew 24:14; Psalm 146:3; Daniel 2:44)

In answer to your question about morals, the very idea of what is moral and what is not comes from the Holy Scriptures. A person may choose to inculcate such morals into their children without giving credit to their origin, but that doesn't erase the fact that "morality" is a word from the Bible itself and the conscience that dictates, in general, people's ideas of what is right and wrong is part of our design as humans.

Finally, when people refer to the representation of Jesus' death as "beautiful" I doubt most people are referring to the graphic image itself. The beauty of it is in the meaning behind it. He was a perfect man who did not deserve to die and who could have done great things as a perfect human being on earth, but he chose to give it all up in a painful, humiliating way so that others could have the hope of forgiveness of sins and therefore everlasting life in the future. That is what is beautiful.

Answer 2

>>>Why do people think they need religion?<<<

I don't follow my religion -- Roman Catholicism -- because I think I need it. I follow it because it leads me to God.

>>>Can't people see that religion was just created to scare people and keep the low and uneducated fighting with each other so the higher-ups could stay in power?>>>

What's your factual basis for this claim, especially in light of the fact that 99.9 percent of people who follow a religion live in peace with each other?

>>>The Bible was not written by God, it was written by men,>>>

Yes, it was, but under the general guidance of God.

>>>with the purpose of controlling people unable to think for themselves.>>>

How, then, to explain the millions and millions of converts to Christianity -- by people who used to be atheists, and who are fully capable of thinking for themselves?


>>>And why do religious people think that their kids need religion to learn morals? You can teach your kids to be good people without religion.>>>

Wow, it sounds like you're trying to force your atheism and secularism on people. Why not show a little tolerance?

If kids are taught morality through religion and end up being good people as a result, what's it to you? Mind your business, no offense.

>>>And furthermore, religion teaches kids the undertones of religion, such as hypocrasy. "It's okay to speak out against gays, as long as you keep your own gay liasions secret.">>>

Where I come from, we have a word for people who stereotype and judge an entire group of people based on the misbehavior of one or of a few. We call them "bigots."

>>>And how can people say that Jesus being nailed to a cross is beautiful?>>>

I'm a lifelong Catholic -- and I've been around for just about 42 years -- and never once have I heard the actual crucifixion of Jesus being described as "beautiful."

>>>You people are sick.>>>

More intolerant judgmentalism. I hope you're happy with yourself.

.

Answer 3

Religions are organisations that pander to the worst of human weaknesses:

#1. They provide a heinously simple and non-thought-requiring "answer" to just about everything... typically snapped right out of thin air and offering the "faith" excuse instead of true justification.

#2. They provide gratification for the most selfish elements of the human psyche by promising rewards to the conformists and punishment to everyone else... further emphasizing the classic "us and them" mentality and an unjustified feeling of self-righteousness.

#3. They take the responsibility of choice and judgement from people with rote morality and convenient scapegoat icons...

#4. They provide a distracting and idealistic fantasy from the cold knife-edge that is reality. Everything is made conveniently "to order" as opposed to the chaotic and undirected nature of the true Universe.

#5. They also serve the human need to fill time with pointless ritual and random compulsions under the guise that they serve some purpose... beyond being purely symbolic of their lack of individuality.


Thats the long and the short of it.
The even shorter of it is simply this:
Religion is a plague, and needs to go the same way as smallpox.

Answer 4

In a word, control. People think that without a terrible threat hanging over their heads, other people won't behave themselves. Christians are particularly guilty of this sort of dehumanizing, belittling and demonizing attitude. Of course, they themselves are so naturally good that they really don't need the threat posed by a vengeful god (so they reason) but they go along with the charade in order to keep up the illusion in the eyes of "lesser men". Or, in other words, your understanding is right on! Isn't it amazing that the United States, the most Christian nation in the world, has the highest percentage of any nation's population in prison? Guess the Almighty Terrorist Up Above isn't scary enough to keep all these Good Christians on the straight and narrow, huh? Gotta hire cops and judges and jailers after all...

Answer 5

I am Jewish so I don't think seeing Jesus nailed to a cross is beautiful. I think you have missed the point here and I feel compelled to defend my brothers and sisters of the Catholic faith. It is the fact that He had to pay the ultimate price for his teachings of love and still the teachings are as relevant today as they were then. For someone not to agree that he was the most important man that led to the development of true humanity is really not with it, Sure you can teach your kids to be good people but How. Without religion there would be no guidelines and we Must respect Moses and Jesus who gave us these guidelines. God loves you and so do I.

Answer 6

People buy religion because they are pathetic enough to need a reason to somehow give meaning to their lives. For some reason they need to feel superior to the less evolved forms of life, much the way a bigot will downplay some minority to make themselves feel superior, even when they are not. The first sign a species is becoming sentient is when they have evolved to the point where they can abstract enough to invent a god. The first time a species achieves sentient maturity is when they get rid of their gods.

Answer 7

I don't. I'm an atheist. I have no need for such superstition.

People think they need religion because they've been told they need it. Religion plays on human insecurities to gain converts. If you look at their arguments, you'll find that it is mostly emotional manipulation. This is very effective because humans have been emotional animals far longer than rational ones.

They also try to indoctrinate kids into the religion at a young age. This is easy to do and makes it hard for the kids to break out of at a later age.

Answer 8

I really wish you would watch this film, then answer your own question. Even email me. Because without following what you are supposed to in the bible, you will not go to heaven. I also teach christianity to my children, because I want them in heaven with me, not burning in hell for eternity. If you watch this film you will know all there is to know to get into heaven. That is if you dare to watch. I think some people are just set in there ways of not believing because that is what you were taught. How different is that for us who DO teach our children there is a God and a life that will be eternally beautiful. There is also a link to show facts of why the bible is true versus scienctific reasons.

Answer 9

I think Jesus nailed to a cross is beatifull and sad. Beautifull because He loved me that much to do that for me and sad because people like you can't see the beauty.

I don't need religion but I need God. I'll shout it out from the rooftops if you want. I know it doesn't matter how much money I have in the bank, how many diplomas I have on my wall and how many people I helped this week. Because as far as you are concerned, because I am religious, I am stupid and weak. How fortunate I am not to have your intelligence and strength.

Answer 10

Many people don't like high education, philosophy and religion...because these high learnings don't promise immediately any physical benefits. The number of learners in these fields is still very small now.
But with the advancement of the new world civilization, man will realize that they are not living just with bread, but with higher thoughts concerning the One True God. Man is created with the seeds of the attributes of God, so he will return to God in glory.
In the eternity of God, 6000 years of human history is still very very short.

Answer 11

Let them be! Would you blame a cripple for being in need of crutches? Others are so indolent that they ignore their own healthy limbs and go for props like religion. Whichever way, one can only hope that they would, some day, become mature enough (in their limbs) to let go of such props and crutches; then would they begin to live! And only then would the Truth set them free of religious dogmas!