If humans were immortal, would there be a need for religion?

Question

Since people are not immortal, does it follow then that religion evolved primarily as a coping mechanism to deal with death?

Maybe I should say spirituality, instead of religion.

Answer 1

(I asked this almost identical question)

A need - no. Would religion still exist - yes. Death is only one of the great unanswered mysteries that grants religion its power.

The first evidence of religious beliefs in early man seems to coincide with when people first began to mourn/revere the dead. This is a fairly significant turning point in social development. It means people perceived the world of the living as a separate place from the world of the dead. Around this same time, we were also struggling to understand the causes of natural phenomenon.

There is a fine, yet distinctive dividing line between directly sensing an impending rainstorm and knowing it's about to rain when you see the dark clouds rolling in, feel the drop in temperature, etc. Once humans began to OBSERVE things and assign causality, the phenomenon known as critical thinking was born.

Undoubtedly, smarter humans seized on the opportunity to explain events because it would grant them a superior position among their clan (more food, women, prestige, etc.) The problem was, there were some things that our early, primitive brains just couldn't grasp, hence there were some things these early wise men just couldn't explain. This was a big problem because anything unknown could be a potential threat. FEAR was still the most instinctual feeling we had. Fear kept us alive (as it does most animals) for millions of years, but comfort and pleasure were much more preferable, so fear would only be cast aside if there was an overwhelming sense of security.

Faced with losing their privileged positions, these men had to think of explanations for all the phenomenon that were beyond their grasp in order to allay the clans fears, so in one fell stroke, the SUPERNATURAL WORLD was created. Anything that couldn't be explained through direct observation COULD be explained through deities, demons, spirits, etc. It was a perfect solution. Of course, the wise men were the connection to the supernatural world, and ONLY THEY could make this connection.

As the centuries passed, the wise men coveted their (limited) knowledge, which was passed verbally from teacher to student, or father to son, but at the same, they never expanded on it. It became DOGMA, and thus the first religions were born. Since supernatural explanations worked so well, there was no reason to "rock the boat." At the same time, through endless repetition, the wise men began to believe their own press. Certainly there must be gods and spirits that don't want us to know certain things, otherwise we, the wisest men, would know them. They believed there were questions that simply must not be asked, and the phenomenon known as TABOO was born.

As all this was taking place, the wise men (aka shaman, priests, spirit guides, medicine men) were beginning to understand that by organizing their beliefs, they could dispense them to the people as a means of CONTROL. Theology became the first non-violent, systematic way to govern populations. And, it was actually quite an effective means to control people for thousands of years.

Fortunately, you can't suppress human curiosity. As hard as the theocracy's tried, they couldn't prevent the common man from questioning. As pervasive a means of control as fear is, curiosity is still stronger. Men (and women) wanted to know WHY. Why is knowledge of the supernatural world reserved for the priests? They began to think, "maybe its because there are NON-THEISTIC explanations for things, and our religious leaders don't want us to know them." These people (naturalists) began, once again, to explore the natural world, and the more they studied, the more they learned that there WERE rational explanations for things. Science was born.

Slowly, painfully, the scientific world emerged, evolved, and began to take us out of the dark ages of supernatural nonsense, and into the light age of logic and reasoning. At first, theology fought science every step of the way. Scientists were branded heretics, agents of the devil, demons, witches, wizards, subverts, enemies of the state, crackpots, and every other manner of evil-doer.

What religion couldn't control, however, was the innate common sense of the average person to recognize the absurdity of supernatural explanations in light of rational, evidential ones. As science began to change the world for the better, and the inherent equality of all people became an accepted belief, the theocratic governments lost their power over the populations, until eventually they were replaced. Organized religion took a back seat to individual human rights in the majority of the world.

To this day, people look to one form of science or another for the majority of answers in life.

HOWEVER, there are still a few areas that science, although it is trying hard, has not been able to explain. Some major ones are:

Why is there existence instead on non-existence?
Where did the universe come from, and why?
What is the meaning/purpose of existence?
How did life start (on earth)?
Is the universe infinite?
Is there a god/creator?
What happens when we die?

Most reasonable people understand that these questions teeter between science and philosophy, and there have been many non-scientific, as well as non-religious, explanations offered. Nevertheless, theology still regards these areas as its exclusive domain, beyond the realm of science, and ruthlessly defends the position that "god" is the only possible explanation/answer that humans should accept.

But we already know that humans, being human, will never be satisfied with this dogmatic, provincial answer, and we will continue to search until we find the truth. Religion, naturally, is terrified of this day, for it will represent the dying gasp of a once powerful, nonsensical institution which has suppressed and unjustly held sway over humanity for (too many) thousands of years.

Answer 2

religion evolved using death as a tool of fear but not for coping .
and immortality does not necessitate intelligence and good judgment . A damn fool might continue in stupidity forever .
the need for religion is a misleading assertion religion was formed of manipulative means by monarchs in collusion with powerful religious hypocrites to oppress the people. the spirit of morality and ethics does much better without corrupt theists trying to channel their will into the people and enslaving their good minds to the point of failing to function properly

Answer 3

True religion is caring for the widows and the orphans. So yea, there is a need for religion. To deal with death?! Ha! That's God's job! Woo Hoo, oh boy am I glad too! That's a job for The Soverign Lord. Amen.

Answer 4

Arent we immortal? Nobody can kill the soul.We just need to realize that we are one with God. Death is just a transition, where we left behind denser part of us to evolve into a much more higher frequency. Which is our soul, and to be one with God.

Answer 5

Why is it atheists think that religion is only there for life after death? It's also a way of living and a way of life.

There are more things in the new testemant on how to LIVE then on what happens when you die.

Answer 6

Probably not to the same extend as it has. Humans are the only animals aware of the fact that we are going to die, we unconsciously spend our entire lives trying to solidify ourselves after we've gone in order to make meaning out of everything. One of the ways to do that is religion and the idea that there is some invisible sky daddy somewhere out there.

Answer 7

I believe we are immortal and we need religion to explain how to become that potential, the problem is that the religions often become so tainted we throw it all out and lose ourselves completely, with no guidance......

Answer 8

There would be no need. The religion business would declare Chapter 11.

Answer 9

your soul IS immortal......that is the whole point.

no religion is not a "crutch" as you perceive it to be....

it is just the opposite in fact....it is often a cross to bear...as jesus warned.

a sinless man wound up dead nailed on a cross....does that sound like a crutch to you...or a coping comfort for death????

Answer 10

that is EXACTLY the purpose of religion. the first religious evidence we have is based on burial. then, developed the god for fertility. if we were immortal, we wouldnt need to die or reproduce, and that takes away the 2 largest fucntions of god.