Is religion needed? Every other creature on the planet seems to get on fine without it.?

Question

I mean would it alter our existance if we didn't have religion? Would we be anymore likely to starve or would the advance of man be halted or accelerated? What do you think?

Answer 1

Accelerated, and I often wonder how much more advanced we would be now if it hadn't been for religion.

Answer 2

Although I am a non-believer myself, I can see the value of religion in some people. Many could never face the thought of death if it were not for their religion promising them that death is not the end.
On the other hand all kinds of wars, destruction, misery, poverty, are the result of religion.
As for the animals and other creatures that you mention, we have not yet gotten into the thinking process of any of the many animals. We don't know if they believe in anything beyond the grave. Some day in the distant future we'll be able to get into the thinking mechanism of animals. I believe that we're in for some surprises.
In some ways animals are far smarter than humans. They have the intelligence to use the earth for their own purposes, but leave it as they found it for all the generations to come. We lack that intelligence. we're the great destroyers.

Answer 3

Wow, what's with all of the animal insults (and from a bunch of primates to boot!). Who is to say that other animals don't have a belief system? ANSWER: apparently primates! You are making a lot of assumptions here about the rest of the animal kingdom, he he.

But let's go ahead and assume for a minute... some folks NEED religion, for others, it's the worst thing that ever happened to them. Would it alter our existence if we didn't have it? Sure it would - after all, more people have died in the name of a certain deity than any other name.

As far as the advancement of man, that is a tough one. We spend an awful lot of time on religion that could be better used elsewhere, but then again, many of our greatest advancements have been connected to religion. Healing came from Holy men, not doctors. Pyramids and temples rose into the sky in the name of the Gods.

Great question that is fun to think about.

Answer 4

I think that if religion didn't exist our world would be so much better and peaceful. You don't need religion to tell you the difference between what is right and what is wrong.

I think we would be more likely to take care of one another, Religious people in our time and times past have proven that they are only out for themselves. Or they will only lend their help if they can get you on board to believing what they believe.

We could have system in society that is set up for all personality types to have an equal share. One of the many reasons that did not happen is because the 'I'm holier than you, so I deserve more' attitude.

Look at what the xtains did to the natives and Inuit in Canada. I cringe every time I hear of someone of native blood who has accepted something other than their natives beliefs.

Answer 5

Actually, while it may not be religion, there is superstition in the animal kingdom.

There was a study, I forget the name, on behavioral psychology, really basic stuff: a cage full of pigeons, a button to peck that dispenses food. One day the researcher forgot to turn off the food dispenser- it was set to randomly distribute food when the button wasn't set up. He returned to find the pigeons doing strange things: one was constantly turning in circles, another bobbing it's head in strange patterns. He finally figured out that somehow, the pigeons had figured out what they were doing when the food was dispensed and so had a firm belief that doing such again would cause food to be dispensed, just like people who have a lucky number, or who pray and then receive what they had prayed for by coincidence, or kids who have Mom check under the bed to ensure there's no monsters.

Answer 6

Religion is certainly not needed. In fact, religion gives out more negative than positive effects. For example, the world now. Many countries are divided because of religion. Those which are not are divided with other nations because of religion. If we had never known religion, this planet would be a whole lot more peaceful and pleasant to live in.

Answer 7

I'm an atheist and seem to be getting along fine, and better than some.
some people just need the moral support, so if we didn't have some sort of religion our process as a whole could be slowed down, although i don't believe it would have to do with divine intervention.

Answer 8

I think it's not religion that we need ...it is spirituality and a relationship with our creator. He has control over all the creatures on this planet but expects us to care for them. Personally I wouldn't think that life would have much meaning without a spiritual side to it.

Answer 9

We are wired for worship. Everyone worships something.

If it is not the living God it is some sort of idol.

Think about it. When you go to a concert and see peoples hands raised, lighters (or cell phones) lite up in the air...that is worship.

Follow the trail of where you time and money are spent...and there you will find an alter, on that alter your god.

Is it...material things that are your god, i.e. money, house, cars, boats, etc.? Is it lust for your body or someone else? Video games, TV and there are many, many more.

I prefer to worship my Creator, the living God.

BTW, religion is man's way of trying to reach God.

Relationship is God's way of reaching man, through Jesus Christ.

Do we need religion, no...we don't. We do need Jesus Christ.

Answer 10

No it is not needed. We would be better off without it. It is religion and firm believers that cause so much war in this world. Think about the Holocaust, also Bush thought god was telling him there were WMDs.

Religion keeps us traditional and not functional, wihout it we would progress so much faster.