What are the main purposes of religion in general?

Answer 1

The main purpose of religion has always been to explain the unexplainable. The human species as it has evolved, has to know why things happen and wants to know what happens after death. This has remained a constant throughout our evolution. Most of our population would rather accept the ridiculous than face the unknown.

This desire for an answer to why has lead to persons who say they know why, and therefore they know how to control whatever the question is about. Why are we here? Why did that bad thing happen? Why am I sick? Why is there a drought? They also say they know what happens when we die, and can tell us how to avoid an eternity of damnation for our misdeeds in our less than 100 years most of us spend here. Because these answers are the most often asked, the few with the answers can wield great power

Tribal religious entities throughout history have used a combination of show and ceremony to affect changes in either the person (casting evil out) or the environment (rain dances, sacrifice, etc.)

These Shaman etc. have evolved into the modern day religious leaders. The answers are different in modern times thanks to Science, but the basic questions are all still the same. Ceremony and showmanship is still universally employed. There are still demons to be exercised, one is reborn in baptism, and funerals send our loved ones to a better place.

The use of religion, however is a completely different question. Religions are used by their leaders to promote their own social status and financial well-being, and to control the masses through guilt and fear. Guilt about our imperfections as reported to us by the leaders or their designates and fear of a fate worse than death after we die.

Answer 2

I think the main purposes are to manage, arrange and direct human's life into the harmony's life.

Answer 3

properly by using very fact many Christian "traditions" were accompanied substitute into by using fact they have been attempting to charm to different religions/cults/communities/etc. Christmas wood, prayer beads, wedding ceremony jewelry, etc have all been diversifications of previous cultures that could have been seen "unholy" and not user-friendly to the fundamentalists on the time. So i could say that fundamentalism is damaging to the upward push of religion as faith relies upon on the assumption of alluring to human beings.

Answer 4

Religion teaches a better way of life in simple.

Answer 5

Unity/Community

Connecting with others who have similar values/beliefs

Sense of comfort

Hope in a greater good

Spirituality/ Mental health

Doesn't matter what religion....they are all created for the same reasons.

Answer 6

1. Honor thy God.
2 Provide laws by which we all can live as a cohesive society.

Answer 7

i think to have fear of god while performing any bad deeds .. well for example u r about to kill someone , before u do it u remember god and stop killing the person. religion is there to keep u honest, truthful...etc

Answer 8

I would say that subdue your negative mind and create the atmosphere of love and compassion !

Answer 9

to have emotional control and fear over the weak minded masses, in order to more easily control!, and to be voluntary dictatorships, controled by clergy and politicians.

Answer 10

to help mankind... enlighten them if u will...