What do you think of religion: A genuine way of searching for truth or delusion that makes people feel good?

Question

I'm thinking about writing a paper on this topic for a class and just want to know what people think.

Answer 1

It can be both. There are genuine spiritual seekers who do so through the format of an organized religion. There are also those who seek to abdicate their need to make decisions and use religion as an excuse, in order to escape personal responsibility, or feeling, or something related. In this way, the beliefs become a delusion *for them*. They never really get close, although they can see what they want, it must be very frustrating. Some, in their frustration, lie and denegrate others into believing that any other person's way is wrong. It's very unfortunate and sad.

Religion, like most everything in this world, is a shades-of-gray thing!

My personal opinion is that a spiritual quest is probably best undertaken outside of organized religion, because there is so much tendency for those who are at the upper levels to use their power to control, even very subtlely, sometimes not so much. But again, that's not for everyone, although I live in the hope that perhaps someday it might be.

Peace.

Answer 2

I think it is the latter. A delusion. As its been said religion is the opium of the people. ( like a drug) People love to be sheep and love to be told what to do. That way when things don't go well they can say it was in someone else's hands. Religion is about power and control. Money is nothing in many religions but power well, that can change the world. It in some ways is better than money, religion is so powerful it has been used to instigate war, and many other atrocities.

i think that would be a fascinating topic for a paper.

Answer 3

I think that it's a genuine way of searching for truth. If it were a delusion that makes people feel good, then what's the point of living. To any religion, living is the worst thing that can happen to them. But because they're put on earth, they have to live on it. In a Christian sense, if you kill yourself, it's breaking one of the Ten Commandments; Thou shalt not murder. (murdering yourself) And in a Buddhist sense, you need to work for your salvation; the good deeds you do to reincarnate into a better being.

Answer 4

I'll choose Delusion. While religion can provide some good (helping feed the poor, etc.), it is often the catalyst for evil (see Crusades, Jihad, etc.). Even the "good" deeds are often done while trying to recruit new believers and expanding the power base that comes with the larger congregation. No one wants to be responsible for their existance, so it is easier to say that something is "God's Will."

Answer 5

Before the age of enlightenment in the sciences, math, arts and new scientific discoveries, religion was a way for the stone age people to explain their evironment and how and why things happened.

Answer 6

well I'm a strong christian teen that hangs out with a whole bunch of atheist even my girl friend doesn't believe in god but the way i see it is religion is something made to give us a reason to live.. we need explanation on certain worldly events and most of the time religion can give us these answers. but i strongly believe every thing my religion teaches me when others tell me its not real. hey what do i got to lose.

Answer 7

Definitely a delusion. The defining characteristic of a religious person is that you can give him the truth, and back it with all the scientific evidence in the world, and he won't believe it: he will stick with his comfort pabulum.

Answer 8

I think that it is a genuine way of searching for and knowing the truth for yourself.

Answer 9

Everyone needs to justify life, either in their own minds with their own thoughts or as a religion tells them, Contemplating existance can be scarey if you do not have religion to fall back on

Answer 10

All I can give you; even though, I have a faith, is that religion is only title to the faith I believe in and that is all. Other words could've have been used, yet religion was the word that was settled on.
Does my religion make me feel good? No; only I can make myself happy.
Religion is only a dilusion when people depend upon it to make them feel happy and, or good.