Do we fall to religion because of its magic?

Question

I'm a history teacher who I suppose you could classify as a "debunker".

The other day I was studying the battle of Thermopalye in which 300 Spartans fought to the death against millions of Persians. I found that the Greeks had many men from many cities numbering closer to 5,600 and that the Persians would never have been able to logistically support an army of that magnitude so their numbers were more likely closer to 100,000. Learning this took a lot of the magic away from teaching my class about the Spartans. I was more then a little disapointed

Is a persons need to believe in magic what drives them to religion? Do we all need a sea parting, divine cave conversations, or men who walk on water in order to give meaning and more importantly excitement to our lives?

Because I must admit, that being an atheist is fairly boring when compared to the a strong man who kills a thousand philistines with a donkey's jawbone or a man coming back from the dead.

Your thoughts?

Answer 1

I watched a special abut religiousmagic tricks on the HIstory channel last night...so it is funny that you asked this question today!

It showed the way that they made doors of the temple swing open when the altar heated up enough, how they made fake thunder, statues moan and talk, and chariots levitate at certain times of the day. That was all egyptian and greek...then the Christian cult came onto the scene. All of the religious shams were to get people to come to the houses of worship and to donate their money!

The element of magic and mystique found in religion is very appealing. We all want to see something miraculous an superhuman happen. It is very easy to get sucked into the whole religious magic trap.

Answer 2

The "miraculous" elements of a religion are there to hook the ignorant. It helps them to suspend disbelief - not that they need much help, having zero critical capacity - if the miracles supposedly happened thousands of years ago in a remote location. Of course no pseudo-historical miraculous event, even assuming that it occured as reported, can possibly have any significance for anybody living today. Suppose that Moses DID in fact part the Red Sea. Well, so what? Even from the orthodox idiot standpoint, to insist on a miraculous demonstration to ratify one's faith is viewed as poor sportsmanship (see "Doubting Thomas"); and yet that is evidently the only reason the bible reports such events. "That ye may believe on my name."

The "Christian" will possibly object that the Crucifixion was a species of "miracle" which DOES impact the lives of everybody on the planet today; but that's just lazy Christian dogma. If I insist in turn that the redemption of all mankind was affected by the unique historical event of Buddha's enlightenment under the Bo Tree, there's really nothing to choose, logically, between our claims. Each is antecedently incredible; each requires "faith."

Answer 3

Can I ask you to imagine standing in my shoes and look at things from my point of view for a minute?

Thank you, now

In my view of the world, everything around me, the people I love, the food I eat, the clothes I wear and the money I rely on to keep me fed and protected, are all non eternal. This means, that they are going to end sooner or later.

Now, I have a need to have faith in things in order to survive properly. I need to have faith in my educational background so I can get a better job. I need to have faith in people so I may be able to trust them and have a social life. I need to have faith that the money I have put aside is going to be enough for my retirement but...

One realizes in time...that people can break your trust, money can finish, economies can crumble, health can deteriorate...

And when the things you believed in, fall dead on your feet, the principles you held about the goodness of mankind, the superiority of your wisdom or just about anything you hold dear, stops being there ...you wake up.

You realize that all of this...is much like an illusion. For illusions kid you for a while...make you believe theyre really there...but they end..

Then you start feeling weaker and weaker...the things you trusted are no more.

What do you?

Religion is a need to trust something that doesnt end. To put faith into something that will not die...to believe in the power of something that can never end. Something that isnt a 'lie'.

Much like an escape from a magic illusion, to the truth. The Real. The One thing that does not die.

Now do you understand?

Answer 4

Metaphoric, interpretive language can be convincing because it isn't really a lie but it isn't really truth. It's interpretive. If you have to listen to it enough, you will probably just give up and accept the kooky ideas.

Some people are enamored with the idea of others sacrificing for them -- especially people who love to think of themselves as responsible, good-deed doers who only have society's best interest in mind. Some people enjoy the drama of religion.

Christianity is just another variation on the theme of reincarnation. You might as well worship Shirley MacLaine as Jesus Christ.

Answer 5

Think about it...........this Jesus was suppose to change water to wine or blood, right? A staff to a snake? Is this not magick? Hmmm.....seems to me if this Jesus could do this, that would make him a........"Witch"?......Someone of Magick? Think about it. By the way, how many animals do YOU know that are going to GRAZE in the dead of winter? Hmmmm..... Where is the green grass they were supposedly "grazing" upon? I used to be Christian, but the way of a Christian that I have experienced is hypocritical. Their Bible says do not judge? but they do. I have now been a Pagan/Wiccan for about the last 8 years and have found more inner peace than I ever knew existed. Yes, I have my Gods/Goddesses, my Lords/Lady's.........but, I try not to judge others at all. Our hearts are our paths.......simple as that. We are all going to some place.......just different ways of getting there. Goddess bless you all and Blessed Be......

Answer 6

In a world of harsh reality it is comforting to imagine there is a supernatual and that magical things can happen. My mindset is too focused on logic and reason to believe in such fantasies but I suppose some people are drawn to the delusion.

Answer 7

From what i heard, yes casting spells is not accepted by christianity. It is thought to be the devils work. Some christians don't even allow their children to watch Harry Potter.

Answer 8

I find no magic in my faith in God.. I suppose to a first century person modern science would appear to be magic. So you look at what God does and say "Magic".. I say he know a bunch more than mankind will ever learn and uses His knowledge of science to continue His creative purpose in all the universe in all time.. No Magic... Jim

Answer 9

You are on the right track but are a little off. We do all need something but it is not magic. It is a supreme being. The feeling that we are not alone in the world and that there is something greater than us is what we really all feel inside.

Answer 10

There is a deep spritual hunger in every human being, that has been put there by the creator. All know cultures going back in civilization have some form of deity worship.
I Cr 13;8a
For many people the answer is Christ.