2007-03-03 08:54:06 · 21 answers · asked by mansiho 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
excellent question. I think it's because a lot of people are forcably taken from their beds each week and dragged to church, synagogue, what have you, and have their parents religious beliefs shoved down their throats throughout their lives. They learn nothing else to judge those forced beliefs against.
I used to be one of them: church every bloody Sunday. Now I question everything, including the bible. I am allowed to do that and no religious fanatic has the right to point their finger at me and accuse me of not believing in God. Belief in god, and not following a religion are two separate things.
2007-03-03 09:02:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Religion makes me feel free and happy. Mostly. Rules are important for society to function properly, and that's the type of thing I have learned from my religion. There are some simple guidelines that help people get along better. That's all, kiddo. So when I feel like doing something that is not within the rules, it's still my choice, and I bear the consequences.
This is a really complex question to be so brief.
Would we be happy with people running around lawless doing as they pleased? No. Because that means the bullies would always win instead of just sometimes.
Like the rule we have about washing. We are supposed to wash up a lot as Muslims. And now current science tells us that this kills germs that are harfmul to us. It might be annoying, but it's good for us.
Prayer reminds of to be grateful for the wonderful things we have in life. It's also good exercise. It keeps us away from bad things or maybe gets us away from them.
We aren't supposed to drink alcohol or do drugs because it puts us in a state of stupidity. Because people tend to be excessive and if we drink one glass of wine for ten years each day one day we might decide to drink a few glasses of wine and drive drunk and harm ourselves or somebody else. We also hurt other people's feelings when we are drunk or high. Why would this behavior make people happy? I prefer to keep my senses about me so that I can use better judgment in all of my decisions.
Now, the cost of living and lack of a living wage, that's something to be unhappy about! Or the bloody wars raging all over the globe because people want to steal oil or diamonds or land!
But really religious people are happy because they remember God's beauty and glory in all things and learn humility and patience from adversity.
Peace.
2007-03-03 17:07:05 · answer #2 · answered by islaam4naas 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The assumptions you make are wrong.
Bad assumptions:
#1 Everyone who does not have religion is free and happy.
#2 People who have religion in thier lives are "obsessed" with it and are not free and happy.
Your posting, like sooooo many others, is a statement, not a question.
2007-03-03 17:00:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do not think that I am obbessed with religion. I am following Christ to the best of my ability because that does make me happy and free. You assume that someone cannot be happy while following a religion--no matter what the religion is. I can only speak for myself; however, I am happy. I love life, and my religion enhances my life for me. If the lack of religion enhances yours, then good for you. But, just as you may enjoy chess while I may perfer pool over chess, what you enjoy doesn't have to be the same as what someone else enjoys. We have different likes and dislikes.
2007-03-03 17:03:36 · answer #4 · answered by One Odd Duck 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps you have had a very sunny life so far. But you will likely encounter some difficulties, and towards the end of your life here, health problems. So your assumption that people are naturally 'free and happy' is too simple, imo. Also someone else wanting to be free and happy might impinge on your rights, to give himself more freedom and happiness, if all he's thinking of is his freedom and happiness.
2007-03-03 17:16:13 · answer #5 · answered by Cader and Glyder scrambler 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because people want to belong. That's part of what makes most people happy. And religion provides an easy way for people to feel like they belong. It's that simple. When someone meets another person of the same religion, he often feels better, sometimes even gets a slight thrill. Many atheists feel the exact same way; when you meet someone else who believes what you do, thinks like you do, has the same values as you, etc., you feel a sense of warmth, belonging, security, happiness, etc. That's part of what makes societies function.
Religion isn't any different from many other societal institutions, in that sense; what distinguishes it isn't the feeling, but the mode of that feeling. The mode of religion is supernaturalistic belief and ritual; in that sense, religion is specifically popular mainly for historical reasons. The weight of tradition is great, and historically religion has been a huge presence because it provided explanations for phenomena, a sense of meaning and order, before the days of science, humanism, etc. So, history and society are the main factors that cause religion to be so popular.
People do want to be free, and they do want to be happy. Religious people don't view their religion as being extraneous to that happiness; they view it as being a part of that happiness, and in some cases an integral part, because of the sense of peace, meaning, and belonging it gives to them. It's difficult to understand for the irreligious because they generally base their beliefs on (at least what they think is) the evidence, and on logic, not on what comforts them or gives them a sense of security. But for the religious, the two are one and the same--if a view unnerves, frightens, or upsets them, in some cases a religious person will immediately reject it for precisely that reason. The irreligious person will explain this as self-delusion; the religious person will explain this as hope and faith. Sometimes, it's really quite difficult to draw the line between the two.
2007-03-03 16:58:20 · answer #6 · answered by Rob Diamond 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
People are obsessed because religion provides answers to those tough questions about life & death. And believe it or not, being free and happy is very difficult for some folks
:)
2007-03-03 16:59:26 · answer #7 · answered by Bog-man 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
"2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."(Rom 8:2)
"1 ¶ Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."(Gal 5:1)
"15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD."(Ps 144:15)
"32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."(John 8:32)
"36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."(John 8:36)
2007-03-03 17:00:22 · answer #8 · answered by Mr Answer 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because having a religion IS being free and happy.
You are a perfect example of why people are atheist, atheist don't have to follow rules, don't feel obligation to anything, don't have to think about anybody but themselves, they don't have to sacrifice anything, dont have to offer anything but pleasure to themselves. Its such and easy and free life but is it the correct one, that is up to you.
2007-03-03 17:16:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well obssesion is never good but I think religion makes people happy. Not free b/c they have rules. But happy. Awwwwwww!!!!
I am an athiest and live happy and free but I'm obssessed with Lost and dark chocolate.
2007-03-03 16:58:13 · answer #10 · answered by Tania La Güera 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋