religion...?

Question

uses? importance? effects? etc.

Answer 1

Our perception of religion is prejudiced by the use of the word in the modern era to denote a sociological and cultural construct, which is usually contextualized by a tired rationalism, negative critiques and strained dialectics (ex. "supernatural claims are all fraudulent", "religion is used to make people rich", "religion and faith are not the same") .

A more classical understanding would view religion as that which concretizes, explains and expresses the relationship of the human to the divine, the natural to the supernatural, and the temporal to the eternal. It serves humanity as a source of social cohesion, inspiration for art and literature, a basis for human inquiry, and provides a system of convictions about the meaning of human existence. Like anything in this world, the goodness of religion can be mitigated by the narrowness and wickedness of humanity.

Answer 2

Religion is used for a couple of reasons: to control, to unite, for cultural development, to answer questions (answered by science or not), etc. Many leaders use religion in order to identify with their audience. Using religion can lead to support from others of your religion. Basically, religion in politics is for control and unity. Culturally, religion helps a new culture develop an image, most famously in African indigenous cultures/religions. Lastly, religion can answer questions via answers. How the answers are developed is usually by someone who thinks they are correct and uses religion as a channel to streamline that idea into effect.

Religion was very important in the development of many important nations. The United States and United Kingdom would not be anything close to what it is today without religion. This does not mean religion is important to the current date. It is only important for political support and unity.

Religion is positive and negative. When it comes to other religion, religion can effect negatively. Usually religion tend to create stereotypes and other prejudices against other religion. This can usually lead to extremes such as the Holocaust. (Yes, Catholicism was used to exploit the Jewish stereotype.)

I don't agree with most religion. The fact that people believe God came down and said, "This, this, this, and this is true. This, this, this, and this is wrong. This is law, and this is a common belief. This is the idea." is beyond me.

Answer 3

I think religion is a way to bring people togather and keep them controlled out of fear, lol, sad but true, in the modern day, i think we should give up religion, and live life as ethical people without the constent fear of the devil and hell etc. I think that in todays world its plane enough to see that God is not real, and life would be quite the same.
Also i think that maybe a long time ago religion searved a good purpose, and maybe life would be different today, if there was no religion, but i think that God is just an adult faire tail, to control the people

Answer 4

Christianity is not an idea but a reality that exists in human history. Christianity is about:

* A person: Jesus Christ, the "founder" of Christianity;
* A people: that God has formed on the earth;
* A way of life: that God has given his people.

History shows uses have been for every function of man. Some good, some bad, some just are. For over 10,000 years humans have been facing the same temptations. Religions gather wisdoms from the past and guide their flocks. Again, history reveals that the good and bad move in cycles. As a civilzation zenith's it eventually falls to wrong doings. At the lowest points of civilzations, rise beautiful and powerful people to lead civilzations out of the sufferings they created.

Answer 5

breathing...?
uses? importance? effects?

Faith is just something I have. I take it for granted I guess, like breathing. But it's there, underneath everything. I wouldn't exist without it. God is the creator. None of us would exist without Him, whether they choose to see it or not.

Religion gives meaning & structure to your existence. It guides you through life, helping you to make the right choices. It makes you a better person by giving you standards to live up to. It inspires you to be good.

Without any sort of spirituality, without belief in a soul, without knowing that there is more to us than just our bones & flesh, I think it would be a rather bleak existence. There would be less incentive to be a good person... I think that even if I'd been raised as an atheist I would have developed a sense of spirituality eventually. There is more to life than just the physical world. More than can be explained away with science. Religion fills in the gaps. It makes sense of existence. It explains the wonder & the beauty of the world.

Answer 6

Religion. Its usage, importance and effects is based solely upon those who chose to abide/adhere by whatever Religion he/she believes in or understands. The funny thing about Religion is, that some people are hypocrits to their own Religion. Some praise, worship and condem People as IF they, themselves, have always follwed the straight and narrow road.

Wow! wouldn't that be considered an addiction? Go straight and narrow, then fall off the wagon? I would believe so. We are all addicts to something, even if we do tend to stray off the straight and narrow. We are NOT perfect. Not even Religion.

Answer 7

Religion is mans answer to appease God.
Men use it to try to relieve their guilty conscience. By doing a series of good works, it gives them a sense of merit in earning the acceptance of God.

It certainly has some merit in that it can keep people's behavior in check. They may choose not to do something that they feel God would be unpleased with.

The problem with it, is that nobody can appease God. Religion keeps you in a viscous cycle of guilt and appeasement, never knowing where you stand.

Logically, wouldn't it be better if God designed a method for dealing with our guilt once, available to all, obtainable to all at any time, and efficiently settling the matter so we could live in peace and not fear death. Guilt gone. Me and God are good.

Answer 8

Historically, religion was used for control. Take a look at the Roman Catholic Church and their long fight with Henry VIII.
Religious orders, historically, were powerful entites; confidants of kings, owners of the best lands, figureheads of political reforms. Religion also helped to control the population, serving in the capacity of "social conscience", while making sure that even a very poor congregation tithed to fill the coffers of the church. It was so much in control that the church was the center of village/town/city life.
Today, religion serves as a philosophy for Christians. It dictates belief, demands adherence, promotes itself outside of and above law. There is little difference between the historical role of religion and todays role.
Religion can be benign, it can lead its followers to donate to charity, to live a moral, ethical life. It can also be malignant, furthering prejudice and intolerance.
Not to be confused with FAITH; religion is a set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader. Religions are man made things, often perverting the original intention of the creator. Take a look at Scientology...it is a religion, created and endorsed by a 20th centruy science fiction writer. Its adherents have faith...they believe in the religion. There is a big, BIG difference.

Answer 9

i believe that it is an individual choice as to how one wants to live their life and what they believe is their purpose. it gives meaning to life for an individual. its what allows us to get through life day by day no matter what the religion is or if they have any at all. its about what they believe, not necessarily what religion they are. And I think thats where all the misunderstandings regarding religion and non-religion come from. People always think that they have to belong to one or the other and that is why it is always ALWAYS misused to oppress the ignorant and empower the greedy. They don't realize that belief is an individual thing.

Answer 10

Uses, Importance, and Effects: They can all be one and the same depending on whom is using it.