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There is a great documentary on that called The Root of All Evil by Richard Dawkens. You can download the torrent from torrentz.com

from article in source:
Religion as a virus

Next, Dawkins discusses specifically the idea of religion seen as a virus in the sense of a meme. He begins by explaining how he considers the mind of a child to be genetically pre-programmed to believe without questioning the word of authority figures, especially parents – the evolutionary imperative being that no child would survive by adopting a sceptical attitude towards everything their elders said. But this same imperative, he claims, leaves children open to "infection" by religion.

Dawkins meets the psychologist Jill Mytton who suffered an abusive religious upbringing – she now helps to rehabilitate similarly affected children. Mytton explains how, for a child, images of hell fire are in no sense metaphorical, but instead inspire real terror. She portrays her own childhood as one "dominated by fear." When pressed by Dawkins to describe the realities of Hell, Mytton hesitates, explaining that the images of eternal damnation which she absorbed as a child still have the power to affect her now.

Then Dawkins visits Pastor Keenan Roberts, who has been running the Hell House Outreach programme for 15 years, producing theatre shows aimed at giving children of twelve or older an indelible impression that "sin destroys". We see rehearsal scenes depicting doctors forcing an abortion on a woman despite her changing her mind, and a lesbian gay marriage ceremony presided over by Satan in which the women swear to “never believe that you are normal” and Satan cites First Corinthians 6 as God saying homosexuality equals sin. Roberts absolutely and unapologetically believes the scriptures about sin, and when Dawkins questions this basis for morality, replies that it is a faith issue.

2007-06-16 17:23:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2 1

Varied and many, it serves a purpose to the individual, to offer behaviors which one can use to help one operate within society as well as give faith/optomism that things will turn out well (as that is a predictor of success). They also have a purpose, within our cultures, and change to fit our cultures through cultural integration. In the anthropoligical view, religion serves a variety of purposes withi individual cultures. On another level, it served to help create society in general by getting the creation of laws and authority out of the way... I'm not entirely sure the last one was a good thing when it happened (it ****** over nutrition for around 8000 years and made us work longer on average after all), but to each his own...

Religion of course also helps individuals on another level, by benefitting those who are in charge of it, but this should go pretty much without saying.

2007-06-16 17:31:41 · answer #2 · answered by ‫‬‭‮‪‫‬‭‮yelxeH 5 · 0 0

This is a very deep question, if it doesn't come from your philosophy professor. The body of human knowledge is very small, had been much smaller in the ancient times. In order to explain the world, human then devised all these explanation, one among which is religion. What does it serve? The main role is to fulfill the unknown territory of human perception by explaining what science fails to.
The benefit of religion(s) for the human majority is to have something to hold on to when all else fails; psychological temporally comfort it gives.
For other, at times, wealth, power, and great esteem.
Moreover, it defines the human interactions out of the aim to keep the overall society in good order and peace, although many times, it serves to different effects.
Well, that's what I think.
To think of it still majority of the people in the world still believe in some forms of God.

2007-06-16 17:26:00 · answer #3 · answered by Titan 7 · 0 1

Let me answer the second part of your question first...as that is the answer God put into my heart.

Who benefits from religion? No one. Religions are man made...they are not from God. Now if you ask who benefits from a belief in God...I could honestly answer everyone.

Purpose of religion: It should be used only as a way to have a sense of community with other believers...not as the end all for your faith. Only a personal relationship with God can give you the promise of spending eternity in His presence...and if you wish, you can have that without religion.

2007-06-16 17:24:08 · answer #4 · answered by Poohcat1 7 · 1 0

First off, you seem to be using "theists" and "Christians" to mean the same thing, this is incorrect. All Christians are theists but there are larger groups of theists who are not Christian. I don't know if "fear of death" and/or "wish for afterlife" are the primary motivators. I suspect that "wish for purpose" also counts. Maybe even "need for father/authority figure". People are more complex than you make them out to be. Finally, "Atheists on the other hand, are taking the risk" is incorrect, as I don't perceive there to be a risk in this case, just like I don't worry about the Boogeyman getting me or that Toth will judge me.

2016-05-17 14:42:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

The true religion will add the following values to you:
1- fulfill the needs of your soul
2- make your life has a real objective
3- save yourself in the day of judgment
4- strive to do good things and avoid the bad things
5- do thank the only one God for every thing he gave you and be patient in all the crisis happne to you

2007-06-16 20:55:01 · answer #6 · answered by MusliM...SalaFi 3 · 0 0

Morals are based on religious beliefs. Our religion is our guide throughout life. All benefit who are faithful. Those who have no beliefs also have no morals. That's why the world is approaching the end of time. Read Revelations.

2007-06-16 17:28:32 · answer #7 · answered by Morningstar 4 · 1 0

Religion serves as a tool to control people, and the ones who benefit by it are the ones who wish to control and keep a certain order in society which will be good for them.
It could also be used as a tool to incite certain groups against others and then conquer them while they are fighting amongst themselves. Again, controlling people.

2007-06-16 17:25:21 · answer #8 · answered by Marti M 3 · 0 1

Morality is the of the highest importance to abetter life religion is supposed to teach us how to live a better life.
we all should benefit from morals or ethics and any guidance that serves this purpose is worth considering.

2007-06-16 17:25:30 · answer #9 · answered by dogpatch USA 7 · 0 1

religion is a method of control

the only people who benefit by it are the ones doing the controlling

2007-06-17 01:19:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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