Why are some religions so hard to grasp the meaning of?

Question

I watched a documentary last night, THE HAMBURG CELL, about four Arabs(?) who trained as pilots so they could drive `planes into the Twin Towers and other targets.
The leader was told that on impact his wife, whom he was concerned about at leaving behind, would be there to greet him - obviously murdered at a certain time to coincide - and the others were told there would be 100 virgins awaiting each one, on point of impact, to take care of them.
How could all these people, who were intelligent enough to learn how to fly Jumbo`s etc, be so easily mis-led?
It`s no wonder that atheists question religion. What do you think? without references to bible quotes, insults and threats of burning in a hell which doesn`t exist?

J_SMITH_7
I mentioned Jumbo`s not quite knowing which they were, probably 727`s or thereabouts, but does it matter?
That was not the question.
You have been deleted for lack of intelligence of being able to understand a simple question.

PUNCH
You did not answer the question.
Answer deleted.

RED BEETLE 23
Good answer.
At least you answered the question reasonably - you are on line for `best answer`

MIRANDA
You did not answer the question.
It`s quite simple: read, absorb, answer.
`bad answer` given and deleted

TY
Good answer.
I wish others could do the same without thinking of their two measly points.
Thanks

PASDEBERET
A long-winded answer which did not answer the question. `bad answer` given.
I`ll ask again - how can several intelligent men believe that 100 virgins will be waiting for them upon their death?
Where do they come from?
Where were they all this time?
What can they do with 100 fleshless, body-less women who have never had sex?
What pleasure can they get from those women?
THINK!!!

Answer 1

If I am not mistaken Seneca the younger said
“Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.”

In my opinion this leader used religion as a way to influence his followers to carry out these acts of terror and gave them false reassurance that "100 virgins" will be waiting for them.

Also I firmly believe in this quote as I see it being used even in todays society.

I do not understand why those who are not religious are mocked, ridiculed and so forth each time we question religion.

I mean Socrates questioned authority even himself and we consider him the father of modern philosophy
so why can't we question religion?

Answer 2

Well, maybe because religion isn't quite logical. It's a belief. and a belief is hard to dissuade. Even the atheists have some sort of belief that shows in different ways. People almost need religions so they don't feel so alone in a world that doesn't care, I'm referring to the intelligent ones with that statement. And the ones who aren't intelligent don't know any better, sorry if that seems unkind, but ignorance TRULY is bliss. No one likes to let go of something that gives them comfort, it's just not in ANYTHING'S nature to do so. Everything is adapted to comfort. And the idea of going to a great place for doing something specific or even general, is a comfort.

Answer 3

The more I read and study, the more it seems that belief is the most powerful force a human can have. We can look at others' beliefs and think, 'that's just crazy' but to them, what they believe is so real it propels them into seriously dangerous acts.

It's not just the pilots of the planes that flew into the Twin Towers. Let's not forget the years of witchhunting, driven by the very strong belief that 'witches' were everywhere and were responsible for anything from a bad crop to hair falling out to a burning barn. Not only were women pursued, persucuted and executed for being 'witches' here in Salem, but for many years before England had been doing the same. This very strong belief in malevolent evil spirits seems quaint to us now, but it cost thousands of people (men and women, since 'witches' needed to have their collaborators) their lives.

Answer 4

The lack of definition is actually the driving force of religion. If you knew a religion wasn't real, would you still follow it? There are hundreds of religions out there that all say that they are the only way to god. With so many people saying that other people are not going to heaven, then what good is religion in the first place!

Answer 5

Yeah, I do believe the Muslims religion is stupid...just as some people would say Christians are brain washed, I believe some Muslims are.

Maybe not like kidnapped and strapped to a chair to be brainwashed. But when a person(osama binladen) promises to take care of your family and give them food(when you're startving) wouldn't you go for that deal? I would...I would gladly give up my life so that my family would live.

But of course, Osama is a rich man but cannot take care of over 1 billion people.

Answer 6

1/ You don't 'drive' planes, you fly them.

2/ They were not Jumbos.

3/ People believe what they believe, as you indicate with your 'in a hell which doesn't exist'.

4/ There will always be those who interpret religions in terms of extremes. History was built on this very foundation.

Answer 7

That's what religion does. You look more at the after life and what you can do for your god and less on making a life here on earth better for everybody.

I don't know why! I don't understand either! No worse then any one elses answer.

Answer 8

Because Islam and those men were exploited to achieve someones political not religious agenda

Answer 9

Why is LIFE so hard to grasp the meaning of?

You give it whatever meaning you will.

And THAT is the power of free will, to create whatever universe you really want to live and die in.

You have claimed to have deleted me and yet I am still here?

Read, absorb and answer!

Answer 10

It is badly written and badly explained in books.