Do we need religion?
What exactly does belief in a "higher power", "creator" or whatnot offer humanity? Is there any positive at all to outweigh the negatives?
2007-07-11 23:20:24 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Who said no law? I said "do we need religion?"
2007-07-11 23:31:45 · update #1
Might the question have been clearer if I suggested that I want to know about REAL things that belief in a higher power offers? Things that might help humanity TODAY?
2007-07-11 23:34:14 · update #2
You do not need religion to be moral.
Humanistic values are far more moral.
You only need to be a human with a conscience and a little common sense.
The myth of "morality from religion" comes from the fear of eternal punishment. Punishment is a man-made idea. It exists nowhere else in nature. Eternal punishment is the ultimate form of sadism. Although that is obviously a sick invention, some people attribute that perverse idea to a supreme being.
No perfect supernatural being would create an imperfect being for the sole purpose of torturing him. The "morality from fear" doctrine is designed to subjugate people for profit, not to prevent immorality. Even if it were, the doctrine does not work.
In fact it has been demonstrated repeatedly that those who claim to piety are some of the most egregious offenders of morality.
Not only do you NOT need religion, you are MUCH better off without it. Why associate yourself with those who lie, make war, steal, enslave and brainwash babies.
The major religions all started before humans understood the world. It is nothing more than a superstitious explanation of natural phenomena. Why accept moral imperatives from a time when people thought the Earth was the center of the universe?
Religion divides the human race...
It separates and segregates Peoples based on fictional belief. It is the excuse for crusades, torture and war.
Is there any positive that can outweigh or even balance all that evil?
Religious apologists might argue that your immortal soul will suffer because this life is just a test of your soul. To pass, you must do what is right.
OK... let’s perform a test and see who is more moral!
If anyone truly believes his existence is just a "test" of his morality, then let this be it; Use reason and logic to live your life.
To accept religion just for the nebulous reward of avoiding damnation is infinitely selfish. How would that prove your soul's worth?
To truly prove your soul, reject all religion and all its lunacy, regardless of consequence.
If there is a heavenly judgment, it will fall favorably upon those who had the decency and courage to do what is right in this life. It will not bode well for those who lie just to selfishly save their own souls.
Reason unites us.
Science proves that we are far more alike than we are different. It also proves that the differences are so small they are not worth fighting about.
The real reasons religion has a foothold and is continually propagated like an infection is not because it adequately addresses great questions; Religion exists because early brainwashing techniques instill fear, rationalization is easier than being rational, and those who propagate it profit from it.
If you do not expose a child to the insane notions of hell, he will never invent them for fun. No healthy child would ever conceive of such horror. Hell is a fiction induced by early brainwashing, and THAT, is nothing less than child abuse.
Rationalization is easier than being rational.
It requires proof, evidence and reason to be rational.
Rationalization only requires belief. People with inadequate mental capacity always choose the easy way.
Profit...
If humans weren't goaded by fear and social pressure, do you think they would ever give money to religion? If they didn't want the selfish rewards of immortality, do you think anyone would give money for nothing? Religion is a bigger scam than insurance in that religion NEVER has to pay back.
Nothing in the natural world needs money to survive. Money is just a tool, an invention of man. Like all tools, it helps us manipulate the world. Money is unique amongst or invented tools though; money can create artificial beings like, corporations or god. Without money, neither of those fictional entities would survive.
If we stop feeding the monster, it will die.
You can be good without religion. You will be better without it. Hey, what do you have to lose? Try it! If you get scared at the last moment or change your mind, God is supposed to forgive you, right? What is there to be afraid of?
We would all live with more peace, prosperity and freedom without religion.
2007-07-12 00:37:52 · answer #1 · answered by Aleph Null 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If religion never existed, maybe most people wouldn't have morals today. That is almost the same as asking why do we create laws. Laws might not exist today if we never had a religious concept of right and wrong to begin with. People would just kill each other over stupid little things.
2007-07-12 06:33:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't promote religion, but I do promote Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Without God, how does one determine what morals are much less what love is? Without God saying that certain things are wrong, each person would do what is right in his or her own eyes as in the days of Noah.
It is amazing how many people label Christians as ignorant having never read the Bible or studied intellectual design while most Christians have been forced to study macro-evolution and other religions through literature and humanity classes. It seems that the only scripture many know is a scripture on judging taken out of contents while many other scriptures tell us to judge.
A creator does not offer broken homes, child abuse, STD's, prison terms, drinking and drug additions etc. He does, however, offer eternal life.
2007-07-12 06:44:20 · answer #3 · answered by metamorphosisa 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Yeah if you believe in the false teachings about how the universe was created through a big bang then non-living matter magically turned into a living cell with no help on its own which turned into an organ and go on up to humans. The Bible (in my case) is used as a guide of life, of course you know that you will be judged for your "good and fulfilling" life without religion nor God. What doesn't a higher power offer? I mean you are offered protection and eternal life where there is no sickness or suffering.
2007-07-12 06:31:34 · answer #4 · answered by J 4 · 2⤊ 5⤋
you don't need religion to understand morals? maybe! but you need the feeling of some one with upper power watching what you do so to continue to be honest and put this morals in action. if you are a fearing God person, you will avoid many sins such as stealing.
2007-07-12 06:25:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋
No we don't and the world would be better off without it.
2007-07-12 06:39:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
we need religion to impose our will on others and to produce incredibly cheesy art and music
edit: oh, positive things. sorry.
2007-07-12 06:30:06 · answer #7 · answered by vorenhutz 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Religion is only true source of information and guidacne friend
2007-07-12 06:23:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 5⤋
OK, as long as you think so.If there was no religion, and no law we would still be barbarians.
2007-07-12 06:23:34 · answer #9 · answered by Robert S 5 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Eternal life in Jesus.
2007-07-12 06:24:59 · answer #10 · answered by shovelead 3 · 2⤊ 4⤋