Why do people turn to religion?

Question

I was raised as a catholic and religion was pretty much forced upon me. My mother used to make me & my brothers go to mass and we hated it. So much so that when we turned 18 we decided enough was enough and stopped going to mass. Im 32 now and since i was 18 i havent set foot in a church. In fact ive rejected the notion of a God and dont believe any of it.........well up until about a year ago when I did some reading on spirituality. Now i dunno. I definitely believe there is something guiding us all through life, letting us know what is right & what is wrong. But as fo God and religion, im not so sure. I have no interest in worshipping or praising anybody. I have no interest in going to a church and kneeling and praying or any of that crap. But I do feel there is something. So I need to know, why do people turn to religion? I always believed it was because they were weak and feared death, but im not so sure now. Please no religious zealots, just regular people to answer. Thanks

Answer 1

Because we were designed to fail without God. Just like cars and everything else you can think of, it was designed to work only with someone running it. Even computers with self running programs have to have someone controlling it. We as humans want so much to be in control of something, anything. It is so hard for us to let someone else control us, especially someone we can't see.We are seeking something and we don't know what so we try everything else to fill the void,,,, riches, sex, possessions, weird cults, power rushes, popularity, fame,drugs, booze,,, all to no avail. We end up just as empty and lost as we started. Eventually most of us start to wonder about God, and start to seek him. You are smart to want to seek him in the right way and not through a "religion", but directly through the only path there is to him and that is Jesus. Religion is a ritual, Christianity is believing not only that God can,, but that God will. It is truly hard to find a good bible based church, alot of them are so bent on rituals and praying to saints, and getting your money they forget the bible part. I don't blame you for being turned off by churches, especially being raised catholic, a good church can help you in your christian walk, but you can have a relationship with God without a church. As for being weak and fearing death, I think the weak follow satan because it is the easier path and as for fearing death,, if you follow satan, be afraid, be very afraid. Those of us who love God do not fear death, we don't look forward to it either,, but when it happens, we will be comforted.

Answer 2

You are confidence what you are. You hit into a smooth life. You did not have any bigger obtacles. You energatic will not willing to kneel down. You know everything should be working hard out not leaning on praying for granted. This is a positive life style. The religious existing in the world for so many years. It is helping peole with hope. In the karma theory; die is not a issue, you know what will be . You understand what will happen due to your karma done then nothing will scare you.
Go into Hindru or Budhaist which will tell you more.

Answer 3

I don't know if this will help but I'm a biochemistry and religious studies major so I deal with both science and religion on a daily basis. I don't believe in anything just for the fact that I don't need to. I don't need to fill any hole that people think I have. I simply lead a good life to my own standards. From all the religions that I've studied as well as science there's a similarity. People are always searching for the truth. In science we try to explain things with laws. It's the same for religion in the sense except backwards. Science tries to explain the future with "truth" and religion tries to explain the past (to predicit the future) with truth. Confusing I know. Basically, for me, religion is what everyone turns to to help explain the past and help prepare for the future. What else do they have to look forward to?

Answer 4

Many reasons. Some need direction and a belief that there is something after this life and religions do that. Others need a support system and community in this life regardless of their personal beliefs. Some need to feel special and above the average Joe (yea, they are out there too). And like you, some can feel there is 'something' and would like to place a name and face if possible to that 'something'. I personally feel no need to pin a name or face and study different theologies for myself. I believe all religions hold elements of truth and only loose that truth when people bicker about who is right and who is wrong.

Answer 5

I am also a Catholic for 57 years. There were times I turned away from the church and tried not to believe their was a God. I went to other Church's, tried to believe in their religion. But I did come back to being a Catholic.

I turned to religion for the spiritual guidance that I have to be able to pray to God and I pray someday I will go to heaven. I turned to religion to give me peace in my heart and in my life.

When my life was such a turmoil I turn to God and pray.

I don't believe in forcing religion down any ones throat, or standing on the street corner preaching the bible, or saying that you will go to hell if you don't get religion.

I believe it is every body's choice to make. I have made mine and I feel peace in my heart that I love God and go to church to find some sense in this everyday living.

Answer 6

"I definitely believe there is something guiding us all through life,"
It's nothing but your life force or consciousness keeping you going.

"letting us know what is right & what is wrong."
It's called a conscience. Most people in most societies have one unless you're so crazed by religion like some fundies that you'd divorce your family for not believing as you do.

Religion is for people who can't take responsibility for their lives or actions - they need to feel as though they're here for a purpose.
We're only here for one thing and that's to procreate - all the rest is ego trying to give itself reason for being.

Below is a link to ... Belief-O-Matic -- A personality quiz about your religious and spiritual beliefs.
If nothing else it's amusing.

Answer 7

what lets u know what is rioght and wrong is ur own mind.. we are not animals with tiny brains. thats why we have the ability to think
and morals are not sum "thing" given to us by sum mystical being.. thats crap
morals are man made. just like the concept of god is man made
ppl have felt the need to worship sumthing all threw history
its a human need for sumthing bigger than themself. that gives purpose and structure to what would otherwise be too depressing and intimidating for sum ppl
the thought that we are alone. there is no one watching over us. there is no greater purpose
its alot more comforting to believe that there is an all powerfull benevolent power watching over and that thinghs happen for a reason
its just a security blanket for mankind
its a psychological need to feel "safe"
like a child needs to feel like their is an adult in control, taking care of everything
its the same concept just on a much larger and less obvious scale
kinda pisses me off that some ppl, being humans and having the inteligence to think canot see sumthing so obvious. it is really common sence. but so many ppl cant see that

Answer 8

For salvation.It is those who keep the candle alight shall see the bride.Candle is the faith and bride the kingdom of God.Keeping salvation shall need the humility of a vulture which follows an animal until it falls down dead for it to feed.He who dares wins the kingdom of God.

Answer 9

I think some people turn to religion because of the comfort it can offer. If and when I truly subscribe to a religion, I would like it to be based on more than that.

Answer 10

Because they are scared children seeking meaning, order and stability in a chaotic existence. Remember, "god" is nothing more than a nonsense word made up to explain away all the things we can't yet understand.