What is religion really about?

Question

No one really believes that it is about personal belief in a Deity anymore.

- It divides people
- It preaches that the "outside-group" are in some way 'less'
- It is about occupation and war
- It is a control mechanism
- It is about defending the family, cultural, racial, etc identity

Any thoughts about what really underlies the existence of religion?

Answer 1

Three things

1- it is a convenient explanation for everything you are unable, or too lazy to understand.

2- It is a tool used to control others.

3- It allows you an out on really having to die.

Answer 2

Religion Is A vehicle For Control.I.E. Jim Jones David Corish The Bakers. They Use The Scriptures For A way To Suck People In Who Most Times Are Looking For A Lift In Thier Lives. These Schisters Have Basically Ruined Some Of Us From Going To Church They Retaliate By Telling Us We Wont Go To Heaven.On And On

Answer 3

Hi Dos,

All of the things you claim, are true to a certain extent. If you study the history of religion, and I have spent a good many years doing so, you will come to a few conclusions. First of all, religions are constantly changing. Does that surprise you? If it does, you are not alone. The changes take place over centuries, due to man's need for traditions and continuity. Religion exists, because mankind cannot accept the mysteries of life, without making some attempt to explain them. Religion has also evolved, along with man's knowledge and culture. From primitive Nature Gods and Animal Gods, to our current trends towards Monotheism, we continue to require more sophisticated models of the Intelligence that spawned us. Always however, we try to create the Gods in our image, or one that closely resembles us in behavior. This is so we will hopefully understand why They do what They do, and we can stay on Their good side. When true revelation of Higher Reality does get through to some individual, it is only a short time, before the message given, is turned into some kind of dogma, and an organization grows up around it, full of ceremony and traditions. Corruption follows closely on the coat tails of organized religion, and history bears this out well. Having said all that, I believe that our understanding of the Source of life and light, will continue to evolve, until the day when we accurately come to know the truth of our origins and relationships with the Most High. Until that day, many wars and many deaths in the name of our faiths, shall be the rule. In truth, most "religious" wars, are based on greed and economics, using faith as a shield to hide our baser motives. Many crimes have been committed in the names of our Gods. Despite all the seemingly negative baggage of organized religion, it plays a vital role in our survival. It has become the reservoir of morality and ethics for our species. Without religion, where would we look for guidance in the matters of right and wrong? Certainly not to our colleges and universities, which are seething hotbeds of immorality and Godlessness. To our governments? I think not. It is religion, with all of it's quirks and misunderstandings, that we must refer to, when attempting to find the moral high road that we must all eventually follow. The Golden Rule, is our only hope of survival as a species. If we do not learn to become the Brotherhood of Man, and the Sons of God, there is little hope that we will avoid extinction. Just my two cents. Peace be unto you..................

Will

Answer 4

Yes, religion is something that Jesus was completely against. It is man trying to be good enough to be close to God. To feel the presents of God, and to walk with God. Man cannot do this, that is why God came to man in the form of Jesus, the Messiah.

What you are looking for is a personal relationship with God through Jesus the only begotten Son of God. You will find this when you are born from above, by accepting Christ in prayer, and in faith, into your life and heart.

Do it now, Don't wait until tomorrow, tomorrow may be to late, and eternity is too long to be wrong.


God be with you,
Evangelist, William M. Butler
Grace Evangelistic Ministry

Answer 5

I forgot who said, If God didn't exist it would be necessary to invent Him?

Even if Atheists ruled the world, they would need some order. Religion provides morality, order, standards of behavior. Atheists talk all the time about how they "do good" without needing religion. But how can they even define what is "good" without some barometer?

Otherwise everything is relative; and "good" is in the eye of the beholder, and chaos would ensue.

No if Atheists ruled the world, they would quickly come to see how much they need God and Organized Religion, for stability if nothing else!

Answer 6

It's laws provide the means of living together as moral and caring beings. Christians negated those laws and forbade the reading of their interpretation in the Talmud. We cannot become moral and caring beings with only one law -- to love your neighbor as yourself. Love and morality also demand justice.

Citations to the "New" Testament are impossible to avoid. How many Christians have read it's Jewish counterpart -- the Talmud? Why are so few Christians interested in the Jewish version of Judaism?

Judaism is a way of LIFE. The Tanakh (OT) teaches us self-restraint and to challenge authority and to question the majority opinion. Judaism is about LIFE, not about the afterlife!
.

Answer 7

Religion is a control mechanism.

"We preach peace, forgiveness, tolerance and love. We practice vengeance, persecution, hatred and domination. My personal beliefs are supported and validated by my convictions. Oh, and never forget .... my religion is truth, yours is a lie." — Religion, paraphrased (unknown).

"A mythology is someone else's religion, different enough from your own for its absurdity to be obvious."

"Religion is a major weapon in the war against reality."

"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful." — Seneca the Younger (4BC-65AD).

"You know you have created God in your own image, when you find that your God hates the same people that you do." — Lois Wilson.

Answer 8

[5:3] Today, I have completed your religion, perfected My blessing upon you, and I have decreed Submission as the religion for you.
http://www.submission.org/suras/sura5.htm


Freedom of Choice

[33:72] We have offered the responsibility (freedom of choice) to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they refused to bear it, and were afraid of it. But the human being accepted it; he was transgressing, ignorant.

[33:73] For GOD will inevitably punish the hypocrite men and the hypocrite women, and the idol worshipping men and the idol worshipping women. GOD redeems the believing men and the believing women. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

*33:72 The animals, trees, stars, etc. took advantage of this most gracious offer. See Appendix 7."

http://www.submission.org/suras/sura33.html

Answer 9

Error is what underlies the existence of religion. Church is within our bodies, not without.

Answer 10

religion is to believe,to be under control of your master(to listen to His command)...a person without religion is a person without soul...there is no mean of life without religion...religion is to worship your God...the truth religion is the best religion....which religion is the truth religion?...the religion which doesnt denies the truth..which is apparently in right way..in which the illution or feeling doesnt exist(i mean in which the commanmend of God is there) rather then sayings of the people....the real revelation of the God(your creator)