Why does religion exist?

Answer 1

GOD planted in His Creation, the desire to know Him.

Answer 2

If you're talking about religion as an institution, these days it's simply to collect money and have a voice in political questions... and I suppose it's only fair to say that there are still a lot of people who believe it as the truth and they want it to continue.

I have some ideas on it's early existence and so do a lot of others... I'd say it originated as a man-made attempt to govern by means of belief, and to explain the unexplainable to those who seriously sought answers. It probably did a pretty good job back in those days.... but those days are long gone, aren't they...

Why religion and belief STILL exist is beyond what one might expect reasonable and logically minded people of even moderate education levels to accept... go figure...! It's a die hard business.

God-belief and religion are both slowly giving way, however, and thank goodness for that.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb62/Randall_Fleck/France_QuoteGIF-1.gif

[][][] r u randy? [][][]
.

Answer 3

With the ability to learn comes the possibility of misunderstanding. We are evolved to both lead and to follow, but most often to follow. The god delusion has the best of both; the comfort of a strong leader who offers great rewards for little or no effort, along with the justification to pretend that it does not matter how much we are oppressed, dominated, and cheated here in our "mortal lives".

Answer 4

There's a possibility that religion - practice was the easiest way to get into *reproduction* - stream.

Most religions encourage baby-making.

That which increases population can be called "survival-trait".


"when you have them by the short-hairs, they'll follow anywhere."

Answer 5

Religion was made for man. Not man for religion. The duties that man performs as service represent "religion". However, the acts also are done as acts of faith. But not faith in the religion. The faith is in GOD. Jesus Christ is the object of faith. Therefore, I trust in Him because He can't fail. The apostle Paul said, "I know in WHOM I believe". He didn't say, "I know in WHAT I believe." Religion is the "what" issue and Jesus is the "whom" issue.

Answer 6

To allow humans to fulfill a desire to kowtow to their make believe gods. They also want to smite those who disagree with them and use religion as an organizational tool as well as justification.

Answer 7

Religion exists as an excuse for war when no other excuse exists.

Answer 8

There are scientists that believe that mankind needs a higher power to explain the unexplainable. We invented GOD so to speak. Whether S/HE exists is questionable to them. The different sects are just the different ways that we believe in HIM/HER.

Answer 9

Because everyone asks questions like "why am I here?" or "how should I live my life?" And everyone likes nice, compact answers to really hard questions. Religion is good at providing simple answers to tough questions.

Answer 10

Religion is a man made invention. It is how man supposedly gets to God/enlightenment etc.

But Christianity is a relationship. It is how God got to you! And He did it in the most amazing way, becoming flesh, dying for you and rising from the dead! What a great hope! We're forgiven! And we don't have to do anything but receive the free gift of God in our hearts and believe in Him. And if we believe in Him, we purify ourselves.

Answer 11

Elitists control system of the masses of common people like us, the goyim or cattle. We are subhuman to them and are the useless eaters in their opinion.