Why do people think they need religion?

Question

Now before any of you go bonkers ranting about the Bible and posting Bible quotes, I'm not talking about God. I'm referring to the man-made institution of religion.

If people want to be close to God (whether God exsists or not) why are they unable to do it on their own? Why must they access God through some holy dude wearing a funny hat? When I was a child, I talked to my imaginary friends by myself, not through my mother.

Is it just that not enough people think for themselves? It seems to me that if God created me then what would matter to him (or her) is that I be a good person. I don't see why he (or she) would be angry with me if I ate meat on Friday, worked during the sabbath, or ate during the daytime during Ramadan.

How can eating meat on Friday be punishable with eternal Hell anyway? How can any other of the above be considered sinful? Janet Jackson can sum it up in one word--CONTROL!

Answer 1

I don't think its always a case of "needing" religion, but rather wanting to have fellowship with other believers.

Answer 2

You do not really ask a question, except in the formal sense. In fact, your question is what we call rhetorical. Still, I am going to answer it.

People feel they need religion because (a) they grew up in one, whether or not it's the same one they go to now, or (b) having grown up without a religion, they feel something has been missing from their lives, and that religion might be that something.

Then there are those that are lonely, or need some kind of help and a religious organization is offering it to them. The classic example there is the Salvation Army. They count on people being grateful for their help.

But many people do not need religion. Or they need mostly the social aspects, and not really the belief system.

So I suppose if I was given to writing short answers, I'd say "for a variety of reasons."

Answer 3

Church is a good place to go and get the questions answered that you continue to ask here. You can also be sociable around others that have basically the same beliefs as you and not be couped up on a computer all the time.C'mon you answered all your questions about right and wrong between you and your "Imaginary friend" without asking your mom anything, I don't believe that for a minute.As for the other answers to this question, again church is a good place to find the answers. It's all about what you believe that matters, but no matter what we all can use some guidance.

Answer 4

I agree with Daniel.

"People need salvation, not religion. Two completely different things my friend"

The problem is that today's "Church" has turned people off from God. It's not about not eating meat on Friday or repetitive prayer - it is about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

We were created by God, and every human has it built into them to worishp him - which is obvious studying other cultures.

Even the rocks would cry out if we did not worship Him!

Answer 5

I'm quaker. I talk to god through silent pray by myself.
The reason they think they need religion is because when early man was running about, people wanted to know what happened to those who died.
Yeah, Og's body is being eaten, but what happened to the Og who taught kids to defend themselves, who laughed and cried with him? And then ancestor worship began. So we've have religion for thousands if not millions of years. And people who had something go terrible wrong in their life prayed, and when their life became good because of belief, coincidence or they tried because they prayed, they became more religious and brought up kids that way.
Then in comes miracles.
Miracles, how ever the stories came about really helped religion. They made people believe more. And so generations believed more and more. You generally take what your mom says to be true. And so you tell your kids. Generations where raised on the belief of religion and believed it more or less until we have non-religious people, religious, eh people, and the levels of intensity they are. So they become dependent on religon to tell them everything.

Answer 6

God's laws are universal and apply regardless of your belief system. In fact, God cares about only two groupings - the individual and the totality of all human beings - man and mankind. All other groupings whether based on belief, race, geographic location, social status, whatever - are man-made, temporary and insignificant. There is no such thing as a "chosen" people - we are all chosen, individually.

Further - God's plan for our salvation is simple - choices you make in your life that radiate the Love of the Creator bring you closer to God, fear based and hate based choices remove you further from God. This is a universal and immutable law.

What most people consider "sin" is an arbitrary list of man-made rules that change from time to time and place to place. The Old Testament tells us it is a "sin" for a menstruating woman to attend church - or to make a graven image. These are not universal laws made by an eternal God to apply to all of creation, they are politically motivated control mechanisms instituted by ruling priests.

Jesus got it right when he said there is only one commandment - Love - love God and love your neighbor as yourself. THAT is a universal law made by an eternal God to apply to all of creation.

Face it - the Old Testament laws didn't lead people to God 2000 years ago (obviously - they murdered Christ when he tried to explain this), they are even less applicable today. We need to mature in our understanding of the Creator's wishes for us.

Answer 7

It's a place where the "losers in life" , the unwanted ones can come and feel wanted. Churches have to accept people who profess to believe what they do...regardless of height, weight, looks, socio-economic status, or anything else. So, I think many people use religion as a place to feel that they belong...and in so doing, use it as a place, from which to judge others, put down others, and make fun of others that have all along made fun of them...and these "religious" folks can do it, by justifying their deeds on the Bible. The losers can finally feel superior...

Answer 8

Yep. The church needs money, and Pastor Art has to feed his children right? That's why they take the vow of poverty, to get paid baby!

It is "odd" that the major religions are tax-exempt institutions that give a very small percentage of money to charity, yet keep the rest for their own means? Hmmmm.

Answer 9

nicely put. and i'd say it is probably because the people who do think for themselves would rather exploit the people who don't, rather than try to improve the thinking process of the masses. i think if my eternal soul rests on how many dollars i put in a collection plate, or how many times i can make it to mecca, then i would rather rot in "hell" on principle alone. i think that the institute of religion has perverted the idea of a "god" over the ages and now the only thing we have is a one-track, bullshit bunch of messages from the people who decided to think for themselves, and then decided to exploit people. in essence, the church created atheism. and it was inevitable. i like this question, thanks for asking.

Answer 10

I don't think I need religion, I know I need God as my savior.

But I entirely agree with what your saying, and I believe a religion that's turned into a corporation is entirely wrong. I don't go to a church, or pay any church any thing out of duty. I give to those who need it most. God does not say we need a huge mega church pulling in thousands of dollars weekly, and did not base His teaching on that, so to me, that kind of thing is wrong.

Answer 11

I believe it's because they are told they have to be in a religion. Some people will never question that even when they are very unhappy spiritually. I think that when you are willing to search for deeper spirituality you are more willing to see that it isn't contained within religion.