Do some people simply need religion?

Question

On my last question, I asked whether you would feel as though you are nothing without your faith in God.

I received many heartfelt answers, which I appreciate.

I noticed, however, that some of you told stories about how you were depressed and then found God and your life completely changed for the better.

Is it possible, then, that finding God was actually just a way of remedying your feelings of hopelessness, emptiness, and/or depression? Is it possible that because you found hope in your religion, your attitude changed and that is why your life began to change for the better (rather than God improving your life for you)?

Atheists, would you agree that some seem to just need religion to deal with depressive feelings? And if you do agree, do you think it is okay for them to do so?

Answer 1

Some people do need it. They are the ones that haven't evolved (they are going to love THAT word) into more complete human beings yet. Not trying to be derogatory, btw, just observing the small mindedness of religious people in general.

Answer 2

I am agnostic; I am not arrogant enough to say that I know the truth of the universe and state that god does not exist.
That only thing I know for sure is that I know nothing.

Religion fulfills a need in humans to answer questions about the nature of our existance. It is a completely valuable and worthwhile thing. it allows people to find a framework which makes sense of the world around them and their place in it. It provides a value system which, usually, allows them to make sense of right and wrong in a wider context.
It provides a sense of belonging and of hope.
It fulfills a need in each person to express their spirituallity.

It does not matter whether what an individual believes is TRUE or not. Believing makes no difference to the universe - it does not alter it.

If, for exmple, Christians are correct in their doctrines,;then Jews are incorrect.
If Jews are correct, then Hidus are incorrect.
To look further at this; if Catholics are correct, the Anglicans are incorrect.
If Anglicans are correct, then Methodists are incorrect.

We cannot know these things, they are by their nature UNKNOWABLE. We believe and have faith. This is not necessarily giuded by a rational process. If belief in God is valuable to an individual becuse it gives them hope and lifts their depression, then it has real value.

Answer 3

I think that's a valid point. But I would say that some people need religion in the same way that some people "need" alcohol or drugs. It's an escape from the unpleasantness that reality often confronts us with. Religion provides companionship for the lonely, a purpose for the aimless and a false sense of hope for the hopeless. It relieves fear of death and provides pre-fabricated answers to all the big questions, removing fear of the unknown.
When you're drunk or stoned, you don't really care so much about your problems. Same is true if you believe there's an omnipotent invisible man on your side to take care of everything for you.

Answer 4

I have tried to put this out in bits and pieces. the answer is , yes, and it is not a negative thing. everyone has a different emotional, physical, psychological, and environmentally shaped existence. I am an atheist, because I can read a book. But, at times in my life, I needed something, and yet, I had nothing. I understand the mechanism behind the god thing, and, I have told some people to go to church. I usually point them in the direction of the Unitarians. Not often, but god can calm some souls and make their lives liveable, and bring "joy" into their shadowless path. I talk to god, even though I know he is not there, because, I use him as a sounding board. Crazy? yes. But not quite evil like some of my fellow atheists who are so anti-fundie that they forget their own spirituality.

Answer 5

Actually, yes, I think I agree with that. I was recently talking to my daughter about religion and she told me that she's not sure if there is or isn't a God but that she prays sometimes because at least it gives her hope. I think that when it comes from someones heart and they haven't been indoctrinated in by some destructive religion, believing in God does serve a useful purpose for some people. I don't believe in God, but I don't try to influence her beliefs in any way.

Answer 6

I think that people need to feel connected to something bigger than themselves. It's part of Maslow's hierarchy of human needs. Self actualization. So absent some other mechanism or relationships that allow people to interact with one another and be part of a community or something, religion can fill an important void.

The concern I have about religion, is many tend to be a bit optomistic, in terms of what they espouse to "know", and a bit manipulative or even agressive in their efforts to survive and grow.

I also think people have a natural desire to resolve their fear of the unknown. Scientifically oriented people tend to find little comfort in religion, as much of it seems illogical. Perhaps that is why scientific (and/or intelligent as we measure it today) people tend to be less likely to agree with or participate in organized religions, on average?

So if your fears are intense, and you cannot find comfort in the good in your fellow man and join in and trust the community of man without religion, then perhaps relgion, for the very fearful, is a good thing?

For those who are less fearful, or have more comfort in not knowing something rather than accepting doctrine that seems ill concieved, then brainwashing or coercion or indoctrination into less logical and enlightened religious teaching seems a net negative.

So perhaps I am saying that religion might be okay for people in a weakened state, but the healthy and the brave might do better to observe and understand the power of people acting in each others best interests, and endeavor to foster that without resorting to the too easily corrupted domains of mysterious omnicient powers and bearded men on a great throne in heaven etc.

Something like "god" could also perhaps be described as the power that one can feel when a group of people act in each other's best interests. If getting together and talking about helping that happen is religion, then religion by that definition seems to serve a good purpose. It just seems that any that have started out like that, seem to have been corrupted over time.

Answer 7

yes, a lot of ppl NEED to believe in something other than themselves....most of the time they can't believe in themselves b/c they have such a low opinion of themselves.

Hey, whatever floats your boat..u know. If finding God/Jesus helped you kick drugs, prevented suicide or just makes you a better person all the way around then more power to you. (I'm using you, here, as a general you) Everyone needs something in their life to work towards, or a goal if you will. If leading a moral and ethical life b/c you think it will get you into heaven then do it...it benefits the rest of society. I find that ppl that don't believe in anything, atheists if you will (which is sort of like believing in anarchy(SLC Punks explains it the best)...u r a complete hypocrite b/c atheism is the belief of nothing...which if you believe in nothing then you believe in something...so it totally contradicts itself now doesn't newho) have a low moral value b/c they figure they can do whatever they want with no consequences. Which is bad for society in general b/c then you have stuff like Enron happening.

Answer 8

Yes, some people get inspired by the words from a 'higher power' and some people just don't know right from wrong without someone (or some other outside force) telling them what right or wrong is.
In addition, some people need a sub society or culture (such as a religious one) to feel safe, wanted and/or appreciated. Atheists are usually more open-minded and open to new things as most religious people are more conservative and want most things (such as a 'way of life') to remain the same or just only to change slightly because they are simply used to things being a certain way and do not to have to adapt to a different way of life.

Answer 9

As an atheist with a religion, I can say that I do have an emotional dependence on my religion. Some people have an emoional (and physical) dependence on coffee, and I don't judge them. :P

Everyone has emotional dependences. Humans tend to be emotional creatures. And creatures of habit.

I say, if it gets the beliver through life in a better mood, it benefits us all. But when they try and control others with it, that's just manipulative and passive-agressive. There's no benefit there, only greed and malice.

Answer 10

Yes, I believe some people simply need religion in their lives. They use it as a tool to help them cope and deal with life's problems. Some use it as a way to make them selves feel better about the unknown. We all are going to die and some people do not want "life" to end.


The problem I have with people who turn to religion as a crutch, tend to not give themselves enough credit. They get off drugs and alcohol and say "God helped me through this" or "It was God's will for me to be clean" When in reality they did it themselves and should be proud of the fact that they did do it themselves.

Answer 11

We don't need religion we need God. There is a place within all of us that is seeking what is missing, anyone who says they don't do that is a liar. Some try to fill it with love, money, drugs, alcohol, and material possessions, or their jobs. Others with education, this stuff is only temporary and never really fills the hole for long, because nothing in this world ever can. It is the place in us the creator put in so that we would find our way back to him. When we find our way back our lives don't improve, we change because of having Him fill that hole. we are no longer the same person and all those things we used to use to try and fill the hole no longer control us.