why is there religion? [Archive]

MrGiggles

03-20-2005, 03:55 AM

Religion is basically the science of ancient times. Think about it, when humans couldn't figure out why something was we made up reasons why. For example, Greek mythology believed that natural disasters were actually evil creatures called Titans that came from the underworld to wreak havoc. Then also there were the gods who kept the Titans in line. Lightning was thought to be Zues XD
So yeah the greeks worshipped natural disasters

If you don't have religion to believe in it isn't the end of all.

onlinedevil

03-20-2005, 06:29 AM

GaaraOfTheDesert

03-20-2005, 09:16 AM

True, religion keeps believes in people's minds, so they could live on. But what about athiest? If they don't believe in anything, and they can live, then what is their life force? Actually, athiest IS a religion. It's a religion that does not believe in any other religion, and is allowed to do anything other than that.
Then, where's my point? Why IS there religion? Religion is not really just a believe for people, but it gives the power to people to continue life or some other jobs. Believes=power
Believes come from anything, and anything could be a religion

I'm an atheïst, I don't believe in God, but i still live a happy life. It's not atheïsm that's wrong, why should one believe in a God to be happy, i believe in myself and I'm happy, I don't need anybody else for me to do that.

Nihilists are people who believe in nothing (well thats what they say, off course they believe in something, nihilism for example)

whiteguy

03-20-2005, 09:33 AM

religon gives people something to fight for

Totesmetall

03-20-2005, 11:22 AM

So those who dont have a strong enough grasp of how else to live can have somthing exciting to live for.

Hakuzo

03-20-2005, 12:03 PM

i see all of ur points. thoughs who dont believe in a God they have a belief in somethingelse. like in a idol or a parent. i'm glad this thread is doing well. i like to learn about other people's opinion, it makes me feel like i'm becoming stronger w/ every person to talk to.thanks.

Beldin

03-21-2005, 10:31 AM

Religion is a very easy outlet for people to give meaning to time. I am no one to judge whether a certain religion is true or not. But I do know that for the people that pratice and believe in a religion it gives them great meaning. Others like me have other things to fill this need. I do believe in a God, or a higher being, but I do not go to a church or practice a religion. I am content in the way I live my life and a religion does nothing for me. You must simply do what makes you happy, or what you believe in, in this life.

netorie

03-21-2005, 04:59 PM

religion is something that ppl have so they can fight for what they believe in...i say...if u have a religion...and someone else has a different one...let it go. it's their own thing...so dont argue with then whats real and whats not.

TDW

03-22-2005, 04:52 PM

Religion was used to bring order to chaos. If you believed that there was no point in anything then people would just run a muck. If you believed that if you were good then you would go to a good place after you died, if you were bad, you would go somewhere horrible. So it kept people in line at one point in time.
Now I think it just causes havoc and we as humans should just strive to better ourselves and realise the pointlessness of such trivial things. Sry, rambling.

darkspark

03-22-2005, 05:09 PM

an old way of setting rules. "oh, i shouldn't kill because... oh, heck, there's no reason not to!!!!" now we have a legal system, but before that was in place, the church's ideas were the legal system. (now they have to loosen up... c'mon guys, let go... you're not listening to what the good book says, you're making up interpretations, just let it go...)
so, ya, it's a way to make people fear doing bad things.

Mibu Clan

03-22-2005, 06:02 PM

Religion exists to control the masses....simple as...

It always has, it always will...

Also Religion serves as a relief from the fear of death...

Asmodai

03-22-2005, 06:02 PM

mankind didn't had the knowledge to explain things like wheather changes and such, so they made up this higher being wich controlled it, if you have something to believe him you can also be controlled but this concept has only been developed till the day the church started to hassle with money, that's why all the wars between the aristocratie (sp) and the church....

Tsukiyomi

03-22-2005, 06:26 PM

Religion gives people answers to questions they can't or don't want to try and answer.

Such as what happens when you die, a lot of people become religious when death is staring them in the eyes, not so much because they truly believe, but because they are afraid of blinking out of existence. Religion tells people they'll last forever, thats comforting.

It gives easy answers to questions like creation. Saying a magical being beyond our comprehension used magic to create everything is an easy explanation that most don't question because they're taught to believe they can't comprehend the answer. Personally I don't buy into all that.

Gisaku Kimura

03-22-2005, 07:00 PM

God created us to have a relationship with him, and when we are without him we don't feel complete.

Tsukiyomi

03-22-2005, 07:25 PM

God created us to have a relationship with him, and when we are without him we don't feel complete.

I disagree, I don't need god to feel complete. Some peopel feel complete. Plenty of people feel complete by themselves, as a complete individual, some peopel feel complete when they've found someone they love who loves them back.

If god wanted us to be with him to be complete then why seperate us from him at all? If he is really all powerful couldn't he easily make it so we could be with him always? Surely god is exempt from any kind of rules to the contrary.

Unamed Ninja

03-22-2005, 07:37 PM

To give us some purpose or meaning. Without religion, people wouldnt feel bad about doing things that are described as sins, probably raising the crime rate. I dunno, thats how I feel.

Gisaku Kimura

03-23-2005, 12:57 AM

I disagree, I don't need god to feel complete. Some peopel feel complete. Plenty of people feel complete by themselves, as a complete individual, some peopel feel complete when they've found someone they love who loves them back.

If god wanted us to be with him to be complete then why seperate us from him at all? If he is really all powerful couldn't he easily make it so we could be with him always? Surely god is exempt from any kind of rules to the contrary.
I respect your opinion. Also, God didn't seperate us from him... ever heard of Adam & Eve? He had to seperate us from him because sinners can't dwell with God.
And lastly, God 'DID' make it so we can be with him forever. All you have to do is put your faith in Jesus as your saviour... that is afterall why He died on the cross. Have you ever truly listened to the story of Jesus? Anyway, no disrespect intended, g'day ol' chap.

Tsukiyomi

03-23-2005, 12:08 PM

I respect your opinion. Also, God didn't seperate us from him... ever heard of Adam & Eve? He had to seperate us from him because sinners can't dwell with God.

I also respect your opinion, but I don't see why "sinners can't dwell with god". If our purpose really is to be with god and he really wants us to be with him, then he could easily make it so. Unless there are rules even god is subject to, in which case he is not all powerful.

And lastly, God 'DID' make it so we can be with him forever. All you have to do is put your faith in Jesus as your saviour... that is afterall why He died on the cross. Have you ever truly listened to the story of Jesus? Anyway, no disrespect intended, g'day ol' chap.

That all seems so unnecessary, if god really has the kind of power the bible wants us to believe he has he could just bring us to him. I'm familiar with the story of Jesus, but that makes no sense to me whatsoever. The whole concept of sacrifice is stupid to me. "You were all dirty sinners before, but because this guy was tortured and killed you're not anymore".

PsycheAcheronos

03-23-2005, 12:51 PM

Religion was created as a means to explain the unexplainable, although its taken thousands of years for it to evolve into the black tool that it is today (even if religious people won't accept all of the deeds done in their religions' name or by the religion itself).

But beyond being an early means of explaining the unexplainable, something that science is trying to do in our day and age, religion is aslo a truly effective means of controlling large masses of people.

Hermie

03-23-2005, 01:41 PM

To provide an answer to the biggest and simplest question of all; why?

Blackvoice

03-23-2005, 02:13 PM

because there is a God who created everything in this universe. as far as how we express our thanks differs from person to person.
i for one believe that God exists but a being that is so powerfull does not really need pewny old me to praise his name all the time etc. i think there are simple things that we as human beings should do and follow in this world.

the greatest command Jesus gave was love your neighbor like yourself. the second command that i follow is do onto others what you would want others to do onto to you. with these two commands we could all live in harmony.
now can some body say AMEN.

Gisaku Kimura

03-23-2005, 02:54 PM

...AMEN brotha...

kakeman

03-23-2005, 04:31 PM

dbcomix

03-23-2005, 04:36 PM

religion is here som people can have something to believe in. it hepls maintain order. life would suck if you had nothing to believe in and you know you'll die with nothing to look forward to after death....

BlueCheese

03-23-2005, 06:52 PM

It gives people something to believe in, it gives them hope and guidance.

Unamed Ninja

03-23-2005, 07:47 PM

In the past, religion was used for profit and to scare the people into doing what they were told.

Today its just about having somthing to believe in I suppose.

Mibu Clan

03-23-2005, 07:54 PM

i think the religions that exists today r just stupid.... the only thing they cause is wars.... :mad

i do not beleve that u need a religion... but i do beleve that u need faith.. :)
life is all about death u know

...Amen Brotha...

Religion is set up to control people....nowdays....and always

Yes it does help people spiritually and tries to explain why we exist...and all

But looking at the bible, its contradictions and all....they all point into a society where all are set to rules set up by superiors to them....

All eligion is the same...bahh

booooooooo to Religion :mad :notrust

shinjuu

03-23-2005, 07:58 PM

To not fear death
To have hope in bad times
To have something to live for
To have something to do on sundays....(no offence, dont know if its the same at everybody's place but here its just total boredom nothing to do at all but browsing the internet on sundays..:/)

etc.

kakeman

03-23-2005, 11:03 PM

aaah mibu clan... finaly somone that feels the same way as i do... :)

beleave in what u want but don`t force it in other people :mad ...

Phosphorus

03-23-2005, 11:08 PM

To run and hide from the truth, ease fears of the after life, something to argue in politics with, etc. -.-;

Perish

03-23-2005, 11:13 PM

Honestly... and I really don't want to offend anyone here but here we go... I think people use religion as a security blanket, thinking they can do wicked things and still be forgiven by God regardless of whether or not they were a shitty person in life. This theory doesn't apply to everyone mind you but I do believe that's why the majority of people follow these beliefs.

kakeman

03-23-2005, 11:16 PM

i agree with u perish.... its like u kill god will forgive... u hurt god wil forgive....

monk3

03-24-2005, 12:00 AM

1 thing it is is a belief system that people put their lives into upholding the standards of the religion
it is also a way of explanation. in the christian faith people belief that God created the world and everything in it. In Norse myths, Odin and his other bretheren ruled over the land at the high reaches of Valhalla.
it also a way for people to decide their lives upon. people follow what their religion tells them top do and if they are in those guidlines, most people are content by using their religion as a guiding post.

but now im just rambling :sweatdrop

dumb_dookie

03-24-2005, 12:21 AM

This is just my opinion...

But I think there's religion because there are many unknown truths in the world. There is no evidential answer to what happens after death, how the world came to be, why humans rule the world, etc. We humans are hungry for answers...and when we find out that we can't get an answer, we form beliefs. This belief (as stated by someone who posted here) provides a sense of security for us.

I have also asked my dad this question before. He answers by saying that without religion, no one knows how this world would've turned out to be. Without the belief of hell and heaven, many would not give to charity or be sincere towards others, etc. Within religion, there are also punishments (hell, heaven, getting "boiled", the 18th hell, etc). These punishments are mostly after death. Because we do not know what happens to us after death, we fear these punishments. Such beliefs help maintain society in many ways.

Again, these are just my opinions. ^_^ And I hope they make sense...lol.. :smile-big

Tola

03-24-2005, 03:49 AM

true belivers feel that religion helps them through hard times.. it's all in their mind

i think all the religions have truth in them

baconbits

03-24-2005, 12:55 PM

...Amen Brotha...

Religion is set up to control people....nowdays....and always

Yes it does help people spiritually and tries to explain why we exist...and all

But looking at the bible, its contradictions and all....they all point into a society where all are set to rules set up by superiors to them....

All eligion is the same...bahh

booooooooo to Religion :mad :notrust
Actually there are no contradictions in the Bible and if there are some you should point them out. Secondly the Bible put more rules on the rulers than it did the people. It set up the first form of government where leaders were not above the law. Look at the greatest biblical characters. If it truly was written by them they would make themselves look better but the Bible shows them as they were.
Keeping on point, the reason Christianity exists is the give mankind the meaning and to fill the emptiness in his heart because no outside feeling or sensation will do that. It gives you an actual relationship with God and a true knowledge of what is happening.
Other religions tend to bring power to their leaders and make the people servants and slaves to ignorance.

ChaochroX

03-24-2005, 04:19 PM

Well religion has three major purposes: The first one is to explain certain phenomenon like the sky, natural disasters, ect. The second is to lay down certain principles for a certain culture. Sort of to keep people in line. The third and most important is a sense of security that it provides for people worried about what will happen to them after they die. So if your good and do everything that we tell you is good then after you die you will be infanitly happy. If you look at it for what it realy is you realize its just a mechanism used to controll people and make them do what you think is right and believe what you believe to be true. For me I don't need a sense of sacurity so I will believe what I want to believe and understand what right and wrong is not from a book but from what I truly know is right and wrong because we all know if what we're doing is right or wrong because you fell it. In that sense I don't need religion.

Deathinstinct

03-25-2005, 02:41 PM

The first one is to explain certain phenomenon like the sky, natural disasters, ect.
Actually natural disasters and the sky (I assume you mean why the sky is blue) can both be explained pretty easily. But I agree with you that the major role of religion is to provide security and conformity.

onlinedevil

03-26-2005, 08:09 AM

In this topic, there are 3 paths.
1. Believe in religion.
2. Don't believe in religion.
3. To believe is not to believe. Not to believe is to believe.

Now, the first 2 are obviously understood easily. But the third...
You see, there are very few who believes in a religion but tries to contradict the religion itself, but when an argument is directed at those people about the existence of religion, they never stand on the side with more proves and power.
You see, if you ask me whether I believe in a religion, I will not answer properly, because it's not my style. But if you tell me (for example) God exists in every way and you believe it 100%, then I would stand on the side of God NOT existing. Because only this way, will the person get something out of it. If we don't contradict ourselves, we'll never reach further into the answer of a question!

So there is like a war between believers and non-believers but in the middle, there are those who supports neither side. And because of those, we will see deeper into the question 'why?', instead of beating your enemy til they believe what you believe. Those in the middle keeps the war alive, but also keeps the enemies away from each other.

BobGuy

03-27-2005, 03:05 AM

I think there's religion cause either:

A: All these miracles and Jesus stuff really did happen.
B: They had no idea how to explain things, so they made something up.

Shinjitsu

03-27-2005, 11:24 AM

gives a better reason to keep living

Konata Izumi

03-27-2005, 11:34 AM

Religion is to me in many ways the cause of all evil. Its not that its so bad to belive in something in the first place,the problem is that humans tend to take advantage of belif/relegion to their own benefits. Bin laden and hes likes use it to organise terrorist bombings, americans use it to make money (two diffrent relegions that is)and so on,and so on.

Thats why all relegion is wrong to me and i dont belive in an allmigthy force.
I do however respect that other people belives in relegion and i have no problem with that.

sojiki-Heart less

03-28-2005, 04:49 AM

why.. becuase people.. like to belive in some thing people in genral need some thing to confert them ... make them whole they have kids.. they have pets.. loss is not something most humans.. can take.. they need some thing to fill a void or.. just to belive blinding in something like religion.. people have always been followers.. some one like hitler.. some one like ..stallin.. people followed blindly .. just like religion there are some people taht belive in it so much thats its makes me sick.. why would a god... cause so much death and destruction... why would he/she.. let use.. kill ours selves.. what kind of holy perosn would do that.. why would he let a preast molest a kid.. i mean think about it.. Religion.. is fake.. no doudt about it .. ive lost so meny things.. import.. and iam only 18 ...... its not right.. i lost just about vevery one at 7 .. other people dont even grow up with parents.. THINK ABOUT IT >> WHAT GOD WOULD DO THIS TO HIS CHILDERN << pish... i say let the fools belive in something so much it will help them ... but when the end comes.. heh.. wont they be surpirsed... opps.. wait.. ahhaha .. they wont.. cuzz they be dead.. .are bodies will just shut off .. like whena dog dies.. or insect... thats all were a higher.. on evo chain thats it... we breed and die.. thats what were programed to do .. its insticts.. thats it .. :D thx and good night.

Bergelmir

03-28-2005, 04:56 AM

Well, the answer it pretty simple. Because humans are scared to be alone. The belief in an ultimate being that will take care of you is comforting.

Jin

03-28-2005, 05:22 AM

If God does not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.

Here are a few religion quotes that I like alot. ANd they pretty much say what i think. =D

"When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad,
and that is my religion. " -Abraham Lincoln

"It is a fine thing to establish one's own religion
in one's heart, not to be dependent on tradition and
second-hand ideals. Life will seem to you, later, not
a lesser, but a greater thing. " -D. H. Lawrence

"The true meaning of religion is thus not simply morality,
but morality touched by emotion." -Matthew Arnold

"To believe in God or in a guiding force because someone
tells you to is the height of stupidity. We are given
senses to receive our information within. With our own
eyes we see, and with our own skin we feel. With our
intelligence, it is intended that we understand. But
each person must puzzle it out for himself or herself. " -Sophy Burnham

"I'm still an atheist, thank God." -Luis Bunuel

"To you I'm an atheist; to God, I'm the Loyal Opposition." -Woody Allen

I love Buddha teachings. Its more about mind and body.

OrphanBoy

03-28-2005, 08:01 AM

Konata Izumi

03-28-2005, 08:27 AM

the real question is: why do people keep restarting these pointless threads? this topic has been discussed multiple times just with different titles. and each one turns out to be christians vs atheists. why can't we all just get along and stop questioning one another? :D

Religion isnt a topic you discuss once and thats it,no, its to big and to important for many people for it to be like that. So this topic will be discussed over,and over,and over again even if you dont like it. :D
Thats just how it is,some things are meant to be discussed alot.

Remco05

03-28-2005, 08:59 AM

Well here we go again...

I'm not a believer, nor am I an atheïst. And no, I don't mean that I believe there is something out there, cause I don't. I'll explain what I mean.

I believe in facts. Facts I can see with my very own eyes, with this I don't mean I see some random letters in a book put together in an age of wars, currupt priests and slaves. But things I actually can see, like in person not something some other person sais to me...

Like Jin posted

"To believe in God or in a guiding force because someone
tells you to is the height of stupidity. We are given
senses to receive our information within. With our own
eyes we see, and with our own skin we feel. With our
intelligence, it is intended that we understand. But
each person must puzzle it out for himself or herself. " -Sophy Burnham

Lots of people say this is athisme, but it isn't, most people don't even know what athisme really is... cause in athisme if you die you don't go to heaven or whatever, you just stay where you are, see nothing, so basicly it's like your soul stays in the dead body, well... wooptiedoo... can't wait to look an eternity towards unending blackness...

To religious people I always say this, remember when the Bible was written and who wrote it. The Bible became public round the Dark Ages... you know, that time when after you killed someone you gave a priest a bundle of gold and he guarenteed you'de still and up in heaven... got just one thing to say to that: ... " ...right"

Well then the Christians thought they were really kick-ass and went East. They met some Arab dudes and were like... hey, they look different, speak different, act different... guess they don't get what's life really is about. So the Christians tried to force there believes on them. But the Arab was like... no fucking way dude! Fortunatly one of the Arab leaders just met Allah who gave him a book. The Arab leader told all the other about this and everybody felt like one group and together they fought against the Christians. So here I go again: ... "...right"

So basicly we have greedy priests vs. lying arab leader. These are the tho biggest religions in the world. And some people think it's weird I don't believe in a holy book...

But like I said before, I believe in facts. I do not say it isn't true, for if there will be real prove God or Allah or whatever exists I will except it, but it will have to be 100% certain.

By the way I do not look down on people who do believe in a religion.

hokage0027

03-28-2005, 09:21 AM

Remco05

03-28-2005, 09:33 AM

Dunno if the hating part was directed towards me, but I don't hate religion, and I do realise that in history religion made the fundamental basics for the present perception of how we should life. And it's the basis for our morals and values... but you must admit religion really came to us in times of disaster which was mighty handy for the leaders of the group that was in disaster.

And about the source of origin... there are more speculations beside god how the earth and humankind was created...

Besides, why would that be the biggest question. Isn't a big question a question which is of great importance? Isn't it the need for a resolve that makes a question really important?

If you look at it that way, no, it isn't. We humans are here and for the time being we're here to stay. No sense in digging for the past.

I don't like thinking about history, I like thinking about the future, could be because I'm quit a carefree guy...

Konata Izumi

03-28-2005, 09:35 AM

And what's this about all religion being bad and being used by people for their personal gains.WRONG.

I just almost said that,. And i would also like to add that thats the reason im not going to relate to religion at all. Humans invented relegion and humans controll relegion. Thats why its wrong for me, if they use the relegion to personal benefits or not doesnt matter. It can be used for personal benefits, and thats enough for me to avoid all relegion.

Still,i respect that people belive in god and such,i have no problem with that.

Gaara of thy Desert

03-28-2005, 09:39 AM

I feel just like Remco ...but i tried to tell my mom but she dont understand

Hakuzo

04-20-2005, 06:00 PM

sorry i havent been on in awhile which explians y i havent posted in here sence i started this thread. first off i like to thank everyone for their opinions and i hope that i didnt offened anyone. second i like to say that in many ways i agree w/ everyone who posted here. i believe in a 'higher being' but i somewhat stuck all the religons together( kind of dealing w/ facts and simalities), i think its much easier to explain that way then to contrast who's right or/and wrong'. just pointless. also i do think that religion was the start of many/all wars. but by all means plz continue to post here.

VexingVelocity

04-20-2005, 06:08 PM

Religion is like Santa Claus for adults. *ducks*

Hakuzo

04-20-2005, 06:25 PM

that has to be the simplest why that religion's been explained, thats good(>^-^<)

Wing-Zero

04-20-2005, 06:47 PM

General Shino

04-20-2005, 07:15 PM

Religion can be all the things stated, but no one should say that religion is false hope. Unless you bring me hard evidence it is.

Hakuzo

04-21-2005, 04:25 PM

u r right no one should say that their religion is 'false hope', especially if there's no proof! And i also agree that u should believe in what u what. i hope that everyone has insight or has gain insight of how pp think, i think how pp talk/write in this form shows the open mindness of how we all feel.

NinjaJedi007

04-21-2005, 11:33 PM

I think a big reason religion exists is because of the afterlife idea. Of course not many people are excited to die so why not think that you can continue living in some alternate world? People want to believe that their lives will not come to a screeching halt and that somewhere they can continue the things they did in this world. It's basically a universal idea so lots of people believe that it can happen.

Dark_Wolf

04-22-2005, 12:26 PM

Religion can be all the things stated, but no one should say that religion is false hope. Unless you bring me hard evidence it is.

You bring me "hard evidence" that all these Gods/spirits exist, and then people like myself will stop calling it "false hope".
I think it is false hope, but I'm not going to say why, I don't want to get my ass flamed.
Religion was created to:
1. Control people
2. Put people under order ---- in other words, to keep them under control.
3. To provide "false hope".

^ Just don't quote me on that please. I really don't want to discuss the last option, so try not to get rat arsed :D

poona

04-22-2005, 12:29 PM

Religion is just some comfort and hope for people who are afraid of death I guess.

zingymaster

04-22-2005, 12:30 PM

can give me evidence that they dont exist.
big bang my ***. do u truly belive that

tootaa18

04-22-2005, 01:09 PM

no one can prove that God exist and also no one can prove that he doesn`t.

personally i believe that there is a god........i can`t prove it, it`s a matter of faith

and to those who say that religiong is the cause of all the wars in the world, it`s not the religion .........it`s the people who start wars and kill people in the name of religion.........i don`t think that any religion will teach it`s followers to kill or hate. for example im my religion "which is Islam" it is a huge sin to kill a human being, but some times i read or hear about a murder in my country, does that mean my religion is bad????? of course not, it means that the people are bad that`s all

Bin laden and hes likes use it to organise terrorist bombings
as i said before, it is a huge sin to kill a human being "no matter what his religion is" but there are some people who hate to see someone "defferint" so they think it is okay to kill those people :notrust

Islam is a religion of peace and it respects other religions and beliefs and personally i think that the terrorests who kill in the name of Islam are just some mad people who have been "brainwashed" and i don`t think that they read the Quran or understood the teachings of Islam -_-

Dark_Wolf

04-22-2005, 01:33 PM

can give me evidence that they dont exist.
big bang my ***. do u truly belive that

Who you talking to there?

Wedge_Antilles

04-22-2005, 07:09 PM

why is there religion?

Because religion is a great tool to manipulate other people and get them to do what you want them to do. Few would argue against the fact that David Koresh was a madman who exploited the people who followed him, yet how is he any different from the pope, a grand ayatollah or the archbishop of canterbury?

Kitty

04-23-2005, 02:12 PM

Because people are impressionable and hopeless. They'd rather believe in something they probably know is false than accept the reality of the situation.

Praetoriani

04-23-2005, 05:59 PM

Religion exists to control the masses....simple as...

It always has, it always will...

Also Religion serves as a relief from the fear of death...

I believe what he just said, personally.

That's not to say I'm against religions. If you're happy being Christian/Hindu/Islamic, so be it. Just don't judge others compared to your living style.

Hakuzo

04-24-2005, 09:22 PM

i understand everyone's point. and i hope i dont sound like i'm repeating myself every time i post here, but i feel that i should reply as often to ensure that i'm listening.

Kineas

04-24-2005, 10:40 PM

You know, I thought about religion and the meaning of life last night in bed before I managed to make myself fall asleep. :)

Religion helps people to maintain a narrow view of the things and stay on their feet.
From what we already know of this world and the universe in general, we are nothing special, even as a species. Just animated blocks of carbon and water and whatnots scurrying around a big ball of rock in the middle of space. That's pretty tough for some people to accept, especially those who were brought up to believe that there is a meaning to life, and that everyone is special and unique.
If you believe in religion, you believe that you were created for a reason, and there is more to life that living it out and dying at the end of it. Religion brings meaning into a person's life, to put it simply.
Why were kings and aristocrats able to persuade peasants to stay in their dirt hovels and remain poor and hungry whilst they lived in their palaces, enjoying luxuries? Religion is not the only reason, but it was a key reason, as peasants believed that they'll go to a better place for eternity where they'll be happy after their short life of a few decades, so it'll be a better bargain to accept their birth status and endure their miserable lives to earn a ticket to their desired afterlife rather than to strike out against the oppression and poverty.

In current times, we know that the stars we see in the night sky are distant suns, with distant planets revolving about them. Almost everyone who knows that can truly grasp the fact about how insignificant humans are, and how much more insignificant we are as an individual amongst 6 billion other individuals. However, not everyone can accept the fact that their life and existance is not likely to be remembered a thousand years from now. Most of us won't even be remembered beyond a generation or two after our deaths. What does all this have to do with religion? Mainly the fact that religion makes everyone feel special and unique in their own way, and that religion gives people hope in their lives.

I do realise that it seems that I'm missing the point where religious people fervently believe in the existance of their respective higher power for their religion, but it still stands, as here's the trend. The higher power that they worship is always a "good person", who'll stand up for them and help them when they need it, and the person who they'll find in their afterlife. (Of course, the afterlife is a happy one in heaven/paradise/eden)

hinata smile

04-25-2005, 01:09 PM

every single humen in this word have to belive in somthing because if its not its abnormal.....

Dark_Wolf

04-25-2005, 01:35 PM

every single humen in this word have to belive in somthing because if its not its abnormal.....

No it isn't.
If you are talking about religion that is.

Hakuzo

04-25-2005, 04:51 PM

i do believe that we are here for a reason, and things happan for a reason. i also believe that every person is unique and special. i believe that "our hearts do more than beat, and our brain does more than think."

Itachi_Gaiden

04-26-2005, 08:03 AM

Actually Hakuzo people can have things to live for other then religion. I personally, do not consider my self catholic or any religion. The things I live for are Family, Friends and the quality of life. Religion can give people a sense of purpose; sent to live here for god and live out his will and what not, help understand our existence. I'm a very accepting, understanding person a I actually enjoyed your question. It got me thinking about it again.

Hakuzo

04-27-2005, 04:27 PM

well Itachi, i agree i dont put myself in any religion. the reason y i started this thread was to get insight of how other pp veiw religion

Kepa

04-27-2005, 06:34 PM

well, I'm not gonna get into the subject and write essays consisting of 5pages (no one here would read them anyway)..

all I'll say is that it's just suprising how much people turn to religion as soon as someone dies. Somehow no one like to hear the scientific explanation :"your body deteriorates and you die...the end!!"

General Shino

04-27-2005, 09:40 PM

Religion is just some comfort and hope for people who are afraid of death I guess.

Way off....... I believe in god and the all and at the same time " feel that if I were to find out religion was false I wouldnt care......Because I am not afraid of what can happen to me cause my very existence would cease and I would not be able to ever realize it because I wouldnt even be aware of it..... DO you understand now

Whooosh

04-27-2005, 10:03 PM

Religion is a controversial topic, I personaly do not follow any set religion and believe more in the power of human will than that of someone else whome people choose to fallow even though there is not set proof that the person exsists. I do however look up on this topic from time to time, it has been found in scientific studies that there may be a part of your brain that is made to respond and believe in a higher power. :smile-big * becomes proud of self for not botching that * :blink Wow I have far to much free time.

Masaki

04-27-2005, 10:06 PM

Religion is hope for the gullible.

General Shino

04-27-2005, 10:08 PM

No it isn't.
If you are talking about religion that is.

yes it is....because you have to have some view on religion...even if you dont believe in it

hokage0027

05-05-2005, 07:23 AM

Religion is there to differentiate right from wrong.

Ainsin

05-05-2005, 03:28 PM

As spiritualist (I have no religion, just very confused), i believe religions are here to create a sort of 'order' in the world. Anarchy would reign if there was no religion. I suspect a lot of people would have no direction in their life if they didn't believe there was a greater force at work.

darkbliss

05-13-2005, 10:23 PM

Religion was designed to govern people. It is used to control people and force them to do what they otherwise wouldn't do.

And also, gives some people a reason to live: Heaven.

PandaBot

05-19-2005, 11:13 AM

there are religions because people could belive in something.but wars over religions is like fighting over a imagenary friend

Geji Mayu

07-14-2005, 02:47 PM

There is but one purpose of religion. It is to explain the unexplained, or what is the unknown.

Through human history, religion has always been made to explain what humans cannot comprehend. This is easily seenw ehn comparing Greek myths to modern-day Western Religions.

Greek Myths were made to explain the aspects of life surrounding the Greeks. Gods were made to symbolize these phenomenas in a way humans can understand. That is why these Greek Gods were made in mans image.

Now, with technology disproving these myths, humanity turns to religions to explain other thinsg they have no explanation for. Christianity is a perfect example of this since it has mainly to do with the afterlife, what happens to us when we are dead. They believe that we are either saved from eternal hell or thrown in there depending on how we act when we are alive.

It's human nature.

imchemist

07-24-2005, 01:22 PM

Religion exists because there is God. God exists because there are people who believe in Him. People exist to love and live for each other.

Dark Blade

03-16-2007, 11:32 AM

Religion is only here to explain the mysteries of life:(

Jagon Fox

03-21-2007, 04:11 AM

partly to help explain the natural world, partly to learn the mysteries of both the universe and the self, partly to get together with like-minded people. and partly to control humankind

Jagon Fox

03-21-2007, 04:26 AM

If life were to be so simple as to be governed by facts then where is the biggest fact of them all? Do you we still know the exact source of our origins?

And what's this about all religion being bad and being used by people for their personal gains. All religions teach a very fundamental thing-live life well and do well to others around you. Religion never guides you in the wring path, unless you yourself do not have patience to learn its values and lessons. People like Bin Laden read half a prayer, misinterpret it as some twisted message from the Almighty and go off to war without even bothering to read the prayer's explanation. Such people cannot be said to be preachers of Religion. Although i do believe in the Almighty i do not wish to rub it in into other people. BUT hating any religion because the media sends out wrong signals is DEAD WRONG.

because religion is one of the deadliest politcal weapons of all, what better way to control thousands of people at once then to use faith to bend them to you're will and way of thinking? You are absolutely right, many religions have very peaceful practical core teachings to them. But I respond with the fact that alot of humans aren't very good at peaceful, practical. Humanity often acts like spoiled chldren when it doesn't get what it wants Spoiled children wh fight their fights with nasty weapons, and these days bombs and guns. For those of us, who do believe in the divine, we are the boogers of the powers that be!