Does Faith Provide Support?

I think it is supportive. Look at all the people that went from bad to good because of religion.

 

Certainly, it provides support to some people, but there are those who are perfectly capable of getting along without it. My brother and I, for example, are Atheists, and are doing very well in life.

 

ha yet u ignore every war or belief thats harmed or killed some1 as a result of religion...

burn the witch!!

 

Some peope need the thought of something after this life, actually most people do. It is not a must, as some people are completely capable of coming to terms with the somewhat grim truth and living with it. simply because they choose knowledge over a comforting ignorance.

 

yes, depending on the person. if you have a person that is raised without religion in there family, they get along without it. but if you have someone who is raised in a religious house, then they cannot live without religion and use it in about everday of there normal lives.


iono, like i said it depends on the person.

 

Personally, I see religion as a base to set my beliefs.
My family and I are all Roman Catholics and have all gone through the Catholic school system. Whilst I question my own religion and picked up many flaws in its text, ie the 7 days of creation, I still remain strong to my belief.

Stability and Control

Religion can be used to keep stability and control in communities that may be experiencing hard-times.
Ignoring the 'holy wars' that are taking place, lets focus on the more developed communities because Im sure that is where alot of you reside and can relate alot to what is said to your lives.

Anyway, Religion is a perfect way to develop morals and values in all of us.
Alot of religions focus on respect, love, compassion, understanding and peace within not only ourselves, but int he relations between ourselves and other strangers.

A couple of examples are Buddhism, you search to seek the actions and consequences and accept that the person who did bad to you, is simply a consequence of someones actions towards them, and you may choose to pass on the consequence to another, or accept the fact you just got duped.

Catholicism is another, treat others the way you would like to be treated, the 10 commandments and the beatitudes, all showing what the scholars of the time believed to be the perfect attitude to obtain a peace in the world.

Religions like these are what keep alot of communities together, and its the morals and values presented in religions at an early age are what form alot of the developing childs adult mind.


The Afterlife

A common comfort to those sick, dying, weak minded or insecure about death.
Alot of people need an afterlife. They cannot live with the thought they are simply here, with no purpose or reason to live and no outcome.
A non-existant belief in the afterlife can cause rebellious behaviour, because the person feels that there is no 'god' to punish for murderous acts, and that they can escape authorities easily.
On the other hand, a non-belief in afterlife can cause one to fear death, making them submit to what they are told and understand, that if they do not want to die then they shall not kill another.

The meaning of afterlife changes from one person to another, one person may believe something similar to what is presented in Harry Potter, where he is sent to a symbolic place (in his case, the train station at Kings Cross) and he confronts his old headmaster, where he is given a chance to have everything explained to him, others may believe that they go to judgement, where their sins are wieghed against their good deeds and they are punished accordingly, or some may believe they are reborn in another form, wiped of their memory to start afresh with their success in life determines by their actions in a previous life.
There are more but they were the first ones to stick in my head.

A life without Religion

Those who are strong enough will not find a problem with living without religion, but we need to empathise for other people and accept the fact they cannot live knowing everything they worked for will be gone and they will never have life again.
The two main things people use to substitute religion are Money and Work, which both tie into each other. They focus on work, they increase their income, they increase their income they can upgrade their home, car, etc. Giving them a satisfaction in themselves to overcome the emptiness of no belief.
Not only working for money, but also working around the house, such as gardening, over obsessing about a houses appearence or taking on a project (eg/ building a shed, fixing a car, etc.)

Without religion, I believe, the world could be a better place. If there were no religion in the world, the crisis in the middle east wouldnt have happened, numberous lifes wouldnt have been taken, alot of wars in history wouldnt have formed and people today wouldnt waste time going to church, and would focus on more important things in their life.



I wanted to write more but I've run out of time, sorry.

 

I think its obvious that religion in general is basically a support beam for those who can't handle living on without knowing the unknown. basically, something to look up to, an answer for every problem...

sure the majority of people are fully capable of producing self-motivation, but religion has a lot to do with background and family, people are born into it and never experience a life without that support beam to hold onto.

 

Can you list a religion that clearly states KILL PEOPLE?

 

Most religions don't provide a beam of support. From a Christian perspective religion often challenges someone who lives in "sin" to become a "non-sinner" Yes religion provides hope at an after life, but it is not easily obtained. It is often much more of a struggle to believe in a religion, and follow it commitedly, then not bleieve in a religion at all. Religion often upholds good morals, of which many are unable to keep, but the fact that the few hwo do strive for these morals and good works, is much harder then living without a religion, and living with your own morals.

Many Wars were fought over religion. If you simply take look into many wars you will see. The most obvious is the crusades, fought to spread Roman Catholosim, and held back the Muslims.

 

His general idea is of good will, he just has no relevant knowledge to back up what his parents tell him.

I think hes just trying to say that religion can cause war, although that is pretty off topic.

 

In my opinion religion is used as an enslavement tool, look at all of the different religions and cults. If Muhammad never said he was a prophet of Allah we wouldnt be having this "War on Terror" if Jesus never said he was "The Son of God" Timmoth McVey wouldnt of bombed the Oklahoma office buildings. And last but not least they force you into joining, if you dont belive in what we belive in you will burn in hell for eternity.

 

No religion forces you to join, it is upon your own free will. Believe what you want on the war on terror, in my oppinion it has nothing to do with religion.

 

I agree. I am more of an agnostic tho. I do believe it does provid support for those who need it. I do think the whole consept of religion is rediculious, but it helps some people...

 

Who, what, or whether someone believes in is frankly none of anyone elses business. If people didn't have a reason to, whether personal or public, to believe in something, they wouldn't. Some people need guidance, and religion is a place to find it. Others, like Shredder, have other guiding forces, whether it be scouts, common sense, or nothing at all that accomplishes the same thing, so who are we to judge whether people need faith or something entirely different to keep going?

I'm not critisizing you, it's just people have turned this into an arguement about religion v. atheism, which isn't what I took the thread to be.

I align with the views of the Freemasons on the concept. Beyond asking if people believe in "The Great Architect of the Universe" (a supreme force or being), they don't care if you think God is a white guy, an elephant, or inner force. I think that religion provides limits to those who would otherwise have none, but there are some people (an elite few) who can do the job for themselves. So far, Shredder is the only person I've met that fits into that group. Some can support themselves, others need religion. I talk about this in more detail elsewhere, but I'm getting off track so...

So, recap:

Support: Check
Guidance: Check
Limits: Check
Morals: Check
None of your business: Check

 

hmm i forget where i saw it at but i saw something along the lines of :

"its hard to remember sins when you are on a battlefield"

i believe its on a sythe mod's signature

forget which.

 

How is this relevant?

I see that quote as, when you are fighting with a companion of which you have had troubles getting along with and they sin against you, you forget this during a time of war.

 

as in,

killing one man is a sin

but when you are fighting for what you believe in, you forget all about that, because you are pushing for you belief.

 

It depends on the religion, to some religions murder maybe acceptable, even praiseable.

 

Some people are weak and use religion as a crutch. That's obvious.
Most people don't need it though.

 

Religion isnt only for the weak but mostly is no doubt.Religion is a safety net,if your life sucks on earth its gona get better after you pass on.If things are unexplainable,an answer cannot be answered it is the work of the mighty *Lord*.


"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? then is he impotent. Is he able, but not willing? then is he malevolent. Is he both able and willing? whence then is evil?"