What do people look for in religion? (Christianity)

If you're religious: What do you look for in religion? If you're not: What do you think other people look for in it? A meaning for life, salvation, ethics? ALSO: What good does religion do (to the believers, and other people eg. development aid)?

This isn't for arguing about the validity of the beliefs. That is to say, it is irrelevant for the thread whether the existence of god is plausible or not; all that matters is that people think (whether they're right or wrong) that they'll find these answers in religion. So, please save your mindless arguing for SFA.

The reason why I'm asking about this is that I am going to hold a speech about religion (in Finland, where Lutheranism is the major religion), but I don't have a wide knowledge of why people actually believe in a God. So, I'm asking you. What's so great in religion? What do these people find (or think they will find) in it?

Please don't post things specific for other religions such as Islam, Judaism or Hinduism. I don't have anything against other religions, but I won't have time to cover them, and thus they are irrelevant for my speech. Lastly, if you're an atheist and wish to bring out "alternatives" for these reasons for religion such as instead of relying on the Bible for ethics, there's Secular Humanism, please do, without a heated argument for which is better. I'll try to contrast these theistic and atheistic views as much as possible in my speech.

 

The common reason I find when debating with theologists and religious followers is that they need something to cling onto, something to believe in. Though, some do think that there is evidence for the existence, ultimately they will retort to it's something they believe in and it makes them happy.

So, in essence, a good feeling that cannot otherwise be filled without religion.

 

I believe most if not all religions stand for similar principles, in theory.

The reason why I believe in religion is because it brings me closer to my family, it helps me believe that I have a purpose in this world.

It redefines moral reasoning, bringing a sense of self worth and responsibility for oneself and those around you. This is not to say the opposite could be true allowing people to justify reasons for doing what is considered immoral or unethical. But like any religion or cult, it makes a person feel needed and this fulfils an intrinsic need that is far more powerful than anything extrinsic.

Religion does not have to be defined by the belief in God. There are plenty of other aspects that draw people into a communal worship. Number one would definitely relate to a sense of belonging/community. We all want to be a part of something. It is the most basic subconscious requirement that every human being feels - it is not to say that there aren't some who disassociate from community but that is more a minority in society.

Religion helps me understand from a supernatural perspective why I'm alive, what my purpose on earth is. It is what allows us to distinguish ourselves from the rest of the animal kingdom.

 

I believe that you can find a good moral standing and be close to your loved ones without religion. I am a pantheist myself, which for all intensive purposes is not much more than a spiritual atheist. I don't feel like I need God to push me to do good. I am more than capable of being a good person without the feeling of having to please a God. Morality is not something that is exclusive to religion. I don't have a void that most theists would think, I fill that void by learning, whether it be about science, religion, history, etc.

Every good thing about religion can be found alternatively.

 

An afterlife.

 

I think most believe because it is their entire world view taught from birth, and just because someone proves their religion to be extremely ludicrous and obviously flat-out wrong, the human nature of stubbornness negates any possibility of admitting it.

I remember talking to a classmate of mine who was Protestant, and asked him "What if you were born Jewish?". Obviously, he would still be Jewish til this day, but he answered, "I'd eventually see the truth in Protestantism and convert". Yeah, okay. -_-

 

I'm not sure exactly...but knowing there's somebody watching, helps me be a better person.

 

Thanks for the answers. Additional question for those who don't believe in a God or the religion itself, but still are a part of it: Why haven't you formally left already?

Shameless bump.

 

An afterlife, like how JohnK said, TBH.

Also, just a question..

I heard you can freeze someone's cells before dying so in the future if they figure out how to unfreeze them, they can come back to life...

Why can't they freeze a few people....figure out how to unfreeze and ask them what happened during death?

 

Human beings ARE the most selfish beings on this planet. We treasure our lives so much, thus wanting an afterlife. Our whole living experience is not to live, but to accept death.

 

With Religion you kind of feel protected and when things are going bad you have some sort of higher power to go to.

 

I believe in god because it's the only logical explanation of how we got here

inb4somedumbatheistshowsevolutiondownmythroat

 

Darn those Atheists and their dumb science.

I think most religious people want someone/thing to tell them what to do, and also eternal happiness i.e the afterlife

 

What do you mean "unfreeze"? I'm pretty sure we know how to unfreeze frozen things lol.

 

I think that people like to have something to reassure them and to help them cope with the stress day to day life. The concept that someone else is planning out your future gives people a sense of stability. People feel like that are protected from the unknown. I also think that people like to have a way of explaining everything. Natural things that we do not yet scientifically understand can be explained and given a reason for happening.

In some cases it's just a part of peoples lives that they've always been used to. Some people are born into families where religion is a key part of everyones life, and they inevitably grow up to believe in it, others are just very impressionable and trusting and willing to believe what they feel is right regardless of what other people may say.

 

It's shoves, and all theists who make even a remote attempt at being respectable in their views accept evolution for the fact that it is. You also didn't answer the question.

I don't think anybody looks towards religion for anything; rather, it is a matter of being bullied into believing that you are in some way deficient without it.

 

Thanks for the replies, I'll start writing the speech tomorrow, if anyone's got anything to say, there's still time for it.

 

I don't believe I can't function without religion. There have been dozens upon dozens of people who have led very successful lives without religion. I personally don't see what I have to lose when it comes to believing in God or Christianity. I look to it for reassurance, hope, and comfort among other things. It's the way I was raised and I don't see any reason to stray away from it. That's not to say I agree with every single Christian zealot out there. In fact, a lot of them flat out piss me off.
I don't like seeing those religious assholes degrading others for not believing in the same things they do (the same goes for pretentious atheists).
I don't believe in anyone's interpretation of the Bible and its messages other than my own, and I try to live my life as morally correct as I can. I judge what is right and what is wrong by my own ethics. Of course I make mistakes, but when I do, I admit it and I repent for whatever it is I've done.

 

it was a typo no need to be a grammar nazis

evolution is a joke it wasn't that ridiculousness during Darwin's time because back then we thought that basic cells were like jello, evolution came about in the time frame were we still thought that spontaneous generation was a fact, we thought meat produced flies we didn't know how complex basic cells were. evolution is ridiculous "well these species are similar they must com from the same origin" and then throw in assumption after assumption to justify how it happened.

 

First of all, obviously you do not know how to read the OP. This thread was not in any way meant to be a discussion of who is right and who is wrong, you ignorant prick.

Second of all, if you want to get technical - nearly every major religion of today came about in a time before pretty much any major scientific discovery. Not that this discredits religion at all, but since you seem to think that because the time period that evolution came from is somehow relevant to the validity of the claim, I'd just like to point out that your logic is almost as bad as the religious texts themselves. Darwin was not the one who formed the theories about spontaneous generation, who is to say he even agreed with them? Judging by his work in evolution and natural selection I would be willing to wager a good amount that he didn't agree with it. Seriously, educate yourself. Please.