Why do you think people are religious :o.

[Regulation-X]

I think people are religious because they fear death.

What do you guys think?

 

[Trip.Fagex]

I agree with you. They need something to comfort themselves for when they die.

 

[Sin666]

If that were true, religious fanatics wouldn't martyr themselves for their beliefs.

The answer is, I think, a lot more simple. As children, we internalize the opinions of others as objective truth - so, we tend to believe whatever our culture believes. As for those who choose to convert, they usually experience some traumatic/dramatic life change, and at that point are simply looking for a way to redefine themselves and their broken perspective of the world.

 

[Regulation-X]

If that were true, religious fanatics wouldn't martyr themselves for their beliefs.

The answer is, I think, a lot more simple. As children, we internalize the opinions of others as objective truth - so, we tend to believe whatever our culture believes. As for those who choose to convert, they usually experience some traumatic/dramatic life change, and at that point are simply looking for a way to redefine themselves and their broken perspective of the world.

I sort of agree with that, but it's not what happens all the time.

Just because religious fanatics martyr themselves doesn't mean they don't fear death. In there minds they aren't really dying which gives them some sort of relief, which is why they do that.

 

[PublicityFtF]

I believe that most religious people are born into a religious setting, and - in order to keep family, friends, and habit in order - they keep it. Yes, there are those who later in life cling to religion, and I think that those are the people who are afraid of death. Not everyone martyrs themselves for their religion - only the crazy ones do.

 

[Plznate]

I believe Religion is simply a crutch. It provides a purpose to live, and can add meaning to an otherwise void and empty life. It gives hope that there is an extension to the life we live here, and as such, people follow it blindly.

 

[Sin666]

The social/societal function of religion is as a crutch - giving life purpose, explaining things that aren't/can't be understood, etc. That may explain why religion is beneficial, or demonstrate how religion has been reshaped by our culture over time, but that's not why people actually believe it.

At least at a young age, children are carefree: they don't give a shit about life purpose, and most of them don't have any understanding of death beyond the abstract concept. It as at this stage in their life, when they really have no psychological need for God, that they are introduced to their beliefs. A kid will believe in the existence of God as easily as he will believe in the existence of Santa Claus.

In fact, you've probably seen the extreme resistance some children demonstrate when told Santa is fake: they will come up with all sorts of excuses to defend the impossible notion of a man who delivers presents all over the world in one night. Imagine how much harder it would be to convince them of the truth if they went to the North Pole every week and saw "Santa's workshop". Such is the analogy I make to the Church and the clergy. They are "proof" of God, and the child reasonably questions how either would be so respected and important if God were simply the figment of someone's imagination.

So, while their belief in Santa is eventually ruined by well-meaning parents or friends, the belief in God endures to become cemented into a lifelong objective truth.

 

[Regulation-X]

The social/societal function of religion is as a crutch - giving life purpose, explaining things that aren't/can't be understood, etc. That may explain why religion is beneficial, or demonstrate how religion has been reshaped by our culture over time, but that's not why people actually believe it.

At least at a young age, children are carefree: they don't give a shit about life purpose, and most of them don't have any understanding of death beyond the abstract concept. It as at this stage in their life, when they really have no psychological need for God, that they are introduced to their beliefs. A kid will believe in the existence of God as easily as he will believe in the existence of Santa Claus.

In fact, you've probably seen the extreme resistance some children demonstrate when told Santa is fake: they will come up with all sorts of excuses to defend the impossible notion of a man who delivers presents all over the world in one night. Imagine how much harder it would be to convince them of the truth if they went to the North Pole every week and saw "Santa's workshop". Such is the analogy I make to the Church and the clergy. They are "proof" of God, and the child reasonably questions how either would be so respected and important if God were simply the figment of someone's imagination.

So, while their belief in Santa is eventually ruined by well-meaning parents or friends, the belief in God endures to become cemented into a lifelong objective truth.

Hmm, I see your point, but respectfully i don't agree.

Only in movies and TV shows I see where the kid actually throws a fit about santa clause. And there are people who don't go to church and still are religious fanatics.

What I think, once again, is that people now a days follow it blindly. You can provide them actual facts and show proof on why God isn't real and they will still believe in him. They only believe because their parents believed and so on and on... But now lets set the setting to long ago when 'Jesus was born'. People were ignorant, they aren't nearly as advanced as we are today. Just the thought of death might of made them go crazy, but now this 'Jesus' fellow comes and says, "Oh well if you believe in God than when you die you go to heaven, but if you don't, you will go to hell and be punished for eternity!". It must of set some sort of relief for them, so when they thought of death they thought of heaven and all they had to do was believe in God.



Sounds reasonable tbh..

 

[Angelmax]

Children instinctively believe what they are told, because from an evolutionary standpoint they simply don't have time to question and learn slowly.

There are a multitude of reasons and explanations for the existence of religions, though I would think that the desire for an answer to 'unexplainable' questions is the primary one. Though, I won't go into detail since others have.

 

[K-3-V-1-N]

personally, i tended to rely on religion for emotional support. i have not had the ideal childhood and i needed to believe there was an equalizer for all the unpleasant things that happened to me and others. the people who did bad were eventually going to get what was coming to them, and us, the victims, would have the final laugh when we pass the ultimate test of life.

you can imagine what that kind of thinking did to my emotional health. it was especially horrible once i came upon atheism, since that equalizer was being put into question.

 

[Try and run]

I think people are religious because they fear death.

What do you guys think?

Having a religion won't save you from death, we all die eventually. The awnser is pretty obvious, they fear the afterlife.

 

[tofurocks]

personally, i tended to rely on religion for emotional support. i have not had the ideal childhood and i needed to believe there was an equalizer for all the unpleasant things that happened to me and others. the people who did bad were eventually going to get what was coming to them, and us, the victims, would have the final laugh when we pass the ultimate test of life.

you can imagine what that kind of thinking did to my emotional health. it was especially horrible once i came upon atheism, since that equalizer was being put into question.

Would you rather see the world as it is, or live in comfortable delusion?

 

[Nathan III]

People turn to religion because there are so many questions that CANNOT be answered (I.E, what happens after death?)

 

[DaveyB]

I think it's just due to in childhood, children and introduced to their parents religion, and will believe in that.
As for why it started, well for some reason people must desire to be different and not have an equalistic world.
My opinion, which will be widely flamed I expect, is that religion should be banned. Most worldwide problems are started through religions clashing. I feel more strongly about it since I'm from England, and our country seems more intent to please religions such as Muslims (which also tend to be foreigners), than to please Christians, when the majority of them were actually born in this country. I myself am not religious, and I feel as though new laws are being enforced to suit all the immigrants who fucking fucking half elephant gods or whatever, and the government aren't bothered about people such as me who actually belong here.

 

[Aeroshaft]

Simple answer bro:

Our minds are too curious for answers and the more we know the more we learn how little we actually know. Religion gives people a sense of security. It gives them rules and policies, it gives them fairness and thus security. The world is so much bigger than this man. There is so much to this and this is all like level 1 of infinite.

It's like you have access to all of this (we'll pretend the lines go to infinite):

__________________[_]____________________________

And religions and beliefs are the brackets. They enclose your mind from access to the infinite. If you 100% without a doubt believe in something, it will be self-evident thus real to you.

Religion also gives morality which humans lack at birth, it gives ethics, it gives hygiene, it gives healthy tips. It's basically what we should learn to do without the sense of fear from some imaginary force. We're taught this life is the ultimate test. If we fail, we go to hell for eternity. If we pass, we go to heaven for eternity. That's bullshit.

 

If that were true, religious fanatics wouldn't martyr themselves for their beliefs.

The answer is, I think, a lot more simple. As children, we internalize the opinions of others as objective truth - so, we tend to believe whatever our culture believes. As for those who choose to convert, they usually experience some traumatic/dramatic life change, and at that point are simply looking for a way to redefine themselves and their broken perspective of the world.

I'd definitely agree with this, except that the beliefs are internalized via verbal and physical abuse. It takes a lot of abuse to break the reality processing elements of the brain to the point where people believe in something like a magic man in the sky; something so obviously false.

It also takes a lot of abuse for people to believe in the efficacy of the state and the existence of nations. Which is primarily what 12 years of compulsory 'public education' is for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIDvdzjzSto&feature=SeriesPlayList&p=B3F2CF45EEB95C80

 

[Bring Me The Horizon]

I'm not a FANATIC as Sin has described some to be but I am a "born again christian". Most people would stereotype most of us as "the people who tell you you're going to hell if you dont accept the lawd!". But I'm a bit more conservative. I keep to myself with my beliefs. I don't like going to church because I don't feel the need to praise the lord alongside everyone else.

The reason why I (speaking for others, not all) am religious is because it gives me a sence of "comfort" in my life. Me and Finn talked about this and he didn't understand how or why I'd want to be "locked in by beliefs" and such things, rather than be "free to do my own will". It is my CHOICE along with most others to be "religious".

Most religions and beliefs have people in them for all the wrong reasons. Some do it because their parents do it. Some do it because they've been told they're "less human that others" if they don't join".

I'm not some freak who wants to shove God down anyone's throat... Actually I don't tell anyone about God or anything about my religion really because I believe you chose what you want to do in your life. People do it because it feels like it's something to rely on when you're down in life. At least, that's what Christianity is about. I don't much about other religions such as Catholicism or Islam.

 

[dam prayer noobs]

This question is so general it blows my mind.

1. Not all religions are the same, and not all worship and beliefs in God are the same. So classifying someone who believes that you'll go to hell if you don't believe in Jesus under the same category as someone who regularly meditates and spreads love doesn't work.

2. Not all people came to religion the same way. Some people were born into it, some were scared into it, and some came to it on their own.

 

[Bring Me The Horizon]

This question is so general it blows my mind.

1. Not all religions are the same, and not all worship and beliefs in God are the same. So classifying someone who believes that you'll go to hell if you don't believe in Jesus under the same category as someone who regularly meditates and spreads love doesn't work.

2. Not all people came to religion the same way. Some people were born into it, some were scared into it, and some came to it on their own.

If you're referring to my post, just read It as if I'm speaking for myself. I didn't say ALL people believe in "God". I even put "I speak for others, not all).

 

[dam prayer noobs]

If you're referring to my post, just read It as if I'm speaking for myself. I didn't say ALL people believe in "God". I even put "I speak for others, not all).

I was referring to the OP.