Tom Sawyer

OK, I started a post yesterday about what Atheism has to offer people. Now I've started thinking in the other direction. What does religion have to offer? Some 90% of the world's population is religious, so obviously there's some benefit other than it being the path of least resistance for people who don't bother to think for themselves.

I don't personally believe in any kind of God, but there are lots of people who do. Some of them are stupid and don't bother to think of the alternatives and some of them are very intelligent and yet believe in fairy-tales anyways. So what gives?

Here's some reasons I've come up with for why religion is so popular. Please note that these are all based of Christianity as I don't know enough about other religions to have any kind of intelligent discussion about them.

1) Religion gives people hope. Regardless of their situation in life, they know there's a God who loves them so they're not alone. There's something better waiting for them in the next life.

2) Religion gives people order. The universe has a structure and they know their place within it and they know that they matter and are important in that order. There are clearly defined standards of conduct and clear lines between good and evil so they know what they have to do to live a good life.

3) Religion gives a large social framework in which to operate. You make a lot of friends through churches and they always have lots of stuff going on - picnics, camps, courses, etc - and are a good way to meet people from arounds your community, especially these days when most people couldn't tell you the name of their neighbour. Also, a lot of people meet girlfriends and wives in their church. I know a lot of friends who've get most of their dates from church and my Dad's about to marry a woman he met at church. Also, all those hot little Catholic school girls are still Catholics when they grow up.

4) Religion helps people. A lot of charity work is done by churches. They have charity drives, food drives, clothing drives, etc. The Red Cross was set up as a religious organization. People say that it's their religious duty to help the less fortunate and I truly believe that that fact makes them give more than they would if they didn't feel a spiritual obligation and that someone Upstairs was taking note of their generosity. Even if this makes the charity a selfish act on the part of the giver, they've still given and helped somebody. Please note that I'm talking about present day religion, so don't answer this with talk about the Inquisition or Dark Ages or anything.

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So basically, I'm not talking about the validity of religion here, there are lots of other topics dealing with that. What I'm asking is what does their religious belief give them that makes it preferable to not believing?

Feather

I disagree. I think every one of your points can be answered by the fact that these people, in fact, don't bother to (or plain can't) think for themselves and accordingly choose the path of least resistance.

It's easier to blame everything on some Sky Daddy than take true responsibility. It's easier to place the burden on some god's shoulders than to think.

Ryanfire

As I've stated many times.

People flock to religion in hopes of a reward.
They believe their kindness and generosity guarantee them a spot in heaven.

That can easily account for 90% of the population believing in god/religion. They want a little security in knowing their good deeds do not go unnoticed.

But really, the good deeds are noticed by the people they have given happiness to, that's all that matters.

True sacrifice is done out of love, not in hopes of a reward.

Having faith in an unknown, does not grant you eternal life upon recognition of the unknown.

Humans grant Humans Eternal life. God isn't here to do all the work for us, otherwise existence is pointless.

Satan Oscillate My Metallic Sonatas

I see.

So you are saying 90% of all the people in the world are less intellegent than you are.

Doesn't this strike you as a bit extreme?

SOMMS

Godless Dave

Where did you get the 90% figure?

Feather

No, I am not saying that 90% of the people in the world are less intelligent than I am. I am saying that this 90% (if the figure is true) either won't or can't think for themselves, regardless of their intellectual abilities. I made no comparison to myself, except the (obvious) implication that I do think for myself, whereas these people don't.

And no, it's not extreme. In my "opinion."

Tom Sawyer

I'm not saying that this 90% is less intelligent than me. If you'd read the entire post instead of taking one sentence out of context, you'd see that I'm saying that a lot of them are very intelligent.

My question regards what is it that religion has that causes so many intelligent people to overlook the logical fallicies of religion and the lack of evidence to support it and believe in it. Really, I think that religion has a lot ot offer society in terms of social benefits. I don't buy any of the stuff behind it but I think that in general people do good things and gain a lot of benefits as a result of their religious beliefs.

Maybe my question would be better phrased not as what does God have to offer but what does religion have to offer as a social institution? I think it offers a lot, even if the premise behind it isn't real.

Ryanfire

Rewards for being above those you deem unacceptable to your own beliefs.

Yes.. offers rewards and put you above others. It offers war and the sacrifice of humanity for its beliefs.

Religion can equate to that of a dogs behaviour.. "Roll over!", "good boy.. have a cookie".

Dogs will do anything for food, we know that.

Odemus

If we can agree that the motivating force in humanity is an innate drive to be happy, then we are on common ground in the belief that there is at least a perceived benefit to those who practice religion on any level.

That's an incredibly good point.Faith has absolutely nothing to do with intelligence.There seems to be a compelling force in the human race which demands recognition of a 'higher power'.

Replace 'religion' with faith and you've got a good point (from my perspective).You must understand though, the kind of security you mention is a consequence of my faith, not the chief aim. When I came to God, it was out of conviction. I wasn't seeking anything other than a release from the burden of my sin.

Again, replace 'religion' with faith and you have a good point which ties into the security of your first point.As I said though, this security is a consequence of my faith, not the chief aim.I'm not entirely sure what you mean by 'they know they matter and are important'.I know that God has created me for a purpose, but the purpose is entirely His, not mine.


My goal is the pursuit of holiness.I am aware that I have no ability to attain this on my own.I mean to say there is no amount of effort on my part which makes me 'good'.Rather, through obedience to God's will, I receive the strength to put to death the deeds of the flesh and live a life which glorifies Him.I don't receive an ounce of credit for anything I do, because God is the one who enables me to serve Him in the first place.It is through the free gift of grace that righteousness is imputed to me, not obedience to a set of do's and don'ts.

You've lost me on this one.I go to church for fellowship and instruction.What you describe can be found wherever people assemble over a common interest.

As a Christian the Bible warns us not to be mismated with unbelievers.

This ties into the notion of obeying clearly defined standards in order to achieve favored status with God.The Bible tells us there is nothing we can do to reconcile ourselves with God apart from accepting the free gift of grace which is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.


I can't speak for those who engage in religious activity outside of a serious, determined pursuit of holiness, but as for me:

It is the conviction of the Holy Spirit alone that draws a person to saving faith in Christ.No intellectual pursuit can get you there.The desire to be happy as an end to itself can't get you there.

It is only through faith in the life, death, burial and ressurrection of Jesus Christ as the perfect and necessary final sacrifice for the remission of sin.That is why I believe.

Ron Singh

And all of these Muslims and Sikhs and Hindus and Christians and Jews that are dying due to genocides and mass murder are just "taking the path of least resistance"? Give me a break. All of these men and women who spend so much of their time preaching and trying to convert other people and having others spit in their faces are just "taking the path of least resistance". And these monks and preists that devote their lives to something they believe in are just "taking the path of least resistance"? PuhLEaze. Give me a break. Why don't you use that rational mind of yours that atheists like you seem to claim to have to promulgate some rationality.

--Dismayed, Ron