Why is religion so popular?

[xpanda]

The notion of god(s) also explained natural phenomonen to early man. Such things as thunder and lightning could be written off as the gods being pissed or whatever. No doubt as societies evolved and religions developed, they served to answer the bigger question of 'why are we here' and 'what happens after we die?'

Man is the only animal aware of itself. It is also, as the OP points out, the only animal aware that it will eventually die. Philosophical questions are bound to arise in the face of such huge questions. The acknowledgement that man has little purpose greater than procreation and survival of the species is far too hollow a reply for many.

 

[bblight]

What I have a hard time understanding is why those people who have no belief in a deity, scorn those people who do believe.

What are they afraid of? If they don't believe, then theres's nothing to fear or scorn.
Or is it just jealousy toward those who are able to find comfort in their beliefs?

I've heard some state that they don't want the tenets of faith forced on them, while they do everything oin their power to force the rulews of their humanist culture on religion.

What utter hypocrisy!

 

[wolfie_cr]

"What I have a hard time understanding is why those people who have no belief in a deity, scorn those people who do believe. "

scorn as per dictionary.com

1. <LI type=a>Contempt or disdain felt toward a person or object considered despicable or unworthy.
2. The expression of such an attitude in behavior or speech; derision

I would argue that its typically the other way around........people who don't believe in a deity are scorned by the ones that do.

 

[xpanda]

What I have a hard time understanding is why those people who have no belief in a deity, scorn those people who do believe.

And vice-versa. So what? It's called Freedom of Speech. In fact, Freedom of Religion also means Freedom to be an Atheist. If atheists can be mocked - and around these parts we can find plenty of examples - then why not the other way around. What do you care what atheists think of your religious views? Sticks and stones and all that.

If your politicians were catering to a Muslim agenda, would that change your views of the appropriateness of religion mixing with politics?

My uncle, the Priest, says that the separation of Church and State isn't just to keep religion out of politics. It's also to keep politics out of religion. Bear that in mind as you champion the rise of the Religious Right.

Or is it just jealousy toward those who are able to find comfort in their beliefs?

Dumb.

I've heard some state that they don't want the tenets of faith forced on them, while they do everything oin their power to force the rulews of their humanist culture on religion.

Where is this 'humanist culture' being forced on religion? Further, why is it, in your view, that a humanist culture is somehow mutually exclusive from religion? If he were alive today, I'd bet that Jesus would be a humanist. He didn't believe in nor preach about systemic segregation or oppression, did he? Or maybe you don't really understand what a humanist is.

 

[blueedwards]

Where is this 'humanist culture' being forced on religion? Further, why is it, in your view, that a humanist culture is somehow mutually exclusive from religion? If he were alive today, I'd bet that Jesus would be a humanist. He didn't believe in nor preach about systemic segregation or oppression, did he? Or maybe you don't really understand what a humanist is.

you'd lose that bet x. have you ever read the gospel accounts of the life of Jesus? a humanist is about as opposite from Jesus as it gets.


Modern Humanism, also called Naturalistic Humanism, Scientific Humanism, Ethical Humanism and Democratic Humanism is defined by one of its leading proponents, Corliss Lamont, as "a naturalistic philosophy that rejects all supernaturalism and relies primarily upon reason and science, democracy and human compassion."


while he had compassion for sure, he did not reject the supernatural and he did no rely on reason and science for anything. his philosophy was not naturalistic either.

 

[blueedwards]

btw, since eek used the term "religion" in his original post, i'd like to clarify my belief on something:

religion = man made

that i agree with. man made religion but man did not make God. religion is man's attempt to communicate with God. God's attempt to communicate with man is Jesus.

 

[D2bets]

Do most people who "believe" in god believe it 100% or do they believe it to a lesser extent, I suppose greater than 50%? I mean, I believe San Antonio will cover tonight, but I certainly acept that it is not a 100% proposition. I believe they will cover if I think there's greater than 50% chance of it.

So I believe there is not a God. But But like San Anotnio, it's a belief, it's not a 100% certainty.

So I guess the question is...for those who "believe in god", do you think you have to think it is 100% fact, or can you handicap it at anywhere over 50%?

Just curious.

 

[blueedwards]

d, there is an element of faith required for sure. is it 100% certainty...no. there are varying degrees of certainty to everything we experience.

how sure am i that the sun will rise in the east tomorrow
how sure am i that the plane i am boarding will not crash
how sure am i that my wife loves me


there is faith involved no matter what you believe about our origin. we are here on this planet. how did we get here? if we were created, no humans were around to see it...if we evolved, it is happening so slowly, it cannot be accurately measured. so, to believe either one takes faith. to me, its a matter of examining the evidence and see which theory is better supported by the evidence.

"religion" has nothing to do with it.

 

[wolfie_cr]

"if we evolved, it is happening so slowly, it cannot be accurately measured"

its called fossil record, also its easier to see it in species which have small life spans, that way you can see hundreds of generations in say 1 year (insects or bacteria mostly)

just a quick note to an already way too long thread

 

[DarrylParsons]

Do most people who "believe" in god believe it 100% or do they believe it to a lesser extent, I suppose greater than 50%?

Interesting question...personally I cap it at about 95%, but I tend to assume 100% in my actions, thoughts and behaviors as I do with many other things that I cap above 90%.

 

[Woody0]

we are here on this planet. how did we get here? if we were created, no humans were around to see it...if we evolved, it is happening so slowly, it cannot be accurately measured. so, to believe either one takes faith. to me, its a matter of examining the evidence and see which theory is better supported by the evidence.

I still have trouble with the fact that we were created with a gene that encodes the production of a protein that would make vitamin C except for the fact that it contains 3 errors. I mean, if it doesn't work why bother putting it there in the first place?

 

[Woody0]

Do most people who "believe" in god believe it 100%

In my dictionary belief is absolute. Hence "I believe in God the Father Almighty" is an absolute statement, no ifs, ands or buts.

 

[D2bets]

In my dictionary belief is absolute. Hence "I believe in God the Father Almighty" is an absolute statement, no ifs, ands or buts.

Not in my dictionary. I believe a lot of things of which I am capable of recognizing the possibility that my belief may in fact be erroneous.

 

[blueedwards]

I still have trouble with the fact that we were created with a gene that encodes the production of a protein that would make vitamin C except for the fact that it contains 3 errors. I mean, if it doesn't work why bother putting it there in the first place?

how do you know it didnt used to work perfectly but now has errors?

 

[blueedwards]

"if we evolved, it is happening so slowly, it cannot be accurately measured"

its called fossil record, also its easier to see it in species which have small life spans, that way you can see hundreds of generations in say 1 year (insects or bacteria mostly)

just a quick note to an already way too long thread

the fossil record DOES NOT support evolution my friend.

 

[eek.]

the fossil record DOES NOT support evolution my friend.

So does it contradict evolution?

what does it do?

 

[blueedwards]

So does it contradict evolution?

what does it do?

it shows no "missing links" between any of the species. also, it supports the "great flood" in the bible.

 

[blueedwards]

http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-c006.html

http://www.nwcreation.net/fossils.html

 

[eek.]

According to
http://www.nwcreation.net/geologyflood.html

The present day earth is about 4500 years old.

 

[IGAMBLER]

The Messiah

The Messiah is coming. The Messiah will sweep away all superstition, faith, and religion.