Questions about Religion

[J K]

I am currently studying Religious Studies at A level.
We are studying Karl Marx at the moment and I have been set a project to find views from a range of people based on four questions.
As the only atheist in the class I thought this would be a good place to come to get some different answers to everyone else.
The questions are:
1. Do you think religion serves a purpose, if so what is this purpose?
2. Do you think that religion lets poorer people down?
3. Do you think religion will ever 'die out'?
4. Do you think it matters whether a particular religion is true or not and is it irrelevant as long as what you believe makes you happy?

What are your opinions on this?

[Mister Agenda]

1. I think religion serves the purpose of clarifying who is in the group and who is out of it. Some religions contribute to charity and education.
2. I think it teaches poorer people to be content with their lot, which can be good to keep them going if they have no more realistic hope.
3. Not completely.
4. If I didn't think what's true matters, I would be a theist. If what makes you happy is the best thing to believe, I think a much better religion than we've seen so far can be provided after about 5 minutes of thought.

[Cinjin]

(16th November 2011 20:51)J K Wrote:  1. Do you think religion serves a purpose, if so what is this purpose?

Yes. It coddles the fearful. It enables the powerful. It chastises the immoral. It enriches the wealthy. It blinds the foolish and it allows people to do unspeakable immoral acts ironically in the name of morality. Oh it definitely serves a purpose.

Quote:2. Do you think the religion lets poorer people down?

Religion lets everyone down of all income levels. It's just easier to be seen in poor people. The only reason there are still faithful is the nature of odds. Occasionally, coincidence will allow good things to happen to someone who could use a break in life .... voila ... instant devotee.

Quote:3. Do you think religion will ever 'die out'?

No, but if we're lucky we could see it seriously diminish in 1000 years or so.

Quote:4. Do you think it matters whether a particular religion is true or not and is it irrelevant as long as what you believe makes you happy?

Happiness is not the measure of legitimacy. There is no religion more relevant than any other and until such time that one can prove beyond doubt that their particular god is truly a supernatural entity your religion is irrelevant to the rest of the world. (Regardless of how many billion imbeciles subscribe to it.)

[Minimalist]

1- Religion is a control mechanism. To quote Napoleon: Religion is What Keeps the Poor from Murdering the Rich

2- Religion gives the poor a false hope of an eternal reward. By the time they find out it does not they are already dead and past caring.

3- No, unfortunately. There will always be stupid people who fall for its lies.

4- "Truth" is irrelevant to religion. All that matters is that the sheep think it is true.

[Koldaramor]

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a info
[...] religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. it is the opium of the people.

religion is the opium of the people... Karl Marx
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[padraic]

(16th November 2011 20:51)J K Wrote:  I am currently studying Religious Studies at A level.
We are studying Karl Marx at the moment and I have been set a project to find views from a range of people based on four questions.
As the only atheist in the class I thought this would be a good place to come to get some different answers to everyone else.
The questions are:
1. Do you think religion serves a purpose, if so what is this purpose?
2. Do you think that religion lets poorer people down?
3. Do you think religion will ever 'die out'?
4. Do you think it matters whether a particular religion is true or not and is it irrelevant as long as what you believe makes you happy?

What are your opinions on this?

My academic approach is called structural functionalism, with elements of cultural relativism and theoretical Marxism. Among other things,I argue that all broad human behaviour has meaning and purpose (function)

(1)Religion meets several deep human needs and serves important functions. They include:Making sense of the inexplicable,imposing order and purpose on life and nature,helping face the fear of death, providing a sense of community and belonging.Religion has also always been used to justify literally any human behaviour.


(2) Religious beliefs/superstitions? No. Organised religion? Of course;it's parasitic and preys on the weak.

(3) Probably not any time soon,if ever.There is some evidence that the search for the divine may be hardwired in humans.In any case, I doubt religion will die out while there is crushing poverty and ignorance in the world.


(4) All religions are invented by men for men.There is no connection between religion and human happiness I've ever been able to see,nor is the question relevant.Although theoretically attainable, happiness is neither a right not a natural state for a sentient being,as far as I can tell

[Justtristo]

(16th November 2011 20:51)J K Wrote:  I am currently studying Religious Studies at A level.
We are studying Karl Marx at the moment and I have been set a project to find views from a range of people based on four questions.
As the only atheist in the class I thought this would be a good place to come to get some different answers to everyone else.
The questions are:
1. Do you think religion serves a purpose, if so what is this purpose?
2. Do you think that religion lets poorer people down?
3. Do you think religion will ever 'die out'?
4. Do you think it matters whether a particular religion is true or not and is it irrelevant as long as what you believe makes you happy?

What are your opinions on this?

1. I dont have an answer for that question

2. No I don't believe that assumption is true in the least.

3. No, although it will be extremely marginalized in the long run and no longer have much influence over our society.

4. I personally believe people should realize the truth about the universe and our place in it as reveled by science, even if it can be quite painful mentally for some people to do so. Instead of them continuing to live their lives in a delusion, even if it makes them happy. John 8:32 sums up my sentiment very nicely "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

[KichigaiNeko]

(16th November 2011 20:51)J K Wrote:  1. Do you think religion serves a purpose, if so what is this purpose?

Yes ...it is the bandaid solution for those who are not strong enough to think for themselves

(16th November 2011 20:51)J K Wrote:  2. Do you think that religion lets poorer people down?

Define poor??

(16th November 2011 20:51)J K Wrote:  3. Do you think religion will ever 'die out'?

It's present form ?? maybe... Humans seem to delight in make a religion out of basically anything.

(16th November 2011 20:51)J K Wrote:  4. Do you think it matters whether a particular religion is true or not and is it irrelevant as long as what you believe makes you happy?

All religions are inaccurate AFAIK and so are "untrue". It is more a sociological / psychological need than a truth.
(Heavy on the psychological NEED)

Hope this helps and good luck with your studies

[Ace Otana]

Quote:1. Do you think religion serves a purpose, if so what is this purpose?

Well it covers your eyes from the big scary world. Blissful but unhealthy.
It convinces you that you are the purpose of the universe. Quite delusional...

Quote:2. Do you think that religion lets poorer people down?

Let's everyone down. Promising another life after this one, just like a crafty scam. Where you have to commit and believe faithfully with donation and to indoctrinate your kids so they continue with the scam where you left off before receiving this other life in the clouds once you are....long fucking dead!

Quote:3. Do you think religion will ever 'die out'?

No, but with education and the advancement of human society I reckon it will weaken, and to a point where it's barely heard.

Quote:4. Do you think it matters whether a particular religion is true or not and is it irrelevant as long as what you believe makes you happy?

No, it doesn't matter. If one religion is right, many other believers still end up in hell. Like say, if Christianity was right, atheists, Muslims, ect would end up in hell. But if Islam was right.....
You get the picture.
It would actually be better if no religion was right. Also just because something makes you happy doesn't mean it's true or right in anyway.

[tackattack]

(16th November 2011 20:51)J K Wrote:  

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I am currently studying Religious Studies at A level.
We are studying Karl Marx at the moment and I have been set a project to find views from a range of people based on four questions.
As the only atheist in the class I thought this would be a good place to come to get some different answers to everyone else.
The questions are:
1. Do you think religion serves a purpose, if so what is this purpose?
2. Do you think that religion lets poorer people down?
3. Do you think religion will ever 'die out'?
4. Do you think it matters whether a particular religion is true or not and is it irrelevant as long as what you believe makes you happy?

What are your opinions on this?

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1. Yes. Organizing and classifying people, beliefs and perceptions; inspiring people; postulating answers to the unknown; defining god/ people relationship to god.
2.While Religion historically has been tied to politics, worldly power/ wealth or societal structures, I feel is it an improper use of Religion as it's purpose isn't for secular/ material success/power.
3. Not anytime in the forseeable future.
4. What's true always matters and is never irrelevant, IMO. Seeing as there is no objective "material proof" that any one is more true than another, it would be best to keep the truth to what's testable on the personal level and therfore subjectively true and useful.