What human purpose does religion fill?

[kramazeek]

I've often wonder why people gravitate towards religion and have found that the answer is difficult to find amongst those that do no believe. So let's spitball; what does religion provide that logic day to day existence does not? What did those that existed two thousand years ago get from an unprovable fantasy? The mind or the ego wanted something; what?

[vorlon13]

In a world devoid of;


germ theory of disease

continental drift theory

handbook of of chemistry and physics

me

etc.


it can get pretty tough on people beset by continuing inexplicable calamities and mysterious properties of matter, nature, energy, weather etc. to have a fucking clue as to WTF is going on. If some cretin pops up and says, "God did it, and for a few donations we can get some answers and some control over shit", there you are.

[kramazeek]

In a world devoid of;


germ theory of disease

continental drift theory

handbook of of chemistry and physics

me

etc.


it can get pretty tough on people beset by continuing inexplicable calamities and mysterious properties of matter, nature, energy, weather etc. to have a fucking clue as to WTF is going on.  If some cretin pops up and says, "God did it, and for a few donations we can get some answers and some control over shit", there you are.

I'm okay with I don't know. If a woobie helps me sleep I'm good; I don't need one to exist for the duration I am allotted. Off topic, did you know you are being referenced in another thread referencing butt plugs? Pleased to meet you just the same!

---

Is it as simple as filling gaps? In the time of the concept of Christ you would be lucky to reach the age of 40; death would be painful and the daily application of law horrendous. One most likely did things against ones inner definition of decency to survive and one would certainly want more then life had to offer? Poof; there it is?! I want it so I create it? I want a better of rule of law as well and here it is? Government, forgiveness, eternal life all in one? Is it as easy to learn what is lacking from the time of Christ to see what man would invent to fill the holes?

[brian1570]

I've often wonder why people gravitate towards religion and have found that the answer is difficult to find amongst those that do no believe. So let's spitball; what does religion provide that logic day to day existence does not? What did those that existed two thousand years ago get from an unprovable fantasy? The mind or the ego wanted something; what?

there are so so so many factors leading up to the creation of, and the continuation of, religion. The earlier purpose of religion was a feeble attempt to explain things that were otherwise inexplicable. the human brain has an innate, knee jerk reaction to fill itself full of possible explanations to fear of the unknown. when a child hears a noise in a dark room, it's the boogie man, or the monster under his bed. when a young human species encountered things like earth quakes or natural disasters, it's an angry god. However in this day and age when we are finding more and more scientific explanations for the happenings in the world around us, religion serves as a place to belong. It serves as a direction to follow. It serves as a "greater good". which i think that last part is certainly up for debate. one thing that has remained true about the purpose of religion since the beginning is that is serves as a way for the few to control the many. 

but what do i know. i'm just an idiot punching away at tiny squares on a box that magically talks to other peoples magic boxes.

[GrandizerII]

I've often wonder why people gravitate towards religion and have found that the answer is difficult to find amongst those that do no believe. So let's spitball; what does religion provide that logic day to day existence does not? What did those that existed two thousand years ago get from an unprovable fantasy? The mind or the ego wanted something; what?

Hope for a better life after this current one?

[Anomalocaris]

I've often wonder why people gravitate towards religion and have found that the answer is difficult to find amongst those that do no believe. So let's spitball; what does religion provide that logic day to day existence does not? What did those that existed two thousand years ago get from an unprovable fantasy? The mind or the ego wanted something; what?

Religion tells those who would be religion that they are not halfwits for being religious. There is no way logic would do that.

[Wyrd of Gawd]

I've often wonder why people gravitate towards religion and have found that the answer is difficult to find amongst those that do no believe. So let's spitball; what does religion provide that logic day to day existence does not? What did those that existed two thousand years ago get from an unprovable fantasy? The mind or the ego wanted something; what?

The Bible explains how people become gods and religions get started.

Wisdom 14:15-20 (CEB) = https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?se...ersion=CEB

[Whateverist]

I've often wonder why people gravitate towards religion and have found that the answer is difficult to find amongst those that do no believe. So let's spitball; what does religion provide that logic day to day existence does not? What did those that existed two thousand years ago get from an unprovable fantasy? The mind or the ego wanted something; what?

Logic doesn't and never will tell you what moves you or what will bring you fulfillment.  For that you have to look to something within which is not answerable to logic.  That is where religion got its toe-hold.

[brian1570]

I've often wonder why people gravitate towards religion and have found that the answer is difficult to find amongst those that do no believe. So let's spitball; what does religion provide that logic day to day existence does not? What did those that existed two thousand years ago get from an unprovable fantasy? The mind or the ego wanted something; what?

there are so so so many factors leading up to the creation of, and the continuation of, religion. The earlier purpose of religion was a feeble attempt to explain things that were otherwise inexplicable. the human brain has an innate, knee jerk reaction to fill itself full of possible explanations to fear of the unknown. when a child hears a noise in a dark room, it's the boogie man, or the monster under his bed. when a young human species encountered things like earth quakes or natural disasters, it's an angry god. However in this day and age when we are finding more and more scientific explanations for the happenings in the world around us, religion serves as a place to belong. It serves as a direction to follow. It serves as a "greater good". which i think that last part is certainly up for debate. one thing that has remained true about the purpose of religion since the beginning is that is serves as a way for the few to control the many. 

but what do i know. i'm just an idiot punching away at tiny squares on a box that magically talks to other peoples magic boxes.

also i might add, some religions masquerade as education. and people some how fill this need for learning with a non-proof based belief system. and then proclaim themselves to be enlightened students. i find the whole thing laughable.

[Anomalocaris]

I've often wonder why people gravitate towards religion and have found that the answer is difficult to find amongst those that do no believe. So let's spitball; what does religion provide that logic day to day existence does not? What did those that existed two thousand years ago get from an unprovable fantasy? The mind or the ego wanted something; what?

Logic doesn't and never will tell you what moves you or what will bring you fulfillment.  For that you have to look to something within which is not answerable to logic.  That is where religion got its toe-hold.

In other words, people need religion to lie to them, to reassure them things whose real basis in actualities can't be admitted to is instead well founded upon something made up that is putatively glamourous.

.