RE: What does religion have to offer?
July 18, 2019 at 11:45 am
(This post was last modified: July 18, 2019 at 11:47 am by Drich.)
(July 16, 2019 at 5:07 pm)EgoDeath Wrote: Time and time again we have had conversations with religious whack-jobs who come on this forum with some tired, washed up platitudes and tell us, "Checkmate, Atheists! Bet you can't explain this one!" I would say about 99% of the time we easily dismantle their silly arguments; whether or not they choose to admit, or whether they realize, their logic is faulty is another story entirely. But, for the most part, I can safely say that no theist here on this forum has ever thrown a curve ball at me that I either didn't see coming or haven't seen before. The most of you could probably say the same for themselves.Religion is a tool used to break down the barrier that sin puts between you and God.
That being said, religion does seem to offer something to billions of people around the world. I have argued, and still believe, that whatever religion offers to people, other systems in life could offer the same, if not better. Through logical thinking and rational discourse, I've come to appreciate my place in this universe as entirely insignificant. While I may have found meaning in my life and people that I care about, our existence here basically means nothing. And that is, undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful things about our time here. It's as if we're a little flower that's sprouted up in an empty garden.
I am hoping here to start a list of what it is that religion provides for people. We can, as atheists, at least speculate about what it is that people draw from being believers, people of faith.
I think that that faith and belief provides:
Comfort in death
A sense of belonging
A sense of purpose
A community
A conduit for shared experiences, of which the psychological benefits are great
A sense of understanding the history of the world, even if that history is completely or mostly inaccurate
A feeling of having someone there when one is completely lonely or hopeless
People also seem to get some benefit from prayer
If anyone thinks this list needs added to or subtracted from, please reply.
Though the things (more or less) you listed above God use those as a support structure to help you weather the storms he will need to put into your life to break down that wall. Now depending on how hard your heart is or how thick your skull is this may take years or even a life time.
The end result is DIRECT communion with God himself/The Holy Spirit. No priests no church no preachers. God promises to pour out the Holy Spirit on his followers. The first measure we get are fruit or evidences which change our personality and temperament, if we embrace these changes next we get access to the holy Spirit via gifts. or abilities. You will be able to do things you know do not come from you.
Access to God library, direct communication, Then you will be given tasks. Tasks you could not other wise complete with your ability or skill set.
Then religion becomes a place where you help others find what you found.
You ask God a question you get a direct answer. God can I have abc, and ABC shows up along with consequences 123. To the point where you stop asking for stuff and allow him to provide what you need when you need it.
That said religion can be a double edge sword in that it can become a horrible place focoused on the right ritual and traditional way of doing things. it becomes very check list and forumatic to the point God no longer become apart of the process. It becomes a place where people mindlessly follow the religious formula rather than seek and commune with God.