(November 16, 2011 at 3:51 pm)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
