Is Religion a tool?

[Marx]

So, is Religion essentially a tool for someone who needs to cope and be told what to do in this world? Is it merely a crutch? I'm not sure how an Atheist would view it, since I'm Agnostic myself. I have only read bits and pieces of the Christian bible...and it saddens me how Stephen Harper won't accept gay marriages, not everyone is a Christian! Anyways, that's another story for another thread.

[Paul the Human]

So, is Religion essentially a tool for someone who needs to cope and be told what to do in this world? Is it merely a crutch?

For some, yes. For most, their religion and the church they belong to is the result of a lifetime of indoctrination. For many, their belief in that religion is very real and not a crutch at all. In other words, there is no correct sweeping generalization to answer that sweeping generalization of a question.

I'm not sure how an Atheist would view it, since I'm Agnostic myself. I have only read bits and pieces of the Christian bible

An 'atheist' does not believe the claims that 'god' exists. Every viewpoint from there will vary from individual to individual. Sweeping generalizations do not apply. Ever.

...and it saddens me how Stephen Harper won't accept gay marriages, not everyone is a Christian! Anyways, that's another story for another thread.

It is sad... but that seems to be par for the course. They are taught that their 'morals' are correct for everyone and too many of them seem to believe it is their duty to force those morals on the rest of us.

[Welsh cake]

Metaphorically speaking yes, but religion is not an actual instrument or interface in the broadest sense although it does have its uses and benefits for some people.

Now, if you want to create legions of mindless obedient sheep who'll willingly hand over their life savings to further your cause, religion can be quite useful indeed, but to be fair, the whole "god" aspect is unnecessarily redundant to achieving this end, writing a load of Harry Potter novels seems to have the same effect.

[Paul the Human]

[snip]religion can be quite useful indeed, but to be fair, the whole "god" aspect is unnecessarily redundant to achieving this end, writing a load of Harry Potter novels seems to have the same effect.

Ha! True, but to be fair, the same can be said of Star Trek, Star Wars, X-Files, Anime, Comic Books, etc. People, in general, have a strong desire to belong, and any community that forms around something that person likes (or believes in) will have the potential of sucking them in.

[Marx]

Thank-you for your input, I seem to have grasp a better understanding. I cannot believe some people actually think it is real, very hard to believe that Noah collected every single species in a certain amount of time.

So, is Religion essentially a tool for someone who needs to cope and be told what to do in this world? Is it merely a crutch?

For some, yes. For most, their religion and the church they belong to is the result of a lifetime of indoctrination. For many, their belief in that religion is very real and not a crutch at all. In other words, there is no correct sweeping generalization to answer that sweeping generalization of a question.

I'm not sure how an Atheist would view it, since I'm Agnostic myself. I have only read bits and pieces of the Christian bible

An 'atheist' does not believe the claims that 'god' exists. Every viewpoint from there will vary from individual to individual. Sweeping generalizations do not apply. Ever.

...and it saddens me how Stephen Harper won't accept gay marriages, not everyone is a Christian! Anyways, that's another story for another thread.

It is sad... but that seems to be par for the course. They are taught that their 'morals' are correct for everyone and too many of them seem to believe it is their duty to force those morals on the rest of us.

[Welsh cake]

Ha! True, but to be fair, the same can be said of Star Trek, Star Wars, X-Files, Anime, Comic Books, etc. People, in general, have a strong desire to belong, and any community that forms around something that person likes (or believes in) will have the potential of sucking them in.

Agreed, we either conform to the social norms or become lone wolfs by nature, if we were the latter we wouldn't have created an account on Atheist Forums to hang out with other atheists to start with!

[Marx]

Yes, it seems that way mostly. Haha! Nicely said, excuse me whilst I part the Red Sea...
But Religion seems to be a tool for some reasons. I had a debate with someone the other day, saying Religion is a positive tool, I'm not so sure about that. A Positive tool as in the Ten Commandments -- without it, life would be chaos...but surely we can abolish Religion - but, most simple-minded people won't, unfortunately...that's just what my challenger stated anyways.

Metaphorically speaking yes, but religion is not an actual instrument or interface in the broadest sense although it does have its uses and benefits for some people.

Now, if you want to create legions of mindless obedient sheep who'll willingly hand over their live savings to further your cause, religion can be quite useful indeed, but to be fair, the whole "god" aspect is unnecessarily redundant to achieving this end, writing a load of Harry Potter novels seems to have the same effect.

[Paul the Human]

Religion is certainly used as a tool by some... and quite effectively. And not always (or even usually) to the good. I understand the desire to 'abolish religion', but I don't think it is a realistic ambition. On a personal (this is my church, these are my fellow Christians, friends and neighbors) level, religion offers a lot of good things, not least among them the feeling of belonging. Good luck getting people to give that up, especially when you consider the deeply emotional and superstitious beliefs that it's wrapped in.

As for the ten commandments... the 6 or 7 that aren't simply vain demands to worship god are common sense and nothing more. They can all be wrapped up in a single phrase, known popularly as The Golden Rule... which did not originate in the bible. Which means... we don't even need that part, as you seemed to be saying.

[Anomalocaris]

It's tool. If it weren't, it would be extinct. The fact that some are told to use it by lifetime of indoctrination rather than by actively seeking it out for use in meeting certain emotional need does not change the fact that it is still being used as a tool.

[Minimalist]

Of course its a tool.

“Religion is what keeps the poor man from murdering the rich”

-- Napoleon Bonaparte

Guess who wields it?