WHY RELIGION?

[fredd bear]

A few posts ago, I made the glib claim that if people really thought about their religious beliefs that there would be a great many more atheists.   I've thought a bit about that. I don't think it's true.

Above all, religious beliefs are based on faith, not reason. The lack of a rational base is reflected by the bewildering variety of religious beliefs on offer, even within a  single belief  system, such as Christianity, Islam and Hinduism.

I am acutely aware that atheists are a very small minority in terms  of beliefs, or lack of them.  

It is my perception  that all human  behaviour has a purpose. This especially true of common behaviours, such as identifying with some religious belief.

In my opinion, religious faith meets some very basic human needs. I'll list the ones I've thought of. This is not meant to be  conclusive.

Coping with the fear of death. Humans are unique in our awareness of our own mortality. This awareness terrifies us. Believing in a some form of afterlife is very appealing and deeply comforting.

The deep human need for order; much more orderly and comforting when instead of  "WTF was THAT?" We can say"Oh, that was just Thor with his hammer" This need is hard wired also. It's why for example we see a bunny rabbit in that cloud, the virgin in a piece of toast, alien visitors and conspiracy theories.

We are able to bargain with/influence  the divine. From gross sacrifices  to  a staggering number of other rituals, from prayer wheels, to dietary laws, to making pilgrimage and prayers, simple and complex.

We are social animals, and  naturally lean towards being part of a group. Pretty sure it's a hard wired survival thing. We feel more comfortable, safer, as part of a group; family, language, community, religion.

Religion has always been used to rationalise behaviour in which an animal would not indulge.

A cynical man might also say there seems to be an element of satisfaction/ schadenfruede from belonging to a 'special' group.Eg cults and some of the smaller, loopier beliefs ,from Mormons, to Scientologists, to Jehovah's Witnesses to Plymouth Brethren.


I suspect some one will be able to add to the list.

 Those more perceptive will have noticed I have not used terms  such as 'truth', 'divine revelation'  'god' or 'the supernatural' . I thought, what with being an atheist and all-------

[GrandizerII]

And it could be that the existence of God is just very intuitive to them, or at least more intuitive than alternative metaphysical views.

[fredd bear]

And it could be that the existence of God is just very intuitive to them, or at least more intuitive than alternative metaphysical views.

Yep, probably the simplest default position. Intuition can make a very satisfying justification for  sometimes stupid, sometimes fatal decisions.---and sometimes a right decision, which provides powerful intermittent reinforcement..

[no one]

Humans are essentially microscopic germs, their sense of entitlement and their substantially over inflated egos thoroughly convince them, that they are the preferred creation of the almighty.

[Fake Messiah]

I was actually thinking the similar thing: why aren't most religious people simply deists? I mean if they all claim that "all the religions are true in some way" and that "all gods are the same" then why adhere to Christianity or Islam or Hinduism... I mean if they claim how majority of Christians reject Bible's claims about the world like: flat Earth, six day creation, that the stars will fall from the sky onto Earth, six headed monsters, dragons etc. but adhere to the "God can be seen in the science of the Big Bang" then why not just let go of the rest of the primitive localized beliefs?

[Belacqua]

Above all, religious beliefs are based on faith, not reason.

[...]

In my opinion, religious faith meets some very basic human needs. 

First, you say that religious beliefs aren't based on reason. 

Then you give a list of basic human needs which are met by religion. (And I can think of a few more.)

If a person can get so many of his basic human needs met by religion, isn't it reasonable to be religious?

[tackattack]

I was actually thinking the similar thing: why aren't most religious people simply deists? I mean if they all claim that "all the religions are true in some way" and that "all gods are the same" then why adhere to Christianity or Islam or Hinduism... I mean if they claim how majority of Christians reject Bible's claims about the world like: flat Earth, six day creation, that the stars will fall from the sky onto Earth, six headed monsters, dragons etc. but adhere to the "God can be seen in the science of the Big Bang" then why not just let go of the rest of the primitive localized beliefs?

I would assume a lot of "believers" are just general practcing deists. A lot of religions do claim that a lot of the other religions are true in some way. Christianity has a lot of variety within it. However, fundamental Christians have a more exclusive view of religion, in that all the other religions aren't true in some way and that they have the one way.

[Yonadav]

For me, it was a passionate love affair with Jewish law. If you've never been there, you just don't know what it's like-- studying Jewish law, talking Jewsih law, living Jewish law, interacting with others who are living Jewish law. It's so passionate and addictive and you just love the others who are having the same experience.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Why religion?  Because believing is easier than thinking.

Boru

[fredd bear]

For me, it was a passionate love affair with Jewish law. If you've never been there, you just don't know what it's like-- studying Jewish law, talking Jewsih law, living Jewish law, interacting with others who are living Jewish law. It's so passionate and addictive and you just love the others who are having the same experience.

A Talmudic scholar, here. Great stuff.

I have an inking of just how fulfilling such study can be.  

May I ask if, first, if you are Jewish? A practising or cultural jew?  Orthodox or Reform?

Perhaps we can have some views by some one who actually knows the Torah;

Eg: Brief explanation of the term 'mitzvot',  including its source according to Jewish tradition

Prophecy about the Messiah , as apposed to christians claims. In my experience, Christians rarely seem to bother asking WHY Jews don't except Jesus as the Messiah.


Does the idea of an eternal hell appear in the Torah?

An odd question perhaps; I read/ heard that "revenge is not Jewish". Correct in principle? . 

A lot o questions , I know, and a couple are a bit intrusive.I ask from curiosity and because I want an informed opinion.

  I have problems  accepting the views of evangelical Christians as being informed on the Torah or New Testament . Imo, the opinions I come across here  tend to be simplistic and dogmatic.

 I was brought up Catholic. We were not encouraged to read the Bible (so naturally, I did ,at age 16) From what I've seen over a lifetime, Catholic  faith is not based on personal knowledge of scripture, but on church teaching about scripture.