Questions about Religion

[fr0d0]

1. Do you think religion serves a purpose, if so what is this purpose?
Religion DEFINES purpose. That's why it's there. The who, why questions.

2. Do you think that religion lets poorer people down?
Religion, as we embrace it, is FOR poor people, but it's actual if not contractual effect is the manipulation of the poor.

3. Do you think religion will ever 'die out'?
Blind materialism is our current world view. Religion may go the way of the dodo.

(kudo's to Kichie's point - people DO make a religion out of everything!)

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?
No it has to be absolutely true or it's bollocks. No one can fool themselves to believe something they don't really. Does atheism make you happy? Are you happy not having thought some problems through?

[The Grand Nudger]

1. Do you think religion serves a purpose, if so what is this purpose?
It has served and continues to serve many purposes that run the full spectrum of human activity and intentions.
2. Do you think that religion lets poorer people down?
I don't think we need religion to do that.
3. Do you think religion will ever 'die out'?
Related to #1. If we ever take a look around and come to the conclusion that the things we feel religion offers are better sourced elsewhere, sure. Let's not forget that religion has "died out", many times.
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?
Suppose it depends on which angle you approach that. It matters to me, sure. Obviously it doesn't matter to everyone,lol.

[Ziploc Surprise]

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?


1. A more relevant question (and one that will probably start a rather interesting shit storm in your class discussion) is not "did religion serve a useful purpose in the past" (which is, if you examine it, the way qu #1 is commonly answered) but should be instead "does it serve a useful purpose today". With a little cherry picking it's easy to see how religion served a useful purpose in the past, most notably how it enforced morality (note this view can only come about by cherry picking). But the real question is, "does it serve a useful purpose today". To do this you need to look at alternatives to the things that are provided by religion. Can we, through reason, expand the perimeter of who we should not kill or abuse to include all humanity or do we need to fear the punishment of god (and perhaps excommunication) in order to not kill or abuse. Can we, through reason, understand the cause and effect of moral and immoral behavior and, from this understanding, choose to be moral or must we be like toddlers who don't have the mental ability developed yet to fully understand empathy and cause and effect? Do we need a holy book to tell us right from wrong or can we figure this out on our own? Better yet, since holy books are an interpreted thing, just circumvent this question by proving that we have already done this by (for example) our modern interpretations of the bible. Today we know that things like sex slavery, genocide, cruel and unusual punishment are immoral (all of these things exist in the Bible but we have chosen to ignore this "morality"). I'd say that this proves that humans, through reason, have already overwritten the morality spelled out in the Bible (But perhaps I'm just another apostate with little understanding of such things. Hee hee.)
As for the other questions like, where did we come from and what is our place in the universe, science not only has most of the answers for this, but also has the promise of more answers to come.
In other words, to answer question #1, perhaps you ought to suggest that we as a species are outgrowing the need for our gods. This suggestion will most probably cause a shit storm of biblical proportions (double meaning intended).

2. My answer for #2 is yes. It both lets poorer people down and gives them a sense of peace all at the same time. Christianity has always been hipocritacal towards the poor. On the surface churches appear to welcome the poor. They have many charities to help the poor and they have an open door policy; everyone is welcome. In reality those who are financially better able to donate to the church are treated differently.
On the surface, religion appears to help people be satisfied with the income that they have. Under the surface what I mentioned above destroys self esteem. Doctrine does the rest. Modern christian doctrine is laced with the idea that one ought to "let go and let god _____", "Cast all your cares on god and he will lift you up" , "donate money to god and he will answer your prayers." This is nothing more than an abdication of responsibility. Supposedly you are abdicating so that god can do what you were trying to do but, due to the abscence of the supreme being, this doesn't happen. When one takes responsibility one is in the position to make changes. It's positive action against negative circumstances. For example, do you hate your low paying job? You can pray to god for money or you can go to college or trade school and gain the education you need for a better job. Do you have trouble holding down a job? Look to see if perhaps this is because you might be an irresponsible ass and, if you are fix the problem, the you will be able to hold down a job. The power to change lies in choice; the choice to act positively or abdicate responsibility by not acting at all.

3. Will religion ever die out? This is an interesting question. There is a phenomena in Psychology called "symptom substitution". It's where someone might, for example quit smoking but then take up gluttony and become obese. This happens when the underlying problem that the person has is not addressed. In the case of religion you need to identify the underlying problem and then see how religion seems to satisfy (in some way) the problem. Unfortunately I think this may be more difficult than it seems because religion seems to satisfy a variety of problems. For me it provided an explanation for spiritual phenomena. For other's it provides a social group where people can share their feelings and care for one another and possibly do some good in the world. For others it is the best and most authoritative means to impose on yourself and other people uniformity and compliance with a morality code you agree upon.
You can say that these underlying problems can be satisfied by things other than religion. I'd say this is true...unless you expand the definition of religion. For example; Is religion belief in the unprovable (or even, perhaps, things that are provable but people argue them to a level where they become unprovable)? If the definition of religion can be expanded to "belief in the unprovable and/or belief in things that are provable but people argue them to a level where they become unprovable, Then belief in Spirits, Aliens, bigfoot creatures, political ideologies, favorite football teams, vaccines causing autism, heck even atheism can become a religion. Take for example the "Heaven's Gate" cult. That's a case where belief in aliens became a religion...one that people would die for.
In this case the question becomes will the propensity to believe in the unprovable (or things we choose to make unprovable) ever die out?
For another view on religion take, for example advertising and branding. In advertising there is a "holy grail", so to speak, when it comes to branding a product. If it can take on religious qualities this is the highest achievement a product or service can obtain. What are religious qualities? Things like, a slogan that everyone knows that's said over and over (for example "there's an app for that). Or a physical movement or chant; for example a baseball team known as the (I forgot) Indians has a chant that is said with an arm motion that seems to resemble the chopping motion of a tomahawk (but in slow motion). This is done every time the team makes a point or kicks ass in a play (something that happens infrequently but that's another story). This is a type of religion, it binds people together. I doubt it will go away but, So long as it remains harmless, it's not a problem.

4. As I mentioned before, this question ought to be discussed in the light of what other things are available to make people happy, and whether these things are better (healthier) than religion?

[Milky Tea]

1. Do you think religion serves a purpose, if so what is this purpose?

That depends largely on each individuals circumstances. As a non-believer religion serves little purpose in my life but for other it can provide a wide range of services depending on each individuals needs or wants ranging from a means of staying off alcohol in the case of AA, providing community support for the elderly or vulnerable, giving some a moral guidance without necessarily dictating their morality.

Granted sometimes the purpose of religion is intentionally exploitative but I don't believe that this is a prevalent as some make it out to be.

2. Do you think that religion lets poorer people down?

Not especially. There are many reasons why people live in poverty and struggle to get out of it and I don't believe that religion plays a significant role in this. If anything for many people religion helps them deal with their circumstances and although some disdain finding comfort in what the non-religious believe to be fantasies when it comes down to it if a individuals emotional health benefits from it then as far as I'm concerned they are benefiting from those beliefs.

Many charities who help the poor have a religious foundation as well so poverty is clearly something religions are interested in addressing.

3. Do you think religion will ever 'die out'?

I doubt it.

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?

We generally don't spend much time on this planet and as long as a persons religious beliefs don't cause anyone else any harm I don't believe it really matters if a religion is true or not as long as it makes a person short existence more tolerable and hopefully more enjoyable.