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|  foreignergrl | Apr 27, 2:59pm | I find that religion exists first as a social force of behavior control. I'm not sure whether or not this is "planned" rationally by the people who run the many religions (like setting up a government is planned, I mean) or is it already something that they do (and follow) automatically.
Second, I think that we are actually terrified of accepting death as the end. This would mean that we would have to struggle a lot to live maeningful lives here on Earth, and let's be frank, who wants to do that? So we are lazy, and we fool ourselves with hopes of a better life.
I remember feeling an enormous sense of void when I abandoned faith. It made me really depressed and dark. It took me a while to understand that it is exactly the struggle to fulfill this vacuum that makes humans so amazingly capable of the most beautiful things. Religion and faith are just drugs to numb this void and to make us content and stupid. Under their torpor you dont struggle, you dont question, you dont help your brother out of his misery, you dont take care of the environment. And why should you? "God" will take care of it for you. Faith and Religion are practical, feel good pills.
Good for our parents, our society, and our government. If you dont get a decent life here, you can always hope for the next. No need to rebel against their shitty job. |
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|  eat | Apr 27, 4:39pm | | I agree that religion functions as behavioral control and as an answer to death. But it doesn't necessarily correspond to a lack of intellectual curiosity, charity or environmentalism. While a negligent minority may overly rely on God, many more use God as their inspiration for unreciprocated kindness. |
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Sponsor |  rivalarrival | Apr 28, 9:43am | Religion exists solely because of convincing indoctrination methods.
Plant the idea in their heads before they are capable of discerning truth from an even moderately compelling fiction. As they learn critical thinking skills, the fiction must become more and more complicated. The tough questions need to have reasonable answers, or they must be convinced that even asking the question is morally repugnant.
In today's western world at least, religion has no purpose. Today, the concept of control is a byproduct of religious indoctrination, not an intended purpose. The people allegedly in control base their actions on their indoctrination. The leaders "follow the book", at least how they interpret it. If they actually controlled the people, the pope would still have massive armies at his disposal.
There is no greater "Why" - religion exists today because religion existed yesterday. It is a self-propagating state of mind. It has not been eradicated because vaccination efforts have not yet succeeded.
92: I think of religion like a steak knife, plunged into the chest of the believer. The former-believer has had that knife removed, but it leaves a gaping hole that takes a long time to heal. Right now, it may take a lot of effort to fill that void, but it's ultimately a temporary condition.
It's just like breaking up with a significant other, or overcoming a chemical addiction. Time heals all wounds. |
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Atheist/Agnostic → Discussion