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The motivators for people to follow religion.

There are many reasons why people follow religion.

If we can see past the usual shallow reasoning given such as the reward of eternal life in heaven, god's blessing, and other non-tangible motivators, lets have a look at the things we can touch and feel.

1. Guilt.

Guilt is a powerful motivator. Many religions set standards so high, they are impossible for a normal human being to attain. The failure to meet these high standards lead to the person feeling guilty, and needing to make up for their sins by trying harder.

This guilt also leads to low self-esteem which leads to the follower to be less confident to leave the religion. Depression is also linked to guilt, and depressed people can be under the illusion that religion will actually make them happy.

2. Social Pressures.

Often leaving a religion also involves leaving one's friends and family behind and starting life again. This is a painful reality that will force many people to continue to practice religion even though they don't really want to.

3. Social Status.

Alot of people find their sense of identity through their place in their religious organisation and leaving would involve losing their status and starting again to find a place in life where people respect them. This can be difficult.

4. Failure to take on responsibility.

Leaving one's religion puts the responsibility on the individual to take reponsibility for their own destiny and life and future. Many people feel secure that their destiny is outlined in a book called the bible and would not cope with replacing 'faith' with 'self belief'.

There are many more, buts that just a start to get things rolling.

Good points. I have witnessed a relative waste huge amounts of money by donating it to his church. Its sad the kind of power religious guilt has on people.

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Originally posted by Derosas Good points. I have witnessed a relative waste huge amounts of money by donating it to his church. Its sad the kind of power religious guilt has on people.

Unfortunately many people are weak minded and do what they are told.

Peoples beliefs probably get 'programmed' into them by their parents at an early age .

Then after a while as the kid gets older those other factors might come into play.


meh I don't know. I think religion is a social cancer, no more than a successful cult imo.


Now let's pass the collection plate!!!!

Reasons for religion:

1. The realization that some things in life can never be explained.

2. The need to live life in reverence to something other than yourself.

Just off the top of my head. Also, to the guy who said religious people are only blindly following their parents....well that statement just shows how ignorant and inexperienced you are in life. It's a demonstratably false notion. Many people are far more religious than their parents.

I also am saddened by the ignorance of those who clearly have no concept that religion gives a culture its morality, its definition of what is good and bad, right and wrong. Just because you dont actively believe in God and attend church/synagogue/mosque doesn't mean that the teachings of religion hasn't profoundly affected your worldview.

religion is misunderstood, bloated and dogmatic. it's all about the mental exploration, not the rules and regulations. rules and regulations are not what are important; they are merely ways to reach the goal (enlightenment, union with God, understanding of the universe, or just an illusion of the mind).

quote:

Originally posted by tupsox Reasons for religion: 1. The realization that some things in life can never be explained. 2. The need to live life in reverence to something other than yourself. Just off the top of my head. Also, to the guy who said religious people are only blindly following their parents....well that statement just shows how ignorant and inexperienced you are in life. It's a demonstratably false notion. Many people are far more religious than their parents. I also am saddened by the ignorance of those who clearly have no concept that religion gives a culture its morality, its definition of what is good and bad, right and wrong. Just because you dont actively believe in God and attend church/synagogue/mosque doesn't mean that the teachings of religion hasn't profoundly affected your worldview.

I'm glad you feel religion gives its culture morality and defines what's good and bad. The history of Christianity has done this rather well:

http://www.shc.edu/theolibrary/resources/timeline.htm


But admittedly, the Church has gained a lot of ground on its questionable actions since then. Must have been a different interpretation of the Bible or something - can't quite put a finger on it.....

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Originally posted by davinox religion is misunderstood, bloated and dogmatic. it's all about the mental exploration, not the rules and regulations. rules and regulations are not what are important; they are merely ways to reach the goal (enlightenment, union with God, understanding of the universe, or just an illusion of the mind).

People make religion bloated, dogmated and misunderstood. Take it for face value and for what it's worth.

Religion (at least Christianity) isn't about going to church, making your weekly tithe or following rules that the church has set forth. It's about a personal relationship with God, and striving to live your life better.

quote:

But admittedly, the Church has gained a lot of ground on its questionable actions since then. Must have been a different interpretation of the Bible or something - can't quite put a finger on it.....

I'd like to point out I never said that the Bible is the word of God and the ultimate law of the land. I'm just voicing my annoyance at people who ignore the profound effects the Judeo-Christian way of thinking has had on our society.

An example might be thus:
Marxism is fundamentally atheist; Marxism is not a Christian ideology. However I think its safe to say that it came forth from Christendom, the Christian world: post-reformation Europe.

quote:

Originally posted by tupsox I'd like to point out I never said that the Bible is the word of God and the ultimate law of the land. I'm just voicing my annoyance at people who ignore the profound effects the Judeo-Christian way of thinking has had on our society. An example might be thus: Marxism is fundamentally atheist; Marxism is not a Christian ideology. However I think its safe to say that it came forth from Christendom, the Christian world: post-reformation Europe.

Point taken, and I understand your annoyance. I'm just playin' a little Devil's advocate by pointing out a number of its detrimental historical effects.

quote:

Originally posted by MisterOpus1 But admittedly, the Church has gained a lot of ground on its questionable actions since then. Must have been a different interpretation of the Bible or something - can't quite put a finger on it.....

Until recently, there was not the seperation between church and state that we find today. It is therefore very easy to lump religion and politics (wars and atrocities) of that time together. Now, at least for most religions, you have a clear seperation between the two where religion can now focus on the philosophies behind it, not the political actions around it.

quote:

Originally posted by NeoPhono Until recently, there was not the seperation between church and state that we find today. It is therefore very easy to lump religion and politics (wars and atrocities) of that time together. Now, at least for most religions, you have a clear seperation between the two where religion can now focus on the philosophies behind it, not the political actions around it.

Sorry, I was kinda bein' sarcastic. A well-stated answer, nevertheless.

quote:

Originally posted by NeoPhono Until recently, there was not the seperation between church and state that we find today. It is therefore very easy to lump religion and politics (wars and atrocities) of that time together. Now, at least for most religions, you have a clear seperation between the two where religion can now focus on the philosophies behind it, not the political actions around it.

Aye, good answer.

Thoughts on the Catholic church and it's acceptance of slavery , non-involvement standpoint of the prosecution of Jews and now the acceptance of evolution?

I'll probably get assassinated for that remark.

quote:

Originally posted by davinox religion is misunderstood, bloated and dogmatic. it's all about the mental exploration, not the rules and regulations. rules and regulations are not what are important; they are merely ways to reach the goal (enlightenment, union with God, understanding of the universe, or just an illusion of the mind).

Can I buy some pot from you?

Religion was used as a tool to control the people.

"Back in the day" there was no police force u could call in to report a crime. So they make a religion where anything u do wrong will be a sin and u will be punished forever for it. Scare the people.

What i have always wondered is if Allah and God are seen as the same god? And if not, does it say in islam that Allah created the world?

And if he didnt then wouldnt the christian God be the bigger god because he did?

And if both these gods are seen as the main gods then doesnt that conflict prove that there is no god? I mean how can there be 2 Gods when one of them created the earth!

or if there is which one is the real one?

And if the cristian God created the earth why didnt he make everyone worship him without lettin other religions begin?

quote:

Originally posted by Matty V Religion was used as a tool to control the people. "Back in the day" there was no police force u could call in to report a crime. So they make a religion where anything u do wrong will be a sin and u will be punished forever for it. Scare the people.

Committing a crime "back in the day" carried more swift and severe punishment then you'd find in today's world, by far.

quote:

And if the cristian God created the earth why didnt he make everyone worship him without lettin other religions begin?

He gave people free will, and they chose to idolize and follow other Gods. Much smiting ensued.

Yer maybe, but if a person back then knew he was innocent even tho he was convicted of a crime he belived so much he would go to a paradise in heaven he wasnt that bothered about dieing. And that god would decide their fate in an afterlife

quote:

And if he didnt then wouldnt the christian God be the bigger god because he did? And if both these gods are seen as the main gods then doesnt that conflict prove that there is no god? I mean how can there be 2 Gods when one of them created the earth! or if there is which one is the real one? And if the cristian God created the earth why didnt he make everyone worship him without lettin other religions begin?

Tell me, what is the first commandment? If you read it closely and ponder for a while, considering both its language and its broader implications it probably answers most of these questions.

And thats just 1 out of 613...

quote:

Originally posted by tupsox Reasons for religion: 1. The realization that some things in life can never be explained. 2. The need to live life in reverence to something other than yourself.

Why would someone that is not weak minded need to live their life in reverance to someone else?

Its like saying that you don't have the power to do what you want with your own life. If I met someone like that I'd slap them!

What a cop out.

As if human beings need to have something to follow!

quote:

Originally posted by oldskoolraver Why would someone that is not weak minded need to live their life in reverance to someone else? Its like saying that you don't have the power to do what you want with your own life. If I met someone like that I'd slap them! What a cop out. As if human beings need to have something to follow!

Interesting remark.

So would you consider yourself a humanist? Just curious.

You do realize that even if there is a God, He has given you free will to live your life however you want. How is that saying you don't have the power to do what you want with your life?

quote:

Originally posted by Seventil Interesting remark. So would you consider yourself a humanist? Just curious. You do realize that even if there is a God, He has given you free will to live your life however you want. How is that saying you don't have the power to do what you want with your life?

I wouldn't consider that I fit any particular box you would like to categorise and put me in.

If there is a God, and you believe this, than you do have responsibilities to meet his/her expectations, so the personal freedom given to you is somewhat limited. A key element to believing in God is also believing that he has a purpose for humans and has expectations of how we should act.

quote:

Originally posted by oldskoolraver I wouldn't consider that I fit any particular box you would like to categorise and put me in. If there is a God, and you believe this, than you do have responsibilities to meet his/her expectations, so the personal freedom given to you is somewhat limited. A key element to believing in God is also believing that he has a purpose for humans and has expectations of how we should act.

I wouldn't call them "expectations". However, believing in God does put a "higher purpose" calling into your life. It's the opposite of the humanist way of thinking - actual purpose to life. Self deluded or not, I think it's a better way to live life.

I wouldnt say money to the church is really a bad thing in some cases. Smaller churches tend to actually do something with it rather than just try to hold up their own massive weight like the mega-churches.

My father recently did a mission to Koderra Kenya and saved many peoples lives (medical work). He published a book on it called Breath Of Kenya that you can get off Amazon et al. They money from the books is going towards another mission. There are thousands if not tens of thousands of missionaries out there just helping people. They arent running around selling bibles to the natives, they are just there and just trying to make the peoples lives better.

Its not all bad.

quote:

Originally posted by Orbax I wouldnt say money to the church is really a bad thing in some cases. Smaller churches tend to actually do something with it rather than just try to hold up their own massive weight like the mega-churches. My father recently did a mission to Koderra Kenya and saved many peoples lives (medical work). He published a book on it called Breath Of Kenya that you can get off Amazon et al. They money from the books is going towards another mission. There are thousands if not tens of thousands of missionaries out there just helping people. They arent running around selling bibles to the natives, they are just there and just trying to make the peoples lives better. Its not all bad.

That's cool man, I've thought about doing missionary work after I get outta the AF.

I'd like to think that's what life is all about, humbling yourself and making people's lives better. That sort of sacrifice and selflessness is rare in today's world.

it gives people hope, a sense of purpose, and a moral context within which to live their lives... supposedly.

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