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.

___________________
Derosas.sitesled.com - for my music.

quote:

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).

___________________
The father made fetuses with flesh licking ladies / While you and your mother were asleep in the trailer park / Thunderous sparks from the dark of the stadiums / The music and medicine you needed for comforting / So make all your fat, fleshy fingers fingers to moving / And pluck all your silly strings and / Bend all your notes for me and / Soft silly music is meaningful, magical / The movements were beautiful / All in your ovaries / All of them milking with green fleshy flowers / While powerful pistons were sugary sweet machines, / Smelling of semen all under the garden / Was all you were needing when you still believed in me.

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.....

___________________
Whence September dusk grows crisper still,
with leaves all crimson conquered,
I yearn to shout,
and dance about,
and stick pickles in my honker...

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).

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.

Last edited by tupsox on Jul-29-2004 at 20:09

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.

___________________
Whence September dusk grows crisper still,
with leaves all crimson conquered,
I yearn to shout,
and dance about,
and stick pickles in my honker...

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.

___________________
Whence September dusk grows crisper still,
with leaves all crimson conquered,
I yearn to shout,
and dance about,
and stick pickles in my honker...