Religion?

[Lanesra]

Have you ever wondered what religion is? I mean why do you think we have religion is it because people need something else to kind of look to that's why they believe in God or that they would rather say that there are reasons for things happening rather than blaming themselves for their mistakes? Do think religion is something for people to hide behind and why has it taken over?
Why does religion dominate everything we do? Don't you believe it is one the main factors that had caused so much division in the world today? Why are people not willing to integrate their beliefs?

[mibn2cweus]

Life is more than a process of sustaining an existence. Life is a process of growth and evolving into stronger, healthier and more complex systems. As humans we have evolved into creatures with the capacity to ask questions, the answers to which provide us with an tremendous evolutionary advantage. Knowledge provides us with a vast array of alternatives for adapting to changes in our environment. The advantage derived by this is evident in the success we have had in gaining supremacy over other species as well as in the presence we manifest over a large and varied landscape throughout the Earth and now even into the frontiers of space.

There was a time in our history when the answers to some of our most fundamental questions were not as forthcoming due to the lack of a knowledge base required to fulfill the need presented by our curiosity. The realisation that the effects we observe are not initiated by the whims of all powerful gods but are the result of natural causes is a recent development relative to the passage of time since we first took to the savanna on two legs rather than four.

The brave new frontier unveiled by virtue of the power of reason while exciting and inspiring to many is frightening to some and beckons them to return to a former more primitive state believing that we were better off pandering to the favor of those whimsical gods whose wrath ignited the furry of the volcanoes which erupted with vengeance for their failure to bow down and worship them properly.

cont . . .

[mibn2cweus]

The persistent pernicious hold religion has even in modern times is driven as much by the perpetuation of the uncertainty, fear and insecurity it invokes as it is sustained by the instilling of such beliefs upon the young before they have learned to think and rely on themselves. Innovative thought and self reliance for their wellbeing is indeed discouraged by religion and the crippling nature of religious ideology toward achieving their potential to rise to greater heights than were possible for a preceding generation only helps to perpetuate the myth.

The need for goals and direction are as old as the ability to choose and can not be reasonably disputed or ignored. The direction of these goals however should be forward toward a brighter and more secure future instead of back into our dark and deluded fear driven past.

[jojojojoanne]

'if' beliefs were sucessfully integrated, what about politics/economics/trade/education/the global village? and also how do human people integrate opposing views 'successfully' (geography, education,timespan:average life etc)?

[amidacious]

I personally believe that religeon was invented to keep people in order and afraid.
A short while ago I saw a sign outside a church. I cant remember it word for word but is was along these lines;-
"You dont have to come to church once a week. Just know you will soon be judged."
It frighened me and my christian boyfriend. It's blatantly saying "Join our cult..or Else!" It seemed this message was for the local christians o the town and wouldnt apply to me if I wasnt christian. It made me oh so glad I wasn't.
Religeon is not one of the main factors causing division. It IS the main factor.

[Octavius]

Its a bit like football really. Some people (sensibly) follow Arsenal (a bit like your username no?) and even go to the extremes of worshipping some of the players as though they are gods.

Some people (ie. the Arsenalites) would not be willing to accept and integrate with the idea that Tottenham Hotsour is worth following and that its players are gods. There are some people that would say, "that is your god and this is mone, lets just accept that eh?" And of course there are those who would wish to harm followers of other teams and denounce their gods.