Root causes of Religon

[Harry Smith]

I was just having a very deep think about the root causes of religon. I mean in some capacity it has managed to last for the last 6000 years so it must be succesful at appealing to people. Part of me reckons that it is partially born from fear of the unknown and of the future, however the other part of me suspects it is purely to do with the amount of power that religous groups hold over the masses.

So what do you think causes people to be religous?

[jayyy-lmao]

My granny is very religious. She is a widow, and her sister passed.
Honestly, for her, it's something to believe in. Something solid, permanent.

For others, it's the fear of what cones after. The light. The white pearly gates.

Another would be hope. In an hour of darkness, religion gives us hope. This is why I gave up on religion. No matter how much I prayed, nothing ever got better.

[Horizon]

Honestly, the true origin of religion was for people to have faith.

They really didn't know what was going to happen when they died, so they created up a belief to help comfort them, to know there was more after death.

I think religion is a wonderful thing, to be honest.

It teaches discipline to children in it's own. Regardless of the fact that many religious views are against me, I still thinks a good thing for some people to have in their life.

I myself am not a religious person, nor have I bothered to study religion. but I can tell you I am all for religious freedom, because I see the good religion can do.

[workingatperfect]

Fear of death, a way to explain what you don't understand, something to depend on, morals to live by... Basically, I think religion is a bit of a cop out. A way to push your fears, worries, problems and ignorance off onto something that may or may not exist. It inhibits people's ability to think for themselves by telling them what is right and wrong and giving some random explanation for what science can't explain yet.

[Jess]

Religion was created to explain things people did not understand, before science. In ancient times people believed lightning was caused by a god. It's no different today.

[TheBassoonist]

My full thoughts on the origins of religion are laid out in my post in an atheism thread, but I'll summarize them here:

I think religion was created to lessen the fear of death. Every religion and every ancient culture, which typically had their own religions, dealt or deals with death, whether by promising some sort of afterlife, reincarnation, or by simply delaying death through rituals, like the Aztec human sacrifices. Over time, religious leaders started to reform society by saying that only those who follow the newly set rules and laws could take part in the afterlife/reincarnation/etc.

[Sugaree]

Honestly, the true origin of religion was for people to have faith.

Actually, no. The origin of religion was for our very ancient ancestors to explain what they couldn't explain. Didn't know how a rock was made? God did it. Didn't know how something works in your body? God did it. Not sure what happens after you die? God has a plan. Religion is slowly becoming irrelevant because of modern science being able to tell us how we came to be among other things. It's able to explain, more clearly, a lot of questions we have about ourselves. Religion is - let's be honest - a really ancient method of trying to explain something that appears unexplained. It can't work anymore.

[WalkingOnDisaster]

Religion was made to explain the unexplainable. Such as why we're here, why we die, why bad things happen, why the planet does what it does, why everything is happening the way it is. People needed someone to blame when things went wrong, and people needed someone to thank when things went right.
They created religions with Gods of which to pin everything on. Religion, for a long time, such as times of war and famine, were what people looked to for help and comfort. Even though some were, all the religions could be wrong, they were and still are by many looked at for comfort for things such as grieving or times of crisis.

[Cicero]

The hope for an afterlife. It's kinda depressing that we just all live, then die, then get buried. It's more appealing thinking that you will go to an afterlife and that this life is just the beginning. It also gives many a reason to live, whether its to help people and do good, or its to spread their religion and help others to join their religion. I think that religion had a better hold in the Middle Ages versus now or before the Middle Ages. So religion hasn't existed just because of fear, but fear does play a big role.

[Mabutati]

The real, overarching, purpose of religion? Well, in my opinion (and hopefully not to distress anyone) is for propaganda and control. Thats why they were originally created; to make people behave a certain way or "fear the wrath" of a higher power. Alsoooo Buddhism isn't (by many) considered a religion but rather a way of life. Notice how buddhism doesn't make people fear like religions. It really is just saying "you should live your life like this" for the sake of being a better person while religion is more "do this and rot in hell for eternity". Just my thoughts.

[Ryhanna]

To explain what people of the era could not understand. That's why many religions (all religions, actually) have stories of creation. To explain why we are here and how what got here, who created us.

[CharlieFinley]

My granny is very religious. She is a widow, and her sister passed.
Honestly, for her, it's something to believe in. Something solid, permanent.

For others, it's the fear of what cones after. The light. The white pearly gates.

Another would be hope. In an hour of darkness, religion gives us hope. This is why I gave up on religion. No matter how much I prayed, nothing ever got better.I think you've been approaching it in the wrong way, then. The point of prayer is not to get your invisible bodyguard to smash the bad guys. The point of prayer is to work changes in yourself that you might better endure the tribulations of life.

Religion was created to explain things people did not understand, before science. In ancient times people believed lightning was caused by a god. It's no different today.
Oh dear. I think I see delusions of intelligence, here.

Please, explain to me how the Christian God is a "god of the gaps."

[xmojox]

It seems to me that the main purpose of religion, at least on an individual basis, is to provide comfort. It must do something, because from the estimates I've read, mankind has had religion in one form or another for possibly as much as 40,000 years. Regardless of a person's own beliefs, how can anyone be opposed to another human seeking comfort in whatever way works for him or her?