Do we need religion in our lives or do we NOT need religion? If we needed religion in our lives, we would only pray and pray to Him, up in the sky.
Responses (36)
We do need religion! Religion has been a fundamental part of our civilisation for thousands if years. It is both true, in my opinion, and gives people hope for the future. What does atheism promise? Nothing but a meaningless life followed by death.
Religion is also the embodiment of free speech. In a society where we promote free speech and human rights, how can we take away the faith of others, regardless of our own feelings.
And finally, religion is a force for good. Without religion we would have no charity, no missionary work and no morals to base our lives upon. All that would be left would be a world corrupted by selfishness, hate and anarchy and every person who denies religion brings us a step closer to that dark world.
Yes darling u need a religion, u need to know what u r facing and some rules and regulation in your life. Honestly, ppl are following thier own ways now, just take the things they like nd. Throw the rest. I am muslim, and what i see almost everyday from some muslims, doesn't really follow muslim's rules but try to destroy it. That is how moral philosophy (ethics) started, cuz we usually follow what ppl say or do, without taking a look at it. Grown man over 20 y old, will try to make up their mind or just leave this religon thing. Also did u know that every religon -if u go to the main holly book or words- they all agree on some points, [no killing innocent people] [strong people MUST! Help the people who can be helped by anyway posible] {in islam if u smile to any human its a charety,, just a smile}.. They also agree on not worshipping photos or objects. U should pray u nd your god in your heart nd remember ...ONLY! god judges, punish or reword you not the people... So u can chose ur own path its ur life.
Yes and no.
Let me explain. I believe we need God, (specifically the Christian God). After all he is the creator and author of life. The one true God.
I would say we need to follow God, obey his commands as written out in the bible.
However, over the centuries that we have been here, man has used religion an excuse for doing wrong. (Christians included.) This includes killing, selling people as slaves, and many other horrendous things.
So whilst I think we do need religion, specifically Christianity, we need to be aware that due to our humanity, we will often find that others may twist it until it becomes something which does not resemble what God has put in place.
I disagree that we would only pray if we need religion, that's where our free will comes into it. If God made us to simply to pray to him, it would be a false worship because we would be doing as a part of our instincts. Like the way a dolphin knows how to swim as soon as it is born. Therefore, whilst God loves it if we pray to him and follow him, we are given the choice, the free will and with this free will comes the consequences.
So we don't need religion, but rather God.
Awesome.
Let's suppose religion is coherent, consistent and generally pretty good. Ideally, we would be able to achieve life satisfaction, acute perception and understanding of the universe and heighten sense of spirituality.
All of this can be achieved without the interference of religion, in fact, in most cases, most people are unable to embrace the purposeful essence of religion and become somewhat of a arrogant and ignorant authoritarian.
Now, if we examine some mainstream religion, they actually originate from a person (or prophet) rebelling against religion and authority (I am talking of course of Jesus, and how he rebelled against the Roman and the Jews).
Now, let's examine why religion has such strong influence on society. Ever since the Egyptian, divinity has been associated with political leaders (i.e., emperors, kings, pharaoh) as a way of reserving power within a line of dynasty. With this "divine right" to rule, people had to obey the the rightful king, and they could not as easily be overthrown. In the roman empire where democracy has already developed, religion served still, as ways of manipulating the public. Donation from to the temples went to support activities of the government, and the names of gods were called upon during war for the citizens to join their cause. Priesthoods were help by the upper classes who were active in political activities. In the Renaissance, the church were a major power in most nations. Which is why, when Galileo's findings contradicted the teachings of the church, and their power was threatened, they sentenced him to life imprisonment. Now, would you really want to respect an institution that infringe on the rights of innocent people.
Now, concepts such as God and magic was fabricated to explain phenomena that we humans couldn't understand. What is thunder and lightning? The temper of gods. It couldn't possibly be a discharge of built up electrons collecting in the troposphere from layer of clouds rubbing violently against each other. Of course, such concepts made perfect logical sense, no humans of the old ages would've been able to understand things that we modern day humans do now. Religion followed as a result of the fabrication of god. People feared what they don't know, and with time, they learn to worship it.
I am an Atheist, and as far as I know, I am perfectly capable of doing anything a religious person could do, feeling happy, being moral. I do not think life is meaningless (lol). Contribute to your universe the way you think you should. Follow your own heart. Do what you know is right. Because moral is not predicated by a sacred text, even the law could be overridden by itself or other circumstances.
I know my opinion is quite controversial, but i feel as if there should be more than one side to this argument.
Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end of time!
But He loves you. He loves you, and He needs money! He always needs money! He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can't handle money!
And what does he do if we're bad? Does he kill us for no reason at all or does he punish us when that happens to be Saint Nick's job or what?
Only we know if we have allowed what we have learned from the Bible to transform us and whether it continues to do so. Many teachers and parents allow children to do whatever they want. They even teach them that each person has the freedom to decide for himself what is right or what is wrong. Such people believe that there is really no way to know what is right and what is wrong. Even many who say that they believe in God do not think that they need to do what God says is right. (Psalm 14:1) This attitude is dangerous for Christians.
Honestly, it's different for everybody. I have found that ever since both my parents died, I have completely lost faith in everything. Why would G-d have done this to me? But I went to see my old Rabbi, and he taught me. I see him every day now. He knows so much and somehow, he showed me that there indeed is a G-d. And I mean, I've always kept Kosher and done Shabbat all my life. But now, there is a reason. I do believe. You just have to find it in yourself I guess. I don't know if this was helpful or not, coming from a 14 year old, but I hope it was something to think about!
Good work!