HerrGrimm wrote:
aghogday wrote:
HerrGrimm wrote:
aghogday wrote:
HerrGrimm wrote:
I get religion completely. In its earliest stages it was a way to make sense of the world and give people security in a group. But science came along and showed with data from many academic fields that most of these stories are not true or were true but only for the area at the time ("Noah's Flood" covered a large area at one time). So I do not get it now since so many beautiful things in science should have made this obsolete.
Science gives us guidelines that allow to live a better life, but it doesn't provide the security that people need when they feel as part of a group. It's not that church is the only place one can find it, but if there is one measurable aspect of the benefit of religion it is the social connections that often result from it.
Social connectivity is proven to be the #1 factor in overall happiness, so it is not too surprising that people still engage in religion and the many opportunities there for social connection.
Of course, religion is not nearly the only way to gain social connection, but it is still a way that is evident in many people's lives.
Tradition, also still plays a rule; people still grow up in churches and with religion, and it becomes a part of their psyche that for many never goes away.
And one more factor particularly important, is the benefit it provides to those that are old and have lost many family members. Without church and/or associated activities with religious organizations, many would have no social connections at all.
The majority of the nation participates in some kind of religious activity, I pick social connectivity as something we should all understand that is important, but there are many other factors that account for a person's continued participation.
No matter how far science advances; religion will likely be a part of life for many, as it is now. Science is advancing quickly, but the needs we have as human are generally the same as they have been for thousands of years.
Except for that whole "killing people not part of your group" thing. You can get those things you say without religion. Saying you need religion to do these things is extremely offensive and illogical.
I'm not saying I need it or you need it, and was hoping that I made it clear, that is not the only way to get social connectivity. The issue is why do people do it, not why do people have to do it. There is nothing illogical or offensive for social connectivity or tradition as a reason why people do it. It is the same reason that people do many other things in life. The social need is the constant, not the activity that follows it.
We have the whole "killing people not part of your group thing", and have had it throughout history. There has been religious reason for some wars, and there has not been religious reason for other wars.
Killing people in other groups is a way of thinking for the people in some religions, but why would one indict the participation of some in an activity, because of the actions or thoughts of others in a similar activity? If this were a common practice we would all likely be indicted for something in life.
If you read God is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens and do some other research, you would see religion plays a larger role than people think. It is also very strange to me how people can cherry-pick only the "happy" quotes from the text but never the slavery, genocide, or rape-like parts.
The OP might have been confused because he considered Jehovah's Witnesses an actual religion. My statement is correct no matter what nonsense they heard first. We make fun of them a lot in America. Some like to play practical jokes when they knock and show up on their door.
It's just as easy to cherry pick the bad parts as it is to cherry pick the good parts. You are correct in saying there are many bad parts, falsifiable assertions, and pitfalls of religion, but it is also correct that there are many objective. measurable. good parts and high points of religion. This isn't an advertisement for religion, it is just objective fact.
The majority of the country isn't doing something they aren't getting a benefit out of. Just because you or I don't get a benefit, doesn't mean someone else isn't jumping up and down out of joy right now in a huge revival or congregation; when otherwise they might be sitting at home alone, feeling disconnected.
All we get is moments out of life, and religion gives some people good moments.
There is at least one member of this forum that is a Jehovah Witness. Seems like a pretty well adjusted, happy individual. I don't agree the religious beliefs of Jehovah Witnesses, but if being a Jehovah Witness does it for him more power to him.
I've known some Jehovah Witnesses, prominant in the Community that are very successful people. Nobody is making fun of them. People make fun of Amish people, but their way of life is probably more in line with human nature than the way most of modern society lives.
And regarding the illusion of religious beliefs, our culture provides as many illusions that are just as dangerous or perhaps more dangerous to individuals as religious illusions. I'm not talking about government or patriotism, I'm talking about cultural beliefs and practices that have changed a great deal in the last fifty years.
What do you mean by Jehovah Witnesses are not a real religion?
From Wiki:
Quote:
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian[1] restorationist[2] Christian[3] denomination[4] with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism.
I opened my mind along time ago that everything I heard about in religion was not rational or good. On the other hand, I haven't closed my mind, because I have personally seen the benefits it provides people.
If you insist that there are no good points to religion I respect your opinion and anyone else that holds this opinion; if you don't see it, I get it. I personally have a hard time not seeing the good in something when it looks directly in my eyes; no matter how much, I may disagree with it.
26 Apr 2011, 10:22 pm
