What purpose do religions serve?

  1. Jallen
    Jallen - 23rd December 2009, 10:37
    I noticed there aren't any discussions here yet, so I decided to start off with a pretty general topic.

    It is my personal belief that there is no one true religion that has it all right.
    I believe that all of them are just ways to enlighten oneself and live in harmony with the world. Whether you're a Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, Humanist, Taoist, Animist....anything, whether it's an organised religion or just a stream of philosophy that you use to achieve this goal. You don't even have to believe in a god, whether there is a god/are gods or not, the true nature of religions in my eyes is to enlighten oneself and live in harmony with the world around you.

    What are your thoughts on this?
  2. The Ben G
    The Ben G - 4th January 2010, 21:23
    I agree with you on the fact that not all religions have all the awnsers. I think that part of religion is to comfort people or explaining the unexplained. After all, most religons that are around today were formed back when people diddnt know much. But back then, peoples minds were more open to things than todays.
  3. Jallen
    Jallen - 13th January 2010, 05:42
    In this case it's not necessarily the scientific knowledge that matters but the "spiritual knowledge" of how best to live in harmony with the world.
    Whether they believe that a god created the earth, or that humanity was shaped from the dead body of a frost giant (I believe these things should be interpreted symbolically though) it's the deeper meanings, that most practitioners of many religions tend to ignore, that is really of importance.
  4. samofshs
    samofshs - 13th January 2010, 19:50
    first off, Im a christian.
    secondly, i disagree.
    thirdth, don't criticize me for being a christian HERE. do that elsewhere. start an athiesm group, see if i care.
  5. The Ben G
    The Ben G - 15th January 2010, 00:51
    first off, Im a christian..
    OK thats nice, but what does that have to do with what purpose religions serve?

    secondly, i disagree.
    What are your opinions, then? Please share.

    thirdth, don't criticize me for being a christian HERE. do that elsewhere. start an athiesm group, see if i care.
    Umm... Who said anything about atheism? If anybody ridicules another about there religion, they have issues and will be kicked out immediatly.
  6. samofshs
    samofshs - 16th January 2010, 15:58
    OK thats nice, but what does that have to do with what purpose religions serve?



    What are your opinions, then? Please share.



    Umm... Who said anything about atheism? If anybody ridicules another about there religion, they have issues and will be kicked out immediatly.
    i was stating a fact that shared with you the majority of my views. as for number three, sorry, but on this website being christian normally has to come with a disclaimer so people don't ridicule you.
  7. Mack MacHeath
    Mack MacHeath - 9th February 2010, 14:12
    I have always had a fascination with religion, many humans have a longing/ aching in their "souls" or subconscious fears which drive them in to the comfort of gods/ some spiritual answer,... yes we are coming out of the mental dark ages, all of science and thought no longer has to be shadowed by christian obstructionism, even the pope now believes in evolution. Free your mind there is more that one answer there are always more questions,... if you dont like the answers dont ask,... i think one of the principle joys of life is discovery.
  8. Mack MacHeath
    Mack MacHeath - 9th February 2010, 14:17
    Religion serves several Very important puposes
    1 Control of the masses
    enforcing soc\cial controls , all the major judao-christian religions support both government and patriarchal domination. thats why the romans made, christianity a slave religion, their national religion it made their massive slave population much more docile, why revolt if this is just a momentary misery ofn the way to paradise, nevermind that you may never attain it.
  9. Mack MacHeath
    Mack MacHeath - 9th February 2010, 14:19
    2 DEATH
    we all have a natural fear of death and by providing and established ritual we are told how to greive, how to accept this loss, how to hope for an immaterial future, and to keep on being productive workers
  10. Mack MacHeath
    Mack MacHeath - 9th February 2010, 14:23
    3 its easy
    as opposed to the Sturm un Drang of actively researching , expolring, being uncertain and perhaps miserable because you may never see your loved ones agin you are given nice soft answers to all your questions, dont think for yourself, the history of western mainstream religion is the attempt to control and suppress free thought.
  11. Mack MacHeath
    Mack MacHeath - 9th February 2010, 14:26
    4 Good people
    there are many extraordinarily kind, loving, self-sacrificing, religoius people
    who go that extra mile providing for those in need, being there when you need them, trying to save not just souls but individuals.
  12. Cleansing Conspiratorial Revolutionary Flame - 23rd May 2011, 04:39
    Religious serves the purpose as a societal and for the most part a social tool that is used to create answers for phenomenon that can't be understood by certain members of society, as well is serves as a social tool in order to control society, it has been used in this manner by all religions-- From Pagan, Hindu, Abrahamic to various other religious beliefs.

    This is where in a Revolutionary Society, God-Building comes to play.

    Religion itself even Post-Revolution is going no-where, as it is so utterly embedded into human society and thoughtform. Which presents the need for a new religious order and thoughtform that replaces the old on a State-Basis, that is at its own founded in Materialism, Positive-Atheism, neutralism towards all religions, Scientific progress and rationality.

    *Such a new religion will serve as the official state doctrine in a socialist society that serves as a alternative to exploitative irrational religious thoughtforms replacing the old religious society. It serves as part of the cultural assault of a revolutionary movement.

    *Takes hold of all scientific matters involving the state and portrays religious figures as positive historical figures even if it is completely the opposite in all reality.

    Just two points of what God-Building must do in a revolutionary society.