Why Religion?

by hillary_step 50 Replies latest jw friends

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  hillary_step

  Burn,

  Maybe because some of us do not think these others are not entirely made up? That statement is fraught with assumptions with respect to the truth value of other religions.

  Yes, I understand what you are saying, but the reality is that without a human component there would be no religion. It is only on the basis of human interaction that a religion becomes. Any universal truth, if it exists and I doubt it very much, is filtered through individual human chemistry.

  Though people may think they believe in the same God, they imbue their 'God' with elements of their own personna.

  In order for your statement not be be fraught with assumptions, you would need to show a universal spiritual truth that exists outside of human parameters, and I very much doubt that you can do that.

  People make God in their own image. This has been so since the dawn of human consciousness. I once suggested that you read 'A History Of Religious Ideas' by Mircea Eliade and I recommend it to you again. It traces the primitive instinct and need of religion from its embryonic first growth until its fully fledged modern development. In this process ones never sees God, one only sees man trying to build the God he needs from his own insecurities.

  HS
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  SixofNine
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  hillary_step

  Quietly,

  People like to believe that their spiritual dimension is in harmony with truth. So rather than reflecting insecurities, religion imo reflects a seeking of spiritual coherence between one's inner and outer reality within a like minded community. Emotional well being is one of the results.

  Actually, what you outline above is exactly what I mean by insecurities.

  When people cannot accept that 'being' is all, they invent reasons to give life some meaning.

  HS
• 

  Dogaradodya

  Burn, your wish is my command...
• 

  BurnTheShips

  When people cannot accept that 'being' is all, they invent reasons to give life some meaning.

  When "being" is not all, the reasons become plain.

  Burn
• 

  TopHat

  More than likely they are to lazy to do the research required and therefore rely on a more knowledgeable entity, rather than to rely on their own understanding. Then there is the simple social aspect of finding a group who thinks like you. many religions,ideas and organizations get started that way.
• 

  BurnTheShips

  I once suggested that you read 'A History Of Religious Ideas' by Mircea Eliade and I recommend it to you again.

  I was out in the garden yesterday digging and clearing the "jungle", and I kept trying to remember that name. "Medea" kept bubbling up.

  I am going to see if the local library carries it.

  Thanks,

  Burn
• 

  SixofNine

  I know posting this will seem opportunistic, but it really is relevant to your premise, Hillary. I just came across this video of Barack Obama giving a "sermon" (of sorts) to some church. He is explaining how he got to where he is spiritually/religiously, and how he sees the relationship (or lack thereof) between politics and religion.

  Somewhere in the first 10 minutes or so, he makes a statement that addresses your question "why religion" about as honestly as I've ever seen it addressed by a religious person (and for those who won't take the time to watch, the answer, to a large degree, is existential level loneliness).

  Link
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  BurnTheShips

  Thanks, Doga.

  Now back to the matter at hand!

  Burn
• 

  belbab

  Dogaradodya,

  A genuine thanks for tolerating my expression and giving me space to turn my sound volume off.

  I posted my comment about the Beethovan not as a criticism but as an example right before oureyes as an answer to Hillary's question:

  Why do people feel the need to have others tell them what to believe and how to think?
  or in this case to listen.

  To follow up with another example, I will, with your permission, quote from your profile, again to bring the answer to HS's question into the immediate forground.

  The reason I want to link up with fellow ex-JWs is because I want to set up United World. It will be a parallel or even superior organization to the United Nations. It aims to unite all religions, discover God once and for all, if any, or define a universal God. Maybe you can help. I cannot do it alone.

  You have chosen a Herculean task, a lot of shovelling to clean out the stables.

  and I guess that a good place to start is to find an answer to Hillary's question.

  belbab