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Some people think we need religion because it prevents us from doing bad things. Believing that God is watching us and can punish us motivates good behavior. That argument has often been used against atheism, and is still being used by some. But it's a lame argument, because we don't need God to punish our bad behavior. Society will punish us. Atheists can be just as law-abiding and ethical as believers.
Some people think we need religion because it provides a sense of community and belongingness. Everyone in your church is like family, or at least close friends. You can depend on them, and you celebrate with them. But that's a lame argument, because it's easy enough to find non-religious organizations that provide the same things.
Some people think we need religion because we're afraid of dying, and because we want to meet our loved ones again in heaven. Well, maybe there is some truth in that argument. I personally don't want to believe something just because it makes me feel good. Also, there is a downside to belief in an afterlife -- I don't think you can logically believe in heaven without also believing in hell. Atheists have the disadvantage of no hope for heaven, but they have to big advantage of no fear of hell. Yes, I know, lots of supposedly religious, or spiritual, people think you can have heaven without hell. But no, that is just wishful thinking, which people in general are so good at.
Some people think we need religion because we live in a spiritual universe. Not believing in spiritual stuff would be irrational if spiritual ideas are based on reality. So that's my reason for "needing" religion. I need to believe what seems true. And this goes for many others, I suspect.
This is entirely gibberish. Firstly, atheists aren't "Christian atheists" or "Abrahamic atheists". They are atheists. Regardless of that, there are religions, some extant some not, which have ideas of paradise or eternal life without hell. Hell (or equivalent), while well-represented among the current major religions, is entirely absent from plenty of religions. Some just believe non-existence versus everlasting existence. No hell. Some believe a period of atoning for worldly mistakes, without hell. Some religions don't believe in heaven. Some belief systems basically had only an underworld, a miserable underworld at that (which did have VIP areas), but still no equivalent of heaven for any of them. Your take on religion is heavily a take on Abrahamic religions. Most recorded and/or archaeologically evidenced religions (in number, not by volume of adherents) are not Abrahamic.
Your last paragraph just seems to go to "wishful thinking" in the extreme.
Of course, me, I don't think anyone needs religion.
I think people need to eat, have shelter, water...the basics for survival and they need to be happy.
W-h-a-t-e-v-e-r makes them happy go for it. (As long as it doesn't hurt anyone, I mean)
I am the Happiest being connected to God or my Creator or this Presence that is all around me...
this fills my heart...this fills me with enthusiasm and energy.
Would other things make people happy ...sure!!
Last edited by Miss Hepburn; 10-03-2018 at 04:37 PM..
Reason: tipo
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