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Religion often places a lot of shame, fear, restrictions, and control onto people's lives.
Why do you suppose they are religious and stay religious instead of deviating and being independent?
Because people are social creatures. They align themselves into groups naturally. A group is only a group because it differentiates itself from others, and to be "in" on the group you have to jump through that particular group's hoops. But once you are in you get friendship, support, a sense of belonging and a social safety net should things go bad in your life.
Religion actually serves a logical, practical purpose. People don't go just for the wafers and comfy seats.
Because people are social creatures. They align themselves into groups naturally. A group is only a group because it differentiates itself from others, and to be "in" on the group you have to jump through that particular group's hoops. But once you are in you get friendship, support, a sense of belonging and a social safety net should things go bad in your life.
Religion actually serves a logical, practical purpose. People don't go just for the wafers and comfy seats.
Not really. Collectivism is the whole Spock thing from Star Trek: "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few".
Individuals sacrifice for the collective.
But individuals DO benefit from religion, especially in the ways I mentioned above. If you define religion in terms of purely "give vs get", you would see you "get" more than you "give" when you embrace it. Therefore, religion makes sense, at least from an evolutionary perspective. Of course, that doesn't make it true, but don't you do the same thing every time you spend a dollar? A dollar is fiat currency, based on nothing and is only valuable as long as people believe it is valuable.
It is a genetic flaw which makes some individuals susceptible to myths, and acceptance on blind faith. I am hoping for a mutation or vaccine which will correct the problem or prevent it from taking otherwise intelligent people down an “Alice In Wonder Land” path controlled by something much worst than a mythical evil witch.
Everyone has a world view/opinions about God, creation, life after death, the supernatural etc.
So, irrespective of the semantics involved in defining the word "religious," everyone is involved in religion to one degree or another. It's all part of being human.
hmmm. okay lemme mash your choices accdg to my OWN religious experience, once upon a time, i was born and raised to be a catholic. So, since my country is 98%(?) catholic, i belong to the - Group-think and culture. It is just the way we are raised to be and think people.
and as i reach my teen age years i am a devout catholic and i must say it is due to me being included in this group - Fear and guilt induce people to follow like sheep. Good old fashioned brainwashing. in defense to myself. i follow because i wholeheartedly believe in my faith and that is HOW i know how to serve God. i don't think i was brainwashed as up to now even though i loathe the scandals the priests and nuns got themselves into. i am still gonna be happy to die a catholic. these hypocrite priests and nuns DEFINITELY does not define my faith. God does.
up to my college years, i belong here - Most people actually love their religion and the beliefs.
after college, i went to R&P thread of CD and realize, i belong here - People are way too lazy to question their religion. in defense to myself.... i am just way too lazy. too lazy for me to even go to church actually. i even tried to educate myself to other religions and got wuzzy. i just made up my mind and decided to stick to my belief in God, the way i understand it. i found out anyway that diff religions just have diff interpretations of the bible and how to practice their religion but they ALL have same essence, Jesus. so why change my "rituals" i mean that is the very reason i question my faith. i got tired of ALL the chores. so, i definitely am a non practicing catholic now and am very happy.
I have other answers that I think are far more appropriate - you betcha. i am happy to understand other believers POV of their faith and most especially the non believers. i used to see them as freaks. and who are these non believers kidding? in the REAL world, they are viewed as freaks and are a minority. so i am surprised there seem to be so many of them here. which i understand coz they can't behave like that in the REAL world. and they thought the same as i do with them?! what a shocker! ultimately it is all in the mind. i respect one's belief coz their mind is not mine and their perception of things is not mine. to judge them or even attempt to change their mind, is foolish.
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