Why?

[WiffingWaffles]

I've never understood the value in religious beliefs, people, please share you reasons if you follow one.

 

[Au Naturel]

Religion is more efficient. It turns complex decisions into simple rule-following. Reduces the brainpower requirement for life and eliminates existential despair. Point at doctrine and dogma to win every argument. Even very smart people can appreciate this.

Religion is comforting. Follow the rules and believe, and everything is going to be ok. Even if you have to die to get there.

Religion strokes the ego. We're right; the world is wrong. We're the chosen ones, and all those heathen are a little less than human.

Religion provides camaraderie. We stick together and protect our own, throw potluck dinners, have big ceremonies for special times of the year and big events in your life, and have a get-together every Sunday.

And sometimes religion reveals deep philosophic truths, brings out our better nature, and inspires great literature, music, and art.

 

[DaisyRose]

I can understand and respect other peoples opinions, even if I don’t agree with it. For example, religious beliefs. I don’t believe in religion, but if people want to believe in it that’s fine. As long as they are not pushing their beliefs onto others, I don’t have a problem with it. I believe in aliens more than a “god” if you know what I mean. We can’t be the only one out there. I hope in the future we can collaborate peacefully in the future.

 

[Fino]

It's important to separate "religion" from "religious beliefs." Religion encompasses a wide array of ritualistic behaviors. "Religious beliefs" are any beliefs that are based within the category of "religion."

The utility of a religious belief depends on the specific belief. If we use my beliefs as an example, then the "value" in my belief that Jesus Christ died for my sins and that my faith in Him grants me eternal life has obvious value. It assures me of an imagined future bliss where all sorrow has ended and there is only joy. That would be the practical value.

More importantly, I believe there is inherent value in truth. I don't have these beliefs (as far I'm conscious of) so that I can have this assurance of salvation. I didn't even consider that matter until much later. I believe that I hold these beliefs because based on the totality of my experiences so far, they are the most logical explanation. Their primary value is that they hold true.

As a brief response to other posts, I'd just like to point out that the psychological benefits of religion do not speak to its truthiness. They may provide the comforts mentioned above, but that neither proves nor disproves them as matters of fact.

 

[Progster]

I believe in aliens more than a “god” if you know what I mean. We can’t be the only one out there.

I don't believe in the existence of god(s) - I consider it to be highly unlikely - but if one does exist and was somehow able to do all those things religious scripts claim they are capable of doing, then he/she/it must be an alien with massively superior technology. If they're not here on earth walking among us where we can see them, then where are they? They would have to be extraterrestrial.

Belief systems are the result of humans' intelligence and curiosity, and a need to explain and rationalise phenomena in the world that could not otherwise be explained. Many religions began thousands of years ago, when people didn't have the scientific knowledge to explain natural phenomena. These were often attributed to gods, spirits or beings in the sky or on Mount Olympus or wherever.

They are also a result of our social nature and awareness of mortality. Death is scary, and it's deeply distressing to lose loved ones. Also, we ask "why?" Why do people die? Why does life exist? Why do I exist? Religion provides comfort, and a reason for existence. People don't like to think we just cease to exist when we die, and that's it. This is one reason for ancestor worship that existed in many primitive societies.

There are also rituals associated with organised religion that are primarily social in nature - take Christmas. Most people in predominently Christian societies 'celebrate' this, even though they may not be practising Christians, simply because it's an integrated part of the culture of the country they live in.

 

[Tom]

For me Galadriel sums it up when she says "...a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out." Hard to put a dollar figure on something like that.

 

[DaisyRose]

I don't believe in the existence of god(s) - I consider it to be highly unlikely - but if one does exist and was somehow able to do all those things religious scrips claim they are capable of doing, then he/she/it must be an alien with massively superior technology. If they're not here on earth walking among us where we can see them, then where are they? They would have to be extraterrestrial.

I definitely agree with what you said. It’s insane to think in the past how people created things that were beyond thinkable. Like take for instance the calendar. Who would think of making something like that back in ancient times that we still use to this day. I would say aliens have always been here and teaching humans how to live and create things that can be helpful. That’s just what I believe.

 

[Progster]

Another point I'd like to make is that humans will almost always organise themselves into hierarchical societies, with one person or group of people acting as authority. A belief system (organised religion) provides the perfect framework for this - a structure with a hierarchy and a means of controlling the population through enforced rules. Dissenters can and will be punished. This still very much exists today.

 

[SusanLR]

As a brief response to other posts, I'd just like to point out that the psychological benefits of religion do not speak to its truthiness. They may provide the comforts mentioned above, but that neither proves nor disproves them as matters of fact.

For those who gain these benefits, that is fine.
It helps the psyche. I just could not find any of the comforts mentioned above.

I started forming my own ideas at a young age, based more in reality and the truths.
What I have experienced in my life.
People ask if I believe there is a God.
In my own way, yes.
No way can I explain how everything began.
But it did and to me everything that exists in space/time has consciousness.
Down to the most minute subatomic particle and energies we can't explain.
They form, they change, but can never die.
That all -encompassing unity of consciousness is my definition of God.

I believe in infinite planes of existence and levels of energy.
And extra-terrestrial life that is unknowable in our human form.

 

[elgat0verde]

I don't follow any particular religion because I personally think that we should be good just for the sakes of being good and not out of fear of some divine punishment.

However, I do believe in a higher power than us, don't know if it's a god or energy or the universe or whatever else.

I've seen the birth of both my kids and that's nothing else than a miracle for me, so there must be something bigger than us somewhere.

 

[NB79]

When you find out God exists..... well, a new perspective open ups, and i am not talking about 'having faith' only, i am talking that God starts doing stuff in your life for real. When Christians say this, most people assume they have low standards for requiring proof, like 'something good happened, it must be God', no, i am talking that when you receive the spirit of God in you, you are going to realize/sense/discern/have ultimate proof that God is real, the bible says the 'things of the spirit' are crazy for those who haven't experienced them, but if you get to experience this, there is nothing better in this world.

 

[All-Rounder]

The rule argument is not holding for the point of religious beliefs, cavemen had rules, simple rules before the invention of religion, it's how they survived and didn't kill each other off.

It's mostly emotional from what I have noticed, having been part of religious indoctrination. What held me in the unreasonable beliefs and harmed me, my thoughts, my self-blame and my choices as well as kept me into a darkness I wasn't aware there is light beyond was fear of thinking and questioning said belief, which is how the cults hold you captive. Having escaped the wicked claws of religion, the trauma slowly healed and gave way to healthier patterns of thinking, more realistic outlook on the world, less naivete, and more acceptance of humans. I was lucky enough my whole family didn't shun me, because their religion which they pushed onto me at an age I was much too young to make decisions was not as encaging as others.

My father was a cult leader. His arguments were really bad, and yet people were easy to sway into his manipulative word-plays. People are easily fooled not only by the false unverifiable promise of better (life is not great, I get it, I've accepted it), but also by the false perspectives presented because they have never learned critical thinking skills. The schools were also indoctrinating children; now it is no longer allowed to force belief onto kids, but there is more progress to be made in schools and society in general in my area.

 

[All-Rounder]

If you tell yourself "I'm gonna go to the doctor tomorrow and I will be given treatment which will heal me from my disease" and you believe it, you will feel healed, soothed, even if nothing has taken place yet. The same happens with whatever belief you have which makes you imagine good things are going to happen to you, even if they will not actually happen. Feelings are tricky, and yet they feel so good.

The trick of the question "can science disprove this and that" is that in science, you only need to believe what you have proof of, and not bother with things for which there is no proof. I cannot disprove that there's a boogieman under my bed, but I have no reason to believe there is one until I see any evidence of the fact (unless I'm a child). But if we're not taught to think and question, which is a capacity we all possess, we end up believing in supernatural things on no basis.

I can say that there is much happiness outside of religion, and much sorrow within it, so I think it is not actually beneficial to be religious, though when I was religious I tended to think I was lucky because of being saved, and how awesome my dad was and how much he was focusing on it (or disrooted from reality and real life humans around him to the point he suicided due to it).

 

[Kern]

I do believe in God and Jesus's resurection. God is everywhere. You need to have faith and create relationship with Him. I'm a Christian but I am not religious person. Hope one day be in heaven.

 

[All-Rounder]

Depending on your area you might have a low amount of atheist churches to talk about your beliefs in physical or experience such an atmosphere. If that's important to you, all sorts of religions might have churches. Though I was always able to go to any Church regardless of my beliefs. Just that I haven't been able to talk about my lack of belief in a way people would understand me and wouldn't look at me like at a heathen.

 

[Au Naturel]

The rule argument is not holding for the point of religious beliefs, cavemen had rules, simple rules before the invention of religion, it's how they survived and didn't kill each other off.

I'd disagree with you there. Up to a certain tribal size, the rules are all instinctive.

Once you expand beyond that, rule structures need to be formalized. That's what religion does. An awful lot of religious rules exist just to keep you busy following them. Religion came before law and that came before ideology because it is easier to have a religion without writing than the other two.

 

[Fino]

To clarify, doing good out of fear is not an element of Protestantism but is more something from Catholicism. My beliefs don't require anything but faith. Forgiveness follows. Grace is the rule. Love becomes the purpose of your life, because God is love.

 

[lovely_darlingprettybaby]

It

I've never understood the value in religious beliefs, people, please share you reasons if you follow one.

It is supposed to be so you have someone to love and support you unconditionally when no one else does.
So someone puts light in you and love and you feel better about yourself and loved in a way no one else can love you.
That is what my faith and relationship with God was a friendship and a beacon of light that can you guidance, listen to your feelings and comfort you when you are struggling.
I have have struggled a lot more lately with my own feelings and God's expectations.
I struggle to believe in a God that does not understand pain and struggles and individuality.
I struggle to believe in a God who does not want you to think you are worthy, capable and enough.
I struggle to believe in a God who does not want people to sleep all the time or get some sunshine and have basic functioning and some joy. I struggle to believe in a God who does not help people without it if you go through a bad patch that is life but God should help people have at least ability to function
I struggle to believe in a God that does not have compassion on insecurities.
I love God but I want God to understand my struggles, show me compassion and comfort me and reassure me things will be OK.
That is what I think God should be.

 

[lovely_darlingprettybaby]

To clarify, doing good out of fear is not an element of Protestantism but is more something from Catholicism. My beliefs don't require anything but faith. Forgiveness follows. Grace is the rule. Love becomes the purpose of your life, because God is love.

Good philosophy. I do not understand fear of God either
I do things because I love God.

 

[lovely_darlingprettybaby]

Depending on your area you might have a low amount of atheist churches to talk about your beliefs in physical or experience such an atmosphere. If that's important to you, all sorts of religions might have churches. Though I was always able to go to any Church regardless of my beliefs. Just that I haven't been able to talk about my lack of belief in a way people would understand me and wouldn't look at me like at a heathen.

You should be welcome in church and that is right even if your heart lacks belief. God knows your heart.