Do we still need religion?

[IndigoChild5559]

The big idea: do we still need religion?

"There are at least two reasons, however, why religions persist. One is the fact that, on average, religious people are generally happier, healthier and live longer. For better or for worse, they also have easier deaths when the time comes. The other is that religious people are more likely to feel that they belong to a community. In a survey I ran, those who reported attending religious services were depressed less frequently, felt their lives were more worthwhile, were more engaged with their local community, and felt greater trust towards others. These enormous benefits mean not only that religion has enduring appeal, but that religious practices make you “fit” in the evolutionary sense – and thus they tend to stick around."

 

[Twilight Hue]

Well everyone needs a hobby as I see it.

 

[Estro Felino]

It depends.
If it is something that unites people, that makes people feel comfortable, that brings joy, love, friendship...
Why not?

 

[The Hammer]

The big idea: do we still need religion?

"There are at least two reasons, however, why religions persist. One is the fact that, on average, religious people are generally happier, healthier and live longer. For better or for worse, they also have easier deaths when the time comes. The other is that religious people are more likely to feel that they belong to a community. In a survey I ran, those who reported attending religious services were depressed less frequently, felt their lives were more worthwhile, were more engaged with their local community, and felt greater trust towards others. These enormous benefits mean not only that religion has enduring appeal, but that religious practices make you “fit” in the evolutionary sense – and thus they tend to stick around."

Community

 

[Audie]

The big idea: do we still need religion?

"There are at least two reasons, however, why religions persist. One is the fact that, on average, religious people are generally happier, healthier and live longer. For better or for worse, they also have easier deaths when the time comes. The other is that religious people are more likely to feel that they belong to a community. In a survey I ran, those who reported attending religious services were depressed less frequently, felt their lives were more worthwhile, were more engaged with their local community, and felt greater trust towards others. These enormous benefits mean not only that religion has enduring appeal, but that religious practices make you “fit” in the evolutionary sense – and thus they tend to stick around."

" we"?

 

[George-ananda]

I think we need religion (in the broadest sense of the word) as we need to feel a reason and bigger purpose to our existence to feel happier.

Even atheists will create things like humanism and social causes to feel a purpose.

 

[SalixIncendium]

"We" don't. I don't. Many here do. Also many others here do not. Do you?

 

[Heyo]

The big idea: do we still need religion?

"There are at least two reasons, however, why religions persist. One is the fact that, on average, religious people are generally happier, healthier and live longer. For better or for worse, they also have easier deaths when the time comes. The other is that religious people are more likely to feel that they belong to a community. In a survey I ran, those who reported attending religious services were depressed less frequently, felt their lives were more worthwhile, were more engaged with their local community, and felt greater trust towards others. These enormous benefits mean not only that religion has enduring appeal, but that religious practices make you “fit” in the evolutionary sense – and thus they tend to stick around."

Religious people have all those benefits but they also have an, on average, 5 points lower IQ, are less educated and more criminal. If religiosity were inheritable, I'd assume that in societies which value intelligence, education and social behaviour, religion would become less prevalent.

 

[sun rise]

The assumption behind the piece is that religion is human created and serves human purposes. It ignores that religion might have a divine purpose and thus ignores the possibility of divinity.

 

[Vee]

The big idea: do we still need religion?

"There are at least two reasons, however, why religions persist. One is the fact that, on average, religious people are generally happier, healthier and live longer. For better or for worse, they also have easier deaths when the time comes. The other is that religious people are more likely to feel that they belong to a community. In a survey I ran, those who reported attending religious services were depressed less frequently, felt their lives were more worthwhile, were more engaged with their local community, and felt greater trust towards others. These enormous benefits mean not only that religion has enduring appeal, but that religious practices make you “fit” in the evolutionary sense – and thus they tend to stick around."

I suppose it depends on the religion. They are not all the same.
My religion keeps me grounded, gives me hope, allows me to have a solid group of friends I can rely on and feel comfortable with and it gives me perspective on what is really important and what is only superficial in life. So yes, I need my religion. It made me a much better and happier person than I was before.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

I still see no reason to accept from those polls that happiness and satisfaction in life comes from religion, not from having strong community ties, active and actively social lifestyle and routine, all of which you can get without religion but becomes more difficult when the religion in question otherizes and ostracizes outsiders.

Correlation doesn't equal causation.

That said, I think the most obvious answer is that some feel like they need religion and others don't. Whether one actually needs it is not for me to determine for anyone but myself.

 

[Audie]

I suppose it depends on the religion. They are not all the same.
My religion keeps me grounded, gives me hope, allows me to have a solid group of friends I can rely on and feel comfortable with and it gives me perspective on what is really important and what is only superficial in life. So yes, I need my religion. It made me a much better and happier person than I was before.

Sounds like it could be replaced with
a secular social club.

 

[stvdv]

The big idea: do we still need religion?

What is it with people to use the word "we", imposing their view on all humans?".

This implies disrespect, and belittling others' opinions, as well as arrogance and prone to grandiosity (and lack of humbleness).

To claim to know what is best for 8 billion people = claim to be "kind of omniscient and omnipresent"...quite a claim

 

[Altfish]

The big idea: do we still need religion?

"There are at least two reasons, however, why religions persist. One is the fact that, on average, religious people are generally happier, healthier and live longer. For better or for worse, they also have easier deaths when the time comes. The other is that religious people are more likely to feel that they belong to a community. In a survey I ran, those who reported attending religious services were depressed less frequently, felt their lives were more worthwhile, were more engaged with their local community, and felt greater trust towards others. These enormous benefits mean not only that religion has enduring appeal, but that religious practices make you “fit” in the evolutionary sense – and thus they tend to stick around."

There is a third and fourth reason

3. They give you political clout
4. They are great money making scams

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I still see no reason to accept from those polls that happiness and satisfaction in life comes from religion, not from having strong community ties, active and actively social lifestyle and routine, all of which you can get without religion but becomes more difficult when the religion in question otherizes and ostracizes outsiders.

Correlation doesn't equal causation.

That said, I think the most obvious answer is that some feel like they need religion and others don't. Whether one actually needs it is not for me to determine for anyone but myself.

I've seen major methodological problems in some of the studies behind these conclusions, too.

For instance, in one a few years ago on religious observance, they compared the happiness of seniors who attended worship services at least weekly versus those who didn't and found that the frequent attenders were, on the whole, happier, healthier, and lived longer than the ones who didn't attend at least once a week.

...but the study had a big problem: they had a selection bias. They included religious seniors who were too ill or infirm to attend in-person services in the "didn't attend at least once a week" category.

The real conclusion of the study should have been that seniors without serious mobility or health issues tend to be happier than those with these issues... but they missed this and assumed a conclusion about religion.

 

[Altfish]

I think we need religion (in the broadest sense of the word) as we need to feel a reason and bigger purpose to our existence to feel happier.

Even atheists will create things like humanism and social causes to feel a purpose.

The majority of atheists do not classify themselves as Humanists. I do but it is not because I "need to feel a reason and bigger purpose to our existence to feel happier." I class myself as a Humanist as it has positive aspects whereas atheism only says one thing, "I don't believe in gods"
Religion has many positives but none that cannot be achieved by other means.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Community

What does religion have to do with community these days?

I mean, I'm sure that plenty of my neighbours go to church, but they don't all go to the same church. I couldn't even tell you which ones they go to.

IMO, religion is irrelevant to community, except to the extent that a person can construct a "community" for themselves around any hobby.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

The big idea: do we still need religion?

"There are at least two reasons, however, why religions persist. One is the fact that, on average, religious people are generally happier, healthier and live longer. For better or for worse, they also have easier deaths when the time comes. The other is that religious people are more likely to feel that they belong to a community. In a survey I ran, those who reported attending religious services were depressed less frequently, felt their lives were more worthwhile, were more engaged with their local community, and felt greater trust towards others. These enormous benefits mean not only that religion has enduring appeal, but that religious practices make you “fit” in the evolutionary sense – and thus they tend to stick around."

Yes, humanity cannot progress without God given Faith in the Guidance Given through a Messenger, which in turn becomes the religion for the age.

The more we try to do away with God given faith, the more will calamities visit humanity, as all ability to progress is bound to those Messages.

Regards Tony

 

[TransmutingSoul]

What does religion have to do with community these days?

It is a way of life, a way of learning with each other and service to each other.

Regards Tony

 

[The Hammer]

IMO, religion is irrelevant to community, except to the extent that a person can construct a "community" for themselves around any hobby.

Irrelevant to your version of community, sure.

It's still always nice to get together with a group of like-minded individuals though, is it not?

Hence, why your neighbors with disparate views, still congregate in communities of like-minded people (churches), even if not their direct neighbors. Community is more then those you live next to.

Shoot, even you hang out on a Religious Forum. Which wouldn't exist without religion, eh? SO, doesn't religion make this wonderful community possible?

Edited for spelling