Is Religion a Necessity?

[Quintessence]

I am sure many things are an "inevitable component of the human species", but that is not the question I am asking.

Why do you ask the question, then? The answer is obvious given the criteria you outlined in the OP - to the point it is rhetorical.

 

[Jeremiahcp]

Why do you ask the question, then? The answer is obvious given the criteria you outlined in the OP - to the point it is rhetorical.

It is not obvious to me. It would be obvious if I was talking about an individual, but I am not; the OP says "humankind" for a reason.

Could we survive without art, music or dance? I am not so sure we could.

 

[Revoltingest]

Careful... You're venturing into capitalism versus communism.

Nah, communists are just as greedy.
The only difference is that they must make do with much less.
It's involuntary minimalism.

 

[bobhikes]

For anybody interested in a third party opinion.

Ajay Upadhaya, Agnostic Atheist Quora

https://www.quora.com/What-if-some-...earth-Would-things-be-better-off-or-worse-Why

 

[Quintessence]

It is not obvious to me. It would be obvious if I was talking about an individual, but I am not; the OP says "humankind" for a reason.

Could we survive without art, music or dance? I am not so sure we could.

It seems to me that things like the arts (and religion is something of an art) are not at all required for survival along the lines of the examples you gave in the OP. That is to say, they are not at all required for sustaining biological functioning.

Perhaps the question to get at is "are these things required for human flourishing?" The things that go above and beyond merely sustaining biological functions?

I don't know. I still see the entire issue differently - that it is not about need, but that it is an inevitable part of human nature at this time. It is a need I don't foresee changing any time soon. I could see it disappearing when humanity undergoes some very dramatic change, such as transitioning from a biological organism to a machine, perhaps.

 

[suncowiam]

Nah, communists are just as greedy.
The only difference is that they must make do with much less.
It's involuntary minimalism.

Wait, I thought indoctrination was supposed to fix that? Everyone else, they just punish or make mysteriously vanish.

 

[Jeremiahcp]

It seems to me that things like the arts (and religion is something of an art) are not at all required for survival along the lines of the examples you gave in the OP. That is to say, they are not at all required for sustaining biological functioning.

Perhaps the question to get at is "are these things required for human flourishing?" The things that go above and beyond merely sustaining biological functions?

I don't know. I still see the entire issue differently - that it is not about need, but that it is an inevitable part of human nature at this time. It is a need I don't foresee changing any time soon. I could see it disappearing when humanity undergoes some very dramatic change, such as transitioning from a biological organism to a machine, perhaps.

"That is to say, they are not at all required for sustaining biological functioning. "

That is not what I said. What I said is, " for the continued survival of humankind".

What is the likelihood that things like artistic expression is there for the purpose of survival of the species? What would happen if we removed all music from the world (assuming such a thing was possible)?

 

[Revoltingest]

Wait, I thought indoctrination was supposed to fix that? Everyone else, they just punish or make mysteriously vanish.

Human nature, with all its many facets, will always emerge.
The commies I know foolishly believe that our species will fundamentally change for their idea of the better.
History argues with them.

 

[David T]

"Think of Religion as the Guru of psychological problems"

It Can sort of be but it als can be a major psychological damaging enviroment as well.

 

[David T]

For the purpose of this discussion, if we consider a necessity as an absolute need for the continued survival of humankind, such as food, water and procreation: Would you consider religion a necessity? Why or why not?

You need to include science, education , literacy, books, as well or the question is an nonsensical asked question. In a sense the question must ask can we survive with all the trappings of modern culture. The answer is absolutely. If you insist on this being a reductive fictional fantasy question no matter what you, will still have people like me around to say GFYS regardless. That's artists!!!

 

[Haroundb]

Well, it is the absolute necessity, after fulfilling all the other "lower" necessities, you stumble into the most important one which is the question : "Why are we created?"
Without religion, you can't really answer that.

In other words talking about physical necessities it would be sure a "No" as an answer, but at a certain point of your life, you will sure seek the ultimate goal of our creation. Rooming around and trying to find an answer for this question can take up to your full life. Thought it is not going to be a "main" course you take, still it will bug you all the time. So instead of trying to re-invent the wheel, you actully get the answer which really solves this problem... Religion!

It is up to everyone of us to accept or deny, to embrace or forsake such a thing, but at the end, you will find something is missing inside you that you need to fill!

===========

As for me, I found out that peace is my favorite fruit, and I found it in Islam. Thought many would not like such a statement (because of TV's), many would say, where would peace fit in a "Bomb", but I am sure that there are some guys outthere who don't really follow the crowd, rather they work their own mind and can easily understand what I am talking about.

Good luck hunting for an answer buddy!

 

[arthra]

For the purpose of this discussion, if we consider a necessity as an absolute need for the continued survival of humankind, such as food, water and procreation: Would you consider religion a necessity? Why or why not?

Thanks for the great question Jeremiah!

Consider the three things you've asked us to call attention to...

Food, Water and Procreation

In the ancient past human beings been compelled to deal with scarcity.. today millions still seek to survive when they are without adequate food or water . Under such circumstances religion has taught us to share our resources and offer assistance to those in need.

Human beings also procreate... but what of kind of social institutions are needed for the rearing and protection of children? What kinds of institutions are needed to build healthy families and strong life long relationships?

I think we all know the answers to the above questions...

 

[lewisnotmiller]

For the purpose of this discussion, if we consider a necessity as an absolute need for the continued survival of humankind, such as food, water and procreation: Would you consider religion a necessity? Why or why not?

Nup.
Unless you do the 'squint hard and pretend everything is religion' trick some people favour.

I humbly offer my family as proof.

 

[psychoslice]

I think its sad that it is a necessary, we are not yet ready to let go of our superstitions, and there fore being immature we still need religion for the sake of the people of the planet, but time is thankfully changing, many today are truly realizing that we don't need religion that all is within us already, not in some book of past hearsay.

 

[1AOA1]

For the purpose of this discussion, if we consider a necessity as an absolute need for the continued survival of humankind, such as food, water and procreation:

These are not necessary to man but to its combination with the naturalistic lifestyle. First came sin, then the fall, then the necessities as outlined which are necessary to the offspring of that life.

Would you consider religion a necessity? Why or why not?

A life is always necessary to man, but a life is not necessary in another life. A man cannot serve two masters.

 

[Rational Agnostic]

For the purpose of this discussion, if we consider a necessity as an absolute need for the continued survival of humankind, such as food, water and procreation: Would you consider religion a necessity? Why or why not?

No, we are the only species of animal (as far as anyone can tell) that practices religion and other animals do just fine without it.

 

[Jeremiahcp]

Thanks for the great question Jeremiah!

Consider the three things you've asked us to call attention to...

Food, Water and Procreation

In the ancient past human beings been compelled to deal with scarcity.. today millions still seek to survive when they are without adequate food or water . Under such circumstances religion has taught us to share our resources and offer assistance to those in need.

Human beings also procreate... but what of kind of social institutions are needed for the rearing and protection of children? What kinds of institutions are needed to build healthy families and strong life long relationships?

I think we all know the answers to the above questions...

Hunter gather tribes, before civilization, would routinely leave their children behind so they didn't have to feed them and then after civilization people died at an extraordinary rate due to war and disease, but yet we still have a global population of over 7 billion people today. Clearly human biology is cable of handling the rearing of children all on its own.

I am sorry, but I am not buying that religion is in anyway needed for procreation.

 

[arthra]

Hunter gather tribes, before civilization, would routinely leave their children behind so they didn't have to feed them and then after civilization people died at an extraordinary rate due to war and disease, but yet we still have a global population of over 7 billion people today. Clearly human biology is cable of handling the rearing of children all on its own.
I am sorry, but I am not buying that religion is in anyway needed for procreation.

Yes that may be true about hunter gatherers leaving their children.. I wasn't there and neither were you Jeremiah!.. But recent investigations suggest they may have attended pre-school and were taught Art!

Archaeologists have uncovered cave art providing evidence that hunter-gatherer children may have attended a form of prehistoric pre-school.
Researchers have revealed that 13,000 years ago, prehistoric children created art in caves with the help of their parents.
A conference on the Archaeology of Childhood at Cambridge University, starting today, will reveal the latest research into art made by children as young as three in one of the most famous prehistoric decorated caves in France.

Read more: Cave art shows that 'hunter-gatherer children may have attended prehistoric school' | Daily Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

As to your last statement..

"I am sorry, but I am not buying that religion is in anyway needed for procreation"

I didn't write above that religion is necessary to perform "procreation". What I asked was

"what ... kind of social institutions are needed for the rearing and protection of children? What kinds of institutions are needed to build healthy families and strong life long relationships?"

 

[psychoslice]

I personally see religion as a by product of ignorance, and this ignorance is seen as a necessary by those who are conditioned by this very ignorance.

 

[Jeremiahcp]

Yes that may be true about hunter gatherers leaving their children.. I wasn't there and neither were you Jeremiah!.. But recent investigations suggest they may have attended pre-school and were taught Art!

Archaeologists have uncovered cave art providing evidence that hunter-gatherer children may have attended a form of prehistoric pre-school.
Researchers have revealed that 13,000 years ago, prehistoric children created art in caves with the help of their parents.
A conference on the Archaeology of Childhood at Cambridge University, starting today, will reveal the latest research into art made by children as young as three in one of the most famous prehistoric decorated caves in France.

Read more: Cave art shows that 'hunter-gatherer children may have attended prehistoric school' | Daily Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

As to your last statement..

"I am sorry, but I am not buying that religion is in anyway needed for procreation"

I didn't write above that religion is necessary to perform "procreation". What I asked was

"what ... kind of social institutions are needed for the rearing and protection of children? What kinds of institutions are needed to build healthy families and strong life long relationships?"

"what ... kind of social institutions are needed for the rearing and protection of children? What kinds of institutions are needed to build healthy families and strong life long relationships?"

Certainly nothing religious is needed.