Is Religion a Necessity?

[A Vestigial Mote]

Take away religion and an individual's ability to survive should remain unchanged. And if not... I honestly believe that anyone that entrenched in their chosen religion needs to take a hard look at their priorities.

 

[MHz]

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.
God's determinations don't require any groups be 'believers'. He can create them when he needs them as easily He converted Saul. The reward for being a believer is yo get to experience Zec:14 and that sets you up to living inside New Jerusalem in the New Earth rather than making your home outside of the City.

 

[Tabu]

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?

Our belief is that everything goes through stages from being pure to impure , from united to divided, so as long as the religion provides purity , strength and unity its better to stick with religion

 

[RESOLUTION]

Take away religion and an individual's ability to survive should remain unchanged. And if not... I honestly believe that anyone that entrenched in their chosen religion needs to take a hard look at their priorities.

I tend to disagree there are many people coping out there with different disabilities. Some who get through the hard times by their faith in God. Talking about priorities - for some people their faith being made a priority is the reason they survive.
So given the facts I believe you have a one tunnel view of what belief in God means to some people.

 

[RESOLUTION]

"So without religion would people feel a purpose to life, would they feel it worth living and would many end their lives
when sick, mentally ill or without hope?"

So then how do atheists live full rich lives filled with purpose?

Not all atheists do live rich full lives?
So you cannot make a blanket statement of one meets all.

 

[Jeremiahcp]

Not all atheists do live rich full lives?
So you cannot make a blanket statement of one meets all.

I asked you a question. I didn't make a statement.

 

[arthra]

"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.

Many of our institutions Jeremiah have roots in our religious heritage.. The institution of marriage is an example...There are responsibilities between the spouses to each other and responsibilities for the children.. Many of these concepts are now in our civil law codes.

 

[Jeremiahcp]

Many of our institutions Jeremiah have roots in our religious heritage.. The institution of marriage is an example...There are responsibilities between the spouses to each other and responsibilities for the children.. Many of these concepts are now in our civil law codes.

People don't need marriage to have children and raises them; they also don't need marriage for commitment, love and family. In fact all these were around a lot longer than marriage has been. People invented marriage.

We are talking about a need here, and you going on about vague "roots" or "institutions" does not show a need. How about you be more specific.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

I tend to disagree there are many people coping out there with different disabilities. Some who get through the hard times by their faith in God. Talking about priorities - for some people their faith being made a priority is the reason they survive.
So given the facts I believe you have a one tunnel view of what belief in God means to some people.

People nowadays are granted far too much time to let their thoughts wander, dwell on their circumstances... even too much time to question "why?" If actual survival were more imperative in our daily lives I can gaurantee that "faith" would more often take a backseat to more pressing (and, in my opinion, far more important) matters.

 

[RESOLUTION]

People nowadays are granted far too much time to let their thoughts wander, dwell on their circumstances..

'Granted'??? You tell me how a mentally disabled person has any time granted to dwell on their circumstances when they do not know what their circumstances are? It is a moot point.



.

even too much time to question "why?"

Mentally disabled people cannot ask the question 'WHY?'.

If actual survival were more imperative in our daily lives I can gaurantee that "faith" would more often take a backseat to more pressing (and, in my opinion, far more important) matters.

Well everyone has opinions but yours does not make any real sense in the great scheme of things.
If survival imperative then faith would play a larger part.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

People nowadays are granted far too much time to let their thoughts wander, dwell on their circumstances... even too much time to question "why?" If actual survival were more imperative in our daily lives I can gaurantee that "faith" would more often take a backseat to more pressing (and, in my opinion, far more important) matters.

I disagree; animism, the kind of religion that most hunter-gatherers and other indigenous peoples practice/d, is rooted in the very pressing matter of survival in an environment shared with other-than-human persons who can help or harm, who can eat or be eaten. Proper relationships and rituals help the ensure balance in the system of relationships.

Now then, studies have shown that among indigenous peoples, whether hunter-gatherers, fishers, farmers, or some combination, the pressing hard work of survival actually only takes up about half of a waking day on average for a healthy adult (and not everyone has to spend all of every day working for the group to survive), so that there is plenty of time for socializing...which includes storytelling, singing, dancing, thinking (including about "beliefs"), discussing all sorts of matters, doing "art" (which among indigenous peoples is almost always associated with the relationships between people and other people, or with the other-than-human persons they interact with). Societies structure time around their survival activities, as well as around socializing--and that can and does include rituals that can be described as "religious."

 

[Milton Platt]

Yes, because its a psychological aid that works off of faith. To replace it you would have to provide psychological assistance to the world in some other way. Many people are poor and won't be able to afford help, people have different levels of education and may not understand they need help, people have different tolerances to psychological problems so may need it more frequently or immediately. The only thing that provides assistance to everyone when they need it is religion.

Think of Religion as the Guru of psychological problems. Not exactly trained but helpful in many ways. Without religion many people would have a much rougher time. I could even believe society couldn't function without it. Yes certain groups would do well without religion but the vast majority would not and those groups still have to deal with the vast majority.

What does religion provide that could not be provided without religion? What if the billions poured into churches, temples, and priests were spent directly on providing the help?

 

[bobhikes]

What does religion provide that could not be provided without religion? What if the billions poured into churches, temples, and priests were spent directly on providing the help?

There is nothing that religion provides that others can't. Show me the government or organization that is going to do it. Perhaps secular charity will take up the work.

 

[Milton Platt]

There is nothing that religion provide that others can't. Show me the government or organization that is going to do it. Perhaps secular charity will take up the work.

There's the rub, isn't it? Religion does harm, but also much good, no doubt. The question is, if we used all the money that has poured into religious coffers over the millennia, to provide care such as for the hungry and medically needy, would it not be more cost effective than paying for countless church buildings and supporting countless priests, preachers and soothsayers along the way?
What if the government skimmed off the same 10% and used the money more directly?

 

[bobhikes]

There's the rub, isn't it? Religion does harm, but also much good, no doubt. The question is, if we used all the money that has poured into religious coffers over the millennia, to provide care such as for the hungry and medically needy, would it not be more cost effective than paying for countless church buildings and supporting countless priests, preachers and soothsayers along the way?
What if the government skimmed off the same 10% and used the money more directly?

Get the government to do it and I think your underestimating the money you would need.

 

[psychoslice]

I think if you can be a good person and not hurt others then no, religion isn't necessary, if you can't, then maybe its for you, a big daddy looking down at you keeping you in line, it does sound silly doesn't it ?.