The Purpose of Religion

[rational experiences]

A medical and biological science report against occultism, nuclear sciences that changed the face of God the Earth stone by alchemy first to get machines then reactions against life/future existence.

By claiming that God is a stone Ark that travels, around the Sun that can be used to destroy God by shifting God back in time...by Sun calculations.

It was an association community agreement to serve the people with healing medical methodology, of sound therapies, mind conscious therapies, oils, meditations, subliminal healing and lawful human behavioural control.

As an associated social agreement to allow for life continuance on Earth in the way of a family re association of group purpose.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

What, in your view, is the purpose of religion?

I wonder if someone asked Jesus' half brother James the same question because his reply at James 1:27 is that the form ( or purpose ) of religion ( or one's worship ) from God's standpoint is to look after orphans, and widows in their times of tribulation, and to keep oneself without being spotted from the world.
'Keep unspotted....' as Jesus instructed at John 4:23-24 to worship his God, or to be worshipping his God.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

A means of exercising control over others.

I find in Jesus it was more like regulating than control........

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

What, in your view, is the purpose of religion?

To propagate itself.

Religions are memes (in the original sense of the term).

 

[Deeje]

What, in your view, is the purpose of religion?

@SalixIncendium "religion is defined as...."the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods....a particular system of faith and worship."

To my way of thinking, it wasn't God who invented "religion"...it was man.

So don't we Bible believers have to ask what "religion" were Adam and Eve? I don't recall it ever being mentioned....

It was only when humans began to invent other gods (in their own image) that they started what became "religions"...(defined above) They had a name for their gods and there was apparently a need to differentiate them from other gods since nations were fighting one another in the name of their deities....many still do.

When God created man they had no 'religion' because it wasn't necessary. They just used their lives to obey the directives of their Creator with a minimal amount of rules....because there was no need for those either.

So according to the Bible, we will return to that original circumstance where everyone will simply worship the one God, as one human family forever, with no dissenters, no complainers, no fist shakers and no deniers.

I personally look forward to that time when we will never have to see the world like this again.

 

[Tober Canton]

What, in your view, is the purpose of religion?

It is the platform given by the Divine for the awakening of human consciousness towards the real, through a very long and arduous stretch of human history.
It is also the one melting pot where all facets of humanity, from cleaning floors to sex to politics and war to ethics/morality to cosmology/metaphysics to science and philosophy are all one in their existential totality.

 

[Tober Canton]

To propagate itself.

Religions are memes (in the original sense of the term).

And Memes Matter™

 

[Mock Turtle]

What, in your view, is the purpose of religion?

Removes the need to think so much for oneself in many areas and/or the need to triage the questions that one should sensibly ask and expect answers for?

 

[Trailblazer]

New What, in your view, is the purpose of religion?

As I was thinking about how to answer this I recalled a letter I read some time ago which I believe encapsulates my view of the purpose of religion in words I think anyone can understand:

"Our past is not the thing that matters so much in this world as what we intend to do with our future. The inestimable value of religion is that when a man is vitally connected with it, through a real and living belief in it and in the Prophet Who brought it, he receives a strength greater than his own which helps him to develop his good characteristics and overcome his bad ones. The whole purpose of religion is to change not only our thoughts but our acts; when we believe in God and His Prophet and His Teachings, we find we are growing, even though we perhaps thought ourselves incapable of growth and change!"
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, October 3, 1943)

Lights of Guidance (second part)

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

What, in your view, is the purpose of religion?

This is a topic on which a 1000-page essay could be written

But if I had to narrow it down to a single simple core point......

I'ld say it is an attempt for people to cope with their own, and their loved-ones, mortality.

That single point obviously isn't, and can't, be the whole story here. But I think it covers a large enough base for the purpose of the thread.


Also note that I'm saying that from the perspective of a random individual who's personally attracted to a religious belief. I'm not talking from the perspective of societal organization by the authorities / leaders of such a society. From that perspective, it obviously also provides tools for control over the masses etc.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Some interesting responses so far. I'll address some when I have more time. In the meantime, I'll offer my take:

The purpose of religion is to gain insights and understanding the nature of one's existence, i.e. the nature of the true Self and the nature of being, and its purpose.

 

[PearlSeeker]

First the purpose of human life: to live a good life, to flourish, to excel as a human being. Purpose is according to our natural functions/needs and some of them are distinctively human. For example we are rational and moral beings (we have intellect and will) so our purpose is to develope intellectual and moral virtues, we are social beings ...

Is religion just a human invention or has it sprung from our purpose as human beings? Some purposes overlap with other human areas but what is distinctively religious? Something in us is reaching to beyond, to sacred, to transcendence, to supreme Good, Truth and Beauty.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Whatever the purpose might be, and plenty have described some options, it seems that many of us just don't feel the need for any of these explanations, so perhaps not an innate characteristic of humans - or perhaps we are just the broken ones.

 

[Fool]

What, in your view, is the purpose of religion?

roadmap. once you get there, not needed anymore.

ezekiel 48:35

 

[Samantha Rinne]

What, in your view, is the purpose of religion?

To provide purpose.

 

[Hellbound Serpiente]

What, in your view, is the purpose of religion?

To provide us a structure for living a morally upright and spiritually healthy lifestyle

 

[Windwalker]

What, in your view, is the purpose of religion?

A single purpose? I suppose if I had to identify that, it would be to act as the repository of cultural truths and values. Spirituality is just the cherry way up at the top that those at the bottom hope to reach one day.

 

[Samael_Khan]

What, in your view, is the purpose of religion?

I suspect that belief in gods and spirits was thought up to increase mans hope when in dire situations, because if the greatest powers in the universe are on your side, then you have nothing to fear. I think this dramatically increases man's survival and I think many theists can relate.

Secondly, religion and mythology was man's way of trying to understand the world on the journey of their pursuit of knowledge and understanding. That is why many religions, especially the ancient ones, seem to be so metaphorical and symbolic.

Thirdly, organised religion unified a nation, as in many cases there were local religions and when communities were unified or conquered the local gods were brought into Pantheons in order to unify the nation through power of belief so they would be more prone to subjection.

Fourth, especially these days, religions are invented to gain power over others, get people to do your bidding and make money out of them.

 

[Vouthon]

What, in your view, is the purpose of religion?

The early church father Lactantius (c. 250 – c. 325) offered a definition in his Divine Institutes which I've always been rather partial to:


Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume VII/Lactantius/The Divine Institutes/Book V/Chap. VI - Wikisource, the free online library

"Divine religion, which alone effects that man should esteem man dear, and should know that he is bound to him by the tie of brotherhood, since God is alike a Father to all, so as to share the bounties of the common God and Father with those who do not possess them; to injure no one, to oppress no one, not to close his door against a stranger, nor his ear against a suppliant, but to be bountiful, beneficent, and liberal...

Truly it is among those who are ignorant of wars, who maintain concord with all, who are friendly even to their enemies, who love all men as brethren, who know how to restrain their anger, and to soothe every passion of the mind with calm government"

​

Of course, that's an excessively idealistic take on the purpose of religion - but I do like it....

 

[halbhh]

What, in your view, is the purpose of religion?

Usually a seeking after the ineffable, for so many, an attempt to draw nearer to that something we sometimes sense, but cannot see or touch, not yet.

For those who are all-in, not holding back their heart, there is a way to find --

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.