The function of Religion

[Che Guava]

Imagine the athiests are right: there is no god, no higher power, only humans living on a blue sphere somewhere out in the universe...why do we have religion?

Just something I've been thinking about this afternoon. If we make the assumption (and I'm not saying that this is the truth!) that there is no divine inspiration for the world's religions and that they are purely human inventions, but recognize that those religions remain important for individuals and our society, why are they so persistent? What benefits do they offer that allow for them to continue?

I don't want to make (another) thread that debates the existence of God, but rather look at the benefits of faith in a purely utilitarian fasion...

poll to come!

 

[Murky]

At one time religion was used to unite people under a common set of beliefs.

 

[Erik Mesoy]

To make a stab at explaining the universe in terms of "X happens because the Y God does it", and so to suggest a form of predictability and order that can not be denied simply by using tools to change something, as the Y God will do it again anyway, leading to the first set of stable rules about What Will Happen.

 

[Godwynn]

Instill a sense of fear as a way to control people.

 

[Che Guava]

To make a stab at explaining the universe in terms of "X happens because the Y God does it", and so to suggest a form of predictability and order that can not be denied simply by using tools to change something, as the Y God will do it again anyway, leading to the first set of stable rules about What Will Happen.

A substitute for science...? Oh my....

Instill a sense of fear as a way to control people.

But what about all those eastern religions that don't have floods, fires, and a vengeful/jealous god?

 

[puglover]

To discover spiritual truth, to unite people of one belief, and to create a distinct cultural system.

Overall, religion has a lot better purposes than "control" or "money" like some non-religious people would assume.

 

[Godwynn]

But what about all those eastern religions that don't have floods, fires, and a vengeful/jealous god?

Dunno. I don't know much about Dharmic Religions.

 

[cybrxkhan]

But what about all those eastern religions that don't have floods, fires, and a vengeful/jealous god?

depending on interpretation, many eastern religions can have it. althuogh, you must replace "gods" with "demons" or "magical people" or somethin gof that sort.

 

[Che Guava]

Overall, religion has a lot better purposes than "control" or "money" like some non-religious people would assume.

I suppose there is always sex with atlar boys as well....

Control is one thing, but I get a little stuck on the money aspect sometimes...

Dunno. I don't know much about Dharmic Religions.

Well then your homework assignment for tonight is a 500 word essay on hinduism, buddhism and jainism. Have it on my desk by 9AM

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Like I always say . . .

Spirituality is the natural response of any self aware creature to an environment greater than it. Religion is the response of any social creature to spirituality. In other words, religion has no "function", it is just something humans do. All that other stuff - money, power, social control, whatever - is just a later addition.

 

[holy king]

all of the above...
and eran, would you say that art has no function either?

 

[Gilder]

All of the above?

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

and eran, would you say that art has no function either?

Yes, I would. But that doesn't mean it isn't worthwhile for its own sake.

 

[Che Guava]

Like I always say . . .

Spirituality is the natural response of any self aware creature to an environment greater than it. Religion is the response of any social creature to spirituality. In other words, religion has no "function", it is just something humans do. All that other stuff - money, power, social control, whatever - is just a later addition.

Yes, I would. But that doesn't mean it isn't worthwhile for its own sake.

I dig what you say, Eran, but even if religion (or art) is just a human response to surroundings, surely there must be something that humans get out of it?

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Yes, it gives us fulfillment. But I wouldn't necessarily call that a "function" in the traditional sense.

 

[MobBoss]

To answer the questions that science cant.

 

[Riffraff]

Previosly for varied reasons, uncertainty and control being the main ones i guess.

Today it's inertia.

 

[Che Guava]

Yes, it gives us fulfillment. But I wouldn't necessarily call that a "function" in the traditional sense.

Why not? I think that might be the most important functional aspect of religion: the sense of fulfilment and oneness with the universe along with some form of certainty about life and the future. Not exactly something you put on an accounting ledger, but something real regardless.

To answer the questions that science cant.

Hmmm....then I predict religion to be functionally extinct by 2085....

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Why not? I think that might be the most important functional aspect of religion: the sense of fulfilment and oneness with the universe along with some form of certainty about life and the future. Not exactly something you put on an accounting ledger, but something real regardless.

I think it may be, to use a term from evolutionary biology, an exaptation. It ends up having that "function", but that is not the original purpose.

I have no idea if anyone understand me . . .

 

[Che Guava]

I think it may be, to use a term from evolutionary biology, an exaptation. It ends up having that "function", but that is not the original purpose.

I have no idea if anyone understand me . . .

I getcha!

The way I might interpret that, though, is that religions may have started to fulfill another need in the poll, but religions have persisted because of this 'exaptation'