Religion, is it really needed?

I found this topic on another site and found it interesting. I believe religion is needed and was wondering what everyone else thinks.

[Meeshu]

Well some people really need to have a "bigger meaning" to life. Imagine you grew up thinking that when you die nothing happens. You would be so scared of death and you could possibly go crazy as some people have. Believing in "God" is more than just believing someone created us. Believing in "God" means that you acknowledge that you are not the greatest being in the universe, which takes a lot of pressure you didn't even know you had off of you. In my case, I do not believe in "God", but now I wish I had when I was a child, because now I am honestly going to say I'm scared of death

[spockman]

I do believe in God and an afterlife. But I don't think death would be particularly terrifying if I didn't believe in an afterlife. I mean, what is there to be afraid of? Non existance wouldn't be good, sure. But it is not like it would suck, either. It wouldn't anything. That's the whole point.

[Meeshu]

Yes, but try to imagine "nothingness" It's mentally impossible

[Spartiate]

Needed for what?

[Philosopher8659]

Do you believe that the history of religion is saying that it has been in some wise superfluous? Or do you think opinions are more important than fact? What is the purpose of the question?

Do you believe that the history of religion is saying that it has been in some wise superfluous? Or do you think opinions are more important than fact? What is the purpose of the question? The purpose? Just your opinions thats all.

[Kallz]

Yes, but try to imagine "nothingness" It's mentally impossible Better than "Follow our dogmas or burn forever, mothafucker"

[Spartiate]

I assume death would be like before we were born, which is something we've all experienced (or not, hehe). I think people get too caught up in trying to qualify or imagine nothingness, well picture yourself before you were born, that about sums it up.

[Meeshu]

Better than "Follow our dogmas or burn forever, mothafucker" Agreed. I do prefer not having to follow a religion

I assume death would be like before we were born, which is something we've all experienced (or not, hehe). I think people get too caught up in trying to qualify or imagine nothingness, well picture yourself before you were born, that about sums it up. That's pretty difficult to do. My earliest memory is probably when I started school.

[Spartiate]

It's impossible to do because you didn't exist before you were born.

Oh I see then. Anyway we're straying of topic of the question. Do see Religion has something that benefits mankind? Regardless if you don't believe.

[Kallz]

I think that don't make any sense trying to imagine the nothingness, we won't experience it, its like imagine before you born, as was said before you dont existed and when you die you will just don't exist again And for the topic, i think it don't benefits the mankind, in many cases (obviously not saying all) it just perpetuates ignorance, violence and conformism. There are the good aspects too, like moral, etc, but it can completely obtained without religion. Sorry for the english.

[♥Mark]

Well some people really need to have a "bigger meaning" to life. No. Many people are used to the idea and like to believe it to be true and would be negatively affected if it was removed from them, but no one needs it in the first place. Supposing that some people do need such a thing, since when is perscribing lies an acceptable psychological treatment? Give them something real to believe in, not religion. Anyone who says "religion is necessary" has a deficient imagination and neglects to consider the millions of people getting along just fine without it. Imagine you grew up thinking that when you die nothing happens. You would be so scared of death and you could possibly go crazy as some people have. Or imagine that you grew up thinking there were microscopic monsters floating in the air that could get into your body and make you sick or even kill you. Scary. Anyway, to respond to the topic. The concept of "religion" is inherently detrimental. It's like a special kind of truth that doesn't have to stand up to the qualification of actually being true. The truth of the matter is that "religious beliefs" are often very significant assertions about the world and the universe as a whole. They are very often objective claims such as to the age of the universe, the existence of a god, historical events, etc.. In other words, things that are either true or untrue. This isn't a matter of what you prefer on your pizza, they're actual claims about the state and function of the universe and are not subject to anyone's preference. They are objectively false. I mean, objectively true or false. So what is the problem, then. All too many people let "religious beliefs" get away unexamined simply because they're labeled as such, regardless of what they might be causing all because of the notion that "religious beliefs" are personal and everyone should be able to make up their own. True enough that you should be allowed to believe whatever you want, that's not what I'm saying. Rather, society tends to assign a special protected status to such beliefs. That is a very dangerous thing to allow when it comes to claims about reality.

[Maria92]

Yes, but try to imagine "nothingness" It's mentally impossible I can actually imagine it. When I had my wisdom teeth extracted, I was put all the way under. In that state, I had no emotions, no thoughts, no dreams, no sense of time, no sense of consciousness. It wasn't painful or scary or pleasant or boring or anything else. It is what I sincerely hope awaits me at the end of my life.

[Meeshu]

Supposing that some people do need such a thing, since when is perscribing lies an acceptable psychological treatment? Give them something real to believe in, not religion. Anyone who says "religion is necessary" has a deficient imagination and neglects to consider the millions of people getting along just fine without it. I'm not saying that somebody made up all these things to help people. What I meant was, people couldn't imagine what would happen, as it is not possible, so instead they thought of these possibilities to it all, which became religion. Or imagine that you grew up thinking there were microscopic monsters floating in the air that could get into your body and make you sick or even kill you. Scary. Exactly what I mean, way back when, when there was no technology people had no idea about germs, so they thought they were demons and stuff like that. I can actually imagine it. When I had my wisdom teeth extracted, I was put all the way under. In that state, I had no emotions, no thoughts, no dreams, no sense of time, no sense of consciousness. It wasn't painful or scary or pleasant or boring or anything else. It is what I sincerely hope awaits me at the end of my life. I know what you experienced. I went into surgery once before too. But the only difference is (kinda like a dream), you have had a conscious state after the fact, which is the only reason you could possibly remember it at all. If we stayed in a dreams forever, then we would never be awake to remember them, therefor in a way they never happened and you will never acknowledge them. This is also what makes me believe there has to be something after death, even though I don't believe in any religion at all

[spockman]

My preference would be that once we die, there are no more experiences as such but rather there is simply a state of being. You just exist, purely and in a positive sense. If that is not the case though and we just cease to be... well, I am not going to fret about it. There is nothing I can do to change it and it is not as though I will have time to be dissapointed should there be no afterlife.

[Meeshu]

My preference would be that once we die, there are no more experiences as such but rather there is simply a state of being. You just exist, purely and in a positive sense. If that is not the case though and we just cease to be... well, I am not going to fret about it. There is nothing I can do to change it and it is not as though I will have time to be dissapointed should there be no afterlife. This pretty much sums up how I feel

[Philosopher8659]

So what is the problem, then. All too many people let "religious beliefs" get away unexamined simply because they're labeled as such, regardless of what they might be causing all because of the notion that "religious beliefs" are personal and everyone should be able to make up their own. True enough that you should be allowed to believe whatever you want, that's not what I'm saying. Rather, society tends to assign a special protected status to such beliefs. That is a very dangerous thing to allow when it comes to claims about reality. I am glad to see someone actually say it, freedom of belief is dangerous. Human expression is based upon mental ability. There is no way to over come people's lack of conceptual ability, however, there is a correct method of constructing a religion--and it has been used. Through principles of language, religion can be, and has been, constructed such that the principles evolve in the mind, as the mind evolves to comprehend those principles. That is what Metaphor is used for in religion. Properly effected religion is a form of psycho-semantics.

[Maria92]

I know what you experienced. I went into surgery once before too. But the only difference is (kinda like a dream), you have had a conscious state after the fact, which is the only reason you could possibly remember it at all. If we stayed in a dreams forever, then we would never be awake to remember them, therefor in a way they never happened and you will never acknowledge them. The transition into my state was calm and peaceful. I could have stayed there forever and not cared. It doesn't matter if I'm able to comprehend or acknowledge my nothingness. All that matters is that I return to that state permanently at the end of my life. Death is only as scary as you make it. If you think about it, this concept of not existing isn't scary at all. An eternity of infinite pleasure may not be all that bad, but this nothingness certainly isn't something to fear. It sure beats the concept of hell. The pure, eternal consciousness thing, though...that is scary. I'd go bloody insane within a few earth months.

[spockman]

The transition into my state was calm and peaceful. I could have stayed there forever and not cared. It doesn't matter if I'm able to comprehend or acknowledge my nothingness. All that matters is that I return to that state permanently at the end of my life. Death is only as scary as you make it. If you think about it, this concept of not existing isn't scary at all. An eternity of infinite pleasure may not be all that bad, but this nothingness certainly isn't something to fear. It sure beats the concept of hell. The pure, eternal consciousness thing, though...that is scary. I'd go bloody insane within a few earth months. Most conceptions of the 'pure existence' afterlife are not eternal at all. Not in the sense you are thinking of. There would be no time at all. On the contrary, an eternal life like most people view it may make it possible to go insane eventually. But in a state of just being there is no eventually. There just is. See, you would not exist within the temporal universe. You wouldn't think or consider or experience or get bored because it is absolutely pure existence. Just as cessation, final death, is a pure state of non existence with no way to comprehend one's lot- a state of positive being does not allow contemplation either. Death actually fits into this scheme, being one of many potential state's of being, (or not being.) A state of pain, joy, neutrality, if one is theoretically possible I don't see why the others wouldn't be even if I don't necessarily believe in them all. Oh, and I would never argue that this state of being is what we are going to go to when we die. I have no evidence to support it. It is just my ideal. I mean if I could pick an afterlife that is what I would choose.

Most conceptions of the 'pure existence' afterlife are not eternal at all. Not in the sense you are thinking of. There would be no time at all. On the contrary, an eternal life like most people view it may make it possible to go insane eventually. But in a state of just being there is no eventually. There just is. See, you would not exist within the temporal universe. You wouldn't think or consider or experience or get bored because it is absolutely pure existence. Just as cessation, final death, is a pure state of non existence with no way to comprehend one's lot- a state of positive being does not allow contemplation either. Death actually fits into this scheme, being one of many potential state's of being, (or not being.) A state of pain, joy, neutrality, if one is theoretically possible I don't see why the others wouldn't be even if I don't necessarily believe in them all. Oh, and I would never argue that this state of being is what we are going to go to when we die. I have no evidence to support it. It is just my ideal. I mean if I could pick an afterlife that is what I would choose. I totally agree.

[Puffin]

No. Being practical, and unwilling to say our race is special just because we're "smarter" than all other animals (who don't happen to have a god), I say there's no need for religion. It just causes arguments. There's plenty of other customs that bind people together.

[saltyseedog]

love is my religion