What Do You Think Is The Purpose Of Religion?

Question

Kninjanin mentioned recently that he almost never discusses politics online. Religion is also volatile topic, but ima give it a go here!

As often happens, I already have an answer I am thinking about, but interested in the thoughts of others...so here goes...I think the purpose of religion is to support our own unique search for our human potential. In other words, what does it mean to be a human being? Is our potential ONLY our five senses and our wonderful brain, or is there more to life?

So yes, I DO think a lot of religion misses the mark...misses its purpose.

Answer 1

I think that true purpose of religion is to give rules for behavior and some unquestionable truths. It was used to attack other countries. You know that Catholic Church supported Crusades and founded Inquisition. Catholic Church was supporting Croatian ustashas during the World War Two. Ustashas were killing Serbs, Jews and Chipsies. During the Ottoman rule Balkanic Christians were discriminated and Muslims were privileged. Islam teaches believers that they need to go to Holly war.

Comments

Yes, Kninjanin, religion has very often been misused for political purposes.

Answer 2

Hard one for me as I'm not religious in the christian sense but I've thought for many years that it's just another way to indoctrinate people into others ways of thinking. Plus whatever money they can make of it.

I highly agree with your last sentence that religion misses the mark and purpose. I've done just fine in life without christian religion.

Comments

I did fine without it also, Rooster...from age 13...I do love Christianity now, but in my own way which is just a tad non-traditional!

Answer 3

I think all too often, religion has been used as a tool by the ruling classes to help them exert control.

But on a personal level, I think its purpose is to bring us closer to the numinous

"Ihr stürzt nieder, Millionen?                  Fall ye to your knees, ye millions?

Ahnest du den Schöpfer, Welt?             Dost thou sense the Maker, World?

Such' ihn überm Sternenzelt!                 Seek Him o'er the starry skies!

Über Sternen muß er wohnen."            O'er the heavens He must dwell.

Comments

O'Tink, this is one of the YT videos I come back to occasionally, again and again...exquisite.

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Yes, it is, Virginia, humanity at its best.  And the children really understand!

Here's another performance, this one in front of the Lorenzkirche in Nuremberg, where my grandmother was confirmed.

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When the times get difficult, just take Beethoven into the streets...I hope he is aware somewhere, and can see all this... 

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I hope so too, Virginia  .   He had a difficult and tormented life, but perhaps without the torment, he would not have produced such glorious music.

Answer 4

I believe(d) that religions were the basis for our different cultures to find a spiritual way to deal with our doubts, our inner and everyday life, our belief in God, in our people and in ourselves. They are also standing for solidarity, for respecting and trying to understand and help each other, for inspiration, compassion and love.

Sadly enough, all the religions have been and are being misused for political, commercial and controlling purposes; too many zealots and rather negatively "enlightened" leaders have misinterpreted and misused their religion(s), preaching and imposing intolerance, hate, oppression and promoting war and destruction ...

Those who don't believe in a particular religion speak often of a collective mind and conscience which is guiding and inspiring us.

Didn't Jesus remind his public in his time (and us presently) that humanity cannot live by bread alone (that the "soul needs to be fed too), to listen to compassion, to forgive (as we forgive ourselves), not to judge, but to respect "thy next" ....

Comments

So thoughtful as your answers always are, Marianne, ty. I actually think you may be mentioning the resolution to the world's terrible violent debate of god/atheism...to just leave the argument alone, and find what we all have in common...our collective oneness, the conscience guiding inspiring us all...

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Thank you, Virginia, every religious "philosophy" seems to claim their very truth, and their defenders want to control the world.

But their intolerance, abuses, and their wars on other cultures seem to be the real blasphamy against God and humanity, as they preach hate, discrimination, violence and massacres, not peace and compassion.