Religion was invented as a way to explain the world. To provide comfort in the knowlege that life has a purpose. But, as time goes on, religion's explanation's give way to science. Look at Greece. Look at the Renaissance. Look at modern society. The only problem with the last ones is that the religions dont want to go. They want to stay here just a little bit longer. Thusly, i feel that religion is obstructing the natural flow of things. Worse still, the longer this goes on, the more stubborn religion gets in wanting to stay here.

There may be another time again when religion is neccassary, but that time is not now.

On another note. Ever notice the inverse relationship between progress and religion. During times of hardship and when people are in the intellectual doldrums, religion becomes most powerful. As the lights go on, and people become more enlightened as to the world around them, the importance on religion declines. Then once as religion starts gaining strenght again, the lights dim.

Originally posted by Evil Homer


On another note. Ever notice the inverse relationship between progress and religion. During times of hardship and when people are in the intellectual doldrums, religion becomes most powerful. As the lights go on, and people become more enlightened as to the world around them, the importance on religion declines. Then once as religion starts gaining strenght again, the lights dim.


People tend to turn to religion in times when a situation creates a feeling of helplessness. The old saying "a drowning man will grasp at a straw" comes to mind. Sort of a last resort hope of the insecure.

I don't think that religion is obsolete. Religion in it's purist form, for all religions before their words are twisted by the power-hungry churches, is about peace and how to be a better man/woman. Religion should be kept, but only as a guide to do better and to better yourself. Look at the Quakers in Pennsylvania who saw the true words of the Prince of Peace and allowed religious tolerance, gender equality, and even preached abolutionist ideas.

I also think that religion should serve as a reward. At least to some extent. Be good, you get to go to heaven, be bad you go to hell. So therefor people are good to be rewarded. That is another reason religion isn't obsolete.

Originally posted by Dan Fussell
People tend to turn to religion in times when a situation creates a feeling of helplessness. The old saying "a drowning man will grasp at a straw" comes to mind. Sort of a last resort hope of the insecure. So you're saying that everyone who believes in any god whatsoever is insecure? Or only those that believe in times of trouble?

Originally posted by Evil Homer
Religion was invented as a way to explain the world

Really?

I always thought Religion was the process of us glorifying, serving, and worshiping God.


Whered you come up with your theory???

Originally posted by Evil Homer
Religion was invented as a way to explain the world. To provide comfort in the knowlege that life has a purpose. But, as time goes on, religion's explanation's give way to science. Look at Greece. Look at the Renaissance. Look at modern society. The only problem with the last ones is that the religions dont want to go. They want to stay here just a little bit longer. Thusly, i feel that religion is obstructing the natural flow of things. Worse still, the longer this goes on, the more stubborn religion gets in wanting to stay here.

There may be another time again when religion is neccassary, but that time is not now.

On another note. Ever notice the inverse relationship between progress and religion. During times of hardship and when people are in the intellectual doldrums, religion becomes most powerful. As the lights go on, and people become more enlightened as to the world around them, the importance on religion declines. Then once as religion starts gaining strenght again, the lights dim.


Religion is more opposed to the "feel good" generation than it has science. I think many confuse the two.

Sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Not exactly science. Political correctness and Hollywood dub people "enlightened" because they subscribe to the "feel good now" philosophy. You're enlightened if you explore your sexuality, explore drugs, or altered states of awareness. You're enlightened if you think that woman have the right to choose (to murder unborn babies). You're more enlightened if you think being gay is cool.

Has nothing to do with science. And talk about the inverse relationship between religion and science? I think the correct observation is that in times of the masses being completely ignorant, religion is more easily abused.

Originally posted by jerejerebinks
Really?

I always thought Religion was the process of us glorifying, serving, and worshiping God.


Whered you come up with your theory???

By looking at the writings of different religions. Lets take Greece, possibly the most fitting example to prove my point. Poseidon is the God of the Sea. If you do not honor him, he will get angry and conjure up a storm to sink your ship. Why is the sky up? Because the god Atlas hold it there. Apollo brings about the sun. Aphrodiety enflames people's hearts. Vulcan (Yes i know thats the Roman name but w/e) creates the lightning we see in the sky.
That religion was invented to explain why things happened. Then philosophers and scientists came and found different ways of explaining it, and people started relying more on science.

As time went on, however, people felt the need to have religion compete with science. Thus, religion got more and more complex, especially with the inclusion of zoroastrianism. This gave religion life if you will. Not only was it a way to explain life, but it also explained death. And with that assertion that it could explain death, it had to explain itself. So now it was no longer a reference, but an entity.

Originally posted by HaVoK
So you're saying that everyone who believes in any god whatsoever is insecure? Or only those that believe in times of trouble?

My original quote said nothing about God. I only spoke of religion.
Insecurity of troubled times or situations seem to increase the numbers in religious organizations. When things are going great for people, religion is a second thought for many.

Originally posted by Evil Homer
By looking at the writings of different religions. Lets take Greece, possibly the most fitting example to prove my point. Poseidon is the God of the Sea. If you do not honor him, he will get angry and conjure up a storm to sink your ship. Why is the sky up? Because the god Atlas hold it there. Apollo brings about the sun. Aphrodiety enflames people's hearts. Vulcan (Yes i know thats the Roman name but w/e) creates the lightning we see in the sky.
That religion was invented to explain why things happened. Then philosophers and scientists came and found different ways of explaining it, and people started relying more on science.

Good example. You can also add in Native American religion.

Originally posted by Evil Homer
As time went on, however, people felt the need to have religion compete with science. Thus, religion got more and more complex, especially with the inclusion of zoroastrianism. This gave religion life if you will. Not only was it a way to explain life, but it also explained death. And with that assertion that it could explain death, it had to explain itself. So now it was no longer a reference, but an entity.


You know, to a small degree I agree with you....accept that I dont think Christianity was formed to explain anything.

One of the things the bible does, however, is explains how things happened, such as the worlds creation.

That was my point of religion competing with science to sustain itself. It moves beyond the physical world we see and touch, but rather into the world of ideas and theory.

Originally posted by jerejerebinks
You know, to a small degree I agree with you....accept[sic] that I dont[sic] think Christianity was formed to explain anything.
Actually, all religions were either created or modified in order to explain natural phenomena. Including Christianity.

Originally posted by BorgHunter
Actually, all religions were either created or modified in order to explain natural phenomena. Including Christianity.

Are you absolutely, sure of this? Do you positively know that this is the absolute truth? Are you so sure that this is the truth that you are willing to say, “anyone in the entire world that disagrees with this statement:
Actually, all religions were either created or modified in order to explain natural phenomena. Including Christianity is totally wrong.”
I ask because you seem pretty sure, and I was just wondering how you could get such absolute faith in a statement that would require you to be all knowing…like God, or at least to have been at the tomb of Jesus Christ three days after his crucifixion, and discovered that Jesus didn't rise from the dead...
How old are you?

Originally posted by stark
Are you absolutely, sure of this? Do you positively know that this is the absolute truth? Are you so sure that this is the truth that you are willing to say, “anyone in the entire world that disagrees with this statement:
Actually, all religions were either created or modified in order to explain natural phenomena. Including Christianity is totally wrong.”
I ask because you seem pretty sure, and I was just wondering how you could get such absolute faith in a statement that would require you to be all knowing…like God, or at least to have been at the tomb of Jesus Christ three days after his crucifixion, and discovered that Jesus didn't rise from the dead...
How old are you?
Merely my opinion. No need to flame. It's an unprovable statement anyway, much like religion.

Bah, more provable than religion, you can at least give numerous examples and with psychology and logic come to a strong conclusion. Well, at least one better than what religion gives.

Originally posted by BorgHunter
Merely my opinion. No need to flame. It's an unprovable statement anyway, much like religion.

Just wondering