I will try to keep this as unoffensive as possible.

 

I have always thought of religion as a "beacon of faith" for people to believe in. I do not follow religion at all, or pray, or anything like that. I just know that it is there and I am sure I may be led to relying upon it when something is so dire in my life that I need something to put my faith into, something to give me strength.

 

But nothing more.

 

I go to a Catholic school so I am sort of always surrounded by religion all the time. I acknowledge it, accept it, but do not particularly follow it. We have school masses maybe once a fortnight and I understand the practice of having it there to take part in, every 2 weeks. I would never want to go anymore often because I do not learn anything but "God will help you", "God is good","Treat everyone equal","Overcome evil with good." etc. It is like a feeble attempt at a system of laws that nobody follows.

 

What I don't understand is the people that go to church, of their own free will, every week (and in some cases every day) to practice their religion. If they went and enjoyed it in the same way I did they would be extremely bored because they have been going all their life, every week and heard all the stories, all the morals before.

 

But, what I want to say is: why? what is religion good for nowadays? and why do people visit church every day to, well really, "worship"? It doesn't make sense to me.

 

Religion was used for thousands of years before now to explain the unexplainable: why is the sky blue? where did we come from? what are the stars? But science has answered almost every question that religion was created for. So why is it still around? In the form that it is.

 

I realise there are extremelely small amounts of people that still practice religion regularly, but for those who do, why?

 

If religion became obsolete and everyone accpeted it as obsolete how much more peace would there be in the world? They would stop trying to prove their religion is right or trying to force their ideals and beliefs on others.

 

People lay false hope in religion, thinking it will solve their problems, but it won't. In the words of Bender: "You can't count on God for Jack!"

 

Why do people practice religion?

 

Religion is there a sign of hope when needed. You might not believe it will help you but, by the time I end up relying on religion, there is really nowhere else to go.

 

 

A "beacon of faith" and nothing more.

First I have to say:

I'm not someone who REALLY practises religion...(I mean going to church every sunday......etc...)

but we still have religious traditions in our family and I respect them....I'm also not somebody who is against church and religion....

 

in my opinion....I would say that religion is something people can rely on....I think it is in the nature of almost every human to believe in a higher being.......in something like a God....

 

it gives people hope......some even see their sense of life in religion....

 

when I think about religion especially death comes to my mind....

I mean....if there were no religious traditions then maybe people wouldn't be buried like they would deserve it...

 

when I think about religion I always have this statement by a best friend of mine on my mind...she said when the mother of her boyfriend died:

 

"I usually do not practise religion...and I do not really believe in God....but now that she died I see a sense in religion....especially in case of death!"

 

It is like a feeble attempt at a system of laws that nobody follows.

 

But, what I want to say is: why? what is religion good for nowadays? and why do people visit church every day to, well really, "worship"? It doesn't make sense to me.

 

I realise there are extremelely small amounts of people that still practice religion regularly, but for those who do, why?

 

 

People lay false hope in religion, thinking it will solve their problems, but it won't. In the words of Bender: "You can't count on God for Jack!"

 

That first part made me chuckle! It's so true. I'm a regularly practicing Catholic. In the 20th century with the rise of era of science religion became increasingly viewed as obselete, in fact, a famous cover of 'Time' Magazine read "Is God Dead?" But in the lead up to the millenium religion experienced a revival in all the hysteria and now i think the growth of protestant churches in the USA is undeniable evidence that relgion hasn't become obselete. It seems that since the beginning of time people have always felt a need to 'worship' something greater than themselves. Some may argue that this is simply people's hope that there is something after death bla bla bla... If you ask me what religion is good for - that is like asking what is the meaning of life? So i would ask you, what is the meaning of life for you? Not to offend, but as a Catholic I believe in God and therefore I cannot simply ignore him and pretend that he doesn't exist, that would be like denying that I am human. There's some twisted logic for you. :P:)

in my opinion....I would say that religion is something people can rely on....I think it is in the nature of almost every human to believe in a higher being.......in something like a God....

 

it gives people hope......some even see their sense of life in religion....

 

when I think about religion especially death comes to my mind....

I mean....if there were no religious traditions then maybe people wouldn't be buried like they would deserve it...

 

 

I agree with you.

First I have to say I don't believe in God... It's too abstract for me... I need some real facts to believe in, and I'm not sure it will be enough...

In my opinion, religion = death cos I go to church only when someone I know dies. but when there're masses for this person, I never go in the church. This person won't be back cos there's a mass for him/her!!!

 

I'll go further than you cos I think God is here to support Human being' mistakes! Human being needed a scapegoat. God is only a scpaegoat...

erm...

i consider myself as very religious though i don't go to church.

i don't think that going to church is a proof that shows that you're religious.

however .... i do go to church, but not to worships.

i go to church to be alone and to pray and to calm down a little.

i believe that god kinda "controls" us all. i like the thought that there's someone up theres somehow.

okay, now y'all start saying:"he's not treating us all equal... and if there's a god... why are people dying in africa?" blablablabla...

i must admit that i don't know.

i went to a catholic kindergarten, but it wasn't very strict catholic. we didn't sing chants all day.

i pray every single night and i'm sure it helps me.

that's the point.

I am a christian and go to church. I find it very helpful to me. He God is always there for me and whenever something bad happens i have faith in him. I find it as something that helps me daily. We all still make mistakes though.

I have always thought of religion as a "beacon of faith" for people to believe in. I do not follow religion at all, or pray, or anything like that. I just know that it is there and I am sure I may be led to relying upon it when something is so dire in my life that I need something to put my faith into, something to give me strength.

 

But nothing more....

 

A "beacon of faith" and nothing more.

religion is just a practice. If a person practices religion just to make themselves feel happier until they die then they're not practising truth. Religion is not about being happy every moment of your life and solving every small financial/home problem you have. Religion is based on faith hope and love and for the person who practices it without those three things their religion is worthless.

it can also go the other way, a person who says they love another person but isn't willing to help them when they need help is lying.

Religion was used for thousands of years before now to explain the unexplainable: why is the sky blue? where did we come from? what are the stars? But science has answered almost every question that religion was created for. So why is it still around? In the form that it is.

science never explains where matter came from in the first place, that's impossible. Science shows how the universe is at the present time but that isn't proving that God didn't make it the way it is right now when he did. There are strong evidences to support the events in the bible, especially Jesus life and works.

Science and religion can go hand-in-hand together.Islam, for example (yes, that primitive, violent religion), stresses that people should study sciences and the like because it may help them discover how the world works and how it was created.

*deleted*

okay, now y'all start saying:"he's not treating us all equal... and if there's a god... why are people dying in africa?" blablablabla...

i must admit that i don't know.

 

*deleted*

 

there's enough food for everybody but (some) rich people are wasting it...

if you work for this life you'll be awarded in this life and if you work for the next life (if you believe the life after death of course) you'll be awarded in the other life,maybe..who knows :)

 

you know mothers/fathers sometimes let their children go out....although they know there are so many things that may happen to their child without them, parents allow their children to make mistakes so that they can learn whats wrong and whats right...

Just a sort of digression.Is it true that you get dozens of virgins in heaven?

And does it apply if you are a female?

^^i don't know, i haven't seen there yet :P

Well, in Christianity you get to spend eternity in heavens to worship God, which seems pretty dull, compared to few dozens virgins, even though that can be boring too, if it is for eternity.

science never explains where matter came from in the first place' date=' that's impossible. Science shows how the universe is at the present time but that isn't proving that God didn't make it the way it is right now when he did. There are strong evidences to support the events in the bible, especially Jesus life and works.[/quote']

 

There is evidence to support Jesus existed, not that he healed people or rose from the dead.

 

And science pretty much (although I admit, not quite) explained where matter came from.

 

 

 

A few of these responses show some light on reasons to practice religion.

 

But I am sure there are people in this world that have lived a long and healthy life without ever praying. It doesn't actually affect anything.

 

Do people really need something to "believe in" so desperately?

No it is not.

I say it's a personal choice and people live this way for reasons some won't accept or understand but we've all just got to live with it and be tolerant.