Reasoning For Religion Today?
I got to thinking ealier about the origin of various religions, so I decided to do a google search. I was curious as to the origins of various religions from Buddhism, Paganism, Islam, Christianity, the Greek religions, or any others. Some I already knew but I was curious to see other views on it. A section in the very first link I came across caught my eye and my focus immediately switched.
The link covers science and faith based religious overviews, the evolution of religions, and religion today. This is not all fact, just a theory. I happened to find it quite interesting. The portion that caught my eye is as follows.
Religions today:
Some observers believe that the main function of religions today is to provide their followers with a feeling of security.
John Shelby Spong, retired bishop of the Episcopal Church, USA has written:
“Religion is primarily a search for security and not a search for truth. Religion is what we so often use to bank the fires of our anxiety. That is why religion tends toward becoming excessive, neurotic, controlling and even evil. That is why a religious government is always a cruel government. People need to understand that questioning and doubting are healthy, human activities to be encouraged not to be feared. Certainly is a vice not a virtue. Insecurity is something to be grasped and treasured. A true and healthy religious system will encourage each of these activities. A sick and fearful religious system will seek to remove them.”
David C. James, rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church & Diocesan Mission Center in Olympia, WA, wrote:
Many times when we think we are worshipping God, we are actually comforting our very fragile egos. I’m not so naïve as to assume that we build temple and erect altars to ourselves…directly. But our core need to been safe, secure and sound mandates that we construct reality systems that will support us.
I do agree with that to an extent. There are many people that convert to various religions either looking for something to believe in, a system to help them guide their life, assurance of salvation, fear, or various other reasons. Many Americans (as an example) convert to Islam from Christianity not only out of belief, but because they want a strict set of rules to govern their lives, and they conform to the strictest views of Islam.
Sometimes I do think that religion was created to keep people in line, to give them something to believe in, or as a feeble attempt to conquer the world, but then again, what is a belief without faith? I may occasionally think these things, or read various opinions about them, but I do have faith, and that is why I continue to believe.
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I’ve found that a good start when talking comparative religion with friends is C.S. Lewis’ observations; they’re only a start, but not too bad a start at that.
I have a friend who’s getting a Ph.D. in a similar subject. Apparently you can get as shallow or as deep as you’d like thinking about it, eh?
Thanks for the comment Chap! I’ll look into the C.S. Lewis piece. Always interested in another point-of-view/perspective/opinion.
I’m in 100% agreement with the “shallow or deep” comment. I prefer to stay in the shallow end of the pool but occasionally wade in further. Unfortunately, heated religious arguments seem to devolve into the participants putting on more of a verbal boxing match then a battle of wits.