What is the benefit of religion? What use does it have in helping a person realize his or her own spirituality?
I would say it gives oneself some kind of hope for anything you need. It's a psychological system that helps the people who cannot and do not understand how to deal with certain things in life. It is much easier to believe that there is something BEYOND, that there is some kind of special meaning to life. That there is a God that created us. That there is life after death. That there is actually a physical place, to where people who have died go to.
What certain things in life can I not deal with? I can understand how many people would be in this category. How would you fit me in there? Col
Do you have no sense of spirituality? In other words, do you not feel that there is something intrinsic out there greater then the individual existence?
we don't "need" religion but people created it to explain the things they don't understand. Religion is also a good a good way of controlling the masses ("don't do that, you'll burn forever").
We, the Illuminati, need it to control the feeble minded masses for our ultimate plan of total world dominance and maintaining our lizard men food source - babies. Fried babies. Muhuhahahaha. /Sarcasm We don't need it.
As i personally don't know you Col, i cannot say exactly what certain things in life you cannot deal with (without believing in God, that is). To each his own. Nop, i do not have sense of spirituality. I can get quite skeptical about these things. Furthermore, i don't feel i require a sense of spirituality to rely on. I think this is another excuse to escape reality and strengthen yourself mentally that way. I do not, however, erase the possibility of a greater power somewhere out there.
Religion was the foundation upon which society as we know it today was built and still in some part holds together. Now if we can just figure out how to be good to each other and remain civilized without needing to believe in imaginary friends we'll have it made.
However, i can honestly say my first impression of you is an overall very nice and warm hearted person, despite that i disagree with you on things. I very much respect the fact that you never flip out on a member in a debate, and always keep it civil - even if the other person doesn't. I know i'm not like that, anyway
If we look at the results of religion around the world and throughout history, we would have to be VERY sceptical about it having any benefits at all. Nevertheless many people take great comfort in their rituals and religious practices, and will go to their death (or someone else's) to defend it. However, we need to ask ourselves if what we practice has God's approval. Jesus said we would be able to tell the difference between true and false religion "by their fruits" (Matthew 6:16-23). What sort of fruitage should true religion have? There we should see many benefits to those who practise it.
It helps some people to lead better lives. On the same token, it helps evil people justify their evilness. It goes both ways. All said and done, we would probably be better off without it IMO