Question about religion. I would also like atheists to answer as well?

Question

Do you think that religion exists because humanity needed a way to cope and or defeat death, at least conceptually?

I base this on information I read that explains how neanderthals buried their dead. In addition to this, they also buried tools, weapons, clothing, and other things they might need for their journey. This means that neanderthals comprehended the inescapable finality of physical death.

Answer 1

I think that early humankind needed ways to try to understand the natural weather occurrences as well as other events in their lives. Then it stuck around long after a time when people should know better because being a part of something big or something special makes them feel so good.  Self righteousness is a powerful drug...it clouds the mind and blocks out reality.

Answer 2

That's what I believe, I'm atheist and thats why  I am ok with people of other religions. If everyone assumed there was no heaven or h**l we would probably be facing mass suicide.

Answer 3

Religion exists because one time this guy was really hungry and wanted some more food. So he made up god and told them that god said he could have the rest of the food and also their wives. And since you can't argue with god he became the first king. the end

Answer 4

Yes...but in addition to explaining the unexplainable.

They needed something/someone to explain horrible weather conditions, death, sickness, etc.

So in with that reasoning "Religion" served a very real purpose.

Answer 5

Religion came about as the answer to spiritual questions about the unknown but was moulded into a method of control by those in power who saw it's potential.

Religious dogma is a damned good method of controlling vast swathes of the populace. individual dogmatic promises like everlasting life are just specific controls but everlasting life ( your "defeat death" ) is the most powerful one but not the cause of religion itself.

absolute Quality ;-), Buff.

Answer 6

"If we didnt have faith in something we wouldnt have made it this far" Someone else said that in a different question.

and it is completely quote worthy

What else would anyone do with thier lives.

If you dont believe in a divine being you at least know that there is a possibility that they exist, even if you think they do not.

Do you know what I mean?

I guess I have no real answer, only to say that there would probably be way more suicide counts and way more depressed morons if we had no idea of any more life after death

Answer 7

Religion was developed as a means to control society. There is absolutely no other reason for it.

Answer 8

tip....get in touch with the entity who made the neanderthals..then you're on your way.

Answer 9

Hey there.  I am working on my Masters in Anthropology, and my main focus happens to be the similarities between and the evolution of burial practices throughout the world and the spirituality behind such practices.  I could write volumes, but I won't, so don't worry.  :-)

Man's need for gods extends far beyond his need to grapple with death.  Man first invented gods to explain the natural phenomena that occurs in the universe for which they had no scientific explanation.  The first gods ruled the weather, the rotation of planets, fertility, tidal waves, etc., etc.  Inherent in this is the cycle of birth and death as witnessed by the most primitive of men.  Of course the afterlife plays a huge rule in this.  But it was not the foundational reason for inventing god to begin with.  

Answer 10

Two main reasons:

1) Fear of death

2) Social Control

Answer 11

Sounds 2 me like your mind is already made up. Most of us "religious" folks have realized there is a greater power at work in nature/universe that knows far more than man does.  This"power" would certainly have a greater knowledge than us, and would HAVE 2 posess greater love capabilities than we are capable. Kinda like the sci-fi notion of alian worship, try reading the bible, and see if your concept of "all things" doesn't change your life, at least you'll have a better understanding of the so called religious world you are trying 2 condemn.

Answer 12

Got it in one!

Answer 13

Yes, I think a huge part of religion is that its in our survival instinct to fear and reject death. Religion helps many people quell their fears of not being immortal. I think it also has other psychological appeals though. It helps people explain difficult questions in simplistic and psychologically appealing ways. It gives people a sense of power over things and events that otherwise seem uncontrollable, or at least helps them feel they can call on a greater power that will come help them. It provides for some people a community and in some groups the social aspect generates great allegiance to ideas that might not otherwise pass a sniff test. Just a few examples. I think it also has some very negative consequences as well though and that at least some of these psychological benefits can be achieve through other outlets or means.

Answer 14

Everyone wants to think that there is something later in life.... that life doesn't REALLY end.  And so YES I do believe that many religions were created for this very reason.  

Answer 15

Why it exists, No. Religion (and I know this is just one definition of many) is defined as "the feeling of awe one experiences in the presence of the sacred or the divine".  As such, it does not equate with a coping mechanism.  

Answer 16

Of Course and remember people died earlier in the old days so they dealt with death on a regular basis

Answer 17

Religion was the original science, trying to explain things that (at the time) had no explanation.  It now has a well established bureaucracy that is much less interested in truth than maintaining control.

Answer 18

Yeah. It was also used as a shortcut to explain things that they didn't understand, and to control what people do. It also justified their actions, most of which were killing people.

Answer 19

Alan Watts once explained it that religion is a ferry through or over one part of life.  Clergy are ferrymen.  Some people like to hang out at the ferry because they think it's cool or because the ferryman is lonely and can use people to clean the boats hull or oil the engine or whatever.  They're addicted to that experience in a sense.  Most people just take the ferry when they need it and continue their journey once past the river.

Answer 20

I think that is one large piece of it. Also the need to explain 'miraculous coincidences' and to give people something to do in the midst of bad times so that it feels as if they have some control. Plus, we all like a good potluck.  

Answer 21

I think religion is a primitive form of government.

Prior to monarchal governments, people were self-governed by a series of ideologies that could gauge their behavior. If you look at mayan and other ancient cultures it really shows that there is a very important governing part of religion, but it is no longer necessary because of our current systems, so now religions only exist as antiquated relics in the form of superstition.

Answer 22

That's my belief. Gods are created to explain the unknown and make people feel better about it. Death & the source of life are still the only really unknowns left...

Answer 23

Absolutely.

Additionally, there is evidence that points to the idea that our brains may be hard wired to predispose us to believing in "unseen entities" that explain events that are otherwise unexplained (such as terrible things happening to a primitive tribe - like an avalanche wiping out half their numbers, or a virus killing several of their numbers).  Having an idea of an 'unseen spirit or cause' helped them to cope with events such as these.  There you have the beginnings of religion and belief in a 'GOD'.