How's this for a theory?

Question

There's a HUGE debate as to why religion exists. The answer? Religion exists because non-theists create tools to prove that religious beliefs are false. Confused? It's a challenge to the normal way that we view things, which leads to improvements in science a.k.a. "tools".

Answer 1

Religion was created so we would have a simple answer for everything. People wanted answers to questions of origin whether it be the Earth, the universe, or humans themselves. So primitive man came up with a simple answer. Gods. "God" came later on. Ancients associated nature with gods so they would understand why things happen. When Christianity was created, the problem of remembering which god did which went away... now everything had a simple answer. Who created the universe? God. Who created man? God. Who created Earth? God. This was before the birth of science which gives the answers. Now Christians seem to accept both God and science, and regard the Bible as a book of tall tales instead of proof on how the universe was created.

Some Christians believe in the big bang and evolution. They say God started the big bang, and that God first planted micro-organisms on Earth so they could evolve into humans. Seeing as there is proof in not only the big bang, but also evolution, there is no reason why they shouldn't accept these scenarios.

At first, science owed a debt to religion... if it wasn't for religion, people would never question it, leading to the invention of science. But now religion is science's greatest enemies. People disregard pure fact because they hold onto certain strict religious values.

Personally, I'm an atheist because I go by the evidence and the proof. And so far, I have yet to see any evidence of an intelligent being, yet there is an overwhelming amount of evidence supporting the big bang and the theory of evolution. But that doesn't mean people can't believe in both God and the big bang and evolution... its not impossible... my best friend goes to church every Sunday and we discuss the big bang and evolution all the time.

Answer 2

I'll give you a point toward Judaism..

Answer 3

You have an interesting point but I disagree!

I think to look at religion only as a drive for improvement is superficial and incoherent. It brings us back to a problem that science hasn't solved but religion has - purposelessness. Is improvement above everything and the sole purpose of everything? What about people who are bad at improving or think that improvement is bad? Aren't they part of this world? Should we just get rid of them? That's what Nazies tried to do.

Religion does lead to improvement but that's definitely not its sole purpose!

Answer 4

Some would argue that it's a primal need for immortality, but I for one find it funny that the greatest scientists were actually very spiritual men... Such as Einstein. (One writer asked him why he wrote and thought about the things he did and his answer was simple. "I'm seeking the face of God.")