Why do people believe in religion ?

Question

religion i believe is a lie. just thought id get that srtaght to begin with.

why do people follow religion when it is so obvious that it cannot be proven ?

Answer 1

Hope

Answer 2

People need something to believe in whether it be real or imagine

Answer 3

Here is the thing. First, as long as a religion doesn't advocate hatred, why would it be a bad thing?

Second, one person's religious experience will not translate to a scientific experiment because it can be said to reside in the subconscious. Simply because an experience cannot be tested or experienced by all people does not make it fake. So, if I had reached some sort of understanding about "God", for example, that, to me, proved the existence of some sort of higher power, I would never be able to prove it to anyone else unless they have a similar experience.

Also, think about it this way about, say, Big Bang Theory. It is plausible and has been tested, but is there any solid proof that this is the way the universe was created? Even if a theory is tested successfully on Earth, it may not apply to the universe. Humans haven't gone out of the solar system yet, so scientific predispositions are just working variables that could be replaced with ones representing a completely different theory. 2+2= 4, but 1+3=4 as well... so does 4+0.

Also think about it. There are billions of people on this planet. Each person is an individual with totally different experiences, seperate thoughts, personalities...etc. No two people are exactly the same, or they would be thinking the exact same thoughts at the exact same time. That is just as difficult to believe or fathom as religion, I'd say. But, there we have it.

I like things to be proven as well and whatever my experiences told me about the universe, I'm sure most people would not believe any of it. Scientific proof, however, ensures (I should say "tries to ensure") that people do not make up stories and false facts but can defend their claims with solid evidence.

There may be solid evidence for religion out there, but I don't have it. You'd need to look elsewhere.

Cheers mate. Hope that sort of answered why people follow religion.

Answer 4

But religion can be proven.

Live one year without religion.

Live one year with religion.

Which one was more fulfilling?

Answer 5

people want hope. they want to believe there is more to life than just... nothing. They want comfort and a purpose.

So they make there own purpose through religion.

That's just my opinion.

Answer 6

My Opinion::Like the others', HOPE...Wouldnt the world be in complete chaos if there was NO SUCH THING as religion? NOW WAIT- You cant be bias(judgemental). You have to imagine it from a diff. view (religious) because the majority of people in the world have a religion(srry, but its true). remember that everyone is not the same so step back from your view and take a look at other views. This is the only way YOU will understand why people believe in religion. Thats what sociology is...

Answer 7

I agree with Peter Berger that people are cultural creatures that need meaning. He says that people turn to religion out of existential need; it provides a sense of security and permanence during times of illness, tragedy, war, etc. Some people really fall apart without being able to explain these things. Truth, to Berger, is irrelevant when people have these personal universes of meaning to shield them from existential realities.

Religion is also reproductive - when you're taught about God from such an early age (especially in the militant manner that's so common today), you are likely to have a tendency to explain other things in life using your religion. It becomes your methodology for analysis, which shapes your worldview. To begin to see it as anything other than truth is to betray these sedimentary constructions of the way you already understand the world. It also doesn't help that many religious people are taught very incorrect things about what other people actually believe (*especially* atheists), and they're led to think of "reality" as what is in your heart rather than what exists independent of your own existence (for instance, Bob N gave the VERY common example of religious people thinking that whatever is most comforting is true). That's an education problem, though; it doesn't generalize to all religions or everyone that adheres to any religion in particular.

Despite the illusion of a cultural backlash, religion is slowly fading. 25% of people 18-25 do not affiliate themselves with a religion in the US. People are becoming better educated, and finding secular ways of explaining things more satisfying. Social functions have also become much more secularized- almost everybody goes to a trained counselor instead of a priest to talk about their problems for example. The religious component will always be there for those who need it, but as long as my worldview is being tolerated too, I don't have a problem with it.

Answer 8

Science can't disprove it either, big deal.  Doesn't mean it doesn't exist.  

Believing that I was created by someone who loves me, who wants good things for my life and will have a place for me when I die,  hhmmm, what's so wrong with that???

Answer 9

Because it cannot be disproven either.