Why has religion survived?

aracanid · Visitor Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 22 Local time: 2:50 AM

fermanagh, a county in Northern ireland. Enniskillen is the main town and where all the grammar schools are located(4) the main secondary schools are also here but there are a few secondary schools scattered around fermanagh( a few bigger towns may have secondary schools(some are mixed religions but are to far away from me to attend)
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BarkAtTheMoon · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 2:22 pm Post subject:

Newman · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 2:34 pm Post subject:

Jutter · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 2:50 pm Post subject:

Hey, if you want to live as though we humans need to get along with each other, instead of living as though we need to get along with some 'god', that's fine by me, and dare I say most people here.

I don't see why you'd bother mucking about with Christianity if you did, but nonetheless be our guest.
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Newman · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 2:56 pm Post subject:

PJS · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 2:59 pm Post subject:

Religion survives because ,for many, it delivers the goods. It gives those who accept the mythology many benefits. Psychological benefits, social support networks, the emotional comfort of rituals, and preexisting ethical systems to name a few. Of course many of these have a downside, or at least come at a price. Secular sources can provide some of the same benefits but the whole package is not already in place to the same degree as with religion.

The benefits of a supportive community are many. These need not be religious in nature but religions can provide for strong cohesion.
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Verum · Visitor Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 13 Local time: 9:50 PM

How do you guys do this all the time? Wouldn't you rather take a little extra time, put in some thought, spell more accurately, and more to the point, stay on point.

Anyone who did address the question, thank you.

What function does religion serve in modern society? Why has something so archaic managed to survive so long.
Obviously I pre-suppose that there is no god. My senses tell me this. I see, feel, nor hear any evidence for a god of any kind.

1. Is it a tool of the few, that helps to control the masses?

I would say "Not anymore. We ran out of room on the planet. Too many religions bumping into each other. Unless the goal is endless bickering and conflict, wars and the deaths of millions, if not billions."
(I guess my answer could be "Possibly... based on some conspiracy theories, whose goals supposedly include a massive de-population of the Earth.")

2. Is it a device for people to relieve themselves of guilt?

Perhaps, but if we were smart, couldn't we shed ourselves of religion, and short cut our way out of this dilemma. Religion is the cause of many of the horrible(evil?) things that men do. If we could eliminate religion, then we could collectively establish a new humanist morality, based on what is good for the survival of the species.

If you read passages like the following enough, it's seems possible to me that your psyche becomes hardened to bloodshed, and if you can convince yourself that you are acting on behalf of your vengeful god, you could commit genocide easily.

"You Ethiopians will also be slaughtered by my sword," says the LORD. And the LORD will strike the lands of the north with his fist. He will destroy Assyria and make its great capital, Nineveh, a desolate wasteland, parched like a desert. The city that once was so proud will become a pasture for sheep and cattle. All sorts of wild animals will settle there. Owls of many kinds will live among the ruins of its palaces, hooting from the gaping windows. Rubble will block all the doorways, and the cedar paneling will lie open to the wind and weather. This is the fate of that boisterous city, once so secure. "In all the world there is no city as great as I," it boasted. But now, look how it has become an utter ruin, a place where animals live! Everyone passing that way will laugh in derision or shake a defiant fist. (Zephaniah 2:12-15 NLT)

"I will sweep away everything in all your land," says the LORD. "I will sweep away both people and animals alike. Even the birds of the air and the fish in the sea will die. I will reduce the wicked to heaps of rubble, along with the rest of humanity," says the LORD. "I will crush Judah and Jerusalem with my fist and destroy every last trace of their Baal worship. I will put an end to all the idolatrous priests, so that even the memory of them will disappear. For they go up to their roofs and bow to the sun, moon, and stars. They claim to follow the LORD, but then they worship Molech, too. So now I will destroy them! And I will destroy those who used to worship me but now no longer do. They no longer ask for the LORD's guidance or seek my blessings." (Zephaniah 1:2-6 NLT)

Meanwhile, Sisera ran to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because Heber's family was on friendly terms with King Jabin of Hazor. Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, "Come into my tent, sir. Come in. Don't be afraid." So he went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket. "Please give me some water," he said. "I'm thirsty." So she gave him some milk to drink and covered him again. "Stand at the door of the tent," he told her. "If anybody comes and asks you if there is anyone here, say no." But when Sisera fell asleep from exhaustion, Jael quietly crept up to him with a hammer and tent peg. Then she drove the tent peg through his temple and into the ground, and so he died. When Barak came looking for Sisera, Jael went out to meet him. She said, "Come, and I will show you the man you are looking for." So he followed her into the tent and found Sisera lying there dead, with the tent peg through his temple. So on that day Israel saw God subdue Jabin, the Canaanite king. And from that time on Israel became stronger and stronger against King Jabin, until they finally destroyed him. (Judges 4:17-24 NLT)

The tribe of Benjamin, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live in Jerusalem among the people of Benjamin. The descendants of Joseph attacked the town of Bethel, and the LORD was with them. They sent spies to Bethel (formerly known as Luz), who confronted a man coming out of the city. They said to him, "Show us a way into the city, and we will have mercy on you." So he showed them a way in, and they killed everyone in the city except for this man and his family. Later the man moved to the land of the Hittites, where he built a city. He named the city Luz, and it is known by that name to this day. The tribe of Manasseh failed to drive out the people living in Beth-shan, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and their surrounding villages, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in that region.
When the Israelites grew stronger, they forced the Canaanites to work as slaves, but they never did drive them out of the land. The tribe of Ephraim also failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, and so the Canaanites continued to live there among them. The tribe of Zebulun also failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Kitron and Nahalol, who continued to live among them. But they forced them to work as slaves. The tribe of Asher also failed to drive out the residents of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Aczib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob. In fact, because they did not drive them out, the Canaanites dominated the land where the people of Asher lived. The tribe of Naphtali also failed to drive out the residents of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath. Instead, the Canaanites dominated the land where they lived. Nevertheless, the people of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath were sometimes forced to work as slaves for the people of Naphtali. As for the tribe of Dan, the Amorites forced them into the hill country and would not let them come down into the plains. The Amorites were determined to stay in Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim, but when the descendants of Joseph became stronger, they forced the Amorites to work as slaves. (Judges 1:21-35 NLT)
{This last one was notable in that it condones not only genocide, but enslavement}

So I ask again, why has religion survived so long?
What purpose does it continue to serve?
Could we ever dispose of it, and if we did, could that be a catalyst for a leap in evolution?

Sincerely, Verum
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Moloth · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 3:33 pm Post subject:

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Last edited by Moloth on Tue Feb 30, 2026 13:61 am; edited 426 times in total

Verum · Visitor Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 13 Local time: 9:50 PM

Moloth,

I recognize you as one of the resident incendiaries of this board. However, may I request that you at least complete your question?

"What the fuck was (what?)"

Sincerely, Verum
_________________
Nil homini certum est
Nothing is certain to man

"It is arrogance to profess knowledge of that which cannot be known"

aracanid · Visitor Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 22 Local time: 2:50 AM

i dont know if a leap in evolution is an accurate thought but mentally maybe. Im sure if you check again religion is usually a front to other means. It is used to cover up alternative motives etc, although this is not always the case for example hitler and the jews, he just didnt like them and one of the main reasons for ww2 was the jews. On the other hand you have catholics versus protestants in ireland, which was originally a war for extra land for the english empire soon was covered in sectarianism.

@verum, i believe he was referring to your extract from the bible.
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Moloth · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 4:05 pm Post subject:

yay! i'm an incendiary!

MMM!! mmfmmfmf! MM M mmmMMmm Ff!!!

Laughing

sorry.. just blowing off some steam..

the reason religion survives is that because, as far as memes go, it has a very strong 'survival instinct'.

it is mandatory that you BE your religion, or you are punished, in this life and/or the next. not only that it is encouraged that you have children.. but that will believe the religion and then pass that meme down to the next generation, ad naseum.

when the religion is attacked, it defends itself through violence, calls of intolerance, outright lies and enforced ignorance of the truth (which is that religion is not true).

its like the common cold... its robust, it mutates quickly, its spreads like wildfire and it replicates in various ways.

it is, indeed, a mind virus.
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Last edited by Moloth on Tue Feb 30, 2026 13:61 am; edited 426 times in total

aracanid · Visitor Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 22 Local time: 2:50 AM

I agree with moloth totally
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Verum · Visitor Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 13 Local time: 9:50 PM

I like the comparison to a "mind virus". And thank you for the clarification.

What could the cure be?
(edit) Obviously, knowledge would be key. A better educational system. Establishing a foundation of critical thought and understanding of the scientific method. But I think even more important would be reinforcing compassion separate from spirituality.

And regarding the Biblical passages, I thought they were good examples of horrible acts supposedly committed in the name of religion, or "God". Simply trying to expound on the idea of religion as a salve for guilt.

Sincerely, Verum
_________________
Nil homini certum est
Nothing is certain to man

"It is arrogance to profess knowledge of that which cannot be known"

Moloth · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 4:40 pm Post subject:

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