Why are there religious people?

[Ana the Ist]

I stopped answering because I assumed I was being trolled at this point.

Hard to tell sometimes, right?

 

[GrimKingGrim]

Hard to tell sometimes, right?

It is! But only here because you never know who's actually serious! At least Youtubers play it straight...

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Many intellectuals of yesteryear used to predict that as western culture became more educated and more intelligent that religion would die off - especially Christianity. The assumption was that there were religious people because of a lack of education and low intelligence.

But they were wrong. All of these predictions have always been wrong.

Dan Dennett recently published an interesting piece on this very topic: Why the Future of Religion Is Bleak - WSJ

There are equally brilliant, educated, and intelligent people who are both atheists and religious. The difference doesn't seem to be one of education or intelligence. So what is the difference?

Why are there religious people? Christianity has an answer, but what's the secular answer?

I don't think anyone denies that a person can be educated and still be religious.

 

[Tree of Life]

Not entirely... but that's one factor...

It would certainly help if you chose a specific religion to talk about here. Different religions perpetuate themselves through different methods. Many of them have much in common...but as soon as I get too specific about one you'll be able to point to another which may not apply to the point I was making.

You don't need a specific denomination... just pick a religion.

Christianity.

 

[durangodawood]

Religion is still around because it can satisfy some very important human needs.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Surprised that I just need to literally say it. The reason Atheists are able to accept reality much more than a religious person is because we're not confused on the cause of everything happening. We don't first try to determine if the cause of anything was first supernatural or not because the supernatural to us is just implausible. So in turn we are able to accept reality for what it is and are not confused on what it is.

You are arrogantly taking possession of the concepts of plausibility and reality. That's the problem with you atheists, you walk in and think you own the place.

 

[GrimKingGrim]

You are arrogantly taking possession of the concepts of plausibility and reality. That's the problem with you atheists, you walk in and think you own the place.

So you don't think supernatural is a possibility?

 

[seekingsolace]

Religion will always pervade because general revelation is apparent to all those who don't reject it.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

So you don't think supernatural is a possibility?

The 'reality' being spoken of is supernatural. There is no other 'plausible' cause.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Religion will always pervade because general revelation is apparent to all those who don't reject it.

What do you mean by 'general revelation'?

 

[GrimKingGrim]

The 'reality' being spoken of is supernatural. There is no other 'plausible' cause.

So my point is proven here.

 

[Ana the Ist]

What do you mean by 'general revelation'?

You know, it's a couple steps up the ladder from major revelation.

 

[bhsmte]

Many intellectuals of yesteryear used to predict that as western culture became more educated and more intelligent that religion would die off - especially Christianity. The assumption was that there were religious people because of a lack of education and low intelligence.

But they were wrong. All of these predictions have always been wrong.

There are equally brilliant, educated, and intelligent people who are both atheists and religious. The difference doesn't seem to be one of education or intelligence. So what is the difference?

Why are there religious people? Christianity has an answer, but what's the secular answer?

Belief in a God and the religion that goes along with it, is part of how our psychology has evolved and it serves a legitimate psychological purpose, in some people, depending on their own personal psyche.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-big-questions/201202/five-causes-belief-in-god

To address your other point. Yes, there are very intelligent people who are religious and believe in God, no question. Intelligent people have personal psyches as well, with their own unique psychological needs.

Also, their is in fact a strong correlation between advanced education and less belief in Gods. In fact, the nations with the lowest levels of quality of life and education, tend to have the highest religious populations, while the nations with higher standards of living and education, have lower beliefs in God and religion.

Lastly, Christianity the world over, has been steadily declining for decades.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

Why are there religious people? Christianity has an answer, but what's the secular answer?

Because death is scary, and not fully understood.

Not sure if that's the answer, but that's my answer.

 

[Ana the Ist]

Christianity.

In the case of Christianity specifically, I think it's creators have done a masterful job of designing it to be self perpetuating.

Like other religions, it has the aspect of indoctrination at an early age. The earlier the age the better...but right off the bat even the youngest children learn about submission when going to church. They learn to sit quietly, behave, and to repeat the words they're told to repeat even if they don't fully understand the meaning behind them yet. Religious symbols like the cross and Jesus himself, hands folded in prayer, the eucharist, etc....these are all undoubtedly making a strong impression on young minds.

Christianity almost immediately begins to create an "in- group" mentality from the start. Stories like the biblical flood, Sodom, etc paint a picture of a world that is being swallowed whole by evil men with their evil/unchristian beliefs. You're told repeatedly that you don't want to be a part of that world...you want to focus on god and be a part of this in-group. You're told that anything good in the world comes from god...indeed, even the notion of good comes from god...so if you don't want to fall into the world of evil, you've got to stay in the group. These messages are repeated over and over many different ways until you believe that the only way to be good (to get to heaven) is to be part of the in- group.

To further reinforce this in- group mentality, tales of persecution and fear will get added to the overall message. The world will hate you, since its evil and you're good, and they will try to destroy you and the in- group. The message will be tailored to appeal to the people who are most vulnerable...the sick, poor, meek , humble, the persecuted. People who could use some help at a difficult time in their lives will be targeted by christianity for conversion. It's appealing to be told you're doing awful in life because you're good and the world is evil. The only reason your life was falling apart is because you weren't part of the in- group and without them...you're one of the evil people in the world.

This is the sort of message (and it's only part of that message) that ropes in the weak and vulnerable, keeps the indoctrinated in line, and perpetuates itself all at the same time. It's these elements, I believe, that are a big part of why religion is still around.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Many intellectuals of yesteryear used to predict that as western culture became more educated and more intelligent that religion would die off - especially Christianity. The assumption was that there were religious people because of a lack of education and low intelligence.

But they were wrong. All of these predictions have always been wrong.

There are equally brilliant, educated, and intelligent people who are both atheists and religious. The difference doesn't seem to be one of education or intelligence. So what is the difference?

Why are there religious people? Christianity has an answer, but what's the secular answer?

Maybe it's because religion promises to the poor, under-served, uneducated masses that they can have something better, if they'll just follow the religious creed. Of course, similar kinds of optimism involving economic opportunity, material acquisition, and technological enhancement are also present in Western, Secularized Culture, whether Capitalistic or Socialistic.

Maybe there's just a whole lot of wishful thinking going around...

 

[juvenissun]

Many intellectuals of yesteryear used to predict that as western culture became more educated and more intelligent that religion would die off - especially Christianity. The assumption was that there were religious people because of a lack of education and low intelligence.

But they were wrong. All of these predictions have always been wrong.

There are equally brilliant, educated, and intelligent people who are both atheists and religious. The difference doesn't seem to be one of education or intelligence. So what is the difference?

Why are there religious people? Christianity has an answer, but what's the secular answer?

Simple, science is a very lousy system. It can not satisfy the human needs.

So, the question becomes: Why would human want so much? What does human really want (so he will stop searching God)?

Yes, again, Christianity has a perfect answer to that.

 

[juvenissun]

Because death is scary, and not fully understood.

Not sure if that's the answer, but that's my answer.

You do not understand death? I thought atheists do understand death very well.

So, you are not an atheist?

It is very very critical. Once you start to suspect there might still be something going on after death, then, logically, you DO mean that the existence of God is possible.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

Maybe it's because religion promises to the poor, under-served, uneducated masses that they can have something better, if they'll just follow the religious creed. Of course, similar kinds of optimism involving economic opportunity, material acquisition, and technological enhancement are also present in Western, Secularized Culture, whether Capitalistic or Socialistic.

Maybe there's just a whole lot of wishful thinking going around...

Which view is actually making good on its promises?

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Which view is actually making good on its promises?

Oh...I suppose its the one that has been granted power to do so.