The Purpose of Religion

Yeah, I keep hearing Republican Christians say this. In fact, I hear Republican Christians say many many things regularly that turn out to be completely false.

Greedy non-Christians? That a trick question?

 

I grew up in a Christian household and community. Out of all of them, I am probably the only one who TRULY saw the light.

 

To spread Hope throughout the world.

 

I'd really hate to have to delete one of my own posts so please quit posting such wonderful setups.

 

wow, pretty deep.

i tend to think of religions as being sort of like biological entities. as such, the first purpose of religion is to spread itself. the strategies vary, but mostly it's about giving people a sense of belonging to a community so that they defend that community from aggressors at the same time as trying to persuade others to join them (some more than others).

and as far as the sense of community goes, the idea is to make people feel safe and secure so they can concentrate on the business of contributing to society instead of having to be paranoid about people stealing their shit or killing them. i think the whole point of answering the deep, deep questions about life serves two purposes -- one, it lets people feel like there aren't any loose ends to life so they can concentrate on being productive members of society (and not just sitting around thinking abstract thoughts all day) and two, it helps to support the idea that the religion itself is worth protecting (see above) because it's got the truth that no other religion does -- it kind of creates its own authority this way.

or something like that...

 

And yet the Christian population seems to be carrying the "bulk" of helping people, both here and overseas. Every day I see organizations FEEDING, CLOTHING, sheltering, finding jobs for the underprivledged. But you go ahead and berate them.

 

Religion is a backup for those who need it to cope with and excel in life.
If life gets tough, you fall back on the idea that something's got your back.

In basketball terms, if you get beat out on the perimeter by a speedy sin , God/Allah/Buddah/Qetzlqotel/Shiva will be in the lane to knock that shit into the 4th row.

 

It's certainly not just a Christian thing. There's all kinds of groups who provide assistance to whoever. For example, the Red Crescent ( Muslim version of Red Cross).

 

If you are a drug dealer selling pollution to kids on the church corner during the week, the fact that you put $5 into a collection plate at the church on Sunday morning to essentially make yourself feel good still doesn't change what you are.