Joe Mage

Actually the greeks and romans did, they had various gods, of which, were used ta explain the various happenings in their surroundin' environment. Or were u jus' talkin' 'bout monotheism?

I'd haveta say that Tetsanosuke hit upon a very important point and he is correct that the majority of society's behaviors and traditions find not their basis in religion, but actually in our instincts. However religion does elaborate upon these behaviors and traditions. Yet is religion unnecessary? No, for there is more ta religion than jus' reinforcement or elaboration of certain behavior. Throughout history mankind has tried ta understand his surroundings and himself; and religion has been there ta try and help explain some of his questions. It also has allowed for gatherings of various societies and to foster communication and understandin'. This has been an important aspect for growth in the various societies of the world throughout history. Religion has allowed societies, for ages, ta explore their surroundings in an effort ta understand and so thus grow. Religions attempt ta explain some of the questions that plague mankind, even ta this day. Questions that even the various sciences of the world cannot answer. This is the reason why science will never be able ta end the various belief systems of the different societies of the world. Also religions have never been the reason for war, although it has been used as an excuse. As long as mankind has personal ambition, a need for space or resources, or a difference of opinion or perspective there will b hostilities between ppl and not jus' those of various differin' societal and cultural beliefs, but even within the same belief system. Mankind is responsible for it own actions, and as Tetsanosuke himself has stated, "it's easier to blame 'the one who pulls the strings' then to blame the puppet." This statement is completely true in all aspects of this subject, not only is religion use as an excuse ta "justify" a certain culture's actions; but is also used ta "condemn" the beliefs of certain cultures as well. All cultures have differin' points of view as far as religious beliefs and the differin' "points" have been the excuse for many a conflict, however even without the institution of a certain religious doctrine; the situation of conflict would most likely b no different; for mankind would then find some other "excuse" ta create conflict.

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rematche

there will always be a religion no matter what. necessity or liability it maybe to some people it will still exist...no matter what you'll do or say it will still stay because it's a part of mankind.

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mellow maromi

You don't know that before. Sure there was always religion in the past, hundreds of different proposed gods, and such. However, back then, they didn't have the technology we have today.

Its like the egyptions. They believed the sun was god. But know we know, with science, that the sun is a massive sphere of hydrogen, burning because of the fusion that is taking place in the core. Why believe in the nonsense religion of the sun god anymore? We have science to compensate.

And same goes for everything else.

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Arrianna

Every person at some point in their life asks three questions; where did I come from, why am I here, where am I going. Religion answers those questions. If your religion doesn't answer them satisfactorily then you keep looking for one that does.

I find it very ironic that people say we don't need religion in modern times with our understanding of the rights of humanity and completely ignore that the foundation of those rights came from religion it's self. The idea of mercy in judgment is a Christian one. The unalienable rights in the Constitution were considered God given. The very belief that all men are equal originates from a religious belief that we are all gods children no matter our race or country of origin.

I would say religion is very necessary and without it the world would be a sorry place indeed.

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TetsuoShima9

About Japan. just becasue they are not religous does'nt mean they don't believe in god. Christmas for example had to come from people who had some knowlege of the Christian faith.

tsurara

Uh... except they DON'T believe in God. And they never have (excluding the small conclaves left in Nagasaki and a few more recent converts... mostly Jehovah's Witnesses).

Christmas is a commercial holiday here. It was first popularized by Department store campaigns. There is absolutely -no- religious element whatsoever in the Japanese celebration of Christmas (it isn't even a national holiday... we WORK on Christmas). It's all santa claus, presents, lovers' getaways, cake, and Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Every single advance that any Christian holiday has made in Japan is based DIRECTLY on successful marketing campaigns of businesses, shopping centers, fast food restaurants and other commercial interests.

My family is atheist and we celebrated Christmas too.

If you participate in a custom with no feeling behind it or knowledge of it's meaning: it isn't religious. It's secular.

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Abu Dhabi

but, science can't explain everything...

what about miracles? people being saved from roadsides, to find that no one is there? what about organ transfer paitients who get the memories of the organs previous donor? science can't explain how instinct is passed down from generation to generation... it's embedded in their DNA, and that's about all they can say.


look, i'm just saying that science is not absolute and it never will be. scientists still can't really prove how the earth was created or how/if evolution really even happend. hell, they don't even know what we should eat to stay healthy! they just said on the news a few weeks ago that bacon was good for your heart! and eggs, oh my goodness don't get me started... first they're good, then bad, then the white part is good, and then the yellow part is good.

anyways, just wanted to say the science can't solve everything... and in a way science is a religion it itself... the belief in a set of rules made before our time by a higher being (nature)... and their are radicals who seek to disprove everything else... sound familiar?

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katsoyori33

Religion IS needed.Me and my whole family are devout Roman Catholics.Without religion I dont know what I'd do.Is anyone with me?

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mellow maromi

Lol, to all the people who think we need religion in this modern time.


I dont need religion, and i can function just fine. I question everything, and look for my own answers.

I don't use incentives such as heaven, and negative reinforcements such as hell shape or mold my actions.

However, i still know the difference between right and wrong. I know that it is wrong to kill, and so on. In fact im probably less violent then most christians, who get enraged when anyone questions there religion, yet they deny the thousand other gods that have been proposed, and laugh at the though that the flying spaghetti monster may have created everything.

Millions of athiests can function every day and manage without leaning on a false religion for support. Countless other countries have managed for thousands of years without believing in a god, and worshiping it.


Simply put, religion is for people who cannot handle life.

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rematche

boy, you've got some nerve by simply judging people that can't handle life just because they're religious. so what if they aren't like you and they have some beliefs and ideas of what life is. you have the right then to call them inferior to exists? what are you...god?

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Joe Mage

I'm curious, could it b that it's not that they don' believe so much as that they r more lax in there beliefs? Could it b that their point of view of their religion has changed, not ta disbelief; but ta one of a different view of Budda's teachings? Martin Luther of the Roman Catholic church had differin' views of his religion from that of the Vatican when he nail his thesis upon their wall, could u b witnessing a similar transition there?


@ Mellow Maromi-- I wouldn' necessarily say that, religion isn' a cop-out for those who can' handle life; that I'm afraid is the cop-out. U say that u know "right" from "wrong," those fundamental principles r one of the foundations upon which religion and the various practices of cultures r based upon. And it's good ta question, one must answer evry question and then question evry answer, this is how one grows and learns. However it doesn' necessarily make ur "point of view" the correct one for all, it jus' makes it correct for u. U have fallen inta the same trap that many religions have fallen for, for generations, a single-minded; fervorent belief that ur "view" is absolutely the correct one and that all those who believe otherwise; can' handle life. U maybe less violent, as far as physical violence is concerned, but however I have noticed that u use beratin' wordin' upon those whose points of view differs from urs. Maybe u don' realise this, which is why I'm tryin' ta call it ta ur attention. I'm not tryin' ta tell u that ur "view" is wrong, it may very well b the correct one for u, but what I am tryin ta tell u is that the others have their "point of view" and that jus' 'cause it differs from ur own doesn' make theirs wrong either.

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