What purpose does religion serve?

Ignoring the question of whether any religion is right, does religion benefit society? If so, how?

(Please be wary of directly insulting atheists in this thread, although the question invites a certain amount of criticism.)

That's Feo . . . He's a disgusting, mysoginistic, paedophilic asshat who moonlights as a shitty writer—Something Awful

Police sex lives and keep everybody docile workers. Which is healthy for some parts of society.

I'm a skeptical squirrel

Offers spiritual fullfillment, and that's it. Otherwise, it lost its fundamental role, and created new niches as excuses for evil.

This is why I preffer Left Path religions; they are applied to the individual alone, and do not meddle with society.

A single phrase renders Christianity a delusional cult

Hey, if you look at some of the health regulations the Jews did it made them prevent doing stuff that would have spread diseases.With all those regulations God made it was made for the Jews to stand out from other people.Also the law was held accountable for all people no class favor heck David got busted for abusing his power of king to hide his sin.

Because it's optimistic to hope there's something else after we die. Not being religious is kind of like adamantly assuming that there is no life anywhere else in our universe—it's logical, but there's no shame in rejecting such a notion.

And for the record (OP), the religious are attacked far more often the atheists while on the internet.

They never travel alone.

To explain things about the world around them that are otherwise not understood, and, coming from that faith in the explanation, to attempt to regulate "immoral" behavior...

I think the concept of god(s) ultimately comes down to answering human loneliness. We are social creatures that crave independence at the same time. Back in the day, when you were alone, you were free, but effectively didn't exist. With (a) god(s), you always had "someone" with you. Like an imaginary friend that might end up being real...

I am now known as Flyboy.

That's because 90% of the internet population really likes to believe they're cynical bastards.

@OP: The primary contribution of religion to society is moral; it gives us a set of rules by which to live, rules that are not easily covered by law or government. And despite my personal view of organized religion, I have to admit this is a good thing. Society could not function if everyone had a different idea of "good" and "evil".

Put simply, it isn't the Word that matters but our allegiance to it, and our agreement to follow it.

If I were to write some of the strange things that come under my eyes they would not be believed. ~Cora M. Strayer~

Happiness and well being generally. Some people are happier believing in something like that or having rules to follow like that. The sense of togetherness that many religious communities hold are also comforting to many. It's a great feeling when you feel like part of a family at church or whatever.

Theoretically they offer a sort of moral and ethical control as well. Every religion has its little rules and such which generally sum up to "DON'T BE A FUCKING DOUCHE". Though of course in practice this doesn't always work out, but that's more a problem with humanity in general as a species than religion. Even without religion we'd be killing people over stupid shit. Because human psychology is a bitch and we're sadly stuck with it.

It also offers to some "truth". Which is related to that well being thing. There may or may not be truth in seeing fairies and gods. Either way it offers an explanation to these things that they feel is true.

Some religions like Buddhism also provide what is essentially free therapy and self-help. You can go to a wat and talk to a monk if you're having troubles. They'll listen to you and offer you advice and things to work on. And they'll keep offering you this. Because that's something they have to do. It's part of how they repay the laity for supporting them. They act as free therapists and teachers.

Hell some religious texts can amount to self help books. The Tipitaka is essentially one giant self-help book on how to not be miserable and stupid.

Now some will say "But I can get that elsewhere...". Yes. Yes you can. And you are. Just as people like myself are getting these things out of religion. It's just fine and dandy. There are many paths through life and many paths to happiness.

So. Don't be a huge dick. Some people are religious. That's fine. Some people aren't. That's fine. We can all get along and work towards a better tomorrow.

edited 1st Sep '11 5:31:19 PM by Aondeug

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah

Everybody already has a different idea of good and evil. We just happen to broadly agree in large enough groups that it comes down to power blocs instead of individual infighting. The magic of society at work—including religion, mind you. I like to think of religion, sometimes, as a Weird Trade Union for people with the same morals, and with god as a justification...

I am now known as Flyboy.

Also some really neat art. Sure you can have neat art without religion, but try prying religion away from Hiroyuki Takei's Shaman King and Butsu Zone. It doesn't work. They're glorious fun and part of it is because of religion.

Some really pretty music too...

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah

Sometimes, when someone can't believe in herself, and doesn't has someone that believes in her to believe in, she uses religion. when you're hanging, any kind of support will be of help

Become the fang for those who have none! Help FanserviceFTW!

Religions provide ethics, social groups, fulfills spiritual needs, can be an easy source of emotional support, etc…

I’m not going to argue one could fulfill some of those from other sources, but that effort it would take to do so is a lot higher than say, “joining a community”.

Religious groups often times be start or organize large charity organizations the help the world, as well.

edited 1st Sep '11 5:44:32 PM by Justice4243

Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers.Proverbs21:15 FimFiction account.

Religion used to exist as a means of explaining the uinverse - we have science for that.

Religion was also used to for people to hold onto power (not all) - that's dead.

Religion justified fighting other people - we find other cases now.

Really, it's outdated now. We shouldn't need religion to be good people.

edited 1st Sep '11 5:49:45 PM by Erock

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.

We shouldn't need anything to be good people.

Now please do not consider my faith out of date. People are different.

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah

Buhhdism is the one religion I consider still relevant, actually. Because what it retricts isn't already done by law and/or unresaonable.

edited 1st Sep '11 5:52:30 PM by Erock

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.

The philosophical arguments for ethics are far from perfect; they don’t exactly terminate in anything that would constitute a “flawless proof”. They work if one doesn’t think on them too much, but they’re far from perfect.

...I don't think you know a lot about what Buddhism restricts. It has issues pretty similarly to Christianity.

edited 1st Sep '11 5:54:41 PM by Justice4243

Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers.Proverbs21:15 FimFiction account.

I do believe its sin that makes people evil and the refusal to admit their sins.Yeah,that's the biggest problems us Chrsitans has a hard time doing as well.Christianity was made for the sinners who came to be healed spiritually and to have a relationship with God,Jesus,and the Holy Spririt.Its sin that is the root of the misery in humanity.

Then change it to don't consider religion outdated. It's not. It's just not for you.

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah

@Justice: There are uniqe parts of Buhhdism, and those are the ones I like.

@Aon: Alright, I'm with the OP: I just don't see the point when we can explain almost everything.

edited 1st Sep '11 5:59:53 PM by Erock

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.

Then you don't. Whoo.

And explain almost everything? Right. As far as I am concerned we know fuck all. There is still much, much more to learn.

edited 1st Sep '11 5:59:44 PM by Aondeug

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah

Science explains the material world while relgion explains the spiritual world.

I should add that thinking science has adequately explained the universe is a pretty bad attitude to have considering there's just so much we don't know and assuming it's enough that we can start dismissing beliefs left and right is pretty irresponsible.

Science's job is to observe and explain, disproving only comes if the facts contradict competing hypothesis.

(Not directed at the post above)

edited 1st Sep '11 6:00:07 PM by Justice4243

Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers.Proverbs21:15 FimFiction account.

@Aon: fair enough, actually.

What spiritual world?

Science moves on, we are still learning today.

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.

I'm of the opinion that we can use science to explain the spiritual world as well, but then my beliefs may be unorthodox...

Though my belief in gods and such isn't unorthodox in the realm of my actual religion. Now to most Westerners it is...

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah

Yes, it's suppose to do that. It's not designed so we can assume that all things we don't know will eventually be solved by it and we can start writing off questions of the universe as "answered"

It's that kind of thinking that got us saddled with space ether and terrestrial explanations for tides.

edited 1st Sep '11 6:03:00 PM by Justice4243

Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers.Proverbs21:15 FimFiction account.