Why has religion retained its appeal?

[phil752 10]

Why has religion retained its appeal through the ages and continued to flourish in an age of scientific discovery and cynicism?

 

Is it an inherent flaw that lies within some of us. a delusional handicap that persuades a believer to disregard anything to the contrary and recognise this as true faith? Is it family pressures. intimidation, brainwashing. a desire for a sense of belonging. or perhaps the scientific theory hasn't provided enough tangible evidence to undermine creationism? Maybe its none of the above?

 

Any views on this?

 

I guess you talking of none radical religion

[danot 10]

I guess you talking of none radical religion

 

Just religion in general. Radical religion is generally a twisted interpretation of religious doctrine. Likewise, none radical religion is generally a more politically correct interpretation of religious doctrine. i.e. "The old Bible", which couldn't possibly be followed to the letter nowadays.

[Halibut 12]

"Why has religion retained its appeal?"

 

Because people are inherently stupid!

 

They believe anything, even more so if their parents were telling them from an early age.

 

That is why there is racism, homophobia, sexism and any number of bigotted views.

 

Simply because people are stupid!

 

You're wrong. It's because religion provides a framework for an age old human need to make sense of the world around them.

[danot 10]

You're wrong. It's because religion provides a framework for an age old human need to make sense of the world around them.

 

Isn't science better suited for that task?

[Halibut 12]

Isn't science better suited for that task?

 

Clearly, but people still have questions which they feel cannot be adequately answered by science alone.

[Annie Bynnol 612]

You're wrong. It's because religion provides a framework for an age old human need to make sense of the world around them.

 

Religion has never provided a framework for understanding.

Religion and understanding are two very different things.

Understanding has existed for thousands of millennia, while religion only for a few millennia.

Understanding phenomena and using that understanding gave our species the advantage we needed for survival.

Tribal groups enabled a higher level of survival. Individuals with more developed "social skills" where therefore selected.

Once survival was assured and tribal loyalty was weakened, other structures were created by the dominant groups within the tribe to assure their succession. As understanding accelerated and available to the whole group, religions were created to advantage of dominant group.

Religions are used to supress the spread of, and control understanding, allowing the dominant group to enjoy the economic and social advantages that understanding provides.

[Cyclone 10]

You're wrong. It's because religion provides a framework for an age old human need to make sense of the world around them.

 

Agreed, it purports to explain things that we don't really understand and often in a simplistic way. It also happens to come with a comforting lie about living forever, it plays on the fear of death and the unknown.

I don't totally disagree about the indoctrination point though that Crosser made.

 

---------- Post added 25-07-2018 at 09:22 ----------

 

Religion has never provided a framework for understanding.

Religion and understanding are two very different things.

Understanding has existed for thousands of millennia, while religion only for a few millennia.

Understanding phenomena and using that understanding gave our species the advantage we needed for survival.

Tribal groups enabled a higher level of survival. Individuals with more developed "social skills" where therefore selected.

Once survival was assured and tribal loyalty was weakened, other structures were created by the dominant groups within the tribe to assure their succession. As understanding accelerated and available to the whole group, religions were created to advantage of dominant group.

Religions are used to supress the spread of, and control understanding, allowing the dominant group to enjoy the economic and social advantages that understanding provides.

 

Purports to provide that framework. Doesn't actually do so. Magic sky fairie is a simple answer to complex questions, couple that with "if you do as I tell you the magic sky fairie has commanded, then you get to live forever" and you've got a compelling meme, people desperately want it to be true, so they switch off their rational mind and believe it.

[El Cid 220]

Why has religion retained its appeal through the ages and continued to flourish in an age of scientific discovery and cynicism?

 

 

Surely where there is education and science, religion has declined?

[dutch 68]

Clearly, but people still have questions which they feel cannot be adequately answered by science alone.

 

Religion and science or this forum will not answer your inner questions! Look deeper.

[danot 10]

Clearly, but people still have questions which they feel cannot be adequately answered by science alone.

 

 

But the questions still remain unanswerable after thousands of years. If anything, science has raised a mindfield of equally unanswerable questions about the religious explanation.

[lottiecass 17]

Clearly, but people still have questions which they feel cannot be adequately answered by science alone.

 

So people made up fairy stories to "adequately" answer the questions.Man made religions so how could they possibly answer anything?

[danot 10]

So people made up fairy stories to "adequately" answer the questions.Man made religions so how could they possibly answer anything?

 

It may have satisfied low level curiosity once upon a time but it never provided answers. But back then ignorance wasn't bliss, it was widespread.