Religion has been around forever. Or at least for as long as man could write. Why? Religion keeps order. It gives us boundaries and reasons to behave. Reasons that have far more power than laws made by government. Laws are made by man, and reasons to break those laws are easily rationalized. Rules created and enforced by Religion have a much stronger hold because they were made and enforced by a much higher power. Usually an unseen, much unknown powerful force or forces. Revealed to few and working in ways mysterious to most. The consequences and rewards for behavior in life are eternal in death, and therefore create a much stronger incentive than the punishments or rewards for manmade laws.
Humans have a power, called Faith. Faith allows humans to believe in something(s) they have never seen, touched or heard. That belief then allows them to rationalize their actions and choices in life based on the rules set down by the higher power(s).
Religions are as diverse as our cultures. Which brings up the question, which one is right? Every religious believer says that their religion is the right one. But who is to say for sure? Is it really true that because one culture doesn’t follow a certain religion that they are to be eternally damned in the afterlife? How can one whole race be damned because of what they believe in? Because of these questions you have to wonder what validity there is behind the claims of afterlife, reincarnation and the like.
As well, how can 1 religion condemn another? Whether you believe in one god or many, no one really has any physical evidence of these gods. There are stories, believed to be true accounts, legends, myths and books. But these were all created by man. Who can say what the driving force behind the creators was? Humans have an incredible capacity for imagination. They can come up with a reason or story for why things are they way they are. Why is it not possible that someone came up with an idea an it seemed to make sense, so everyone else agreed?
I could go on and on about this, but I tire of the subject right now. I'll touch on this again someday. Right now I believe that there are forces around us that we cannot see that affect the way we are. I don't know if I believe that it is one all knowing force. I believe we do have a large control over our own destinies based on the choices we make in our lives. I believe religion serves a good purpose in society, to help create and maintain order and some degree of civility.
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