Debateful

What does religion offer to us?

Do you think that the point of being associated with a religion is to be able to guide us throughout our life concerning our morals and ethics? If religion was completely removed, do you think that our “good” ethics will also be detached from ourselves? What exactly will separate us from what is pure and what is evil if religion didn’t exist? Would it be from simple common sense or would society’s ethics be bestowed upon those individuals that resides in their culture?

Could it also be implied that religion gives us somewhere to go after we die? For example, Christianity says that we are destined to go to Heaven or Hell depending on how we lived our lives. Other religions differ such as Buddhism; they say that we will be reincarnated into a human being, an animal, etc. depending on how we lived our lives. If we were good, we would be reincarnated into a being that would be considered high. If we didn’t, we would be reincarnated to something else. If we didn’t have an explanation of the afterlife, would human beings simply abandon their ethics and roam around doing whatever they desired despite the “fact” that it didn’t comply with the “rules” of goodness?

What hinders us from doing something appalling and dreadful? Some may say religion and others may say that we simply know what’s good and bad; our ethics. Why do we behave the way we do? Some say it’s due to religion and others say that they simply want to live a good life.

What is your opinion on this?

I think that religion offers different things to different people. It's a private thing. I don't think that we would lose sight of right and wrong if there were no religions, or lose our morals or anything like that. People, not religions, make morals, and there is a universal sense of right and wrong in humanity.

Sorry bout that,

1. Some how I think you know the answer here John.
2. Religion, sets all the corners of reality *In Place*.
3. Unless you can get a grip of them, you will ramble around this world, like a lost sheep, having no Shepard.
4. Finding *The Shepard* is like finding pure drinking water, after roaming in the desert wilderness for fourty years.
5. Nothing sweeter going down.
6. *Good Morals* can be traced to *Jesus Christ*, without *Jesus Christ*, this would be a world, without morals.
7. Having morals in society is a reflection of *Jesus Christ*, and I am thankful to live in a *Christ Built Nation*, and not live in, oh lets say, Saudi Arabia, typical *Hell Hole*.


Regards,
SirJamesofTexas

Religion, as Spirit said, offers different people different things. From what I've observed, it offers some people comfort, while for others (such as children whose beliefs differ from those of their parents), it gives them unnecessary stress and grief.

In a perfect world, people could practice their religious beliefs, but also respect those of others and not try to impose their own on those people. People could also understand that frivolous lawsuits and otherwise using their religion as grounds to do harm to others is stupid; but unfortunately, it'll never happen.

That's your belief, and I respect that; but it isn't necessarily the truth.

Given that you live in the US, I find it hysterical that you're implying that our society has morals. With the actions of some individuals, if having our morals in our society is a reflection of Jesus Christ, then all I can say is that He's really being made to look very bad right now. :P

Religion offers to people the chance to not have to accept reality and responsibility.
People who have no religion, have plenty of morals and ethics, and they are not clouded by what ever doctrine/faith they might beleive in.
They are free to make ethical and moral choices without the rules of others imposed upon them, rules that are often twisted and immoral, and not in the best interests of the individuals involved.