Why do people need religion? Why do people feel the need to have a Higher Being to turn to? Sure, there are those who don't, atheists, but generally when push comes to shove, "there is no athiest in a fox-hole," and a person is staring down the barrel of a gun, one feels the need to say, "Help! I need Someone or Something to intervene, because there is no way I can get out of this myself." Since the beginning, there has been some form of religion, whether it be worship of the sun, the moon and the stars, or of idols, or of a g-d that cannot be seen, there has always been belief that there is something, or things, that are "out there" that are greater than us, that move forces beyond our comprehension, that effects our lives, and our history. Pick out a culture, any culture on the planet, and you will find some sort of belief system. In almost every culture, there is a concept of a heaven and hell, punishment and reward, whether it be in this life, or the next. So what is it about human beings that gives us the drive and desire to believe that there are greater forces at work?
This a huge topic, covering a lot more than I can in a single, or even multiple posts. There are tons of books on the subject, and yet I feel that it's something that each person needs to think of for themselves first. So, what do you think?
1 comment:
The world is a scary place over which we have very little control. People find it comforting to believe that there is someone wiser and more powerful than they who CAN control the world, and that He will keep you safe if you ask nicely.
But seriously, I can tell you that at the lowest, most desperate moments of my life, I called out to God to help me, knowing somehow that He was listening. It may not be rational, but that belief is the only thing that got me through those dark moments.
How frightening it would be to think that we're all alone and powerless.
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