Psychogically, religion is good for people...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...tained-happiness-get-religion-study-suggests/

And of course it does make sense. For if one observes, humans need physical security but having a more advanced brain we also demand psychological security too. Religion fills that vacuum. This also would explain how some people can believe in outlandish religions, but be rational beings otherwise. Thoughts ?

 

Or maybe God is real and He brings them peace.

 

Placebos work 18% of the time.

No single religion has captured much more than 18% of the world population.

Ain't rocket science.

 

32% of the worlds population is Christian and that would seem to fit in with Gods statement that many will not choose to go to Heaven.

 

And how many sects within Christianity?
Mormons.
Lutherans.
Orthodox.
On and on.

Catholics are at about 17%.

As I said, placebos work about 18% of the time.

 

Not everyone has been exposed to all religions in an equal manner. 0% of placebos work if you refuse to give it to the patient.

 

I can't help but think that you're trying to make some argument based on this information. Regardless of what that argument is, I would probably disagree with it.

 

Is there something immoral or illegal you want done ? Use religion.

 

Did you ever consider that maybe all religions are actually the same God but appealing to different cultures in ways that they can understand? With the variety of societies, cultures, history, morals, values, and beliefs it would be impossible for one religion to apply to everyone equally. If you look at the majority of major religions the base themes are all fairly similar, only the details vary with regularity.

 

Absolutely possible. Given the vast variety we see in nature, I would think your idea would be vastly more likely than having just one notion of God being correct.

 

not all religions believe in a God, yet they all have the same effect

maybe that means if there is a God, God is not a Jealous God, which would mean the bible is wrong

- - - Updated - - -

at least they claim to be, part of that 32% was the two guys that shot up a theater and a church recently, do you really want to count everyone

most prisons are filled with those claiming to be Christians....

fact is, most will always claim to be the majority religion, just cause it's easier.....

I do think there is a mental benefit to joining a group of like minded people, religion or otherwise for many people

.

 

I agree to a point… Once an individual has arrived at an agnostic or atheist level of understanding, it is hard to go back, I dare say, impossible.

 

You are incorrect.

A religion by definition is the belief in a superhuman controlling force of some sort. So yes, every religion believes in a God otherwise it is not a religion, it is something else.

 

Sure. God isn't a name, its a position meaning the Most High. If someone is worshipping the most high, then they are worshipping the most high though if their language is different, naturally their name for the object of their worship will differ.

So what percentage of the world is theistic? A bit more than 18% I suspect.

 

Doesn't the future make you wonder what you ought be doing now to prepare for the unknown unfoldings of Reality which will come?

 

Depends on what you mean by "theistic."

Gamblers rely upon "Lady Luck."
They actually believe Luck can shine on them if it will.

Men who chase after money worship what Jesus said was Mammon.
They may SAY they don't believe in gods, but they have a behavior which is there "worship pattern" by which they believe money will be earned.

 

What's one got to do with the other? Do children have less desire for psychological security, or more advanced brains, than adults?

 

No...I mean, ABSOLUTELY HELL NO!!!

I don't waste my precious time with silly ass fairy tales.

 

I dont' think it should come as a surprise that religion serves a real purpose in some people's lives.

Human nature is such that "turning over" responsibility to "god", believing in eternal life after death and absolution from all sins is psychologically comforting to many.

 

If you disagree with the need, the drive, to find psychological security, you would be rather foolish, don't you think? We find this security in other things, in relationships with others and so on. When one uses another human being, for security, and loses it, it creates all kinds of emotional and psychological reactions.

Ever heard the term "security blanket"? Ever seen a child that attaches himself or herself to an object that gives them security? My own daughter had this one small blanket, that she took what was left of it, on her honeymoon. She finally was able to give it up.

Perhaps you just think you should always disagree with me? LOL

 

I saw an atheist find god in Vietnam. As he was laying there on my arm, dying. So I am not sure you are absolutely right. When reality strikes, even some atheists and agnostics have a sudden, very real, change of mind. Not all do, Hitchens didn't, but some do.

I think when a person transcends the ego, and the fear of death is gone, this is what will last, to the end. For it is fear, that is the motivating factor that sends people to religion. The commonality in human consciousness is fear. All kinds of fears. It destroys us, if psychological in nature, and saves us, if it is the fear of cliffs, tigers, poisonous snakes. But that latter kind of fear is what I see as intelligence. But psychological fears come from a lack of intelligence.

 

And now I can't help but think that you've misunderstood what form my disagreement with you would take.

I'm not disagreeing with the information you've presented, but (perchance) with your reason for posting it. The information you post is so unremarkable that I can't think of another reason for you posting it than trying to fly some other argument in under the radar, and I can't imagine I would agree to any argument which was based on this information.

It could be that you're just posting random information, and in that case, I'll be looking forward to the 2+2=4 thread.

I hope you will find that so far, I'm not actively disagreeing with anything you've said so far, but I'd like some more context before I lend the idea any praise. Too many times have I lauded an idea only to be quoted as lauding some other idea which can be derived from the first one (albeit in my opinion in a flawed manner).

 

Hmmm,...
Abraham Maslow, the first president of the American Humanist Society, developed the first psychology system which detailed what sane people are psychologically.

This was different because all other psychological system had been developed by studies of known cases of mentally ill people.
Maslow theorized that sane people have seven basic "Needs" as he called them.

The need for "physical security" was one of those needs.
He also saw a need for "psychological security" which he called the Need to Know.

It makes sense in a Reality which brings down changes over time which people need to KNOW about well in advance of there coming, so they can prepare for the consequences to be expected.

This response is a reaction to the fears of what we think might happen.
It is why finding out the Truth is so important to us all.
Truth can tell us what might well be coming.

 

...silly ass...?
Do you buy Health Insurance?
Have you purchased a Life Insurance Policy?
Is you car insured?

Do you ever go to the doctor just for a "check up?"

Reality can require that you were prepared for what might come.

 

People go to those things to meet spouses. Having a spouse keeps them strong and happy. It's an environment where people's romantic intentions are genuine so you skip all the sexual aggression which goes on elsewhere. This sexual aggression which is so rampant and acceptable today causes scarring, mistrust and tarnishes future relationships.