To wonder how anyone can believe in a religion?

[Staringintothevoid616]

I can understand why some believe in a higher power, in many ways it’s logical and many might just feel there is one, some people might refute that, all fine and dandy.

But what on earth makes people follow a religion? There’s literally hundreds of them over the course of history, even a rudimentary bit of research/critical thinking highlights the fact they can only be man made, the rules designed to fulfil a particular mundane purpose.

What makes people pick one (beyond being born in a certain place to a certain family) over all others and go “ yep this is the one truth, these rules come from a specific god/gods/goddesses, these rules other religions are just made up”.

I mean for many it’s not just a hobby, they’re willing to shape their lives to whatever set of rules they pick, sometimes to kill and be killed. Why??? Even a second of thought must highlight their folly?

it’s not about whether a higher power exists, it’s about why people have to frame that belief on a set of clearly made up rules, which range from the bizarre (don’t eat meat on a Friday) to the downright dangerous )it’s justified to kill anyone who doesn’t believe the same set of made up rules as you do)

AIBU to wonder why people follow religions?

Many Christians follow the teachings of Christ only. There's isn't anything he said that would be off putting to a feminist or a gay person.

Why? Life is a lot simpler without having spurious beliefs. I can't understand why anyone would want a life after death. This life is taxing enough without any more of it.

They shouldn't follow the teachings of Christ only. That is cherry picking.

Another perspective here on a very interesting topic. I was brought up Catholic, the usual born into it scenario. I'm mid 30's for context. By 14, I just stopped going to mass, no interest ect. I don't believe in it. Two years ago my dh and I had a terrible tragedy. Our beautiful twins died the week they were born. Totally unexpected. Our second twin literally took their last breaths in our arms after three days in the NICU. It was devastating.

Although it hasn't brought me back to religion or anything, I want to desperately believe that I will see my gorgeous twins again and hold them again. That part of the unknown is hard. It's likely and logically irrational but it keeps the despair at bay sometimes. I can see how others would return.

No, I understand that, but why religion? Why not a knitting circle? If it’s not about theology, why do certain people of one religion seem to think they have a need to kill people not of that religion (throughout history and often this is between people with a slightly differs interpretation of the same religion) - you don’t get that in a knitting circle

How much “rudimentary research and critical thinking” did you apply to answering your own question @Staringintothevoid616? Not a lot by the looks of it. @Gallowayan has it right, six out of ten, poor effort.

I’m really sorry for your loss, I can’t imagine the pain. I hope you do find peace and one day get to hold your beautiful babies again.

The only religion I can see as having any appeal is Buddhism. I am not buddhist but I did briefly flirt with it in my twenties. I also prefer Judaism to the other Abrahamic religions because it doesn't emphasise the afterlife as much as the other two do. All this talk of the afterlife is terribly depressing and is a way of deferring the here and now. Also, if you are only being a good person for some possible reward of what value is your goodness really. It's just a way to control the gullible. It's about the only thing I agree with Marx about.

We'll have to disagree then. Strength of numbers doesn't make it fact. And that's a fact 👍

The clues in the name. The only teachings you need to follow to be a Christian are those of Christ. Everything that came before, anything written by men who never met him such as St Paul can indeed be taken or left.

Oh, I’ve done quite a bit of research thanks, I’m interested in other’s perspectives. Now are you going to join in or just throw around angry comments?

um, why not?

unlike Islam which holds that the Koran is divine revelation, it’s quite clear in Christianity that the bible is not divine revelation, the Old Testament is a mix of history/poetry/etc and the New Testament is four accounts of the life of Jesus plus some letters.

in addition it is made very clear that Jesus is introducing a new covenant so that the rules etc of the Old Testament do not apply to Christians.

@Gahr

I'm a polytheist pagan and occultist, so I don't believe in Heaven and Hell, but I do believe there is so-called 'spirit world' (possibly many) where we continue to live after we depart from this one.

I do think that it will largely be a kinder world than the one we're currently in, which is probably why many like the concept. I also like the idea of reconnecting with those I have lost before. I already seek to connect with my lost loved ones through developing my own psychic abilities and by (occasionally) seeing mediums, but actually being in their presence again would be different.

When it comes to psychic research, there has been well over a century of it done by some reputable investigators and there are some studies (such as experiments with mediums) that suggest some sort of life after death is a possibility. I'm thinking of work done by the Windbridge Institute researcher, for example. There's also IONS (Institute of Noetic Sciences) and The Society for Psychical Research, which I think was founded in the 19th century...

Now this I agree with. Christianity has a much wider definition than nearly all the Christian religions allow for.

That isn't strictly true, as Christ's words themselves are wider than what he taught (if that makes sense!) I don't know any Christians that only follow the New Testament.

Because humans are driven to seek meaning. Even if they have to invent stories to do so.

Religion is also a very powerful control weapon

Matthew 5:17 says otherwise

Religion is as much about community, friendship and routine as faith. If you haven’t ever been part of one you won’t understand.

That's not how I feel. I love life. Never want it to end. My only sorrow is that people i love have died, and will die. If I thought there was an everlasting life where I'd see them again it would be a huge comfort.

Maybe they go to a knitting circle as well? Most religious services are only once a week, so there are a lot of evenings to fill. Plus knitting doesn't give you that sense of 'belonging to the club' that claiming a specific religious identity does.

why do certain people of one religion seem to think they have a need to kill people not of that religion
This is religion being used as a thin veneer and excuse for what is actually culture and politics. It is not that they want to kill people of another religion - just that they want to kill people of another culture. I believe chimpanzees do this too - warfare between chimp tribes.
The Christian wars between dominations were an example - the challenge to the political and financial power of the existing church, plus the new Christian denominations quickly developed cultural symbols such as modes of dress which signalled their group, triggering fighting.

I’m quite confused by this.

i’d count myself as Christian.

what else does one follow if not the New Testament?

@Gahr

What do think about Pagan and Neopagan religions? (Wicca, Modern Druidry, Celtic Paganism, Norse Paganism, Hellenic Paganism, etc, etc.)

These religions are tend to be free of most of the things that you seem to object to.

I developed a belief in God during my teenage years and felt inclined to find out more about Christianity, seek out fellow believers and come together with them to worship, discuss and celebrate.

If I had been born in Russia and not England, I probably would have joined the Russian Orthodox Church and not the Church of England, you are right about that.

I have done some study of theology, although I'm not an expert. I try to live my life in a Christian manner. I am aware that a lot of the 'rules' have been put in place by humans, like a lot of Christians I don't slavishly follow every single line of the Bible.

You'll be pleased to hear I'm yet to kill anyone for having different beliefs to me.

Or you could rejig this as 'religion is as much about groupthink, oppression and wishful thinking as it is about faith.'

And lots of people have very much been part of a religion. It's precisely why we recognise how damaging they can be.

I'm with @InterestedDad37. Apart from one friend of mine from way back (whom I love dearly) I do not have Christian friends, as it is a fundamental incompatibility with how we see the world. And I would never, ever get into a romantic relationship with a theist of any description. (I would date a Jewish man if they were secular, as Judaism is a race)