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?

Yup. There is no way at all to prove or disprove occultism or other religions and it's a pointless and very controlling thing to be so obsessed with what other people do that does not affect you in any way.

If a religion is causing you harm, fair enough. If people are just getting on with their lives just leave them in peace would be the main thing - and that applies to occultists and all others with unprovable beliefs as well.

I'm Jewish, practising but not Orthodox. Some might say I was brainwashed I suppose, but my answer would be that it's very much related to being part of the culture and fabric of my people and community. It's a living thing, not just a list of rules we follow.

What she said. Perfect answe

I guess no one has to understand anything. But I’m curious about people. If people don’t want to answer or engage they don’t have to, but some people appreciate the discussion.

Thanks for answering- would you be able to expand on the thought that it’s a “living thing”?

Well, there is also the whole people of faith live longer thing.
https://www.aau.edu/research-scholarship/featured-research-topics/people-religious-affiliations-live-longer-study-shows
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10859326/

This would be really interesting if it factored in things like socioeconomic status too. And compared it with people who also did lots of volunteering and took an active part in a community

@FateAmenableToChange

Personally, I chose my current religion (Celtic Paganism) because quite a bit of it in in alignment with views and values that I already had. I didn't get those views and values from Celtic Paganism, but came to Celtic Paganism as a result of already having certain beliefs and values (polytheism, the reality of multiple kinds of spirits and entities, the reality of magic/witchcraft, fairies, etc...)

@Anyonecansee

The problem, as someone who is both an occultist and aligned with a Pagan religion, is that there are people who want to limit or remove the rights of both Pagans and occultists to live their lives the way they want to.

For instance, for some pagans, witches and occultists, earning their living from occult work (divination work, mediumship work, practical sorcery - I've bought a talisman from a sorcerer acquaintance and also paid him to do spell work for me) is a part of their chosen and desired lifestyle. They seriously believe in what they do and they enjoy the work, so they choose it as their full-time labour.

Unfortunately, there are calls for this to be illegal and for occult practices to be banned. You might think that this largely comes from Christians, but a fair amount comes from dogmatic materialists (a materialist being someone who is of the belief that nothing exists outside of the physical, observable world) who want to, at the very least, marginalise occult practices, and at worst have them removed from society altogether.

@Anyonecansee

To be honest, I find it hard to understand as well - and like I said, I am an occultist as well as belonging to a religion. Some occultists consider themselves to be religious pagans as well, but not all.

But I would say that the majority of occultists have beliefs in common with numerous religions, even though, as occultism is not a religion, those beliefs cannot be described as "religious beliefs" per se, if that make sense. Spiritual, mystical or occult beliefs would be the term.

In my experience, the majority of occultists are polytheists and interact and work with numerous gods and goddesses. Some even work and interact with the God of the Jews and Christians - those who practice grimoire magic such as the Goetia and use Solomonic pentacles, for example.

Hell, an occultist acquaintance recently posted on her FB status that she "just had to explain to an angel what a MILF-hunter was" (she was communicating with one of the angels associated with Venus.)

Occultists interact and engage with other spirit entities. Occultism is not a religion, and is very distinct in many ways, but it draws from a common set of spiritual realms and realities.

So I would expect an occultist to totally understand why people would follow a religion.

I agree with much of what you’re saying, I do totally get why people believe in a higher power (as I stated in my OP), and by extension the multifarious ways they interact with various beings, whether they consider these part of themselves or distinct entities.

However, this is not the part of belonging to a religion I’m trying to understand. All these things can be managed personally. What I don’t understand is people who are willing to die for their religion, people who limit their lives for religion. Why they subscribe to one religion over another. I have my ideas, I’m just interested in why others do what they do, just curiosity really.

@Staringintothevoid616

Well, as said, my reason for subscribing to one religion over another is because that religion fit in with beliefs and cultural interests that I already had.

Being a polytheist means that monotheist religions aren't for me.

Pagan religions being polytheistic means that there were a diverse number to choose from - I selected Celtic Paganism because Celtic deities are the ones that hold the most interest for me.

Thank you for answering, what is it about the Celtic pantheon which takes your interest

I think it comes down to how you like to express your faith. I've got no problem with christianity but find church on sunday just grates on me. I dont like the rigidity, the chanting of the same old things, or singing. Baptism and the bread and wine do nothing for me. So i'm a quaker, and i get to sit in silence and contemplate god, no one day is holier than any other. Love it.

Thanks for sharing, that sounds incredibly peaceful and a beautiful way to carve out time for contemplation away from the distractions of the world.

@Staringintothevoid616

Well, probably a large part of it is that I live on or near the lands associated with those particular deities. Wales is a part of Britain, and while I don't live in Wales, I feel some connection as a 'British' person. I have some Irish ancestry on my father's side of the family (his Dad was from Ireland) and clearly the Irish deities are associated with Ireland.

I've also been interested in Arthurian literature since I was a child and parts of that were influenced or drawn from Celtic beliefs.

That’s really interesting, I personally believe in the sacredness of the lands in Britain and the spiritual power contained within the land. I guess that might manifest itself in different ways to different people. But certain places, do give a sense of spiritual connection (or not) - s ok me places feel spiritually dead. Do you feel it’s a spiritual or intellectual connection for you.

Living in the South West I hear you re Arthurian legends - I wish these were celebrated more.