Why is religion still a thing?

Scarletthoo2 · 2023-04-12T14:41:32+00:00

As the title states, I would like to know why people still choose religion rather than science, please give me your personal view and opinions. I was christened at birth, but grown up an atheist. I'm just curious to know why so many people still believe in religion and god. Considering there's undeniable evidence that everything on earth is simply made of atoms and particles and wasn't created by an otherworldly person. Hopefully this doesn't cause offence to some people, like I've said, just simply want others views.

aSofaNearYou · 12/04/2023 15:48

I think it's primarily because people are still raised being told it's true. It's hard to unlearn things that are presented to you as fact.

Movingonupi · 12/04/2023 15:51

I’m religious but I haven’t ‘chosen’ religion over science…they aren’t mutually exclusive. One of the biggest myths of our time still believed by a lot of people is that they are!

PinkPlantCase · 12/04/2023 15:55

Religion and science aren’t necessarily opposed.

My family are Christian, I have a professional job in STEM and my DH has a PHD in chemistry. We probably believe in the first cause argument, eg. God starting off the Big Bang and curating the universe and the life within it.

Being Christian brings so many positive things to our life, praying and going to church is a very reflective, meditative experience, we have met some wonderful people and are surrounded by a caring community. I have learnt a lot from the bible and and grateful that my children will grow up with Christian values whether they choose to be part of religion or not when they are older.

Soggydog · 12/04/2023 16:00

Many scientists I know believe in God because they are scientists. Science tells you what happens but not how or why necessarily. And these are scientists teaching and researching at a top uni so it isn't a case of all scientists have your view point.

For me the little i know about science makes me believe more as it is hard to believe that a bunch of atoms and particles could bump in to each other and make anything as complex or beautiful as the life forms that we find on earth and the way that they all fit together.

pickledandpuzzled · 12/04/2023 16:08

Yes, as PPs say, the divine spark behind the atoms is so much more interesting than what the atoms do.

I also find it a framework that helps me manage some of the harder parts of life- relationships, grief, illness.

Religious practices are healthful- meditation, responsibility, community.

And I have had experiences that can only be explained by science in a very limited way.

Many people find there is more to life than what can be measured or replicated in a lab. Some of it will eventually be understood scientifically, some of it may not be.

softarrows · 12/04/2023 22:01

I'm a scientist who is a Christian, and echo all the above. If, when I die, it turns out that it was all a lie, then I'll still have lived a better life, and brought more good into the world by trying to love my neighbour than if I followed my own selfish desires. I've an atheist cousin who read all the major religious books and decided that, while he doesn't believe, the ten commandments are the best guide to how to live a good life, and he's raised his kids that way.

pointythings · 13/04/2023 17:04

Having something to believe in is comforting. As said by pp, science and faith are not mutually exclusive opposites. I'm an atheist and I derive enormous comfort from my belief that there isn't a god.

Ultimately none of us can know, we can only believe.

Babdoc · 13/04/2023 17:21

OP, you’ve already been told that science and religion are not mutually exclusive. Broadly, science looks at how, religion looks at why.
May I add that there is plenty of evidence for the existence of God. We have the eye witness accounts of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, following crucifixion. We have the disciples, who following Christ’s death were hiding in fear in Jerusalem, planning to escape quietly back to Galilee to resume their old lives as fishermen. Something dramatically changed them, giving them the courage to go out and preach the gospel, willingly facing in some cases their own crucifixion, to do so. It was witnessing the risen Christ, and receiving the Holy Spirit, that did that.
Finally, we have the direct personal experience of some of the world’s 2.3billion Christians, of the presence of God in their lives. That includes me - I was a rabid atheist until my own encounter, which was deeply humbling and I think made me a better person and doctor than I had been before.

Keepithidden · 13/04/2023 17:29

I'm a believer in "infinite knowledge" that scientific progress will never cease. This could be construed as a religion of sorts. It's a belief I have, but is founded in scientific process. As others have said organised and non-organised religion, even those without deities aren't necessarily at odds with each other...

..although it might just be semantics!

aSofaNearYou · 13/04/2023 17:43

Babdoc · 13/04/2023 17:21

OP, you’ve already been told that science and religion are not mutually exclusive. Broadly, science looks at how, religion looks at why.
May I add that there is plenty of evidence for the existence of God. We have the eye witness accounts of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, following crucifixion. We have the disciples, who following Christ’s death were hiding in fear in Jerusalem, planning to escape quietly back to Galilee to resume their old lives as fishermen. Something dramatically changed them, giving them the courage to go out and preach the gospel, willingly facing in some cases their own crucifixion, to do so. It was witnessing the risen Christ, and receiving the Holy Spirit, that did that.
Finally, we have the direct personal experience of some of the world’s 2.3billion Christians, of the presence of God in their lives. That includes me - I was a rabid atheist until my own encounter, which was deeply humbling and I think made me a better person and doctor than I had been before.

I don't think very much of this can objectively be considered evidence. Eye witnesses from a long time ago will often include magical shenanigans, but that doesn't mean we still believe them as fact now. Take the witch trials, for example.

I do understand what people are saying about science exploring the how and religion exploring the why, but for me when I ponder questions like the OP, what I mean by "embracing/accepting science" is that there is no why. It's about accepting that chemistry/biology is explanation enough, there's no need for there to be a divine power behind those explanations. The question is - why do people still believe there must be more to it?

whyhere · 14/04/2023 06:59

I'd love to hear your story, @Babdoc , by dm if that's better for you. (I'm a parish priest 🙂)

Rollinghill · 14/04/2023 07:05

Me too @Babdoc.

Mutabiliss · 14/04/2023 07:14

I think there's something in the human brain that needs religion. After all, we've always created religions and they tend to be fairly similar. It helps humans deal with the big questions no-one can actually answer - what's the meaning of life, why are we all here, what happens when you die, etc. And it provides structure and community.

I think some people need religion more than others, which explains scientists still believing in a god.

Cheesedoffandgrumpy · 14/04/2023 07:21

You can have both!

ShandaLear · 14/04/2023 07:24

I think it’s at least partly a cultural thing. I was raised Christian but became an atheist in my teens. I have a career in STEM, as do several of my close friends from school days. Some of them are still religious and they came from very religious families. The don’t see a conflict between science and religion. They put their religion down to faith - belief in the absence of compelling evidence. They have faith - I don’t. I wish I did tbh because there are good social, practical, and wellbeing reasons to believe in a god, but for me becoming atheist was like working out Santa Clause wasn’t real - you can pretend, but you can’t ever go back, not really.

MasterGland · 14/04/2023 07:24

I'm a science teacher and have always found there to be many people of faith in the science departments where I have worked.
For many it is because they are scientists that they have a faith, particularly for physicists it seems. Science was an outgrowth of the Christian pursuit to study the order in God's universe, of which there is plenty to find.
Unfortunately, many people now are consumed by a materialist worldview and Scientism has become a religion in itself.

Effieswig · 14/04/2023 07:36

As op has said. Religion and Science are not mutually exclusive. I think to believe so is close minded.

My religion is not mainstream and actually heavily relies on science. But can you explain how you think science disproves religion?

Cinpple · 14/04/2023 07:38

I think it's because people are indoctrinated into it from a young age and/or find it comforting.

I find it utterly baffling that people think the Bible is evidence of anything. It's just a book written by a bunch of long dead people, they could have filled it with all kinds of BS.

I also don't understand how people can square believing in God with all the shite that happens all the time. A friend of mine died in her 30s leaving behind 2 kids, yet some murderers and pedophiles get to live long lives. How can you worship a god who oversees stuff like that? If he's omnipotent why doesn't he intervene? If "these things are sent to try us" then he's just a vindictive dick.

pickledandpuzzled · 14/04/2023 07:43

Re the New Testament, @Cinpple , it's actually hugely detailed and complete in comparison with other work of that time. Historically speaking there is loads of evidence of it. Bearing in mind that we tend to have fragments of most documents of that era, it's surprisingly well documented.

I haven't expressed that well, I'm sure someone can explain it better.

Cinpple · 14/04/2023 07:46

pickledandpuzzled · 14/04/2023 07:43

Re the New Testament, @Cinpple , it's actually hugely detailed and complete in comparison with other work of that time. Historically speaking there is loads of evidence of it. Bearing in mind that we tend to have fragments of most documents of that era, it's surprisingly well documented.

I haven't expressed that well, I'm sure someone can explain it better.

That doesn't mean it's 100% true though. I mean I accept Jesus was a person who lived in the past, who maybe was quite inspiring. Did he have magical powers? I think not.

I note that you're not addressing the "why is God a vindictive dick" part of my argument 😉

Hardbackwriter · 14/04/2023 07:50

Mutabiliss · 14/04/2023 07:14

I think there's something in the human brain that needs religion. After all, we've always created religions and they tend to be fairly similar. It helps humans deal with the big questions no-one can actually answer - what's the meaning of life, why are we all here, what happens when you die, etc. And it provides structure and community.

I think some people need religion more than others, which explains scientists still believing in a god.

I think this too. Everyone has a belief structure, even the most militant atheist (indeed, perhaps especially the most militant atheist).

Phoebo · 14/04/2023 07:54

I guess it gives people some hope and something to believe it. I also think if you regularly go/belong to a church it's a sense of community and family. I think religion is nonsense and evil, but I can see from that point of view why it has an appeal.

UnicornBoom · 14/04/2023 07:55

I'm an agnostic atheist which blows some people's minds and causes heated debates. I don't believe in God, but accept that science cannot currently prove that one doesn't exist.

C1N1C · 14/04/2023 08:00

I don't think religion is a pull, I think it's more of a push.

Religion isn't attractive to most people... can't eat what you want, busy on Sundays, on your knees five times a day... whatever. I believe it is more a push from fear of death and the unknown. Everything you've done, your whole life, all your memories, joy, suffering... all over in an instant. Then what? Religion is a hope for many people. If you're given a task, and told to do it without question with no knowledge on what it's purpose was, for a lifetime, you'd go nuts. That is life for most people.

Lamelie · 14/04/2023 08:01

I’d love to hear your story too @Babdoc
I’m with Leonard Cohen who never met a religion he didn’t like. I’m also Christian and having faith that it’s not the end when we die but also knowing that love is the most important thing while we’re here underpins everything I do and carries me.