I have a long list of motives for religion, I intend to discuss them one post at a time. Due to a brilliant comment on my last post, let’s begin with discussing the comment. Anonymous said... “religions can provide answers for things/phenomenons which people can't explain themselves. Not having an explanation is very unsatisfying for many so they turn to groups/individuals which provide explanations. The more convincing the explanations are the more people will follow”
How many people do you know would consider changing their religion if a different one had better answers? I find that such people are rare. People who would, I consider soul searchers. The others I will discuss in another post G-d willing.
Are people’s questions very different from each other?
If yes; why do answers to your questions determine the true religion?
If not; why are there so many religions?
If after accepting the most convincing explanation, people don’t know the answer, how can a one judge which one is better? Can people disprove the conflicting answers? Are people choosing whatever feels better? Maybe reality is not on your side? Why go to a religion, make it up yourself? Does it feel better to have someone else make it up for you?
What is stopping someone from creating an outrageous religion and offering exciting answers? Don’t you think this is how other religions started? Why is yours different?
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People are creating outrageous religions all the time. Case in point is Joseph Smith the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormons). This guy was a convicted fraudster who managed to convince his followers that he had received two gold plates from an angel who said that one of the lost tribes of Israel had ended up in North America. When asked to reveal these plates he said they had ascended into heaven.
No. Religion doesn't answer any of my questions. Sciences and cosmology answers heaps of questions about what, where and when but not why. Perhaps there isn't a 'why', other than we only have one shot at life so lets try and make ourselves happy and try to contribute to the happiness of those we love (and perhaps to those we don't love as well).
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