What purpose does religion serve?

[Annie Sever-Dimitri]

Started thinking the other day that some religions that promote judging others and disempowering women really don't fulfill the purpose of religion--then wondered, well, what exactly is the purpose of religion?

[Genie Goykhberg]

What a wonderful time of being a Student!

I am a student as well at my 55!
Study toward my ND (Naturopathic Doctor).
Certified Natural Health Professional -a healer with 40 different modalities
MSME with minor in Physic - was a custom built machinery designer
lived in different countries
lived and worked with people of different religions' believes
Jewish – Buddhist
polyglot
have first had experience:
- with fanatics in religion (got my office burned in Kiev)
- with seeking shelter in Sderod from Qassam rocket
- as young Communist Party member
- with aggressiveness of atheism (was one, atheist it is, myself 40 years ago)

make it short - my background and experience might be enough for 5 life times

Religion is like Money - neither good nor bad!
It’s what we do with it!

Any religion that makes people care for others, help strangers, help themselves etc etc without doing harm to others is good thing to me.

But how one knows without testing different kind of believes what is right for him/her?

When I coach young people I use my formula "Never do anything in your life you would not want your daughters do"

At least you are in a search - good luck with it.

[Joe Shoemaker]

"The is no difference between Buddha sitting under the Bodhi tree and Newton sitting under the apple tree. Both sat in the presence of God."

It's this kind of statement that makes me wanna light my hair on fire.

There is a HUGE difference between those activities.

That doesn't mean one is any more or less valuable than the other, but they're CLEARLY VERY DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES. They're both worthwhile, but that doesn't make them non-different.

And to assert that both were "in the presence of God" as if it were fact serves to muddy the waters of reasonable discourse.

grmbl grmbl grmbl grmbl grmbl grmbl .....

[Annie Sever-Dimitri]

Joe, please don't light your hair on fire--I would kill for curly hair like yours. :) Thanks for all the book titles--I am stoked!

[Genie Goykhberg]

I double Annie's request - please dont ruine the greatest cuteness on SI!

[Marita Topmiller]

gggle gggle gggle gggle gggle

[margie fultz]

Religion is your allegience to a belief system that you hold to be true based on your ideas and knowledge.  I believe in good judging..as inside of your place of worship..you should hold one another accountable. In order to do that you need a relationship with the person you are helping to hold accountable and you need to be accountable yourself.  Jesus "judged" his disciples..but his way was to teach then allow them to see for themselves what they were doing wrong.  Womens roles in history has changed but women are suppose to submit...to a husband that is a great leader of the family spiritually ..and I see nothing wrong with that. That doesn't mean we are to not be leaders or be involved...in fact we are and if the man is lacking hopefully the woman will be the leader. God has an ideal design but because of sin families don't always fit that design..divorce is a good example.  We can still follow his examples even though we fall short of what was meant for us...The purpose for religion is to stand together in commonplace and to support each other in our beliefs...with love so as we can continue to grow ..learn and do what we believe our purpose is.  For me and my church is to love God, grow in his word and do his will.

[Joe Shoemaker]

Got that ladies? Time to submit.

 

***for the love of pete...***

[Marita Topmiller]

I've gotten into a LOT of trouble submitting.... So, I submit, that when Paul wrote women should submit, it was simply a case of re-interating the obvious social code at the time.  The world at that time had already pushed women into submission, out of the marketplace, out of the government, out of the church (which was itself another form of government), or sitting demurely in the back, through brute force.  Jesus, according to the bible, invited women into places and activities in which they were not expected nor their participation appreciated.  Partnerships such as marriage are a give and take proposition wherein each party must be prepared to give more than 50%.   My husband and I, though married for about 36 years, don't always see eye to eye.  I wouldn't want it that way.  Sometimes he gets his way; sometimes I get mine.  The results are sometimes frustrating when I lose / all the sweeter when I'm right.   But I can withold cooperation anytime. 

It's interesting that there are 2 creation stories in the bible.  The one that is never taught, the first one, is the oldest existant.  In the first, God created man and woman in Their image ... at the same time.  No rib robbing, etc. 

Thanks for your comments, Margie and Joe.  God, I've enjoyed this discussion!

[Justin R. Ogden]

you'll get a different answer from anyone who responds to this question - which shows the roots of religion coming from the inner self of people.
i can't give you an answer to that but its a good question to ask and i'm thannkful to live in a place where we can pose such questions.