Martian Sandy®

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There are several explanations for the rise of a need in our human communities to create beliefs or religions. Some of these consist of a need to create an explanation for complex events, several form a basis for political power and others give believers the basis in which all the above come together: community.

 

And indeed communities also form around other ideas or goals, outside the realm of religion. However some of these goals & ideas become so grand in their aims, they become religions: in the sense that these goals/ideas have strong arguments about topics in society that all come down to for example the right of the individual, responsibilities of a group or god that has defined how people should think about all the former.

 

That feels safe, comfortable and simple. Not everyone has the time or other resources to think about societal problems, but they still are affected by them. So everyone needs to choose.

 

When religions, even ideologies like nationalism or liberalism, offer help in choosing, nobody should be surprised or offended that their options are taken. 

 

Yet while for outsiders these options might be considered ill-advised or illogical, for the ones who choose these options offer something that might be out of reach otherwise. They even might have a positive impact on believer's personal lives, leaving the possible long term impact on themselves or others outside the question for now.

 

So what are these options? Think about it: talk groups for a range of subjects in the believer's communities, political support from other believers, ritual activities with singing/dancing/other that make you feel part of a group, a feeling of belonging through voluntary work for a community, educational work, a network to reach out to others for help/work, a feeling of empowerment through your role in the community, the consolation that you have lived well, another life, connection with someone/god, responsibilities, being able to help others, a feeling that you are part of something older, a way/ritual to help you deal with death/loss/difficult moments through the stories and of course examples through the stories of the religion.

 

All these aspects show the continued relevance to people of these aspects of religion. Of course not all of these are practiced by every religion, but it is possible to find them there. However do you need a religion to actually access any of them, or all at the same time? A quick view through society will give you a short answer: No. Modern society has given the world a range of options to choose from to fulfill the needs that the above options in religions offer.

 

Still, people have their habits, their old communities with which they have a safe and reliable connection that will not break easily. And they do not need to break, because they fulfill a need: for existing believers, as well as those that are attracted to existing reliable religions and their rituals. 

 

The only problem is: religions are often very strict in their rules. So can the offers of religions, that fulfill certain needs of people, be enjoyed without falling into the trap of belief without critique or hatred towards others?