Yes, but you speak as if the purpose of religion is to console people, while that is not the case at all. People have religion because people believe in their religion. A lot of religion doesn't even console people. For example, one of the more ancient types of Christian that many churches have forgotten about and strayed away from is the "fire and brimstone" type teaching that states that most people will be going to Hell, including many believers, and that few people will be going to Heaven. How is the idea that most people will be going to Hell consoling? It's not. People follow it because they believe it, not because they are being consoled by it.
Yes, and society encourages whatever belief system causes positive social behavior. Even though many belief systems have positive social synergy, they only work if conflicts of belief are minimal.
Briefly, religion affects many things. Over the centuries, as you have noted, only the most palatable ideas (like resurrection) continue, provided that they do not damage the functioning of society.
Atheists, what are your views on religion in general?
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Yes, but you speak as if the purpose of religion is to console people, while that is not the case at all. People have religion because people believe in their religion. A lot of religion doesn't even console people. For example, one of the more ancient types of Christian that many churches have forgotten about and strayed away from is the "fire and brimstone" type teaching that states that most people will be going to Hell, including many believers, and that few people will be going to Heaven. How is the idea that most people will be going to Hell consoling? It's not. People follow it because they believe it, not because they are being consoled by it.
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Bazinga
2 years ago
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Yes, and society encourages whatever belief system causes positive social behavior. Even though many belief systems have positive social synergy, they only work if conflicts of belief are minimal.
Briefly, religion affects many things. Over the centuries, as you have noted, only the most palatable ideas (like resurrection) continue, provided that they do not damage the functioning of society.