« Racism: The Problem of Perception | Main | Links Are Up! »
The Purpose of 'Religion'
There's an interesting website here, which asks you some basic questions about religious beliefs and gives you a list of the organized religions which reflect your beliefs the closest. (Surprise, surprise...LDS came out on top for me, followed by Conservative Protestantism, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Liberal Protestantism)
A question occurred to me when I was taking it: What exactly is the purpose of a site like this?
Ostensibly, it was designed to allow people who happen to be looking for a church to join to find one that fits closely with their beliefs. But isn't that exactly the opposite of what should be happening?
Let's take the first question on the survey, for example:
The Nature of God--choose one:
1) Only one God, a corporeal spirit (has a body), supreme, personal God Almighty, the Creator
2) Only one God, incorporeal (not body) spirit , supreme, personal God Almighty, the Creator.
3) Multiple personal gods (or goddesses) regarded as facets of one God, and/or as separate gods.
4) The supreme force is the impersonal Ultimate Reality (or life force, ultimate truth, cosmic order, absolute bliss, universal soul), which resides within and/or beyond all.
5) The supreme existence is both the eternal, impersonal, formless Ultimate Reality, and personal God (or Gods).
6) No God or supreme force. Or, not sure. Or, not important.
7) None of the Above
Now, God either exists or He doesn't. His existence or non-existence is a matter of fact (let's have none of the 'God exists if you believe in Him' hokum). If there is a God, His existence is still a fact even if 99% of the world doesn't believe it (and vice versa: 99% of the world believing God exists wouldn't change the non-existence of God, if that happened to be true). In the same way, the characteristics of God (one or many, body or spirit) are also facts, uninfluenced by the percentage of people who believe they are that way.
Now here's my question: What's the purpose of religion? Is it like a 'club' or 'social group' of sorts for people who share common beliefs to hang out together? Or is it to learn facts (or 'truths' as we usually call them) about God and His characteristics?
In other words, shouldn't we be changing our beliefs to match the religion, instead of changing the religion to match our beliefs?
If I'm looking for truth, I want a religion that teaches truth, not one that 'sounds nice', or one that happens to match my current beliefs. Suppose I believe in God as a formless universal creative force. Should I look for a religion that matches my way of thinking? Or should I try to find out if my belief in the nature of God is actually correct--and then change my beliefs to whatever happens to be true? I believe it should be the latter, but I've found there are many, many people who view the purpose of religion in the former sense (the 'social club' idea).
As a missionary, we'd hear all the time: "Well, we're not going to join your church because it doesn't match our beliefs." Well, that's fine if you don't want to join, but shouldn't 'beliefs' correspond to what's actually true, rather than the other way around? What good does a church that exactly mirrors your beliefs do for you if the principles of the religion don't happen to be based on fact?
This would be like believing there was no Civil War in America, and then instead of altering your beliefs upon learning about the Civil War in a history class, switching history classes until you found a teacher that taught that the Civil War never happened. Isn't the point of history classes to learn the truth, regardless of whether you believed in it before?
Note that this isn't a "The LDS Church is true, and all other churches are false!" argument, but rather something more general. Truth is absolute, not relative, and I find it surprising that many people value 'comfort' and 'closeness' over 'truth' when considering religions, which begs the question of what they think the purpose of religion is, anyway...
March 29, 2004 in Religion | Permalink
Comments
answer should be more specific, highlighting in point form the purpose of religion
average site
Posted by: zootroy | Apr 17, 2004 6:07:06 PM
Um...okay. Thanks for stopping by, I guess...
How about this:
The purpose of religion is:
(1) To learn truths about God
(2) To learn truths about ourselves and our relationship to Him
Posted by: The Baron | Apr 20, 2004 3:50:28 PM
you suck
Posted by: Be w | Jan 18, 2005 7:40:10 PM
When it comes to religions, how does one know what is "truth"? By your argument, Truth is determined by the church, and though many perceive the church as divine, it's leaders are still human, and not infallible. Truth is a treasure that is searched for, and when found, will resonate in the heart of the believer.
Posted by: tantress | Jun 14, 2006 8:53:00 PM
No, I think I said exactly the opposite. "Truth" is constant, not 'determined' by any Church. A Church is true only as far as it has aligned itself with things that are true (which are still true whether any Church believes it or not...)
Posted by: The Baron | Jun 15, 2006 7:02:37 AM
Truth??? Every one that is a member of a religion believes that theirs is the truth. If each religion is going by the HOLY BIBLE, then it specifically said that you must walk by faith and believe, there is no PROVEN FACTS. That is why people go with organizations/religions that agree with their beliefs because no one knows the "right" interpretation of the bible. There is no proof that the bible is even an inspired work of GOD. PLEASE DO NOT DISREGARD THAT BELIEFS ARE THE MAJOR FACTOR OF RELIGION.
Posted by: angie | Oct 15, 2006 7:06:38 PM
I do not think you fully answered the question as to what the purpose of religion is. What is the purpose of us "creating" religions? OR Why do we have religions at all? Can you answer these questions
Posted by: anonymous | Nov 20, 2006 1:29:50 PM
I am interested in the purpose of religion overall. I have searched the web looking for a universal purpose to religion. Buddhists don't believe in God or any god for that matter. Why do they subscribe to religion? Moreover why is humankind compelled to find a religion that matches their beliefs or resonates as true to them? It can't be for the "social" aspect of it because people subscribe to religions that don't require religious fellowship. I beleive that people need and want answers and each religion (for the most part) claims that they have it. Most religions call for faith. Faith keeps people beliving( as well as putting money in the collection plate). is something you have when there is nothing else concrete. For example Christians have faith the bible is divine. There is no real evidence it is such. It was commisioned by a polititian (Constantine), books were left out on the whim of a group of men. If George Bush or any other president for that matter commisioned a religious text that was to be held as "true and infallable" most people would be understadably skeptical. For you being LDS, why do you believe that Joesph Smith had insight that should be followed? Could it have just been charisma? Thousands followed Hitler and believed his "truth". I by no means am equating Joesph Smith's beliefs with Hitler but what I am trying to illustrate is, if a "truth" comes from someone who is charismatic in some way and fills a need in someone's life they can gain a certain following whether or not it is right. How can you be so sure that Joesph Smith's revelations are true or for that matter anything is true without proof? What is wrong with believing in something solely on it resonates with you and "feels" true. My truth can be(and is) different than yours and it is no less valid. I have no more proof that I am right than you do. No text written by man, is written without some motive. I can write a text and say it is infallible and God wrote it through me and it doesn't make it so. I am not trying to be offensive. I just want to impress that there are no concrete truths in the spiritual world and the logic that finding a church to teach you the "truth" is flawed. We won't know the truth for absolute until we die and that is even a maybe.
Posted by: skeptic | Feb 11, 2007 4:35:49 PM
eveyone has their own theory on the bible,was it written by man or god,that is the question.or can you find the one true relgion who teaches the truth.well for any sincere seaker of truth they must do research and make the truth their own .for instance the bible was written over 1,600 year period.their were around 44 different men and a total of 66 books that were brought together into one volume.its writers lived at different times and came from many walks of life. some were farmers,fisherman and sheperds.others were profits,judges,doctor,and, kings. despite all the varied backgrounds of its writers,the bible is harmonious from beginning to end.so if the bible was written by man there is no possible way to continue to write a book over such a long period of time and stay in harmony,so the conclusion would be that someone guided these men and that would be god.and on the subject of truth, if truthe from god exists, why must i search to find it? some ask.if god has an important message for all mankind,would he not convey it clearly enough so that poeple would grasp it immediatlely,without the need for investigation? surely god has the ability to do such a thing,but is that the way he has chosen to communicate truth? actually, god conveys his messages in a way that allows sincere seekers of truth to search them out.to begin even to search out truth first you must have the right heart condition.second to find truth you must know god as a person his qualities what he likes and dislikes,understand his laws and principles.when one finds the truth,he or she is moved to share it enthusiastically.however,the bible truth once found instills conviction.it does not leave one wondering if truth is attainable or if all religions might lead to salvation. finding the truth begins with an earnest examination, which does require humility.you know there are so many religions out there who is teaching the truth,even jesus made it clear that some forms of worship are not ecceptable to god.he spoke of false prophets,comparing them to a tree that produces worthless fruit,and gets cut down and thrown into the fire.also regarding some who claim to follow him that goes for our time also,he says that i will confess to them: i never knew you! get away from me you workers of lawlessness,(mathew 7:23) also it is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach docterines commands of men. mark 7:6,7. so clearly,not all worship is approved by god or his son,thus not all worship is true worship,their is ones out there that are teacing the truth you just have to ivestigate.features of true religion that might help some one find the truth,an organization who looks to gods word as their guide.example living in a way that pleases god not how you think you should live.their is more leave it up to you to read,also this organization teaches that jesus is gods son and they are not some trinity,also jesus said that you will no that you are my disciples if you have love among yourselve.what organization out there has love among themselves,you see all kinds of people that claim to have love among themselves but do they,just look at their conduct,maybe its going into wars to fight for your country and to kill someone that you dont know that possibly is in the same organization as you but in another country.so the true religion would not do these things,also jesus said that i am no part of this world so if you were sincere in following truth you would try to stay with bible standards,there are more but getting tired of looking at this computer screen,one more thing the ones that have the truth are the ones that are preaching the good news in all the inhabitted earth.and the good news is the earth will be brought back to paradise conditions what adam and eve lost,so we will have the privalage of everlasting life on this new earth that is really what the bible teaches,if you have a hard time with that just read genesis,god made paradise for adam and eve and he told them to be fruitfull and subdue the earth so he was telling them to spread that pradise garden of eden to the whole earth,even tho they messed up gods original purpose has not changed this organization will help you in really understanding what the bible teaches.
Posted by: john | Mar 6, 2008 7:57:43 PM
eveyone has their own theory on the bible,was it written by man or god,that is the question.or can you find the one true relgion who teaches the truth.well for any sincere seaker of truth they must do research and make the truth their own .for instance the bible was written over 1,600 year period.their were around 44 different men and a total of 66 books that were brought together into one volume.its writers lived at different times and came from many walks of life. some were farmers,fisherman and sheperds.others were profits,judges,doctor,and, kings. despite all the varied backgrounds of its writers,the bible is harmonious from beginning to end.so if the bible was written by man there is no possible way to continue to write a book over such a long period of time and stay in harmony,so the conclusion would be that someone guided these men and that would be god.and on the subject of truth, if truthe from god exists, why must i search to find it? some ask.if god has an important message for all mankind,would he not convey it clearly enough so that poeple would grasp it immediatlely,without the need for investigation? surely god has the ability to do such a thing,but is that the way he has chosen to communicate truth? actually, god conveys his messages in a way that allows sincere seekers of truth to search them out.to begin even to search out truth first you must have the right heart condition.second to find truth you must know god as a person his qualities what he likes and dislikes,understand his laws and principles.when one finds the truth,he or she is moved to share it enthusiastically.however,the bible truth once found instills conviction.it does not leave one wondering if truth is attainable or if all religions might lead to salvation. finding the truth begins with an earnest examination, which does require humility.you know there are so many religions out there who is teaching the truth,even jesus made it clear that some forms of worship are not ecceptable to god.he spoke of false prophets,comparing them to a tree that produces worthless fruit,and gets cut down and thrown into the fire.also regarding some who claim to follow him that goes for our time also,he says that i will confess to them: i never knew you! get away from me you workers of lawlessness,(mathew 7:23) also it is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach docterines commands of men. mark 7:6,7. so clearly,not all worship is approved by god or his son,thus not all worship is true worship,their is ones out there that are teacing the truth you just have to ivestigate.features of true religion that might help some one find the truth,an organization who looks to gods word as their guide.example living in a way that pleases god not how you think you should live.their is more leave it up to you to read,also this organization teaches that jesus is gods son and they are not some trinity,also jesus said that you will no that you are my disciples if you have love among yourselve.what organization out there has love among themselves,you see all kinds of people that claim to have love among themselves but do they,just look at their conduct,maybe its going into wars to fight for your country and to kill someone that you dont know that possibly is in the same organization as you but in another country.so the true religion would not do these things,also jesus said that i am no part of this world so if you were sincere in following truth you would try to stay with bible standards,there are more but getting tired of looking at this computer screen,one more thing the ones that have the truth are the ones that are preaching the good news in all the inhabitted earth.and the good news is the earth will be brought back to paradise conditions what adam and eve lost,so we will have the privalage of everlasting life on this new earth that is really what the bible teaches,if you have a hard time with that just read genesis,god made paradise for adam and eve and he told them to be fruitfull and subdue the earth so he was telling them to spread that pradise garden of eden to the whole earth,even tho they messed up gods original purpose has not changed this organization will help you in really understanding what the bible teaches.
Posted by: john | Mar 6, 2008 7:59:15 PM
