What is the need of Religion?

[Levanaye Zalmaye]

Nonetheless, it still leaves tremendous gaps and holes in your logic. Rene Descartes contributed to rational thought, yet he was still a believer. Might want to reconsider or give proofs to back up your conclusions.

You're talking about the 17th century... Brilliant and forward minds such as Newton (that guy had some WACKY ideas) and even Emmanuel Kant were believers. One of the reasons for this is that there were no alternate theories during those times that explained the origins of the universe, the origin of living beings, etc, etc.

[IamDZJ]

Nothing other than scinetific knowledge can give us true determination. NOT TRUE.
The real basis of congregation and satisfaction of the gregarious instinct is the concept of human welfare and progress which cannot be guaranteed by any metaphysical concept prone to misinterpretation but by the verifiable and falsifiable facts of science.

SO EVERY AND EACH SINGLE ONE OF THEM ARE HEADED THE WRONG WAY BECAUSE THE ACTUAL OBJECTIVE TO THEIR LIVES ARE NOT WHAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN IT TO BE ACCORDING TO YOU? WHO ARE YOU TO DECIDE ON BEHALF OF EITHER ONE OF THEM? ARE YOU AN ATHEIST? PERSONAL OPINIONS SHOULD BE STATED AS PERSONAL OPINIONS. NOT DeCLARED.

AND IF YOU HAVE SUCH A PROFOUND IDEA OF THE PURPOSE IT SERVES, THEN WHY BOTHER WASTING EVERY ONE ELSE'S TIME?

[MeemWawMeemNoon]

pir_Rokhan Jana,

Allah exists. He has created man. Now that man has been created, man has to realize that there is a Creator Who has created him. His Creator has created him for a purpose. The purpose of man's creation has been always been conveyed through prophets.

Prophets are people who have always been intellectually and morally far advance for their time. Allah selects prophets and tells them about His existence and why man needs to turn to God. The messages that God gives His prophets to convey to the society which the prophet has been sent to contain solutions to their societal and moral issues.

Understanding solutions to societal and moral issues will lead man towards his purpose, which to understand that he was not been created in vein, to do as he pleases. His purpose, his end, is to be conscious that God exists and to worship God.

Man can choose not to worship his Creator. Not worshiping his Creator will not serve his purpose. In fact, not worshiping God in this life will only postpone his spiritual growth. Spirituality is a system which determines how close you are to God. Nonetheless, he would have to eventually come to terms that God does exist and submit himself to Him. The reason being is that once an individual's existence has been established it cannot be undone.

Hence, religion is a means to his end.

[MeemWawMeemNoon]

Many theists console themselves by saying that this and that philosopher were believers and religeous people without knowing that one might believe in a lot of irrational things personally however they cannot dare to present those ideas to the academic world.The collective wisdom of humanity always rejects any claims based on personal likes or dislikes unless the arguments are rational ,logical and convincing.

Actually, no, we Muslims don't "console ourselves by saying that this and that philosopher were believers." The sunnah of the Holy Prophet (saw) is enough for us Muslims to know that Islam is a way of life.

I brought up Rene Descarte because he was used as a bench mark in the time-line.

[MeemWawMeemNoon]

You're talking about the 17th century... Brilliant and forward minds such as Newton (that guy had some WACKY ideas) and even Emmanuel Kant were believers. One of the reasons for this is that there were no alternate theories during those times that explained the origins of the universe, the origin of living beings, etc, etc.

The irony of your statement is that today in the secular world these great minds are the bench mark for knowledge. Might want to reconsider your statement.

[Michin Khel]

Does anybuddy over here has any reasonable and rational explanation as to what is the need of religion in the first place?

A good question...
Though i have no rationale explanation for your question but it has stirred my whole network of neurons in action to think about the question...
Fields of science can not give us guidance on morality...the morality is linked with religion not physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics etc...morality is set of principles concerning right and wrong...my religion is islam and so far it has never disappointment me in giving me proper guidance about what is wrong and what is right. Advancement in science has occured much later and is confirming moral principles of islam one by one.
e.g islam prohibited eating pork 1400 years ago, biological sciences now confirms that pork has large number of parasites and worms which in human will cause number of diseases.
Islam made drinking alchol haraam, science also agrees now that chronic use of alchol leads to number of pathologic disorders.
Islam encouraged me 1400 years ago to use the tooth brush of that time, maswag regularly. Science of today says that occurance of many diseases can be prevented by keeping hyigenic oral cavity.

from above examples one may assume that if science is making us aware about health then what is so special about islam or other religion? Science explains things and phenomenons, it doesnt guide us on morals e.g
according to islam when a man marries a woman, both are supposed to fullfill certain rights of each other and beside fullfilling sexual needs, there come some responsibilities on the couple. Man is supposed to provide food, clothes and shelter to the family while wife has to take care and nourish kids. Husband and wife both are prohibited to do adultery.
Now in the above case
1) science explains only fertilization of sperm and egg, concieving of pregnancy and child birth or various kind of sexual behaviours resulting from estrogen or testasterone...it doesnt bother about marraige contract or responsibilities on parents after birth of child. If i exclude islam from my life, and hear to the wishes of testasterone then all i just do will be knocking up a girl, gifting her with a ******* then not bothering about mother and infant, because according to science i m not bound to care about them. Practically i will behave like an animal.

[MeemWawMeemNoon]

^Masha Allah!

[wtfyo]

Does anybuddy over here has any reasonable and rational explanation as to what is the need of religion in the first place?

Great question! I ask myself that every day! Religions promotes well being of people and societies HOWEVER every religion has an element of competition involved, everyone claims to be the "right" one. To me religion only causes division and conflict, unless you are living in a part of the world where the religion is common. Overall religions are very hypocritical and contradicting on most issues they present. Although religion did introduce many rules/laws which were stolen to common law based out of ancient Rome. Everyone should be just tolerant of others as long as the religion doesn't surpass common law.

[imb706]

You're talking about the 17th century... Brilliant and forward minds such as Newton (that guy had some WACKY ideas) and even Emmanuel Kant were believers. One of the reasons for this is that there were no alternate theories during those times that explained the origins of the universe, the origin of living beings, etc, etc.

Well, usually, when people talk of scientist who did believe in god and magic and such, they were pre-Darwin.

[inqilab]

Who decides what is good and what is bad? Science does not define what is right or wrong. That is not the purpose of science. And it is only limited to how things come about. Not why. Why will only lead to a Creator.

Now if you do not believe in a creator. That is another issue. All you have to do is create a chapter equal or better then the Quran. Because the Quran itself is an unmatchable miracle. It is a proof that Allah exists. It proves that Islam is the best and only way of life. There is not a single principle of Islam that is against humanity as a whole.

As i mentioned before. Morality cannot be defined by society. It cannot be subjective. As this leads to injustice against others. What is good for one person might not be good for another. Only the one who created us can decide.

[ozymandias]

The true religion, Islam is a means for mankind to live a decent life and obtain the favor of Allah and be granted an eternal life in paradise.

So... no?

[wtfyo]

Wtfyo,

care to elaborate your stance with some proof and sources, You made a bunch of claims I'd like to see you show PF'ers(If you are able to) how Islam is hypocritical and how it meets the conclusion you drawed out.

Claims without a logical argument or sources is void.
It might be your theory, or assumption.

Thanks for your response. For example, take the three major monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. What have these religions achieved so far which has made the society equal or encouraged tolerance? All three have been in competition, even though all of them have one root: Abraham. What is the point of competing? What is the point of believing in rules and regulations set forth by people who lived thousands of years ago? People have brought up things such as adultery and alcoholism. If someone drinks alcohol, is that person "bad"? If someone has had pre-marital sex...is that person "bad"? We have programs/systems in place which take care of things like alcoholism, unexpected pregnancies, stds and so on. Early on if religion did not stand in the way of science, as a human race we would've been significantly more advanced. Humans are flawed by default however society as a whole has common grounds which doesn't require the input of religion to rectify things. Yes these aren't strong points, rather opinions of mine, but I stand by them.


Why don't you refute my point by using a religion? What is the point of religion?

[imb706]

Who decides what is good and what is bad? Science does not define what is right or wrong. That is not the purpose of science. And it is only limited to how things come about. Not why. Why will only lead to a Creator.

Actually, you´re right, Science doesn´t define what is ¨right or wrong.¨ But since Science is the process of determing what is true and what is not true, it´s better to base your opinions, views and policies on it.

¨Science cannot only be used by industry to create technology, science must also be used by the public to make decisions. Without this latter case, science has no morality and, more importantly, our morality has no science.

In a world that is being rapidly changed by technology, our instincts are no longer necessarily suitable to the situation at hand. Our lives are no longer in the ancient context. Our evolved morality no longer corresponds to the situations that face us. Instinct is no longer good enough and the stakes are so high that only science and reason can truly guide our judgment.¨

Religion is obviously needed and billions care for it.

Strange statement to be made, especially since me and many like me obviously don´t need it.

[MazloomyarMaseed]

Well...We follow faith so our society doesnt turn out like what you see on Jerry springers shows.

[imb706]

Well...We follow faith so our society doesnt turn out like what you see on Jerry springers shows.

::snicker:: Nope, it just turns into a terrorized state full of fear and oppression XD. Plus, isn´t Jerry Springer a fake show that no one watches (plus, isn´t the sterotype of that show that it´s Bible thumping southerners?).