Is religion a man-made insitution? (rituals, Revelation, pray, spiritual)

Master Vigil · #1 01-20-2006, 12:06 AM

What do you think? Is it a man-made institution or is it a god-made institution? Or is it something else?

nightwolf · #2 01-20-2006, 12:38 AM

I think it is a man made thing. But I also believe that religion fits into the whole spiritual worlds agreement. There is without a doubt things going on in the spiritual world that need to be reconized and religion helps us see these things. Like lets take the bible for instance (since one of the biggest religions is christain), I believe that any God had no intentions of having written proof of anything. Man kind decided to sit down to write a book about God and he came in and helped write the book. There are things without a doubt that go on in our everyday life that cannot be explained in any other way then mysteries. I think as humans we always hope (or become convinced) we are a part of something bigger. Alot of people would not want to except the fact that there is a chance that we are simply here, we die and thats the end, althought thats not what I believe.

Interesting topic, got my brain thinking.

Green Gaia · #3 01-20-2006, 06:48 AM

I do not believe any religions are revealed from a divine source; they are all man-made, IMO.

angellous_evangellous · #4 01-20-2006, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Master Vigil

What do you think? Is it a man-made institution or is it a god-made institution? Or is it something else?

Since none of us can prove that any gods exist, we must conclude that religion is definately a man-made institution, which I think is the primeval form of human government: giving divine meaning and purpose to the norms of a society and the community's pattern of life. The goal, of course, of religion is the self-preservation of the community.

That is not to say that personal or communal faith has no object. We must hope that there is something else and by faith allow religion to give purpose to our lives.

Suraj · #5 01-20-2006, 08:40 AM

Religion is definitely man-made. Even if religion was a divine revelation to somebody, it was man who had to institutionalize that and devise the rituals that are characteristic of all religions. I honestly doubt that it was God who said to man to worship idols, or to get baptized in water or to pray fives times a day.

I don't see how any of these rituals make man a better person.

Engyo · #6 01-20-2006, 08:43 AM

I gotta go with the flow here; how can religion be anything but man-made?

jeffrey · #7 01-20-2006, 08:49 AM

Man made, for man's benefit. God is God and does not benefit from us, but us from him. Religion is how we believe we can do his will, with many different concepts, man made concepts, of what God wants.

Aqualung · #8 01-20-2006, 08:57 AM

I think some religions are man made, but not mine.

I also think some are man-progressed, in that it started out as god's religion, but then men decided to take control.

Aqualung · #9 01-20-2006, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suraj

I don't see how any of these rituals make man a better person.

They make us a better person because they humble us and increase our faith because we're willing to do whatever it takes for him. It's like that story in the bible about the guy who had leprosy, and the prophet told him to wash seven times in the jordan.