Functional Aspects of Religion

The desirability of religion or faith can and has been debated since time immemorial (atleast in a few select parts of the world). However, it has survived despite all the critiques and rebellions. Probably this points to the fact that it somehow served some important purpose and continues to do so in the social evolution of mankind. This paper here, tries to explore those functional aspects of religion with a special reference to the afterlife..

link removed

All comments are welcome..

Perhaps you could give a short summary in your own words what the paper says?

verio87 said:

The desirability of religion or faith can and has been debated since time immemorial (atleast in a few select parts of the world). However, it has survived despite all the critiques and rebellions. Probably this points to the fact that it somehow served some important purpose and continues to do so in the social evolution of mankind. This paper here, tries to explore those functional aspects of religion with a special reference to the afterlife..

link removed

All comments are welcome..

Click to expand...

As Riverwolf said...a short summary would be helpful.

For my money I place some degree of faith in the general common sense of humanity...sure we screw up and even mess up a good thing when we have it...but we tend, over time, to preserve what is valuable, useful, functional and abandon what is not.

That religion "has survived despite all the critiques and rebellions" seems to me a pretty good indicator that it holds/retains intrinsic worth/value.

Even if that value is no greater than a narrative to believe in and a sence of community, belonging and purpose....these appear to be "functional aspects of religion" without any "special reference to the afterlife".