Just wondering....

I am new to this site and really enjoy reading peoples' posts. As I have browsed various forums, I have noticed a frequently repeating theme, that is, members who are struggling to discern where they stand in the broader religious world.

Sometimes, the writer is seeking opinions about specific faith traditions that most closely match their beliefs. Others post the question by proposing a label, often combining aspects of two or more traditions, and inviting feedback.

The common denominator seems to be a desire to identify with a particular tradition and to be named among its members.

So here's the question: what accounts for our need to identify or be labelled with with a religious tradition or school of thought? Is it our need for self-definition? Our need for affiliation?

I am interested in hearing your thoughts. Thanks!

It's for a sense of security because it is usually true that there is safety in numbers.

savagewind said:

It's for a sense of security because it is usually true that there is safety in numbers.

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Yes, I think that security is likely to be an important part of it. Thanks!

It's largely our social instincts, and basic need to "belong". Security in numbers is a major survival advantage these instincts bring, and so is a big reason "why" these instincts develop in some animals, including many primates.

But I think there's more going on. We can have safety in numbers without belonging to a specific religious tradition. So how does religion itself fit into all this? It's an interesting question that I think I might be too hungry and/or caffeine-deprived to delve into at this moment, but I'm sure I'll be back with more later. Food for thought, if nothing else.

wintersolstice said:

I am new to this site and really enjoy reading peoples' posts. As I have browsed various forums, I have noticed a frequently repeating theme, that is, members who are struggling to discern where they stand in the broader religious world.

Sometimes, the writer is seeking opinions about specific faith traditions that most closely match their beliefs. Others post the question by proposing a label, often combining aspects of two or more traditions, and inviting feedback.

The common denominator seems to be a desire to identify with a particular tradition and to be named among its members.

So here's the question: what accounts for our need to identify or be labelled with with a religious tradition or school of thought? Is it our need for self-definition? Our need for affiliation?

I am interested in hearing your thoughts. Thanks!

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I want to believe. It's not for the definition, although sometimes some things in life are easier if you can name the box you're in rather than having to craft your own box. (Think genres of movies or music, it's easier to say "Action" or "Rock" rather than "New Age Metal with a hiphop edge, but more electronica" )

But I want there to be something out there, for me the desire for belief trumps the desire to fit in.

Riverwolf said:

It's largely our social instincts, and basic need to "belong". Security in numbers is a major survival advantage these instincts bring, and so is a big reason "why" these instincts develop in some animals, including many primates.

But I think there's more going on. We can have safety in numbers without belonging to a specific religious tradition. So how does religion itself fit into all this? It's an interesting question that I think I might be too hungry and/or caffeine-deprived to delve into at this moment, but I'm sure I'll be back with more later. Food for thought, if nothing else.

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Enjoy your coffee! I appreciate your thoughts and agree that it is far more than affiliation and security. I am intrigued by the need for a label that seems to be reflected in many of the posts that I am referring to. Also, finding it interesting that there is an implied need for labeling (validation?) by an external source rather than self-definition.

wintersolstice said:

I am new to this site and really enjoy reading peoples' posts. As I have browsed various forums, I have noticed a frequently repeating theme, that is, members who are struggling to discern where they stand in the broader religious world.

Sometimes, the writer is seeking opinions about specific faith traditions that most closely match their beliefs. Others post the question by proposing a label, often combining aspects of two or more traditions, and inviting feedback.

The common denominator seems to be a desire to identify with a particular tradition and to be named among its members.

So here's the question: what accounts for our need to identify or be labelled with with a religious tradition or school of thought? Is it our need for self-definition? Our need for affiliation?

I am interested in hearing your thoughts. Thanks!

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I think that people like to feel as if they belong. There is a certain camaraderie one feels in associating with like-thinking people. When someone isn't quite sure where he fits in, and then discovers that a group of other people share his beliefs on a certain topic, it often makes him wonder what other beliefs they have that might resonate with him. I think that we do like to label ourselves in most aspects of our lives. It makes understanding our place in the world a little easier.

wintersolstice said:

I am new to this site and really enjoy reading peoples' posts. As I have browsed various forums, I have noticed a frequently repeating theme, that is, members who are struggling to discern where they stand in the broader religious world.

Sometimes, the writer is seeking opinions about specific faith traditions that most closely match their beliefs. Others post the question by proposing a label, often combining aspects of two or more traditions, and inviting feedback.

The common denominator seems to be a desire to identify with a particular tradition and to be named among its members.

So here's the question: what accounts for our need to identify or be labelled with with a religious tradition or school of thought? Is it our need for self-definition? Our need for affiliation?

I am interested in hearing your thoughts. Thanks!

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Actually, I am not overly interested in being named among the many. Few are they who shall find God. And I'm one of them.
I do not feel the need to be identified or labeled with any particular religious tradition. I do not seek self definition. I seek only the truth. In fact, when I find others who believe as I do, I find their conversation very boring. They cannot tell me anything I don't already know. And that's boring to me.

I come to this site for one purpose and one purpose only, and that is to show the atheist that he is unreasonable and dead wrong.

Welcome to RF.

wintersolstice said:

Enjoy your coffee!

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I hate coffee.

I appreciate your thoughts and agree that it is far more than affiliation and security. I am intrigued by the need for a label that seems to be reflected in many of the posts that I am referring to. Also, finding it interesting that there is an implied need for labeling (validation?) by an external source rather than self-definition.

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I think validation is a big reason for it. As much as a lot of modern society tries to demonize the need for any external help or influence, the simple truth is that humans are a tribe-social species. Except for people who have anti-social disorders, we simply cannot function in a psychologically healthy way unless we have a consistent community with a clearly-defined identity. Self-definition is, in effect, impossible.

It's not unique to religious believers. My experience on a forum for the Far Left, (whom I think were about 50-60% atheists, maybe about 10% agnostics) the first question people when they signed up generally ask is "what tendency am I?" in much the same way as figuring out what religion or sect a person belongs to. It's like starting somewhere new, not knowing the rules or people and asking "where do I fit in?" or "What role do I play?". We tend to reduce our choices to something more manageable as it can be a bit overwhelming.
I think it is part of that constant battle between the desire to belong and the desire to realize our uniqueness. We're born social animals who are mutually dependent on one another, and individuality has to grow over time both individually and in societies. Our very primitive desire to belong kicks in when we panic and we can end up behaving like herd animals (sometimes when that's precisely the wrong thing to do). It's possible that individuality is a product of socialization rather than purely our own efforts; it's the people around us and our environment and the way that we respond to them that make us unique.
Often it can be a way of finding an identity or set of rules to adhere to or simply a starting position so we can set off onto what ever journey we're on. Finding Individuality and the uniqueness in applying our beliefs takes much longer as that means we've learned a lot about them and tested them out and found out what does/doesn't work for yourself. Fulfillment is somewhere in the middle, but the desire for certainty in any system of beliefs is a perverse one, since often it is the ability to accept uncertainty and the capacity to entertain doubt that is the measure of strong convictions. "I want to believe" often translates as "I want to belong", but not always; sometimes "I want to believe" can mean "I want to know I can do this on my own".

Riverwolf said:

It's largely our social instincts, and basic need to "belong". Security in numbers is a major survival advantage these instincts bring, and so is a big reason "why" these instincts develop in some animals, including many primates.

But I think there's more going on. We can have safety in numbers without belonging to a specific religious tradition. So how does religion itself fit into all this? It's an interesting question that I think I might be too hungry and/or caffeine-deprived to delve into at this moment, but I'm sure I'll be back with more later. Food for thought, if nothing else.

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Before we were born we were all a part of the Godhead (universal consciousness), so our need to belong is innate

budha3 said:

Before we were born we were all a part of the Godhead (universal consciousness), so our need to belong is innate

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It's more to do with our social instincts. Not all other animals demonstrate the same need, despite (theoretically) coming from the same Godhead, so I doubt having the same ultimate Source (which I'm sure I have a completely different view of than you) has anything to do with it.

We all strive to be, at the same time, authentic and well-accepted, well-understood. Hoping to find a group that has a well-defined identity and is also highly compatible with our own ways is of course appealing.

Sometimes one comes to that dilemma by way of finding the group first. One may admire, say, the wisdom or the mutual dedication of a specific religious community or denomination and decide to "apply" for it in some way.

Facing the world alone and unacknowledged is simply not appealing for nearly anyone.

I

LuisDantas said:

We all strive to be, at the same time, authentic and well-accepted, well-understood. Hoping to find a group that has a well-defined identity and is also highly compatible with our own ways is of course appealing.

Sometimes one comes to that dilemma by way of finding the group first. One may admire, say, the wisdom or the mutual dedication of a specific religious community or denomination and decide to "apply" for it in some way.

Facing the world alone and unacknowledged is simply not appealing for nearly anyone.

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I think that the last sentence of your post summarizes a very basic human need. Maybe our attempt to recreate or refashion our family of origin?

From well regarded Ohio State Univeristy.
Psychological reasons for seeking a power greater than mankind.
F.W.I.W.
New Theory Suggests People Are Attracted To Religion For 16 Reasons

jeager106 said:

From well regarded Ohio State Univeristy.
Psychological reasons for seeking a power greater than mankind.
F.W.I.W.
New Theory Suggests People Are Attracted To Religion For 16 Reasons

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Thanks for posting this link. The article expands and develops many ideas that were mentioned in this thread.

wintersolstice said:

I am interested in hearing your thoughts. Thanks!

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Well as far as what I believe the bible says that everyone has a knowledge of God through His invisible qualities in His creations.
Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

So people are forever looking for something outside themselves because of this inner knowledge of God. But they substitute God for all sorts of different things. We all ask ourselves the big questions about life like who am I, where do we come from and what happens when we die. We search fro meaning and people can turn to many different things looking for the answers. Its easy for people to be swayed by others especially if they are unsure of themselves and what they believe. There are some many influences coming at people from and because we want to belong and find that meaning in life we can be easily fooled. But I believe that Gods invisible qualities are known to us and we can sit and be still and see God in His creation. Some believe that life and existence came from nothing. But yet we can see that there is something special in life and the universe.

But many religions have some similar ideas. In fact the three big ones of Christianity, Islam and Judaism all have a similar belief in the God of creation and the old testament. Then there are the Dharmic religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism which are broadly the same as each other. Then there are the new age beliefs which dont have any of the structure traditional religions have. They are more free flowing and spiritual. But all religion has a similar aspect in that a person is looking beyond themselves to the meaning of life. That is apposed to say atheism which believes there is no God. Many atheists though it is not automatic believe that life is more self creating and naturalistic.