Tangible Earthly Benefits of Your Religion

Fish and Bread · May 29, 2006

A lot of attention is paid to the afterlife and reincarnation and so on and so forth, but not much is mentioned about what one gets here on earth for being an adherent of a particular religion. I'd be interested in seeing what people feel their religion offers them in the here and now that is both tangible and verifiable (i.e. objectively there, like a free ticket to a baseball game, BBQ chicken after church, or getting to use the sanctuary for a wedding if you marry -- not "a feeling of peace" or whatever). So, what are the tangible earthly benefits of your religion?

Mike182 · May 29, 2006

a moral code to live by is my initial thought.... i don't think there are many benefits, other than possible social, that religion provides people that, say, atheists would be lacking

Ody · May 29, 2006

If you are in a religion for the physical benefits, i don't really think you chose the religion with your heart, soul and mind..Moral codes come without religion...

Feathers in Hair · May 29, 2006

Infinite compassion. I think, as much as it can hurt sometimes, that its wealth is beyond measure.

Ody · May 29, 2006

FeathersinHair said:
Infinite compassion. I think, as much as it can hurt sometimes, that its wealth is beyond measure.

That comes without religion, what i think the op was asking is what specific gift is attained by a certain religion that it gets that other religions do not get? Ya i kinda think that is what he was asking...

Mike182 · May 29, 2006

AlanGurvey said:
That comes without religion, what i think the op was asking is what specific gift is attained by a certain religion that it gets that other religions do not get? Ya i kinda think that is what he was asking...

anything mundane that religion can give us can be found without religion

Feathers in Hair · May 29, 2006

AlanGurvey said:
That comes without religion, what i think the op was asking is what specific gift is attained by a certain religion that it gets that other religions do not get? Ya i kinda think that is what he was asking...

Actually, I view that as a specific gift of my own religion. I agree that the OP was asking something else, though, as he did say tangible.

I'm not sure about what such an item would be. If I had to choose, I'd say that the visions of the goddesses are a material thing, as they can sometimes be drawn. (Not as well as I'd like, though I'm learning to seperate that from my enjoyment of it.)

standing_on_one_foot · May 29, 2006

Hmm...a community is something that springs to mind. Pretty good food and stories and a history and a lot to argue about. Not that you couldn't get this without religion, but Judaism seems to have the community thing down in a pretty fundamental way, which is something I like. Um. The ability to get to Israel if I needed to, I suppose. Immunity to tell stupid jokes relating to Judaism without worrying about seeming anti-Semitic, let's be honest here.

Ody · May 29, 2006

Mike182 said:
anything mundane that religion can give us can be found without religion

I wouldn't say compassion is mundane... humanity is devoid of compassion generally.

Scarlett Wampus · May 29, 2006

The two strongest religious influences on me has been Zen and Taoism. Pretty much no tangibly and verifiably earthly benefits from those, unless you count better physical health (esp. in regards to Taoist practices) and mental health (esp. in regards to meditation).

Booko · May 29, 2006

Fish and Bread said:
A lot of attention is paid to the afterlife and reincarnation and so on and so forth, but not much is mentioned about what one gets here on earth for being an adherent of a particular religion. I'd be interested in seeing what people feel their religion offers them in the here and now that is both tangible and verifiable (i.e. objectively there, like a free ticket to a baseball game, BBQ chicken after church, or getting to use the sanctuary for a wedding if you marry -- not "a feeling of peace" or whatever). So, what are the tangible earthly benefits of your religion?

Uh, I never have to worry about getting addicted to drugs or booze?

Hm, maybe I don't have to worry that humanity will destroy itself and that we will get through our current mess and emerge into a much greater civilization than we've seen before.

Can't think of any material benefits.

lunamoth · May 29, 2006

The conviction that God is love and generosity in my love (charity) toward others. Freedom from fear and anxiety. Hope for the future. Rest for my soul, vigor for my heart, transformation for my soul.

28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Added in edit: While the tangible effects I experience might not be 'visible' in themselves, they do lead to a tangible difference in the way I interact in the world. Thus, the more observable material benefits actually go to other people. And maybe their response in kind is apparent as well.

lunamoth

mr.guy · May 29, 2006

tax exemptions?

Buttercup · May 29, 2006

Fish and Bread said:
A lot of attention is paid to the afterlife and reincarnation and so on and so forth, but not much is mentioned about what one gets here on earth for being an adherent of a particular religion. I'd be interested in seeing what people feel their religion offers them in the here and now that is both tangible and verifiable

Not sure if you could 'verify' the peace of mind I receive from my spiritual/religious leanings, but it's there just the same. Add happiness in there as well.

I believe that my Christian leanings over the last 25 years has caused me to look at human nature from a more sympathetic and compassionate viewpoint. And most certainly, my philanthrophic endeavours started with believing I should do as Christ would do....help and love people.

Bishka · May 29, 2006

Hmm...Tangiable benefits

I get married for free in a house of worship....
I get a sense of community.........
I have friends with the same values as me.....

Potlucks, barbeques, camping trips, etc.

Lots of fun

Oh yes, and a a place to worship, free-from the cares of the world, with a roof over it's head.

Green Gaia · May 29, 2006

Fish and Bread said:
So, what are the tangible earthly benefits of your religion?

A community that shares and respects my values,
A vehicle for me to help make positive change happen
A loving and safe community for my children to grow up in and feel they have a safe place to ask questions (outside of me)

I'm sure there's more, but that's all I can think of out the moment.

Mr. Hair · May 29, 2006

Hmmmmm... Tangible, tangible you say...

*ponders*

Well, thanks to Tai Chi I can now pat my head and rub my stomach at the same time. If that ain't a benefit, I don't know what is...

It's hard for me to answer questions like these. I can never really define where my religion stops and I begin, or even if there is such a line. What springs to mind is greater awareness of all that is around me, and greater perspective of all that is within me. Everything else springs from this.

I guess whether or not these things are verifiable depends on your viewpoint, from in here they seem pretty evident.

Unfortunately for your question, I've found that Tao Jia doesn't bring many immediate earthly benefits.

kassi · May 30, 2006

Scarlett Wampus said:
The two strongest religious influences on me has been Zen and Taoism. Pretty much no tangibly and verifiably earthly benefits from those, unless you count better physical health (esp. in regards to Taoist practices) and mental health (esp. in regards to meditation).

Physical health and mental health, especially mental health ( cleanse the inside and the outside will be clean also) These were the very essence of the teaching of Christ
( the kingdom of God is not flesh and blood but righteousness and peace) this is the Rest of God. Sin brings death, but Christ brings Life. The Light cast out the Darkness.
On many occasion when I thought I could go no farther he has literally lifted the weight off me. There was one time more vivid than the other. I was at work and this overwhelming disgust of myself came over me ( a tormenter) I could not shake it.It was more than I could Bear, at that moment a word came to me: You are not righteous now but you will be, When his kingdom comes. Immediatly the tormenter was gone and for two days I felt better than I have In my whole lifetime. In him, his kingdom their is Life ,righteouness and Peace. Amen

Sunstone · May 30, 2006

Fish and Bread said:
So, what are the tangible earthly benefits of your religion?

I think one of the tangible benefits of my lack of religion is that, in general, I tend to see living as an experiment, rather than as an attempt to follow a code or POV. For some reason, I also believe that attitude towards living results in my appreciating life more than I would otherwise.

Again, the lack of being restrained by a code or POV means to me that I'd better pay close attention to the real world, rather than to my expectations of what it ought to be. That valuation of realism is quite rewarding since it leads to a better understanding of some sorts of things.

Just some thoughts.

Circle_One · May 30, 2006

Religion isn't about tangible, earthly benefits. It's not about what material things you can get out of it. It's about what you can spiritually get out of it. If you look at a religion for what material things you can get out of it, than you're not really into the religion at all.

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