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Is Religion a basic human need ?

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Deidre

Well-Known Member
Valjean said:
These are sophisticated questions asked by persons in complex societies. Not questions hunter-gatherers would worry about.
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That’s true. I’ve read about ancient “shamanism” that had to do with healing and spirituality, and early shamans definitely weren’t first world.
 
Trailblazer

Trailblazer

Veteran Member
Valjean said:
If we didn't, and a god exists, he certainly doesn't seem particularly interested in making either himself and his interests known.
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He may not be particularly interested in making himself known to everyone, but he has made his interests known to the people who recognized him in his new attire.
 
Trailblazer

Trailblazer

Veteran Member
RestlessSoul said:
To some, this will look like weakness. To which I reply, yes, I am human, and left to my own devices I am sometimes weak and afraid. But though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil.
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That's beautiful. There is a lot of wisdom in the Bible. I always look forward to your posts. :)
 
NewGuyOnTheBlock

NewGuyOnTheBlock

Cult Survivor/Fundamentalist Pentecostal Apostate
I do not believe that "religion" is a basic human need. Rather, I believe the "need" is to believe in something bigger than oneself.

It need not be "religion". It can be humanity itself; the power of love, etc; it needs to be "something". But not necessarily religion.
 
Heyo

Heyo

Veteran Member
Trailblazer said:
Yes, that is what I meant. What if God was real?
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Then we should be able to measure it. Wanna propose a method and/or device to do so? Because everyone who dared had to find out that there was nothing. But people already know. There hasn't been a serious proposal to measure god for ages.
 
RestlessSoul

RestlessSoul

Well-Known Member
Heyo said:
Then we should be able to measure it. Wanna propose a method and/or device to do so? Because everyone who dared had to find out that there was nothing. But people already know. There hasn't been a serious proposal to measure god for ages.
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You cannot measure infinity. Nor eternity.
 
Trailblazer

Trailblazer

Veteran Member
Heyo said:
Then we should be able to measure it. Wanna propose a method and/or device to do so? Because everyone who dared had to find out that there was nothing. But people already know. There hasn't been a serious proposal to measure god for ages.
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I believe we all have the capacity to recognize God, but God cannot be measured. Only physical things can be measured. God is Spirit so He cannot be measured.
 
Vinayaka

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
Neuropteron said:
John B. Noss suggest that man does not and cannot stand alone. He is vitally related to and even dependent on powers in nature and Society external to himself. Man's Religions

It seems that this premise could explain the reason for the proliferation of religions in the world, and is evidence of a deep seated requirement of human to worship a higher power.

Could it be said then, that religion satisfies a basic human need? That it is comparable to food and water in that it is subject to a similar drive to be fulfilled ?

Possibly, Jesus words are a good reason to view this premise as valid:
"My food is for me to do the will of him that send me..." John 4:34
The Apostle Paul compared spiritual knowledge as food:" ...solid food belongs to mature people..." Heb 5:14

Even those that reject a divinity have some type of belief.
Although vehemently rejected by followers, Evolution is aptly demonstrated to be a belief with all the hallmark of a religion. (Evolution Is Religion--Not Science).

It's interesting that there are words for a person with no affiliation to a religion or for a person that does not believe in God, but there are no words for a person without a belief.(to my knowledge)
Additionally, even a furtive glance at the definition of "belief" shows that it has all the signs of being closely related to religion.

Contrary to animals, everybody has an inbuilt requirement to believe in something higher than themselves.
Of course there is always someone declaring that he believes only in himself. At best that belief is ephemeral and subject to a rude awakening to reality.

Is it possible that our creator made us with a need to believe in him ?
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I certainly don't see it as a need at all. Need does vary by individual, but I've been around way too many atheists, and people who never think about it. They were healthy well-adjusted folks, and didn't die off, or lack quality of life. If they did think about why we're here, it wasn't a hard enough think for them to verbalise it to anyone.
 
Heyo

Heyo

Veteran Member
Trailblazer said:
We do, if you agree with my definition.
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It is pretty close to my definition, almost identical. But I still have the nagging feeling that you'll claim that god is real by your definition - but it isn't.
"actually existing as a thing" - nope. Things are solid and can be measured.
"occurring in fact" - nope. Facts are objective. You're entitled to your own opinion but not to your own facts.
 
Valjean

Valjean

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Trailblazer said:
He may not be particularly interested in making himself known to everyone, but he has made his interests known to the people who recognized him in his new attire.
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S/he seems to have a quite extensive wardrobe.

How would you explain the fact that the gods who make themselves known to individuals are usually the culturally familiar ones. Catholics come to know a catholic god, Santaria believers very different deities, and Shaivites yet another sort of god.
If there's a single god, does he have a multiple personality? Why so many different messages, personalities and ethical systems?

Or are these experiences delusions; hallucinations?
 
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