What is the purpose or essence of religion?

paradox said:

I wondered what is the purpose or essence of religion?

I did some googling and determined that there are many reasons, but one upon which I stumbled upon is quite interesting:


This logically leads to conclusion that without the religion we would not know what is evil, which just can't be true.

What do you think is the purpose of religion?

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That religious texts have stood the test of time is a testament to their efficacy. But an argument can be made that today's world brings with it worldy desires that have weakened the foundation of man's understanding of God ( Christine and other atheists are a perfect example). Suffice it to say religion needs science to back up its claims in this day and age. This amounts to a unification of God and science.

Ostronomos said:

That religious texts have stood the test of time is a testament to their efficacy. But an argument can be made that today's world brings with it worldy desires that have weakened the foundation of man's understanding of God ( Christine and other atheists are a perfect example). Suffice it to say religion needs science to back up its claims in this day and age. This amounts to a unification of God and science.

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Wrong about the worldly desires, what turned be away from religion was the religious people.

It seems to me that science is filling in the gaps in religion, thus reducing the power religion has over people.

I also not that you youself are keen on worldly desires, at least you have a communication device of some sort be it phone, table or computer. Welcome to the club

Ostronomos said:

That religious texts have stood the test of time is a testament to their efficacy

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Not only it stood the test of time, but that's what it says:
Every word of God is tested

paradox said:

Not only it stood the test of time, but that's what it says:
Every word of God is tested

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Interesting, I don't think I've ever seen your gods or any gods word. Ive seen passeges where people have said god said to me but never seen a passage in any book attributed to a god.

Could you please show me where gods word xan be found?

ChristineM said:

Interesting, I don't think I've ever seen your gods or any gods word. Ive seen passeges where people have said god said to me but never seen a passage in any book attributed to a god.

Could you please show me where gods word xan be found?

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You want to see God's word?

Today you will have a dream and you'll see God's word.

paradox said:

You want to see God's word?

Today you will have a dream and you'll see God's word.

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Ahh so it's all a dream, thanks

ChristineM said:

Ahh so it's all a dream, thanks

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Cristine Cristine

paradox said:

Cristine Cristine

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You missed the h, im dyslexic and even i could see that

ChristineM said:

You missed the h, im dyslexic and even i could see that

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hahah, sorry for this

paradox said:

I've read following pdf once upon a time, it suggests God's essence is God's attributes:
HERMENEUTICS: (gracenotes.info)

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Thanks! That article is very useful.

I believe that there is overlap between the attributes and essence of God. When I say we cannot know the essence of God I mean we cannot know God's intrinsic nature. The Bible says God is Spirit but other than that we cannot know where God resides and how God functions because finite humans are incapable of understanding an infinite God.

I think that is what this article means when it says: "The "attributes", or the "essence", of God are His primary characteristics, so they cannot be completely communicated to man. They can be
described to a degree, but they cannot be fully defined." and "Finite man cannot define the infinite."

"The phrase "Essence of God" is a theological term used to refer to God's personal
characteristics, or to the facets of His personality. Sometimes the term "Attributes of
God" is used to refer to God's essence. The "attributes", or the "essence", of God are His
primary characteristics, so they cannot be completely communicated to man. They can be
described to a degree, but they cannot be fully defined.

Finite man cannot define the infinite. The Bible is the Word of God, and as such it reveals those
facts about the Creator that He has seen fit to reveal about Himself."
https://www.gracenotes.info/documents/topics_doc/essence.pdf

Trailblazer said:

The Bible says God is Spirit but other than that we cannot know where God resides and how God functions because finite humans are incapable of understanding an infinite God

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Trailblazer said:

The Bible is the Word of God, and as such it reveals those
facts about the Creator that He has seen fit to reveal about Himself.

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The bible reveals only what is necessary for salvation.
God is spirit which may reside in us, so the bible says too.
Therefore having God's spirit in us may reveal more that what the bible reveals.

But to fathom God and his intrinsic nature is beyond human intellect.

paradox said:

The bible reveals only what is necessary for salvation.

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So do you believe that salvation is all that matters? What about living according to the teachings of Jesus?

If you define salvation as being saved from sin by the cross sacrifice of Jesus that is the New Testament, so what was the purpose of the OT? Why was it revealed?

Trailblazer said:

f you define salvation as being saved from sin by the cross sacrifice of Jesus that is the New Testament, so what was the purpose of the OT? Why was it revealed?

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Old testament is preparation for the new testament.
Since the very beginning, fall of first people in the garden of Eden, there is a need and plan for salvation from sin which entered into humanity.
OT testament prophecies all talk about how that salvation will come.

There is a saying that OT unlocks the meaning (is the key) of NT and conversely.

paradox said:

Old testament is preparation for the new testament.

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I agree. Moses, and the teachings and laws of the Torah, prepared the way for the coming of Jesus.

paradox said:

Since the very beginning, fall of first people in the garden of Eden, there is a need and plan for salvation from sin which entered into humanity.

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I do not believe in Adam and Eve and the fall. I think of salvation as being saved from the imperfections of our physical nature and attachment to this world, and and becoming possessed of the virtues of our spiritual nature and love for God. Christ gave us His teachings and then later died on the cross so we could be free of sin, love God and others, and attain everlasting life.

The Christ sacrificed Himself so that men might be freed from the imperfections of the physical nature and might become possessed of the virtues of the spiritual nature. This spiritual nature, which came into existence through the bounty of the Divine Reality, is the union of all perfections and appears through the breath of the Holy Spirit. It is the divine perfections; it is light, spirituality, guidance, exaltation, high aspiration, justice, love, grace, kindness to all, philanthropy, the essence of life. It is the reflection of the splendor of the Sun of Reality.
Some Answered Questions, p. 118

paradox said:

OT testament prophecies all talk about how that salvation will come.

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They do, but that is not all they talk about.

paradox said:

Otherwise can't we achieve same without religion, ex without God or any kind of a deity?

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Yes. I'm only arguing that for some religion is helpful or even very helpful.

Religion as well as mythology offers an inward journey of one's own spirituality and being.

I don't subscribe to any of the religions out there, but I do see the benefit of self exploration, and understanding human nature through experiencing these religions. I see religion as a human journey, where religion fails, or even becomes toxic, I think there's things to learn from them.

Religion doesn't have any self correction methods, so I think that's dangerous. Humanity has to learn from it's failures, flaws and mistakes. Religion is part of the human journey.

If it were a divine journey then it would be right all the time.

So the essence of religion depends on one's point of view and how they approach it. I'm not going to ignore religion also because billions are involved in it. There are even positive elements to religion. I have my own religious journey that I'm committed to.

paradox said:

I wondered what is the purpose or essence of religion?

I did some googling and determined that there are many reasons, but one upon which I stumbled upon is quite interesting:


This logically leads to conclusion that without the religion we would not know what is evil, which just can't be true.

What do you think is the purpose of religion?

Click to expand...

That's not logical. On the contrary, it suggests that we would have to know what evil is in order to have religion.

The purpose of religion is to pursue salvation.

Willamena said:

The purpose of religion is to pursue salvation.

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That is the purpose for most Christians but that is not the purpose of religion intended by God.
Not by a long shot.

ChristineM said:

Would you care to point out one or two of these conversations so i can verify you were actually talking with atheists.

Because in my experience it simply doesn't happen

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You don't believe there are atheists on this site? or you don't believe conversations happen with them?

Trailblazer said:

That is the purpose for most Christians but that is not the purpose of religion intended by God.
Not by a long shot.

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It's the purpose of most religions intended by people.