Three good reasons to care about Religion

[ProdglArchitect]

Hello. I am currently in a discussion with my friend about religion, and he has asked for three reasons for caring about religion.

He wants two “real world” reasons and one philosophical reason.

By real world, he means "I want practical examples of why religion would make me a better person. Why / How. Not “because everyone is judged when they die” "

I was curious what everyone thought about the best “beginning concepts” would be for someone who has a distaste of religion.

Thanks in advance!

 

[spring01]

hi,
I’ve been asked similar question, and below were my answers. They may not be the perfect ones, so I do also hope to know what others’ answers are.

1. Religion is man-made, Faith is not (from God). Religion, like rules and laws, gives us guidance, structure and sets us goals in life. Having a religion can help make us more focus is living and working and socializing with others in positive ways. Having a lot of choice is not a satisfaction guaranteed. Some limitation is good, thus, happier life.
2. One of the easiest downfalls of men is pride. If we do something better than others, we tend to feel more superior and self-centered. Religion helps us to contain the pride and to change it to humility. Human being is complex creature. We make mistakes, we disappoint and we cannot live alone. So, if we rely on ourselves to live, and perhaps one day we made mistake, we will be psychologically damaged ( i did say this one, i am not sure if it’s the correct term, but my point is that we cannot solely rely on something/one that is not perfect).
3. i cannot give the philosophical one. sorry

 

[Ad_Orientem]

He doesn’t have to care about religion generally, he only has to care about the true one, because it’s true. That’s my philosophical reason.

As for practical reasons, if he follows the true religion, not just nominally but in faithful practice:

1. He will become more human. In terms of brass tacks, order and harmony will grow between his intellect, will, and passions, and he will grow in natural virtue so that he has more control over his actions, acts more in harmony with his nature and with his fellow man, and obtains a deeper level of happiness.
2. He will become more divine. In addition to the above, he will adhere to the source of his existence by faith, hope, and charity, and actually partake of the divine nature: so that he is elevated above his human nature and made capable of supernatural happiness, which is even better than the above (though not unrelated).