Why "practice" religion?

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PathDiagnosis said:
I think one of things I’m afraid of is “giving in to” a possibly constructed need for religion and the feelings it provides. To the best of my knowledge/feelings, I feel I don’t need religion, I am just objectively/intellectually interested in it.

If I “practice” religion, I fear I will be giving into something I don’t need. Technically, we don’t need other things in life…but still…why add religion?
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Why the fear? That’s the part I’m not understanding.
 
PathDiagnosis said:
Like I said, we do/accept things outside of religion without knowing everything about them: doing physics without knowing everything about math, trusting our loved ones, etc.

Religion is different, it pertains to to matters that exist outside of time and space. For example, the Catholic Church claims that the Pope is the Vicar of Christ on Earth. The Earth is a TINY TINY TINY TINY TINY blue dot in possibly some obscure corner of a corner of a corner of the Universe. For me, I just need to know everything before accepting such huge claims.
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Reilgion is different from physics, true, but why does that mean you have to know everything? I would think the important thing would be to determine if it is reasonable that God exists, and then, if you think it is, serve Him as best you can.
 
jmcrae said:
Primitive Man managed to live without electricity or gas, or even nylon, and he had not yet invented ice cream, yet he still felt the need for religion. One of the first uses he had for fire was to burn the sacrificial offering, and to create the vessels needed on the Altar - cooking actually came later.

Religion is a basic human need.
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This is interesting. Can you lead me to some resources or provide examples of how religion or spirituality (semantics, sometimes these terms are interchanged, etc) is a basic human need or provide examples?

Also, I understand the Catholic idea of Sacred Tradition, etc. I understand that Catholics believe Catholicism is the fullness of Truth that arrived with Christ, etc. Others may say “oh look Catholics are just doing things like people did before”. Don’t worry, I understand the difference.
 
jmcrae said:
Primitive Man managed to live without electricity or gas, or even nylon, and he had not yet invented ice cream, yet he still felt the need for religion. One of the first uses he had for fire was to burn the sacrificial offering, and to create the vessels needed on the Altar - cooking actually came later.

Religion is a basic human need.
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I’m afraid by this. Even if it is a “basic human need”…maybe it’s wrong. Just because humans do it, it doesn’t make it right. Human have sexual urges, but it’s not right to rape. That sense of right and wrong…OK…lets not assume God gave it to us for now.

Even if religion is a basic human need…it could be a flaw…a massive flaw that perpetuated all this time.
 
PathDiagnosis said:
I’m afraid by this. Even if it is a “basic human need”…maybe it’s wrong. Just because humans do it, it doesn’t make it right. Human have sexual urges, but it’s not right to rape. That sense of right and wrong…OK…lets not assume God gave it to us for now.

Even if religion is a basic human need…it could be a flaw…a massive flaw that perpetuated all this time.
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And if it is, no harm done by following it because, if there is no God, nothing matters. If itis not a flaw, then following it becomes very important.
 
I am probably completely wrong, because you have never said this, but in reading your posts I have to ask.

Are you more afraid of following religion and finding it’s not true (which you won’t know, of course, until you die), or more afraid that what Christianity teaches is not true, period…in other words, that there is no God?
 
In your field, a mistake could literally be deadly.

But in things of God, there is only one mistake that can be deadly, and that is if He does, indeed, exist, and you reject Him.
 
Incomplete said:
And if it is, no harm done by following it because, if there is no God, nothing matters. If itis not a flaw, then following it becomes very important.
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Even if religion is a basic human need, it can be abused, just like anything humans do. From a social evolution viewpoint, it’s possible that religion is still here because it survived natural selection. Harmful religious practices eventually cease to exist (human sacrifice, excessive sacrifice, etc…Aztecs/Mayans).

Catholicism could be surviving via natural selection…it serves basic human needs.

Just some thoughts.
 
PathDiagnosis said:
Even if religion is a basic human need, it can be abused, just like anything humans do. From a social evolution viewpoint, it’s possible that religion is still here because it survived natural selection. Harmful religious practices eventually cease to exist (human sacrifice, excessive sacrifice, etc…Aztecs/Mayans).

Catholicism could be surviving via natural selection…it serves basic human needs.

Just some thoughts.
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Religion can and is abused. But YOU don’t have to abuse it. I’m talking to you, not to society at large.
 
Incomplete said:
I am probably completely wrong, because you have never said this, but in reading your posts I have to ask.

Are you more afraid of following religion and finding it’s not true (which you won’t know, of course, until you die), or more afraid that what Christianity teaches is not true, period…in other words, that there is no God?
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I am afraid of everything you mentioned. Even if it doesn’t matter because I will be dead and unable (if it’s all not true and a soul does not exist) to realize it…it scares me.

I am also scared of “giving into” some possibly construct basic human need…kind of like not being “strong enough” to tough life out without religion. Maybe religion will make me feel inadequate…like I need to believe in something after this life…when I really don’t need to…I just think I need to. And I know religion isn’t about being happy (carry your cross, etc, etc, etc).
 
jmcrae said:
Primitive Man managed to live without electricity or gas, or even nylon, and he had not yet invented ice cream, yet he still felt the need for religion. One of the first uses he had for fire was to burn the sacrificial offering, and to create the vessels needed on the Altar - cooking actually came later.

Religion is a basic human need.
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I asked for examples earlier. I’m OK. I have some old anthropology texbooks/notes from undergrad…I can go from there.
 
PathDiagnosis said:
I am afraid of everything you mentioned. Even if it doesn’t matter because I will be dead and unable (if it’s all not true and a soul does not exist) to realize it…it scares me.

I am also scared of “giving into” some possibly construct basic human need…kind of like not being “strong enough” to tough life out without religion. Maybe religion will make me feel inadequate…like I need to believe in something after this life…when I really don’t need to…I just think I need to. And I know religion isn’t about being happy (carry your cross, etc, etc, etc).
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Do you have those kind of fears in other areas of life?
 
PathDiagnosis said:
Hello,

I am not here to start a flame war. I would like to know why some of you need to practice religion Even if there is a God, why do you need a relationship with him/her/it? Did it ever occur to you that you are Catholic or some other sort of Christian because you were born into it, or born into a relative state of luxury that allowed you to research Church history, etc?
**
Background on me:**

Former Catholic convert from Protestantism. I feel like I know much about Catholicism, or as much as possible. I am well versed with works by Scott Hahn, Catholic Answers, etc. I am familiar with early Church history: the Didache, Pliny the Younger, Ignatius , Polycarp, etc. I admire the historical continuity of the Catholic Church, objection to Sola Scriptura, etc.

In a Universe in which the Christian God is true and Christianity is true, I would ONLY be Catholic. Frankly, from a secular viewpoint, I believe Protestantism is in serious error. If Christ is truly God, the CATHOLIC CHURCH (and ~Orthodox) is the HOLY CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC ONE CHURCH.

Not that works matter much to Christ, but here is a picture of the type of Catholic I was:
*Preferred Tridentine Latin Mass, was member of FSSP parish.
*Prayed rosary
*Confession about once a month
*Wore fivefold scapular
Interested in learning from practitioners of religion. Basically, can you be happy without religion? Can you go without it? Can you be apathetic to all the “where do morals come from, etc”? Basically, what is wrong with living life with no religion?
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Well lets see. How about the Eucharist!! How can we have eternal life without eating the bread of life? Maybe that would be the best for starters.

How can you find happiness without Christ in your life? And how can you have Christ in your life without the Eucharist?

So to answer your question can you live your life with no Religion? Sure. God gave you free will!! You either obey his commandments or you don’t. Its up to you.

But my question to you? How can you have Christ in your live and not obey his commands?

How do you eat and drink in oirder to gain eternal life with the Eucharist? How are you Baptised in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit without Religion?

How do you learn about Christ without Religion???

And what do you mean works do not mean much to Christ? Where in the world did you ever learn that? Faith without WORKS is FRUITLESS!!

I mean that is just unreal. If you believe in Christ but you refuse to do his work, what in the world are you here for???:confused:
 
PathDiagnosis said:
I am afraid of everything you mentioned. Even if it doesn’t matter because I will be dead and unable (if it’s all not true and a soul does not exist) to realize it…it scares me.

I am also scared of “giving into” some possibly construct basic human need…kind of like not being “strong enough” to tough life out without religion. Maybe religion will make me feel inadequate…like I need to believe in something after this life…when I really don’t need to…I just think I need to. And I know religion isn’t about being happy (carry your cross, etc, etc, etc).
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Where is religion not about being happy?:confused: When you have Christ in your life you have the strength to carry your cross, and you are happy to carry it for your Lord!!

When you have Christ in your life you become a different person. You no longer say WHY ME!! you say WHY NOT ME!!

Your wants are many your needs become few.

When you give you receive. When you pray you become content in Christ, When you believe you have no fears, no anxiety’s because you know you are always protected by Christ.

And when you truly believe you understand that is NOT our world anymore then it was Christ’s world. Our world is the next.

Where we can have true contentment and happiness because we are with Christ!! You then understand you will receive your REWARD but in the next world. And the ultimate gift that is given to you in just a month. The ultimate Christmas Gift. Our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!

You begin to find CHRIST in CHRISTmas!! Giving, but not always in gifts. The true ultimate gift that God gave us. His SON!! His Love!!
 
rinnie said:
Where is religion not about being happy?:confused: When you have Christ in your life you have the strength to carry your cross, and you are happy to carry it for your Lord!!

When you have Christ in your life you become a different person. You no longer say WHY ME!! you say WHY NOT ME!!

Your wants are many your needs become few.

When you give you receive. When you pray you become content in Christ, When you believe you have no fears, no anxiety’s because you know you are always protected by Christ.

And when you truly believe you understand that is NOT our world anymore then it was Christ’s world. Our world is the next.

Where we can have true contentment and happiness because we are with Christ!! You then understand you will receive your REWARD but in the next world. And the ultimate gift that is given to you in just a month. The ultimate Christmas Gift. Our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!

You begin to find CHRIST in CHRISTmas!! Giving, but not always in gifts. The true ultimate gift that God gave us. His SON!! His Love!!
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Both of your responsible are extremely emotional/religious based, unlike some others here that contributed, shall I saw, more secular/non-religious responses. Please read some of the posts beyond my original one to get an idea of what I mean.
 
PathDiagnosis said:
Both of your responsible are extremely emotional/religious based, unlike some others here that contributed, shall I saw, more secular/non-religious responses. Please read some of the posts beyond my original one to get an idea of what I mean.
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I mean’t YOUR REPSONSES not YOUR RESPONSIBLE
 
Have any religious people here considered that perhaps their religions are a continuation spiritual practices of human civilization. Looking into the anthropology and history of religion, we can see that humans have had some sort of religion for many thousands of years. I know the Catholic Church’s response is something along the lines of “truth” arriving with Christ. I believed that before, but doesn’t it seem more probable that current religions are just that-human inventions?

I know there is substantial evidence for the Resurrection etc, but what if that evidence is only substantial (in content and amount) simply because it is proportional to circumstances. These circumstances include but are not limited to: fast spread of Christianity, literacy of those who spread it, etc, etc, etc. No one religious here has given a good response to these concerns of mine aside from vague statements like "well it might all be wrong, but still God might exist so we should practice religion.

I hope you see that I am not here to bash Theism. I will be Theistic, especially Catholic if somehow later in life I am convinced to do so…but it just seems more probable to me that religion

Just look at religion in world, it is slowly they are slowly evolving/becoming less religious:: progressive Christianity, Unitarian Universalism, etc.

Think about it…the God of the Universe starting the One True Church around 33 AD in some obscure place on Earth…or that One True Church is a continuation of humans’ attempt at religion…and it’s still here?

Please, no one has provided a good response aside from vague religious comments…because maybe that is all religion can come up with?

I am really trying to understand this phenomenon of religion.
 
For me, I haven’t given responses that fit what you just said because I didn’t quite understand that this is what you were saying.

Has anybody considered these things? I can’t speak for the rest, but I most certainly have.

As far as you not being here to bash Christianity, at least from my point of view, no worries, I don’t see that at all. You seem very respectful. And…maybe this is the wrong word…but yearning, hoping that somebody will come up with just the right thing. Because, I think, you really want to believe. (I say that as a good thing.)

But your first question was about the advantages of practicing religion. (I hope I didn’t say that wrong; it’s been awhile and I didn’t double check the original post.) Those are the kinds of things I’ve been trying to answer.

There are things I don’t say, because sometimes a person only wants to get just so personal on a message board, and some answers might reveal more than I want to about myself. I might try to tackle the things you said in your latest message, but I won’t have time for awhile. This week threatens to get hectic. If you want to PM me, feel free … but don’t worry if it takes a bit for me to get back to you.

I do hope somebody else can give good answers for your latest post.

Praying for you.
 
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