Do people need religion

The stupid unwashed masses need religion because they require a father figure and reward system in order to function in civilized society.

>>130362463
I used to think no. But it's quite obvious we do need something. Have you ever met a normal atheist.

>>130362588
Very few people admit to having atheists thoughts, it only ever happened in highschool

>>130362463
sure, religion benefits society more than atheism does. There's never going to be a Brooklyn Atheist Hospital, for example.

>>130362463
Probably. Most people are terrified of dying and what comes after.

It also helps to know there's something "beyond" because it gives meaning to life.

I'm not religious and I often become fascinated with the idea of reincarnation, even though it goes against reason.

>>130362463
Then they aren't really non-believers

People need to believe they will see their loved ones again

File: 1497114815078.jpg (100KB, 593x447px) Image search: [Google]

100KB, 593x447px

>>130362463
Religion is a Darwinian sequence of successful social cohesion within a group. Be it a large abrahamic religion, all the way down to a law or tribal ritual, religion manifests itself as a set of concepts shared by a group to further the group's interests.

>>130362463
People need a purpose and maybe some spirituality, but not religion.

>>130363952
No true Scotsman tier

>>130363097
>highschool
>the (((rebellious))) phase
>start becoming more (((liberal)))

What a (((coincidence)))

File: GEyrbth.jpg (56KB, 750x750px) Image search: [Google]

56KB, 750x750px

>>130362578
this

nobody has the time to philosophize all day about morality. And most don't want to.

Religion is just ham-fisted morality, and it works for the most part.

>>130362463
Most people need religion. Few can naturally hold the morals required for a successful society. Mans ability to establish complex societies is a gift of God and should be recognized as such.

I am not religious but I do think that pea-brained people need it, liberals most of all.

>>130365109
Purpose + spirituality is essentially a religion anyway. If you want to call it a "distinct secular worldview" be my guest

File: TrueBeliever.png (150KB, 756x756px) Image search: [Google]

150KB, 756x756px

Belief is a part of our evolutionary history.
Religion is simply an organized extension of belief.
Less intelligent people either accept it without question or discard it entirely.
Rational people understand that religion is both necessary and beneficial to civilization.

Destroy one religion and a dozen others will appear in it's place like weeds.

>>130362463
Believing in a narrative is inherent to the human condition. The news media pushes narratives and people buy into them. You tell yourself stories before you go to bed at night, following a narrative you've constructed. You plan your life/set goals in sequence of a events, a narrative for you to believe in. The narrative can give meaning and purpose. We all need it, otherwise we end up blowing our brains out from the pointlessness of it all. Some believe in the narrative of religion. What narratives do you believe in I wonder?