Why do people continue to be devoted to their religions in this age of science?

Answer 1

Quick answer by a contributer: Because what we know of science does not explain everything, and many findings are largely influenced by opinions and motives of the scientists or the institutions they work for. There is much more that the scientific community does not know about the universe than there is that they are absolutely sure about. Where-as religion, explains our beginning, our purpose, and our future.

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Original Answer:

Why...

"Why" has never been what modern science is dealing with. Modern science looks for the "HOW", while philosophy/religion try to answer your "WHY". For almost 2500 years now all philosophers have tried to answer the big questions: what is reality, what is our purpose here etc. Each one of them had his own opinion, but they all showed the same thing: that the ultimate truth may be that we have a higher purpose in life, maybe that there is a God, maybe that there isn't! Nobody really reached a safe conclusion, so trying to just cast a shadow over "religion" with such a simple question for such a complicated matter won't work - at least not for me. There are valid logical arguments in favour of the existence of a God - just to mention the theory about the "First Cause" and the Godels logical proof and remind everyone that he was the greatest mathematitian and logician of all times after Aristotle! So again, this is not such an easy issue to answer lightly!

If one says that "Science has proved that God doesn't exist" or that "Science has found that we have no purpose in life" - I would ask him WHY we read and we like poetry or WHY we strive for creation, or why we may give our lifes for dignity or why we do so many other things we do!

Science has explained many things, but mainly the "HOW" of these things. We are beginning to find out how the brain works, but modern science does not even bother to answer the big question "WHY" is works that way. We still haven't found the way to battle flu, so saying that we have discovered the meaning or - worst - the non-existence of purpose of our lifes is rather arrogant in that perspective... _______________">_______________

• Compare science to religion in terms of their relative contributions to the improvement of human life over the ages. On the positive side, science has increased the human lifespan, decreased disease and suffering, deepened our understanding of the universe and our place within it and has given us a profound sense of increasing control of our own destiny. Religion has lead to the building of cathedrals, beautiful and inspirational prose found in all religious writings, art work and a sense of something greater than ourselves as well as a comforting belief that there is life after death. On the negative side science has led to the creation of weapons from the hand gun to the H-bomb, one cannot get more negative than that. Religion brought us the dark ages, the burning of witches, cults, jihads and a profound sense of powerlessness. We are at the mercy of an invisible being whose motives and nature is largely unknown and conveyed to us by members of our own species. It is not hard to imagine their motives. Life as a clergyman is life on the gravy train. They take advantage of the fact that some of us are more comfortable out of the driver's seat. Let someone or something else be in charge. Spare us the responsibility for our own condition and our futures. Some of us want to remain as children. Some of us will fight to the death for the right to cling blindly to myths and wishful thinking. We say with faith all things are possible but what is not possible is a willingness to look boldly at the truth and accept the fact there is no God.
• It was a sad day for humanity when religion was invented. We would have been so much better off if when that clown came in and said "Hey guys, there is a God! Let me tell you all about him!" and was laughed out of the room.
• Science and Religion are not contradictory, but complementary ways of thinking. One should follow both in order to reach the truth.

• Why do people continue to be devoted to their sciences and knowledge in this age of spirituality and consciousness?

• Science and spirituality are not quite at odds anymore in the way that they have been for the past two millenia or so. Newtonian theories really drove the final wedge between the two, but modern research into quantum physics is beginning to put the pieces back together. Please note that I do not use the word 'religion'. It seems most people in this forum are devoted to Christ or nothing at all and that is fine, but I would just like to mention that there is a difference between religion and spirituality. Religion is the part that rubs most people the wrong way; the part that says go to church and let them tell you that you were born inherently evil and that you need to get all the steps in the dance just right and 'walk the narrow path' with Jesus to get to this place called heaven. Spirituality is the belief that life is an awesome, as-yet-undefined thing that holds mysteries and possibilities beyond counting, and "God and Jesus" just might be among those possibilities depending on who you're asking. Research what Einstein referred to as "spooky action at a distance" and check out the systemic universal memory theory while you're at it. Heck, check out a book on super string theory or just find a quantum physics for dummies book on eBay. It's good stuff, no explanation is complete, and the evidence is piling up that neither the priests nor the scientists really know as much as they think they do about the way it all works. Hubris is not a desirable character trait and we will always, always be learning.
• Because science and religion are not at odds with each other.
• Because it gives them hope. So, why do people believe weird things? "More than any other, the reason people believe weird things," says Shermer, "is because they want to. . . .It feels good. It is comforting. It is consoling." Secondly, weird beliefs offer "immediate gratification." People like weird beliefs because they are simple. Weird beliefs also satisfy the quest for significance: they satisfy our moral needs and our desire that life be meaningful. Finally, he says, people believe weird things because weird things give them hope.
• Because Science can not disprove the existence of God or gods any more than it can prove their existence. That is why there are religious scientists such as Francis Collins who you may or may not know as the man who directed the human genome project.

Science_and_religion_are_2_different_things.">Science and religion are 2 different things. Even now religion is more a fit in commercial process and the real faith and belief and truth is gone.

One God from whichever direction one chooses to look.

maybe we are just a test planet and our real aim is to return to from whence we came.

peace solitude truth and God.

material is undoing of natural.

look at all the trees that are gone.

For the most part it comes down to the fact that religious people will raise their children to believe what they believe, so it is a repeating cycle.

The Coordination of Science and Religion (COSAR) with the Truth of Reality is exquisitely embedded throughout The Urantia Book. The Urantia Papers emphasize that religion and science are not two antagonistic views of reality; they are views of two aspects of reality, those aspects being the personal and impersonal natures of God. The bumper sticker you may have seen lately "In the Beginning, God Created Evolution" demonstrates the increasing consciousness of our Cosmic Citizenship and a healthy respect for science (COSAR expressed on a bumper sticker). The COSAR Principle as described in Up Close and Personal with The Urantia Book - Expanded Edition addresses this with a great degree of satisfaction.

Answer:

I am a Christian. I strongly disagree with the above. Eventually, science will catch up to the fact that God exists. They just are not there yet. The Universe revolved around the Earth, the world was flat, what science thought was correct yesterday, is not necessary correct today. The one thing that never changes is the Word of God ( The Bible ). Heaven and Earth may pass away but Jesus' word's will never pass away.

Answer 2

Religion connects you to the majority of mankind, past and present. No ancient society ever existed that did not believe in the supernatural. Those who dismiss belief may be compared to an astronaut floating away from the lifeline.

Also:

1) Religion may assist you in overcoming peer pressure.

2) Religion will often add to your self-discipline, whose lack has led our society to epidemic obesity, drunkenness, depression and ennui, divorce rates, violence etc.

3) Religion may provide you with a whole additional layer of education.

4) Religion may provide emotional fortitude, helping one overcome hardships.

5) Religion will provide a sense of identity and a community, with its ambiance and mutual help.

6) Religion provides a life and a sense of purpose.

See also the Related Links.

Link: Can you show me that God exists?

Link: Is there evidence against Evolution?

Answer 3

Fundamentally, people follow a religion, whatever that religion is, because they believe it to be in some way true. They may believe this because throughout their childhood their parents and others whom they respected said it is important to be devoted to this religion. Or, in later life, they may have become convinced of the truth of the religion by a charismatic preacher.

Many people of faith become so devoted to their religion that it becomes part of their identity. He or she may feel that the most important part of his or her very existence is the fact of being a Jew, Christian, Muslim or Hindu, etc. When religion is part of someone's self-identity, facts no longer matter.