What is the ultimate goal of religion?


Is it behavior control?
If yes, in what sense?
If no, why not?

What do you think it is?

The goal of all Abrahamic religions is world domination and complete social control and manipulation.

That is the promise of Revelation when God return to impose his dominion over mankind.

End time is when God collects his own sheeple to love and the rest go to eternal torture.
Fun for all from a tyrant.

Regards
DL

I think it is simply to spread the word that there is an ultimate being with vast powers, giving hope to all humans.

Varies from religion to religion but generally to help mankind lead a better life by providing a guidebook or a set of rules which generally were indoctrinated in ancient times when the indoctrinators themselves didn't have sufficient knowledge or awareness to what might work best. Over the years, they have been simply modified or maybe altered to empower their particular religion over others than mankind itself.

The thing is, mankind with religion might be savage but without religion, it would definitely be savage.

Good vs. evil. I think that the purpose of religion is to teach us how to be good people. There are a couple of ways to look at it. You could look at it as indoctrination and mind control. Which is what most religions have turned into. But the original message was to show us how to be good.

Since signal won't answer his own question that I asked him to I'll give my opinion anyway.

They are to divide people into groups that can be manipulated by the leaders of those religions in order for the leaders to get money from their followed so that they can live in comfort while their followers keep giving them their money. Religions are similar to governments which also tend to separate people from each other. If I'm from a communistic type of government then I'm told that all others are wrong or if I'm a democracy I'm told that all others are wrong. We follow those that lead us no matter how blind they are because they can convince us to do so.

The goal of all Abrahamic religions is world domination and complete social control and manipulation.

That is the promise of Revelation when God return to impose his dominion over mankind.

End time is when God collects his own sheeple to love and the rest go to eternal torture.
Fun for all from a tyrant.

Regards
DL

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Mr. critic .
Are you in favor in the world disarray ?
Do we have peace in the present world ?

If your would be god how would you bring peace into the world ?

[QUOTE=cosmictraveler;2780725]Since signal won't answer his own question that I asked him to I'll give my opinion anyway.

They are to divide people into groups that can be manipulated by the leaders of those religions in order for the leaders to get money from their followed so that they can live in comfort while their followers keep giving them their money.


Here are you showing the evil of mankind, the selfishness , and that is what God is attempting to change through jESUS

Since signal won't answer his own question that I asked him to I'll give my opinion anyway.

They are to divide people into groups that can be manipulated by the leaders of those religions in order for the leaders to get money from their followed so that they can live in comfort while their followers keep giving them their money. Religions are similar to governments which also tend to separate people from each other. If I'm from a communistic type of government then I'm told that all others are wrong or if I'm a democracy I'm told that all others are wrong. We follow those that lead us no matter how blind they are because they can convince us to do so.

I think that was not the original reason why religon was established.

I think it is simply to spread the word that there is an ultimate being with vast powers, giving hope to all humans.

Give hope?

You mean charge people for this hope and force them to comply with lies and doctrines plagiarized from older religions.

Regards
DL

I think that was not the original reason why religon was established.

But it is what it has become and that's what he asked, the ultimate goal.

The thing is, mankind with religion might be savage but without religion, it would definitely be savage.

Really?

Not according to the stats.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94f2h-5TvbM&feature=player_embedded

Regards
DL

Good vs. evil. I think that the purpose of religion is to teach us how to be good people. There are a couple of ways to look at it. You could look at it as indoctrination and mind control. Which is what most religions have turned into. But the original message was to show us how to be good.

I agree. We are asked in scriptures to try to be as perfect as God.

The problem with this is that the moment A & E emulated God and learned of the good and evil you spoke of, God threw one hell of a sissy fit.

That is according to Christians.
The Jews on the other hand, think of Eden as man's elevation, not his fall.

If Christianity was to usurp the Jewish scriptures, you would have thought that they would have taken their interpretations as well instead of corrupting them.

Regards
DL

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Mr. critic .
Are you in favor in the world disarray ?

What disarray? We all live in a world of laws and rules.


Do we have peace in the present world ?

Statistically, per capita, most markers for evil are at the lowest they have ever been.
The best for slavery and crimes of violence to name just two.


If your would be god how would you bring peace into the world ?

I believe the world is going along quite nicely thanks and would let things progress as is.

You see the Godhead I believe in did not screw up creation the way you think your God did even as scripture tells you that he creates all things perfect. You believe that that perfect became imperfect while I see evolving perfection all around.

Regards
DL

I believe the world is going along quite nicely thanks and would let things progress as is.

You see the Godhead I believe in did not screw up creation the way you think your God did even as scripture tells you that he creates all things perfect. You believe that that perfect became imperfect while I see evolving perfection all around.

Regards
DL

You're talking like a child. Not just that example but i have to tell you i see a level of immaturity in your posts that is kind of child-like.

What is the ultimate goal of religion?


Is it behavior control?
If yes, in what sense?
If no, why not?

I think it does work as a form of behavior control , Is that the goal , I don't know ? I think the leaders of the churches have lost sight of what the reason is . Like the Masons and the hanged Man, or the town that has rocks of a naked man with a big penis and they even mow around the rocks to keep it pretty . They don't know why they got the ritual . Do you know much about the Sun King stuff? Someone posted it on a thread I saw on this forum , I think they were banned . I have seen a lot of fragmented info in other religions about this . It all seems to revolve around a sacrifice. Like a loop in time that happens over and over and over again . A new song on the radio brought it to my attention .

I believe the world is going along quite nicely thanks and would let things progress as is.

You see the Godhead I believe in did not screw up creation the way you think your God did even as scripture tells you that he creates all things perfect. You believe that that perfect became imperfect while I see evolving perfection all around.

Regards
DL

Your a satanist aren't you . Good for you! Me devil Me blind Melek ain't so so bad. Cried for 40,000 years ya know . Now that is a crying Man

I think it does work as a form of behavior control , Is that the goal , I don't know ? I think the leaders of the churches have lost sight of what the reason is . Like the Masons and the hanged Man, or the town that has rocks of a naked man with a big penis and they even mow around the rocks to keep it pretty . They don't know why they got the ritual . Do you know much about the Sun King stuff? Someone posted it on a thread I saw on this forum , I think they were banned . I have seen a lot of fragmented info in other religions about this . It all seems to revolve around a sacrifice. Like a loop in time that happens over and over and over again . A new song on the radio brought it to my attention .

MekiGal, why do you put a space after your punctuation?

MekiGal, why do you put a space after your punctuation?

That was how I first leaned it . Me wife said I should take it out , but Me dyslexia told Me to leave it , No I leave it out and think maybe she was right or you could think of it as a first middle and last name all in one .

Or are you talking about the way I write. I don't know . It makes it Easier for Me to read I think . Words get jumbled together in my mind so more separation is always better , Besides that I have a lazy left eye so that might contribute.

I guess in the end it is a quirk . I am Quirky

Besides that I have a lazy left eye so that might

Me too but mainly when i get tired (afa dyslexia, i wrote tired as rited but my spell checker picked it up) otherwise it is not so bad.

You're talking like a child. Not just that example but i have to tell you i see a level of immaturity in your posts that is kind of child-like.

Realy? Good.

Jesus did like children and their thinking better than you so called adults.

Is the following quote truth or something else?

I think it a good example of thinking in terms of evolving perfection.
Can you refute it?
If so, have at me and teach this child something.

Candide

"It is demonstrable that things cannot be otherwise than as they are; for as all things have been created for some end, they must necessarily be created for the best end.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPClzIsYxvA

Regards
DL

I believe the world is going along quite nicely thanks and would let things progress as is
.................................................. ..
Slavery is practically gone .but what would you do with all the wars that we continuously have since old times

.................................................. .............
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
You see the Godhead I believe in did not screw up creation the way you think your God did even as scripture tells you that he creates all things perfect. You believe that that perfect became imperfect while I see evolving perfection all around.

Regards
DL
Yhe scripture say many thins that God probably did not say , many things man say in the name of God , example Hitler ( Gott mit uns )

I think that a religion is started for many different reasons that are essentially altruistic. However, once the religion matures it appears that the main goal begins to parallel the goal of life, which is to survive. I think that is why all religions change over time, so they remain relevant, even though they all preach that their laws are immutable.

What is the ultimate goal of religion?


Is it behavior control?
If yes, in what sense?
If no, why not?

I think it is happiness. Promises of which lead people to do whatever is necessary...

Varies from religion to religion but generally to help mankind lead a better life by providing a guidebook or a set of rules which generally were indoctrinated in ancient times when the indoctrinators themselves didn't have sufficient knowledge or awareness to what might work best. Over the years, they have been simply modified or maybe altered to empower their particular religion over others than mankind itself.

this is a good answer..i was gonna say something like it..but now that you have..i don't need to..;)

But it is what it has become and that's what he asked, the ultimate goal.

That's not the goal of the religion, religion is just a tool. That's the goal of the fundamentalists who control it and exercise power through it.

I think, by looking at his question, or by reading his question, he originally meant to ask, why was religion established, what was the point of it?
Not what's it goal today.

Really?

Not according to the stats.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94f2h-5TvbM&feature=player_embedded

Regards
DL

I couldn't exactly watch the video because my IE is throwing up crap as I open up YouTube but my point is , without a set of guiding principles or civilizing, humans would be savage. What religion does is basically provide a common framework of rules. Now suppose there was no such framework, all the parents in the world would be disoriented over what to teach to their children and what not to. It would be chaotic. There would be hundreds of contrasting opinions over what is right and what is not because each individual would feel that he or she was right this way. So it would be chaotic. Religion enables us to make mankind more manageable in this way.
Man really needs a common set of guiding principles to to govern himself better. I am not saying that all of the principles are righteous but they pretty much do the job. Because mostly they emphasize on kindness, and respect and tolerance, which is exactly what is needed.

The ultimate goal is to give the clergy a living and status, behavior control is a means to that end.

But the reason religion is still big today is because monarchs that claimed they are appointed by god supported its spread.

What is the ultimate goal of religion?


Is it behavior control?
If yes, in what sense?
If no, why not?

...who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscover'd country from whose bourn
No traveller returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?

Wasn't it Voltaire who said, if God didn't exist, it would be necessary to invent him?

Yhe scripture say many thins that God probably did not say , many things man say in the name of God , example Hitler ( Gott mit uns )

You are correct. Hitler and I would add the Church.
Since God has no head or mouth he cannot say anything.
All that is written has been done so by man. Not some imaginary God.

Regards
DL

I think that a religion is started for many different reasons that are essentially altruistic. However, once the religion matures it appears that the main goal begins to parallel the goal of life, which is to survive. I think that is why all religions change over time, so they remain relevant, even though they all preach that their laws are immutable.

Relevant to those who want to live in a world of fantasy, miracles and magic and use religion as an outlet for the hate in their hearts.

African witches and Jesus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlRG9gXriVI&feature=related

Jesus Camp 1of 9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBv8tv62yGM


Promoting death to Gays.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMw2Zg_BVzw&feature=related

Regards
DL

I couldn't exactly watch the video because my IE is throwing up crap as I open up YouTube but my point is , without a set of guiding principles or civilizing, humans would be savage. What religion does is basically provide a common framework of rules. Now suppose there was no such framework, all the parents in the world would be disoriented over what to teach to their children and what not to. It would be chaotic. There would be hundreds of contrasting opinions over what is right and what is not because each individual would feel that he or she was right this way. So it would be chaotic. Religion enables us to make mankind more manageable in this way.
Man really needs a common set of guiding principles to to govern himself better. I am not saying that all of the principles are righteous but they pretty much do the job. Because mostly they emphasize on kindness, and respect and tolerance, which is exactly what is needed.

Yep. no contrasting opinions in the myriad of different Christian sects at each others throats.

Yep, good and loving rules.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-2_LqOS3uo

Truth is, God's laws have been ignored for many years now and replaced by better secular laws. Thank God for that.

Regards
DL

One religion makes you tell its priests what you want thier god to know to help move that prayer along, now there's a twister of reason for you.:mad:

Etymologically religion MIGHT mean re-ligare, to bind together again. In other languages it means simply LAW (wikipedia).

Anyway. I 'believe' the ultimate goal of ALL religion is to reconnect Man with Reality; we (poor, unenlighted beings - unlike the great founders of religions (peace be upon them)) live in an awfully subjective prison of conditioning and habits which have very little to do with what is actually going on 'out there'.

Things, included religions, will deviate from it's course in our world if not it is consciously kept in place (according to LAW) and Holy Writs cannot hold anything other than what is in our own heads already - right?
But if someone KNOWS (who has learned from someone who KNOWS, back to the Founders and to the Objective Reality (GOD?)) it is possible to acquire the keys to unlock the mysteries of the books.

So let's say there are 2 streams of religion: the corrupted, comforting public version and the elusive tradition which is transferred by word of mouth - but offers very uncomfortable truths.

All this is of course not my own thoughts, but this information and more was brought to the 'west' the last century.

Was that clear?

Etymologically religion MIGHT mean re-ligare, to bind together again. In other languages it means simply LAW (wikipedia).

Anyway. I 'believe' the ultimate goal of ALL religion is to reconnect Man with Reality; ?

Strange then that the Abrahamic religions, Christianity and Islam, offer a bible that begins with a talking snake and ends with a seven headed monster.
Yep. That book has connected many a delusional man with reality. Oh wait, it created delusionary men. WTF.

Regards
DL

You only get out of these writs what you put into them.
Personaly I don't read myths and religious text litterally since Reality cannot be 'downloaded' into text format, other than through allegory, myth and other 'fingers pointing to the moon' (i.e studying the finger doesn't say much about the moon).

Do you think Moses saw burning bushes, and that Jesus raised people from the dead? :p

What are these fingers pointing at?

What is the ultimate goal of religion?


Is it behavior control?
If yes, in what sense?
If no, why not?

As a Christian it is not behaviour control.

As far as i am concerned, It is establishing and maintenance of a positive relationship between a human being and God.

A positive behaviour change will result out of a positive relationship with God but never 100% control. There will be an improvement but always relapses and areas where improvement is not as good as others.


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

You are correct. Hitler and I would add the Church.
Since God has no head or mouth he cannot say anything.
All that is written has been done so by man. Not some imaginary God.

Regards
DL

///////////////////////////////////////////////////


Who are you to say imaginary, what might be imaginary for you might be different to others . Are you the final authority ?
There are things which affected me in my life, Am I supposed to say it is imaginary, I believe I am just as good as you to find an explanation.

I'm a little concerned with all those saying the goal / purpose of religion is to control others and set up a system of hierarchies that benefit the established authority at the expense of the 'brainwashed' masses. That is a very reductive, overly simplified, and conspiratorial line of thinking. I have a hard time believing that any religion was set up with the express purpose of power and control (with perhaps the exception of Scientology, which many would argue is not a religion). I'm curious how many of you feel comfortable using a corruption of the system as evidence of its true purpose. The current political system in America may be deeply flawed (according to the opinion of some), but that does not mean it is what the original writers of the constitution had in mind. That may be a poor analogy, but I think the point is clear.

With that said, I think the "goal" of religion (I hesitate to use that word because of the connotations it may conjure) is to connect human beings, both on an individual and collective basis, with something beyond their own experience in order to improve the lives of those individuals/societies while preventing them from engaging in damaging behavior (again, both individually and collectively). This may manifest itself in an emphasis on connecting to a divine consciousness, the earth, deep compassion for others' suffering, or any number of other messages at the core of the world's religions. When left uncorrupted, this system of belief can be a very effective and beautiful impulse, containing a lot of wisdom. However, as history has shown us, we humans have a tendency to allow even those things that religion is meant to warn us against and keep us away from to seep into those structures. But this is not the fault of religion. Take, for one oft-cited example, the horror perpetrated by the Christian church throughout the middle ages and its vast power structures and hierarchies. This was a result of Christianity being adopted into the existing imperial Roman power structures, which themselves were quite corrupt and propagandistic. And yet few people criticize the Roman Empire today for the same actions. In fact, it is viewed in an almost admirable, or at least interesting, light.

I'm curious what others think.

What is the ultimate goal of religion?


Is it behavior control?
If yes, in what sense?
If no, why not?

The ultimate goal of religion is to guide the human being way of meeting his creator i.e. by performing his duties on Earth which is to serve the suffering souls and help the needy ones etc. And all the while his stay on Earth follow the right way of living i.e living a noble life.

It is somewhat behavioral improvement to behave in a supreme manner to achieve his final goal of finding almighty all the while performing his earthly duties as well.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////


Who are you to say imaginary, what might be imaginary for you might be different to others . Are you the final authority ?
There are things which affected me in my life, Am I supposed to say it is imaginary, I believe I am just as good as you to find an explanation.

If you seek God then yes. If you have settled for a wish list God then no.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGx4IlppSgU

If you were as good as I, then you too would have had an apotheosis.

Regards
DL

The ultimate goal of religion is to make people feel good. It's a simple pleasure seeking/ pain avoidance paradigm.

As a Christian it is not behaviour control.

Cifo, another Christian, disagrees (http://www.sciforums.com/showpost.php?p=2779346&postcount=43).

Why won't you people align your stances?????

Why won't you people align your stances?????

another person that just doesn't get that christians are ppl too and as such each one holds their own opinion.

another person that just doesn't get that christians are ppl too and as such each one holds their own opinion.

One thing that puts numerous Christians into one group is that they (ie. the people who call themselves "Christians")
don't get that non-Christians are people, not robots. :rolleyes:


You cannot talk about things like eternal damnation and Absolute Truth and consider them mere opinions.

One thing that puts numerous Christians into one group is that they (ie. the people who call themselves "Christians")
don't get that non-Christians are people, not robots. :rolleyes:
argument applies to both sides..


You cannot talk about things like eternal damnation and Absolute Truth and consider them mere opinions.
why not? atheist do..
and then when a christian does talk about eternal damnation and Absolute truth as a definitive answer,you would argue with them about it being definitive..

its like you (an atheist) wants to define what a christian is in a way that you can argue and dismiss.

argument applies to both sides..

It does not. It is the Christians who directly or indirectly claim superiority.
The playing field is not even, nor are the stakes.



why not? atheist do..

What are you talking about?
Atheists don't threaten people with eternal damnation if they don't do as atheists tell them.
Christians, however, do threaten people with eternal damnation if they don't do as the Christians tell them.



and then when a christian does talk about eternal damnation and Absolute truth as a definitive answer,you would argue with them about it being definitive..

its like you (an atheist) wants to define what a christian is in a way that you can argue and dismiss.

You are again playing the victim.
You, the one who considers himself superior, is again playing the victim.
Poor you.

If you, or anyone, claim to know the Absolute Truth, expect to be subjected to scrutiny.

But you seem to think that because of you being a Christian, you are somehow to be exempt from this scrutiny.

You want your religion to be respected, and to be respected on your terms. And you want the right not to respect others.

And you think this will just work out?

Think again.

It does not. It is the Christians who directly or indirectly claim superiority.
The playing field is not even, nor are the stakes.
both sides claim superiority,both sides claim they alone hold the answer..


don't get that non-Christians are people, not robots


christians are also not robots..(not arguing about how they are,just how they are supposed to be..IE indoctrination vs personal experiences)


You cannot talk about things like eternal damnation and Absolute Truth and consider them mere opinions.
why not? atheist do..

What are you talking about?
atheist consider those thing personal opinion, and not absolute.


Atheists don't threaten people with eternal damnation if they don't do as atheists tell them.
no atheists threaten 'delusion' 'fantasy world', and get quite upset with ppl who suggest that there is a God..


Christians, however, do threaten people with eternal damnation if they don't do as the Christians tell them.


human nature..this is not just a christian thing..'believe as i do', every human has this desire, not just Christians..


You are again playing the victim.
You, the one who considers himself superior, is again playing the victim.
Poor you.

nope..i am claiming atheist and theist are just as susceptible to their own humanity as the other..there is no 'better' group when the argument comes down to who is better..


If you, or anyone, claim to know the Absolute Truth, expect to be subjected to scrutiny.
test all things, hold on to what is good..
most Christians will miss this verse..Most (not all) are to eager to accept someone telling them what do do when it comes to matters of God..ppl (even atheist) are looking for a human authority when it comes to God, what both groups don't realize is how often the bible speaks of us being our own authority..


But you seem to think that because of you being a Christian, you are somehow to be exempt from this scrutiny.
nope..just 'red flagging' your own responsibility to scrutinize your own comments..


You want your religion to be respected, and to be respected on your terms. And you want the right not to respect others.
case in point..the use of the word 'you'..are you talking about me personally? or are you arguing against you own ideals of what a Christian is?
or are you just trying to make yourself feel better to lump all the bad qualities of life into a specific group of ppl?

i personally have argued for a separation of 'Religion' from 'God'
religion is mans ideals of God, i seriously doubt Religion is Gods ideal for Men.


And you think this will just work out?

Think again.
i think you need to think about where your knowledge about God comes from, and scrutinize your own ideals about who/what God is.
ain't no one else but you gonna convince you as to whether he exists or not.

ain't no one else but you gonna convince you as to whether he exists or not.

Nonsense. Expect a thread on metareligion.

The ultimate goal of religion is whatever the person with the religion wants it to be. From tyrannical world domination to hippie like goals.


Love and peace :yay:

to hippie like goals.
Love and peace

Love in at my place tonight! :peace::m::shake:

Love in at my place tonight!

My kind of goal actually. :thumbsup:

Judging from experience with people who claim to be theists,
the ultimate goal of religion is
to destroy anyone who doesn't think, feel, talk and do like the theist.

The ultimate goal of religion varies immensely from religion to religion. The ultimate goal of Christianity is to be saved from sin, for example. The ultimate goal of Islam is to submit to the will of God. The ultimate goal of Hinduism is to break out of the chain of reincarnation.

The ultimate goal of religion is to make people feel good. It's a simple pleasure seeking/ pain avoidance paradigm.

That is quite wrong.

For many people, religion is not a comfort. It actually introduces worry into their lives that might otherwise not have been there. This is particularly the case with tribal religions that often have mischievous or melevolent spirits who must be appeased by mere mortals.

For another example, look at the gods of ancient Greece. Do you really think that knowing that Zeus and Poseidon and the rest were out in the world acting out their godlike whims was a comfort to people? No. People went to a lot of time and effort to try to make sure that they did not upset the capricious gods. I wouldn't say their religion made them feel good.

The ultimate goal of religion is to make people feel good. It's a simple pleasure seeking/ pain avoidance paradigm.

Yes but their pleasure seeking creates victim's.
Even within their own church. Note the child abuse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HKHaClUCw4&feature=PlayList&p=5123864A5243470E&index=0&playnext=1

African witches and Jesus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlRG9gXriVI&feature=related

Jesus Camp 1of 9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBv8tv62yGM


Promoting death to Gays.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMw2Zg_BVzw&feature=related

I think the ultimate goal of religion (not necessarily churches) is to reconcile people with the awarness of their impending death.

I think the ultimate goal of religion (not necessarily churches) is to reconcile people with the awarness of their impending death.

Reconcile?

Does that mean to give them foolish stories and false hopes of what is after death by making them think they are buying heaven by continuing to put $$$ in that little envelope?

Regards
DL

No idea, thats how I know its a sham. But, its no reason not believe in God.

Reconcile?

Does that mean to give them foolish stories and false hopes of what is after death by making them think they are buying heaven by continuing to put $$$ in that little envelope?

Regards
DL

Yes. Exactly.

Putting the $$$ in that little envelope (or plate) is the church's idea. But Man is aware of death, and afraid of it. All religion deals with the aftermath of death, and tries to calm man's fears with hope.

Since EVERYTHING which lives dies, death could be looked at as the cumulation of life. I can't see why that would be feared, but that's just my pov.

First of all, to define "religion" -- it is the organized cultivation of a collective orientation toward transcendence ("transcendence" as understood more or less in agreement by the people coming together in this organization).

Secondly, in light of the above definition, we have the historical process -- chiefly achieved by the modern West -- of secularization, by which over time religion has been disentangled, to a great degree (but not with the absolutist utopian perfection certain atheists and Communists might yearn for) from sociopolitics.

So, the ultimate goal of religion is to orient a community (or sub-community) of people toward transcendence as they see it, with the least disorder caused to the surrounding society according to the modern secular paradigm.

All religions today except Islam (along with a smattering of tiny cults barely worth notice) comport with this prescription.

No idea, thats how I know its a sham. But, its no reason not believe in God.

People do not look for reasons not to not believe in God.
They look for reasons to believe in him.
Those of intelligence who do not find anything concrete will not.
Faith without facts is for fools.

Regards
DL

Yes. Exactly.

Putting the $$$ in that little envelope (or plate) is the church's idea. But Man is aware of death, and afraid of it. All religion deals with the aftermath of death, and tries to calm man's fears with hope.

Since EVERYTHING which lives dies, death could be looked at as the cumulation of life. I can't see why that would be feared, but that's just my pov.

Same page friend.

One good saying that came out of religion was something telling us to worry about things we can do something about and ignore things that we cannot.
To live in fear of an unknown is to my mind a silly way to go through life.
I do not look forward to my death but I certainly do not loose any sleep about it.

Regards
DL

First of all, to define "religion" -- it is the organized cultivation of a collective orientation toward transcendence ("transcendence" as understood more or less in agreement by the people coming together in this organization).

Secondly, in light of the above definition, we have the historical process -- chiefly achieved by the modern West -- of secularization, by which over time religion has been disentangled, to a great degree (but not with the absolutist utopian perfection certain atheists and Communists might yearn for) from sociopolitics.

So, the ultimate goal of religion is to orient a community (or sub-community) of people toward transcendence as they see it, with the least disorder caused to the surrounding society according to the modern secular paradigm.

All religions today except Islam (along with a smattering of tiny cults barely worth notice) comport with this prescription.

There are exception. Have you noted how religions continue to fight secular law in terms of the equality of women and acceptance of Gays.
Especially on the later, they fight hard against civilization.

Regards
DL

Yes. Exactly.

Putting the $$$ in that little envelope (or plate) is the church's idea. But Man is aware of death, and afraid of it. All religion deals with the aftermath of death, and tries to calm man's fears with hope.

Since EVERYTHING which lives dies, death could be looked at as the cumulation of life. I can't see why that would be feared, but that's just my pov.

Perhaps man wasn't so afraid of death until religion established the heaven vs hell paradigm. By creating this "problem" (or maybe just taking advantage of an existing one,) you can then sell the solution.

Hence,

you will die and go to hell unless you come to me for salvation
you will get sick and die unless you come to me for vaccination
your childrens teeth will rot if you don't pay me to add flouride to your water
your economy will die if you don't pay the banks $trillions


It's a great racket if you can get into it!

There are exception. Have you noted how religions continue to fight secular law in terms of the equality of women and acceptance of Gays.
Especially on the later, they fight hard against civilization.

Regards
DL

In the West, only a small minority of Christians are anti-gay. Most churches (look up the National Council of Churches which represents hundreds of churches and dozens of different denominations -- they are very liberal on a variety of social issues, and support ordination of female ministers and rabbis, as well as gay clergy; etc.) in the West are PC MC (politically correct multi-culturalists).

In the West, only a small minority of Christians are anti-gay. Most churches (look up the National Council of Churches which represents hundreds of churches and dozens of different denominations -- they are very liberal on a variety of social issues, and support ordination of female ministers and rabbis, as well as gay clergy; etc.) in the West are PC MC (politically correct multi-culturalists).

Are you aware of the California vote not too long ago?

Is Gay marriage legal in the U S, a Christian nation?

Don't ask, don't tell.

Regards
DL

Hence,

you will die and go to hell unless you come to me for salvation
you will get sick and die unless you come to me for vaccination
your childrens teeth will rot if you don't pay me to add flouride to your water
your economy will die if you don't pay the banks $trillions

none of those things are the churches call.


It's a great racket if you can get into it!

i don't know..i think this is a 'grass is always greener' attitude..i think reality makes it hard.

What is the ultimate goal of religion?


Is it behavior control?
If yes, in what sense?
If no, why not?

Is it behavour control Yes

If Yes Why
Well what time in history do you want to start with and we will leave the bible out of this as it is just a collection of point affirming stories collected by the church and published by the church to control the masses so it could make money and become stronger then the ruler of the time. This goes for every religion, all a religion is a socially acceptible gang, cult, gathering of like minded people to further there own goals and give comfort to each other. Oh and BTW get more money for the church so they can continue to "Help" people to be come like minded like they are.

I think that about sums it up there could be more to add but I think this is a good start.

You asked: "What is the ultimate goal of religion?" Why is this question so hard to answer?

Because Religion = theology + much more
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.................................................. ..............
Ludwik Kowalski (see Wikipedia).
A am also the author of a FREE ONLINE book entitled “Diary of a Former Communist: Thoughts, Feelings, Reality.”

http://csam.montclair.edu/~kowalski/life/intro.html

It is a testimony based on a diary kept between 1946 and 2004 (in the USSR, Poland, France and the USA). Share this link (to this little-known book) with others. Thank you in advance.