What is the essence of Religion?

[yuga]

Whatever religion you are in, why is it important to you anyway?

[l'ange]

Maybe because it is like culture--you can't help but think in a certain perspective. But, I agree that whatever religion one has, it does not have to make a difference on how one relates with another.

[zimdude]

From some Catholic religion class before... it is faith seeking understanding. I interpret this as meaning, you would mght to believe in a religion to complement (?) your belief in a supreme being. If you can believe in God without any accompanying laws/doctrines/traditions, then religion wouldn't be necessary.

[walangdila]

as i have studied and been exposed to religion all my life, and for one time i just decided to slow down and disregard it for a while, i can say that religion is really an opium, a medium used to neutralize your sanity, assert your destiny, and calm your other existential angst.

[sea sprite]

hope
faith
humility
morality

[yuga]

to bring order and civility...

[Glock]

The freedom from moral and religious shackles.

[brownpau]

Freedom from fear, sin, and the illusion of self-reliance.

[Glock]

Freedom from sin eh brownpau? now lemme see your halo! please?

[fishball]

an economist...Fuerback...as i remember...said that man is a sensous being..that intelligence isn't enough...for man have senses of which he can undertake conscious and unconscious activity....one of which is RELIGION...
and acccording to him religion is UNREAL...it deviates man from reality...and people accept things because of religion....

Well i guess religion takes us away from reality for religion is our nesting place....it teaches us how to respect others..how to be one with others. Religion represents our individuality..our roots. It forms part of who we are for it allows us to believe in things which only we can feel within us. Intangible things which are of essence and because of these we become better persons. Fuerback must've been wrong in saying that RELIGION is UNREAL. Man might accept things as they are but this is not because of religion. He may choose a different path..he may accept it, neglect it or changed things for the better. Religion maybe unreal but why do we feel it burn within us if it isn't real??.....

[brownpau]

Glock:

fishball: IMHO, an "unreal" religion is a sterile religion, because religion that has true faith in a loving God will express itself through action in the real world. There's a verse in the Epistle of James about that, something about caring for widows and orphans, but I can't recall it right now; I don't have a bible with me. (gasp!!!!) I'll post the verse some other time.

[yuga]

... to assure us that a Supreme Being is out there watching over us

... to control our impulse to commit sin and do just whatever we please

... to provide a sense of importance to our life

... to assure us that all are good deeds are rewarded and bad ones are punished

... to assure us that life does not end after death.

[MEM]

The word "Religion" comes from a greek word "religio". "Re" means "again", "ligio" means "to tie". To combine it, "religio or religion" means "to tie again".

In biblical meaning, "to tie again" means "return to God" or "reconcillation with God"

Since...

Malachi 3:7
"Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty."

God says "Return to me and I will return to you". There is no doubt that religion is necessary for us to return to God because of what our forefathers (adam/eve) did to God by turning away from His decrees.

The concept of PURE RELIGION by God is written in...

James 1:27
"PURE AND UNDEFILED RELIGION before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."

Amen.

[brownpau]

There, that's the verse up there. Thanks, MEM.

[keiji]

may napag-aralan kaming pilosopo noon. keiji nishitani. isa siyang eastern philosopher na nagsabing hindi mahalagang malaman kung ano ang religion o kung ano ang halaga nito.

ang dapat nating pagkaabalahan ay kung ano ang ating "purpose in life." ang relihiyon ay isa lamang guide tungo dito.

para kay nishitani ang tanging paraan ay ito: the realization of the meaninglessness of life. ito ang daan patungong "nihility"