Ignorant post. Religion prevails because for a lot of people, it provides what science can't and will never do: Comfort, hope for the future, etc. It doesn't matter what someone's beliefs are, if it makes them genuinely happy and a better person, good for them. THAT is what true religion is supposed to - better the person and give them a purpose for life.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I agree with what you're saying, except for the part where you say what science will never do. One, you don't know the future or what it holds; two, I have high hopes for the future because of science, not religion.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

For some people, science can't and will never provide comfort, hope for the future, etc. Better? :)

by Anonymous 13 years ago

It is, but it's not really necessary to say, because you could say the exact same thing about religion. But if you read my comment below you'll see that I mean no offense.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Of course you could say the same thing about religion. That's why there are differing beliefs, atheism, etc. :) Personally, I think it's best when religion makes your appreciation of science grow and science makes your appreciation of religion grow.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Yeah, I think the beset combo would be a science-religion combo! Or people could just quit saying that they're right and others are wrong and just accept that in all reality, you can't possibly know if one is right and the other is wrong. May never know.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Time will tell. [Dun dun dun] xD

by Anonymous 13 years ago

OooooooOOOOoOOooOoooo...

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I don't agree with this. I don't need a religion to make me feel "Comfort or hope for the future." A religion does not always give this to you. I used to be christan and prayed for lots of things that did not come true. Religion did NOT comfort me at all. I can honestly say that science HAS comforted me and given me hope for the future. With science I know that that new medicine or technology could help me and the way people live. I totally agree with the OP.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Actually, religion is NOTHING like what it was thousands of years ago. One of the oldest forms of religion was fire sacrifice. From that it has developed widely and evolved in thousands of ways. We still use fire today, we've just managed to utilize it in many different ways (this is very similar). Religion, like the world, has changed over time. Things have been added and things have been removed. If all religion was, was people dancing around a fire, then maybe this post would be accurate. But it's not, so you're wrong. Also, I'm in no way religious at all. In fact, I'm a science student and Atheist. I am, however, not an ignorant human being. So don't try to argue that I'm just a religious rambler with no notion of world outside God or anything stupid like that.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

OP here, I posted anonymously but this site won't let me comment anonymously for some reason, unless my computer is just showing me my username but no one else... >:( Anyway, yes, I undertand that religion has changed greatly since its beginning, but I am also not an ignorant being and I wasn't even close to calling you a religious nut. Not all of the earliest religions were revolved around fire sacrifice, in fact most were revolved around river gods, since civilizations grew around rivers, and appeasing those gods either didn't include or took more than sacrifice by fire. I was just saying that the concept of practicing a religion, of believing in a force greater than that of this world, has survived despite the passage of time and the advances of civilization and science, and that is incredible.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Well, from what I learned in Religion, fire was worshiped before rivers. But that might just be with Indian religions. I wanted to add the religious nut bit because it happens sooo often when I defend religion, so it was kinda just a back up. I don't think it's that incredible. I think it's survived in part because of science, and the utter lack of being able to disprove the existence of a supreme deity(ies). Science can't disprove it, and religion can't prove it. So it continues to exist and move forward.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Oh well, I don't feel like getting into an argument right now, I've already had one today. I've just always found religion facinating, even if I'm not an extremely religious.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Haha how is this anywhere nearing an argument? Anyway, I agree. I find it totally fascinating, I'm even studying it in University, even though I don't believe a thing of it lol.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I'm glad we agree on something. :) And, well, I'm just being cautious about debating since earlier I jumped on some comments of a post to defend a girl who was trying to get advice on handling a friend of hers coming on to her, and I'm sure you can understand how that could get a bit heated. The last thing I want is to piss someone off again.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Yeah, that's a shitty deal lol. I think it'll be fine, I never take internet arguments seriously anyway lol. Plus, we seem to agree on most points anyway.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Its much better to be agreed with than to fight. xD

by Anonymous 13 years ago

There was a time when everyone believed in a religion. It was called the Dark Ages.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Exactly. Also, while religion hasn't gone obsolete yet, it's definitely been steadily losing ground- particularly when we're talking about more educated people.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I'm sorry, but that's an ignorant statement to make. While the West was in the Dark Ages, the East was having some of the most important scientific advancements of that time period, and this occurred with the spread of Islam. In fact, Muslim scholars are the origin of Algebra ("Al Jabr" in Arabic) and made some of the most significant discoveries that got science to where it is today. I'm not supporting Islam in particular, I'm just saying religion and science CAN co-exist and did so successfully. Generalizing it to 'all religions' would be a mistake considering some religions managed the science/faith balance successfully.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Yes, science and religion can coexist and did/do. I am also well aware of the fact that the Middle East is the epicenter of math and science. I was simply making a joke by implying that the rise of intelligence results in the fall of religion. It's an extremely slow process, but eventually the institution of religion will become obsolete.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

That's debatable. It varies according to where you live and so on and so forth. But I do believe the insitution of religion will become more tainted than it already is. And yeah, it was a joke but the implication is fairly wrong, considering (as agreed) the rise of religion resulted in the rise of intelligence in some areas ... but whatever. It does render anyone who generalizes mistaken, though.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I don't see how the eventual fall of religion is debatable, because you can clearly see a rise in atheism and agnosticism today. By an "extremely slow process," I mean it will take a couple thousand years or so. The advancement of our society will only increase the speed at which the institution crumbles. And, no the implication is not wrong. Yes, Muslim scholars made great strides in the fields of math and science, but that's not BECAUSE they were religious...they were just brilliant minds who happened to follow a religion.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

The implication IS wrong, though, because it implied anyone who follows a religion is in the dark. And it can be argued without the rise in religion the opportunity for those scholars to advance might not have been available. But yeah, I'll agree that makes sense anyway. And the fall of religion is debatable (to me) because in some areas religion has actually grown stronger as opposed to weaker. You can clearly see a rise in atheism in the West (and some places in the East as well) but there are also other countries where religion has spread so that a fair quantity of the population has embraced a more extreme side to it. So basically, it goes to both extremes - atheism and extremism. I predict in about two thousand years moderate or average use of religion will be obsolete, but it'll still exist, possibly in a more extreme form in fewer areas.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

True, it's a generalization. And, in what areas has religion grown more intense? Evidenced by the drop in religious wars, I would say extremism has certainly declined throughout history. Today, only the lesser developed countries have prevailing extremists and even their actions are less violent than past events.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I'm Egyptian, so I'll give Egypt as an example. About sixty or so years ago, we were occupied by the British. Although the ratio of religion with the lower classes has not changed much, in the upper classes there was a definite decline in the number of people who were really religious. And then, with the rise of something such as the Islamic Brotherhood, in the past thirty or so years there has been a rise in the number of people embracing a more extreme side of religion. Religion has always been a big deal in our culture but for instance the niqab (which is not a requirement in Islam) is now FAR more widespread than it had been forty years ago. So people went from not being very religious (mini-skirts in the street, for instance) to suddenly becoming extremely religious (women wearing the niqab everywhere) The very fact that religion is fading in areas can cause people to panic and embrace religion more tightly than ever, yeah?

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I'm aware this isn't the greatest of examples, as there are other places in which religion has become a bigger deal than before. You were thinking of it more politically, in a bigger picture way (wars and so on) but I was thinking more socially (which is equally important when it comes to something as personal as faith). Egypt in general is still quite diverse in terms of religiousness, but I thought it would be adequate to give as I've observed it first-hand and can attest to its being true.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I do not doubt your claims because you have seen them first hand. And I do concur that the general disregard of religion has made others grip onto even more tightly. However, I think it is clear that, despite other regions of the world becoming more devout in their beliefs, religion in general is declining. As I said above, the advancement of society will increase the speed of the institution's demise. When lesser developed areas become industrialized nations, they too will experience the decline of religion. In the mean time, I shall construct a time travel machine to see which one of us correct.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

True, true. Although, you have to bear in mind for Muslims (and another religion too, can't really remember) one of the signs that the Day of Judgement is coming is in fact the majority of the world converting to atheism ... so probably a lot of religious people will feel vindicated by this when religion declines ... I do think the time machine is the most reasonable solution as of yet. I, er, seem to have misplaced mine so I'll have to take your word for it when you're done >_>

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I kind of dislike when Atheists try to separate science and religion. Religion and science can play hand in hand on many occasions. Especially if you are a Deist. I was born a Muslim and I still believe in God and all the prophets but I still think everyone has a shot at getting into heaven. Main reason people read through the Quran and go through it and feel nothing is because they don't want to feel anything. Education and religion don't really correlate. Rich people choose not to believe in God because they have pretty much everything they already need. Most of the most brilliant scientists in the world are neither believers of a God or non-believers because they honestly can't prove or disprove the idea of A god with the Scientific method. Give me Thumbs down if you'd like I just gave my opinion feel free to reply. :)

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Obviously, no one can prove or disprove the existence of A 'god', but one can veeery easily disprove internally inconsistent gods such as the Christian or Muslim god.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Science flies you to the moon. Yet religious people deny scientific progression at every turn.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I was totally expecting "but religion flies people into buildings" xD

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Doesnt the survival of religion prove its significance

by Anonymous 13 years ago

proves stupidity.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

YYA, I'm dumbfounded that it's still so prevalent. But it's dying a slow, natural, death.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Science has been around quiet some time now... actually. Maybe science will die out. Let's see which happens first!

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Science won't ever die out as long as civilization is around.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Well then, I think the same can be said about religion

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I would disagree. I think it will last for a long time for sure, but the more advanced an area becomes, the more religion dies off in that area. It's been going on for generations in Europe and North America. Finding a truly religious person my own age is next to impossible where I live. I'd say that in my lifetime, religion will be more severely beaten back then in all of history before this.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Challenge: Go to Kansas and mention evolution.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Challenge: Stop stereotyping entires states filled with millions of people.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

There is truth to stereotypes.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Yeah you have a point, I just couldn't pass up the snarky comeback.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

First of all, not all religions were formed to explain natural events. For many, the scientific side of it was a side effect of the actual religion, not the purpose. Secondly, science can't teach you morals. Lastly, again, it's ignorant to say that science replaces religion.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Religion probably prevails because there could be truth to it. It's called faith, and whether you have it or not is your own choice. I believe that religion and science go together. I wish people would stop writing off all religions as a form of ignorance or stupidity.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

It's not exactly surprising, really. It's a basic human instinct to look for a source of leadership or to try and find a superior being, especially in times of hardship. While science explains (almost) every natural phenomena, people look to religion to try and find the deeper meaning in things, and for a source of comfort.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

OP: Geez people, did I ever say that I was refering to the religions of today? Yes, I do completely understand that todays concept of religion is much different than science and does have much more to do with morality. Hence, my refering to it as when it "was created tens of thousands of years ago". I'm not that stupid. I'm refering to the concept of a greater force creating and running this world, which is older than the oldest of civilizations.

by Anonymous 13 years ago