(1)Ah the functionalist perspective. It dosnt matter if something is real as long as it is functional.
Or to put in another way "false hope is better than no hope".
This is why I tend to agree with Freud, (2) that religion stems from mans need for a father figure. Or rather in my view that if an adult desires the same comforts as a child, then they need something bigger than themselves to look too. When you consider that there have been 1000's of religions over mankinds history,(4) just because christianity happens to be in vogue right now, dosnt make it any more valid than any other.
Just as it replaced previous belief systems I have little doubt that it to will be replaced. Most likely by aethism(3) at which point I would have considered that the human race has grown up.
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I've been longing for this, for some reason... First off, I don't take the church's tyranny and horrible deeds back then in to account when I argue about my faith or, eh..."talk with god". I believe in god(s), not some institution.
(1)Yes, if we ask "What's the point of religion?", then the answer I'd give is the functionalist one. Religion stems from the human's need to explain the unknown and the want to grasp some of it. On that point; Marx really is right about the opiate thing.
(2)Father figure as in; authority, comfort and love? Everyone needs them. You could say that if the society doesn't provide, goes does. Which explains why so many cons, addicts and misfits find comfort from church. But, I don't exactly agree about he need of a father figure. Yes, everyone prays when they're scared, for that something to take care of them, so in the bottom every individual needs someone big to trust to. Then again; I have a dad a somewhat loving family and several friends, so you could say that my need for authority, love and comfort are satisfied. Why do I believe in that something then? Do you mean...
(3) ...that I'm irrational? Remnant of an older system? Somehow daft? Or do you mean that this is a seasonal thing? Something people grasp for in this age in their search for life's meaning.
(4) This I fully agree with. It's a faith thing. Some cynical individual could say that all believers do religion like drugs; big one that fits you just as long you get the kicks. Well, why not? I don't know what urges christinaity satisfies in me, but I can say that I chose my opium well. :D