Why Religion is a Necessity

It is my contention that humanity, in general, needs religion. Whether they practice some form of a major religion like Christianity or Islam, or lean toward Atheism or Agnostic, all people need religion.

While religion has been described as consisting of "the belief that there is an unseen order, and that our supreme good lies in harmoniously adjusting ourselves thereto," (Hopfe 5), religion has also been tied to belief systems, morality, and life beyond death. Some view religion as anything that dictates morality.

Atheism, a contradiction of many religions, deals with the one thing we in this culture associate with religion: god, or the lack there of. The belief that there is not a god is as much based on faith as the belief that there is one. This act of faith, of believing in something that can not be proven, and allowing that supposition to guide your actions, is a good description of religion.

Hinduism is based in the faith of reincarnation. There is no proof of another life, or any life after death, and yet they unfailingly believe that they will be reborn, and that karma will set them free from life and death.

By faith the ancient people of many cultures offered up sacrifices to their gods in supplication, with no proof that their prayers were heard.

Modern science has taken up the project of proving faith with scientific experiments on prayer and meditation. Does it help with healing?

Faith healers of many religions have, for centuries, prayed over the sick and dieing in the belief that their prayers will be heard and save or cure them. They cited cases which seemed miraculous, some who rose from the dead, and those on their death-bed who made a miraculous recovery. (Fox-Rose 79-80)

Research into prayer took a simple approach. Two groups were named. Another group prayed for one of the designated research groups. Other tests had researchers concentrate on mice with wounds, fungal spores, and other devices. They found that those who had been prayed for, or meditated on, were significantly better off then those who were not. The mice healed faster, the fungal spores grew slower, and the heart patience died less frequently. (Drum 194-195)

Humans are built to have faith in something. Research shows that men and women who participate in a religious organization tend to live longer, have fewer life threatening diseases, less stress caused diseases. (Maton)

Literature and art have always been inspired by religion. The ancient Greeks and Romans depicted scenes from mythology on urns, vases, walls, and paintings. In Egypt pyramids were built to house pharos in pursuit of the next life, their walls festooned with carvings and paintings of their gods. In Europe, oil paintings of the life and death of Jesus Christ and the Madonna were among the most frequent subjects of the renaissance. The Sistine Chapel, one of the great works of the renaissance, depicts heaven and scenes of the bible.

In literature many great poets have referred to God and faith. Homer wrote the Iliad and The Odyssey telling the story of the Trojan War and Ulysses voyage home, all heavily influenced by the gods.

In modern times Anime is heavily influenced by mythology and religion. The "Cain and Able" story permeates many movies and TV series. Ah, My Goddess deals with demons and angels. The main characters in Evangelion are angelic type creatures.

The Left Behind series has been on a best sellers list for quite a while.

Movies such as "The Stand" and "Omen" have a loose biblical basis.

The Bible has been the best selling book in history, having been sold in more countries, translated into more languages, and sold more copies then any other book since the advent of the printing press. Gutenberg chose the Bible to be the first book ever printed on his press. ("Gutenberg")

Wars throughout history have been fought in the name of religion. The Crusades, the Israelites move into Canaan, the French Revolution, The Inquisitions. These wars were fought because of a basic belief in the rightness of it. Faith in a God who would free their people, or lead them to greater territories.

Whole mythologies, many with some basis in fact, have been built around these religious wars and leaders of wars. Joan of Arc is the prime example. A young girl who leads an army for France in the name of God. In a time when women were not allowed into the military, and protected from such actions, it is a wonder that a woman, especially one as young as she was reported to have been, would be able to not only enter the military but lead it into battle and to victory. That she proclaimed to hear God and be sent by him is even more extraordinary. ("Joan of Arc")

Religion has been a driving force for good as well as destruction. Beautiful temples and effigies have been constructed, pilgrimages made, and charity preformed in the name of God.

Belief is a driving force of invention and innovation. We move forward because we believe it to be right. Missionaries of various faiths have made way into more countries, learned new languages and customs then any other. They are often at the forefront in anthropology as they have to live among the people they go to.

Religion and faith in something beyond this world has inspired many, and occurs in some for among all cultures. People need a link to their past, to those who have gone beyond. They need faith in something beyond this world.

Today science is shifting that line between faith and fact, validating centuries of belief. If the trend continues it is possible that there will be proof that something lies beyond what our five senses can interpret.

Works Cited

Drum, David. The Chronic Pain Management Sourcebook (1999): 194-195

Fox-Rose, Joan. Opportunities in Nursing Assistance Careers (2000): 79-80

"Gutenberg" Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Gutenberg

Hopfe, Lewis. Religions of the World Tenth Edition (2007): 5

"Joan of Arc" Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_of_arc

Maton, Kenneth "The Stress Buffering Role of Spiritual Support: Cross-Sectional and Perspective Investigation" Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Vol. 28, No. 3 (Sep., 1989), pp. 310-323