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Is religion necessary for life?


As much as the question it self is controversial, it goes down under the souls? framework to checkout all the hidden skeletons. For once if we can take off our narrow minded religious hats and think like human beings; for sure, we will see a dozen religions surrounding us.

The question is not to debate which religion is the best of all, but to see the need for an organized religion (e.g. Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism etc?). Is it something that we are human beings cannot live without? Are atheists deemed for misfortune in future?

Please share your views.
 

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Login to find out (May 9, 2005 at 7:36pm)
It is for the life that really counts. :)
 
Login to find out (May 9, 2005 at 2:31pm)
correct jaz, the proper set of rules that are equal for all, would also take care of human rights at the same time.
 
Login to find out (May 7, 2005 at 6:27pm)
Mine is a relatively simple question. Does religion need human rights for it to be 'complete' OR do human rights need religion?
 
Login to find out (May 6, 2005 at 9:05pm)
Some of you have said it is the people, not the religion. I agree with you in some respects. However, most of these Muslim people we disagree with can still justify their actions with an Islamic book. The problem is that most things can be supported if you are selective with verses. ex. 'There is no compulsion in religion' is oft-quoted among american muslims vs. the 'beat your children (lightly) if they do not perform salah' is popular among more extreme Muslims. Just a thought...
 
Login to find out (May 4, 2005 at 6:50pm)
I have seen many people who are atheists and yet they are good humans. I guess people could live without a religion. However, as far as I am concerned I am happy to be a believer.
 
Login to find out (May 4, 2005 at 5:47pm)
abshaw and mamad - i agree. well said. :) I do not think it is "necessary", but it sure helps! Morality can be found outside of religion and one can actually come to the same conclusions. Religions do not have some secret code that can't be found in nature, but rather they illuminate the presence of God already in our hearts, souls and all around us. We are born with an inclination to do good, with a conscience and with "signs" all over. however, i do not think there will be a time without religion because it is natural to organize, to discuss and to do so in a certain formal way. organized religion is the natrual construction of a group of cognitive, moral people concerned with the transcendence.
 
Login to find out (May 4, 2005 at 4:22am)
Mamad ?reading the Quran with an open mind is almost impossible??.not in my case?that is just an excuse for not taking the time to pick up the holy Quran and to gain understanding from His strong words?im glad to say that I don?t think like that ?anymore? Alhamdulillah?im not saying im perfect?im far from it?bas trying to do my best?.may Allah guide us ALL towards the straight path and may we all become righteous. Ameen
for the first time, i met someone ?that said" i dont believe there is a God"...my heart ached for that person...a certain kind of sadness came over me......how could anyone NOT believe in a higher being? I honestly feel sorry for him...SubhanAllah...and i think God is tryin to send him a message? he is ALWAYS getting into car accidents...always...and i really think God is tryin to give him a chance...i really really do. Ummm as far as me judging someone that is an atheist/non-believer of the Almighty?it is not my place to judge im sure they are great and what not, but I feel like they are missing a huge piece of understanding in their life. The history of religions?very powerful and enlightening information, in the books of Allah. Food for thought and one can get into a state of nirvana?just by words. But none of this can happen...if one is blind to mind, thought and sight...Allah help us all.
 
Login to find out (May 3, 2005 at 7:36pm)
Well, in that case there is always the ideas of a. no future ahead. b. reincarnation. c. the 7 rebirths (in hinduism) etc... so who is to say there is something to loose to begin with. On the other hand, if you wanna look at it through the Islamic prism, the teachings are that you will be judged by you deeds in this world, so if some body was born a jew, raised a jew, and died a jew, never hated anyone, never hurt anyone dilabratly, led a very peaceful life etc...; his good deeds pile will be much bigger that his wrong doings. Then what will happen to the most just God's justise. I dont think he is gonna take away all the good points just beacause of a personal matter. cause if look at it, it actually is only a personal matter between God and man, if he accepts his religion version a , religion version b ,religion version c, or takes his time to compare all the versions to decide which one to pick. :o)
 
Login to find out (May 3, 2005 at 7:19am)
I actually know lots of people who are atheist and they are amazing people. Actually even their parents are atheist. So the people still turned out to be nice even though the parents did not give them "religion" So I would have to agree with Mamad!
 
Login to find out (May 3, 2005 at 6:43am)
Caramella and Begsy...as i've said in a previous VE...i have many atheist friends and they are fantastic human beings (many of them are medics)...some of them have even read the Quran...I think the problem is that if you're brought up as a muslim, reading the Quran with an open mind is almost impossible...same applies to a Jew reading the Torah or a Christian reading the Bible.....when you sit down and read them, it reminds you of sitting with your grandparents and learning it, or sitting next to your father and him reading it...essentially to me the Quran is written as a warning...that we must do good or otherwise God won't be happy with us...which is fair enough as it was revealed over 23 years of the Prophet's life and was aimed at a backward Arabian tribal nation....but i do believe that an atheist who does good, not because he/she believes it will please God, has something beautiful about them, a humanity if you like.
 
Login to find out (May 3, 2005 at 6:14am)
I agree with Carremela..well said.
 
Login to find out (May 3, 2005 at 12:44am)
We definitely need religion. it is the guidline which tells us right from wrong if there was no religion to tell us that we would have been no differemt than animals
 
Login to find out (May 2, 2005 at 7:13pm)
Absolutely necessary.. we all need a moral compass and religion provides it, most people are too self-centred to follow any moral code or come up with one unless it has been prescribed to them by religion; I also believe in the (Christian) quote if you're trying to run a car you'd read the manual written by the manufacturer... likewise for me reading the Quran as an instruction manual for our life makes sense, because it's been written by our Creator...if there's no guidance or it's not followed a lot of us just stumble around in the dark
 
Login to find out (May 1, 2005 at 7:08pm)
Let me take you down 'cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields
Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about
Strawberry Fields Forever
Living is easy with eyes closed
Misunderstanding all you see
It's getting hard to be someone but it all works out
It doesn't matter much to me
 
Login to find out (May 1, 2005 at 7:05pm)
Go Beatles :) I am a big fan of them....Got side tracked there....All religions teach you the same thing. I am not sure if I completely believe in a organized religion or not but I do believe in God. I dont think you need a religion to be a good human being. But you do need a foundation for your morals and values that are extracted from a "religion". I would have to say that I agree with Mamad and Musafeer. I guess I am in between. But I do know that I have to give my kids some foundation and eventually when they get older, will figure out things on their own. Like I did when I got to college ;)
 
Login to find out (May 1, 2005 at 2:20pm)
Well said Carramela/Nura. That is why Allah has made us intelligent beings who can understand and comprehend. Our problem is that we don't take the time to understand the true meaning of our religion, we just take it as given.
 
Login to find out (May 1, 2005 at 12:59pm)
Mamad? ?what we must decide is, whether we as human beings believe in something, because we truely believe in it, or because we've learnt to believe in it, i.e: been conditioned to believe in it.?
Yes true?I went thu that in a period in my life?yes I was brought up as muslim?then later on?I had some changes in my life where I started to question a lot of things?(till today I do..who doesn?t?) but a year or two ago I listen with an open heart and mind?started reading the Quran (English) for the beauty that it brings forth?not the negativity that most people tend to distort in their own way?belief is a powerful thing. But first ur heart and mind must be free to listen. So one can decide on their own?what is best for them.
 
Login to find out (May 1, 2005 at 12:59pm)
I never thought and I know john was not shot dead for his comment or for being a non-believer.I think he did more good things than bad.I'm a die-hard fan of him as well.I'm sure he is in heaven. //00\
 
Login to find out (May 1, 2005 at 12:50pm)
Forgot to add...."Let it be" is a burning example of the Beatles' firm belief in religion.Not to mention it was their last album as The Beatles.Here is the intro:" When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me , speaking words of wisdom, let it be." :) //00\
 
Login to find out (May 1, 2005 at 12:47pm)
Ostentatious...i think religion is like everything else...and we learn it...if i was brought up by cannibals a hundred years ago i probably would believe it's a religious duty to eat your enemy...or if i lived in the 1600s i would have probably taken part in witch-hunts and watched exorcisms--------------what we must decide is, whether we as human beings believe in something, because we truely believe in it, or because we've learnt to believe in it, i.e: been conditioned to believe in it. Its a very difficult question and one that we can't really answer as we're taught certain things from a very young age, and we can't seperate our beliefs from our learning experiences.