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)