In the USSR there was a phrase: "Religion is the opium of the people." Karl Marx, thanks to whom this phrase became so widespread, saw religion as an institution of social slavery. But this is his vision.
Indeed, it is opium in a way. Why is religion necessary? It helps to relieve the pain faced by a person as an individual, and humanity as a whole. She helps to live.
Let's talk in detail about why a person needs religion.
What is the purpose?
Let's talk about the Christian religion. Most of the population in Russia are Christians. And many would be interested to understand why and what they believe in?
Why do people need religion? To answer this question, another question must be asked: Why do I believe? What is my goal?
The most savvy will answer: in order to be saved and end up in Paradise. Let's assume we are saved. What next?
We want to be with God in eternal life. We stood next to Him, and then?Why do we want to be saved and go to heaven?
"To praise God" would be the answer. Does He need our praise? Only God is waiting for us to come to Paradise and begin to sing psalms to him. Yes, and a whole eternity for singing psalms - is this normal? Doesn't God get tired of listening to them endlessly, and the saved one - to sing?
Then why do we yearn to be saved? Let's think: what can be done indefinitely?
While we think about this question, let's talk about some answers.
To love?
Why is religion needed in the modern world? What do we find in the Christian faith? Love is one of the answers. And love. But is it only her? Is it possible to love endlessly? It is possible, but in the eternal life of love, as we understand it, there is no. We do not love our parents, children and spouses there. Moreover, we forget about them in eternal life.
Then it turns out that love is needed only here on earth? There is only the love of God for us.
Religion from fear?
Why does a person need religion? Some believe out of fear. It would seem that it even sounds strange, to say the least. How is this possible?
For example, a person is afraid to die. It's okay, death is scary. Dying is not scary, the unknown is terrible: what will death be like? And what awaits us after it?
A person begins to seek protection from his fears. But who can protect from the fear of death? Only the Lord. Thanks to him, there is hope for salvation, because the Lord does not lie. And if he said that there is a heaven and a hell that everyone canbe saved, that means that's the way it is.
Faith from sinful pain
Why is religion needed in modern society? Because it hurts. It hurts with their sins. And the only way to get healed is through religion.
The purpose of religion is the salvation of the human soul. The first people, Adam and Eve, were sinless. Until they transgressed the commandment given to them by the Creator. They, as we remember, were taught by the serpent to taste the fruit of the forbidden tree. And when the Lord denounced the forefather and foremother of mankind, they did not repent of their deed. On the contrary, they began to make excuses and shift the blame on each other (and on the snake).
So happened the fall of Adam and Eve. Their sin fell on the whole human race. And people, in their coarsened state, are simply not able to save themselves. How to save fallen humanity? For this, Jesus Christ came into the world, incarnated from the Blessed Virgin Mary and God. The Son of God became the very sacrifice necessary to restore the broken harmony between God and man. Jesus Christ accepted death on the cross, shameful in those days and painful. Humanity has a chance to be saved.
But that was over 2000 years ago. What now? Have people stopped sinning? Hardly. Modern society is mired in such sins that our ancestors never dreamed of. But sooner or later a moment arises when an individual understands that it is impossible to live like this. He is fed up with sin, although he himself does not yet understand this. It just becomes "somehow lousy at heart". And where to go with a heavy, tormented soul? Only to the temple, where you can purify it. That'sa person comes to religion through sinful pain.
The state: why does he need it?
Why does the state need religion? Many believe that with its help you can control a stupid herd of people. But do people believe in the state? People believe in God, and many modern Christians are quite educated. As well as the fathers are already a little different. Previously, it was enough for a priest to say that this looks like this and that. It won't work with modern people. They will start asking: what, how and why? You have to explain, and if the priest cannot explain what he himself said, the flock is unlikely to be imbued with such confidence.
Religion and Modernity
Why do we need religion in the 21st century? The age of the latest technology, the standard of living is completely different. And suddenly - some wildness in the form of religion.
Savagery? Hardly. Just in our crazy age, when technology rules the world, religion is needed. Concepts are perverted and replaced, values are collapsing. What used to be shameful is now considered the norm. And what was in the order of things is ridiculous for modern society.
What is held in high esteem now? Power and we alth. Everyone wants to live well: full and rich. Most of us seek power. albeit not in the global sense of the word, because it is clear that one cannot get through to the “cream”, places there have long been firmly occupied. But take the leadership chair, please. It is no longer held in high esteem to be an ordinary hard worker, those who did not get rich and did not sit in the easy chair of the head are treated withneglect.
And where to find shelter in this crazy world with warped values? Where else is there something real? In religion. God does not change his commandments, they are relevant at all times. Nor does His teaching change. God is waiting for the lost children to turn to Him?
He's been waiting for two thousand years, And with him - the apostles, Forerunner.
And Ever-Virgin - God's light.
When is he the moment of the cherished meeting?
Lines from a poem by nun Maria (Mernova) perfectly reflect the true values of Christ. It does not matter to him how much money this or that person has earned, and what position he held during his lifetime. For God, the main thing is the human soul. In pursuit of imaginary values, people forget about their most important treasure. And religion is needed in order to find time for one's own soul in the bustle of fast-running days.
Everyone has their own way
Why do people need religion? How do they even come to her? As mentioned above, everyone's path is different. Someone begins to believe out of fear, someone is tormented by conscience and seeks consolation in the church, while others simply love God. And this is quite possible, no one has yet canceled love for the Lord. Another thing is that such love is instilled from childhood. If the parents didn’t have a question why religion was needed, they didn’t think about it and showed their child what faith is with their lives, then the child will follow in their footsteps.
Finding the love of God in adulthood is much more difficult. But this is possible with a great desire and striving for Him.
Rightchoice
Why do we need religion if God doesn't care about people? From such a question arises a stupor. You begin to gently ask: what does it mean anyway? And you get a heated monologue about the fact that God allows tragedies, deaths, wars and the like.
Sorry, but God is not a puppeteer. And we are not puppets to control us, pulling the strings. God gave us freedom of action and the right to choose. This does not mean that He left us on the principle of "do what you want." Not at all. God controls people through the events in their lives, speaks to us like this. But if we are blind and continue to bend our line, what does God have to do with it? If we are not willing to stop and think, turn and ask Him, whose fault is it? Obviously not God, but a man.
"Knock and it will be opened to you, ask and it will be given to you" - so said the Lord. He did not say that as soon as you ask, you will immediately receive. He says "ask and knock". Annoy with requests, show that you really need it. That your desire to get something is hot. And when you asked once and that's all, is what you ask for really necessary? If a child wants something, he will constantly pester the parent with a request. We must also act.
If not given?
And when you ask, you ask, but nothing is given? The question is brewing: then why is religion needed?
It's simple: if children ask us for something, from their point of view, very necessary, and we have prepared the best gift for them, will they get what they ask for? Last resort, if it will be useful. We will try to persuade the baby to be patient.
And if the sonOr will the daughter ask for something that will not benefit them at all? Will we comply with such a request, knowing in advance that we will harm our little blood?
So will God, will He fulfill our requests, knowing that it is harmful? He is Our father, and no loving father would want to harm his child.
Is it opium?
Why do we need religion? It helps to find healing. Heals spiritual wounds and twisted our souls. Religion helps to relieve pain both for a particular individual and for humanity as a whole. And if a person aspires to God, seeks Him with all his soul, then he will receive healing. That's all the opium in this.
And yet - why?
Remember what we talked about at the very beginning? What is the purpose of our faith? Why does modern man need religion? The answers to the question may vary. We have already reviewed them. Basically, the most savvy answer that the goal is to save their souls.
Why should we save ourselves? Well, they were saved and went to heaven, what's next? To glorify God for eternity? This will bother Him and the saved one.
Why then save yourself? And why is religion necessary? What is its meaning? In knowledge. We come to know God through the world He created.
If you tell an African that it is winter in Russia, he will believe it. But if you say that in summer it is hot and green in our country, in autumn the trees begin to lose their leaves, and in winter the temperature drops much below zero, the trees are bare, and the ground is covered with solid snow, this will cause bewilderment. Is it possible? Everything is green, and then - it's cold and there are no leaves on the trees, the grass does not grow? Notthe African will believe the stories. Especially if you add that in spring the snow melts, the earth and the first grass appear, the leaves on the trees hatch.
But if he sees the seasons with his own eyes, knows them, he will believe. So are we, like that African: we do not believe until we are convinced, we do not know. True, knowledge is sometimes given too hard and through the sorrows of life. But this is a separate issue.
So what is the purpose of salvation? What can you do forever? Self-improvement and knowledge, these things can be done forever. In this life we are learning to know God, we are just starting to do it. And in that life we will have eternity to know Him.
Summarizing
The purpose of the review was to tell the reader why religion is needed in civilization, in society and for an individual person. Highlights:
- The meaning of faith and religion is to save the human soul.
- Faith helps spiritual healing.
- Among today's world with its inverted values, religion is the only stronghold where the truth is still preserved.
- God gave people the right to choose. He is not a puppeteer, and we are not puppets in His hands.
- If something doesn't work, maybe it's time to stop acting on the usual strategies and turn to God?
- When we are not given what we ask for, it is worth considering: is the fulfillment of this request useful for us?
- Before blaming God for everything, it is worth remembering the paragraph "the right to choose".
Conclusion
Bereligious or not is a personal choice. As mentioned above, God provided it to us. Only if a person does not seek God and does not want to be with Him, then you should not blame Him for everything. We ourselves are to blame for moving away from the Lord and not wanting to be with Him.
Knowledge and healing is what religion is all about. It helps to know God here, in this life. And heal the sinfulness of our souls. If we strive for it ourselves.
