Isn't it logical to believe that religion is an attempt to control the sensory world?

Is it possible that religion helps us 'create' our own world because it becomes a psychological need to 'explain' stuff?





ALSO:





Isn't the belief in a God, the same as believing in Astrology or the Occult? Aren't they both rather 'magical'? Isn't it more logical to believe in nothing outside of self?Isn't it logical to believe that religion is an attempt to control the sensory world?
Yes, though I'm not sure what the alternative to the ';sensory'; world is





and yes, superstition is superstitionIsn't it logical to believe that religion is an attempt to control the sensory world?
Partly true for some.


But there is way much more than maracles and gifts to Christian religion. That is part of the overall structure and should not be used as a method to attract ';members'; as it would in the Occult and such. When people have faith miracles will occur, no faith no miracles.





Yea, signs come by faith, unto mighty works, for without faith no man pleaseth God; and with whom God is angry he is not well pleased; wherefore, unto such he showeth no signs, only in wrath unto their condemnation.





Heb 11:6


6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
';More logical to believe in nothing outside of self.';


I wouldn't use the word logical. The issue is is belief in the supernatural or mere natural plausible?


There are many things that I have seen and personally experienced by which I do not feel comfortable in being a mere naturalist.
OOOOOHHHHHHHHHH! Right on sister! Yes, when you look at it from a psychologically logical (hehe) perspective, it is the perfect way in creating a world of our own. I call this the ';shelter'; or ';comfort'; effect that plagues many people from living their life fully.





Humans are very observatory - the majority are, however, there are those who lack these abilities . . . greatly - to the world around them. Since the dawn of man, we were curious in the world around us; how things worked and WHY they did what they did. They had to have a reason for things, so that's when ideas came, which initially turned to beliefs, then religion.





I would agree that the belief in god as well as astrology and the occult are rather magical in nature, but if you look around you and see what is outside the self, you'll realize that there IS something around you.





Energy, waves of particles and so on which make up many many things. Energies have a way of making us react a certain ways. This goes into the belief that energy - nature - or the universal energy - has a conscience. Does the energy around us have a conscience? We don't truly know, however, it does feel like it sometimes.





It's one thing that I dislike about people - they blame god or outwordly things for reasons of chaos in their lives. They shake their fist at the unknown because they don't want to either accept what is or accept that it was their fault. It's easy for us to point blame towards anything outside of us, and truly is painful to admit fault. My point on this is that nature may or may not have a conscience, but if it does, it is neither evil or good. It simply just IS.
If the only avenue to God were through the Gnostics, you might have a point. However, Gnosticism is an avenue to nothing but the self-delusion you so rightly deride. Perhaps you'd be wise to drop the Nag Hammadi dreck and concentrate on FAITH as opposed to ';religion';?
Throughout history religion and selfish religious leaders have tried to control the people via supersitition , hate , violence etc.





However Gods word the bible does not promote these selfish practices.


It teaches just the opposite. The bible is one of the oldest books out there and while there are things that people wonder about the bible gives us the answers that we need such as :





Why do we die?





Why are we even here?





Why isnt God doing anything to fix the world right now?





Is there any hope for mankind?


etc





I see it as reasonable and logical that we WOULD want the answer to questions and not just be left in the dark about stuff.


Question ANYTHING that tells you not to question it people and religion!


The bible tells us to ';Dig for the truth as it were hidden treasure';





So Jehovah God doesnt want us to be dummies and blindly accepting everything that is thrown at us. We need to dig for ourselves and yes ask questions.





However the being magical and whatever , all those practices came from anicent pagan religions and those orginated from satan the devil so yes there is a big differents from astrology and the occult because God tells us to stay away from occult practices and magic things.





The bible on Witchcraft:





http://www.watchtower.org/e/20000401/art鈥?/a>





The bible on Astrology





http://www.watchtower.org/e/20050808/art鈥?/a>





The bible on the Occult





http://www.watchtower.org/e/20020122a/ar鈥?/a>





Use your own bible to look up the scriptures that are citd there its pretty interesting .
Remember, ';god'; is nothing more than a nonsense word created by man to explain away all of the things we can't yet understand.





Religion is a disease of the mind, born of fear, which has done nothing but bring untold misery down upon the human race.
I believe it is a form of control, it exploits the human fear of the unknown, and locks us in a prison of doubt and worry. But I think one could come to the ';logical'; conclusion that the there must be a designer to this ecosystem, our bodies, and the universe.
You know how I am going to answer this one. Our senses are strictly limited. Our spirits aren't. Astrology and the occult is nonsense, faith in God isn't. Nothing magical about the SUPERnatural, just the reality we can barely if at all perceive.
personally? I don't think so, because I've felt things that confirm that there is indeed something bigger than myself out there. I wasn't even sure Jesus had ever been real to be honest, but I've felt him, felt his presence, had him comfort me in a time of need. But also understand someone else's need for more proof, to believe because there's no proof. But for me, I've had my proof. I tend to think it's individualistic.
Actually, it's not. It's more logical to accept the idea that the possibility of a spiritual being exists, since we don't have evidence to declare either way.
Sure, just like believing in gravity.


http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/p67.h鈥?/a>
I completely agree, but the world is not inhabited by logical people. So yours is just some wishful thinking.





芦You may think I'm dreamer.


But I'm not the only one,


I hope some day you'll join us.


And the world will be as one.禄
Religion is psychological pablum for those unable or unwilling to think for themselves.
Without religion there wouldn't be decent people. People just want to eliminate religion well that's too bad because you can't.
It's a bunch of easy answers for intellectually lazy people.
It is an attempt to control people's minds for profit.
Religion keeps 'the Masses in line' from a Governmental Viewpoint....!!
Yes, you're right. Unfortunately we haven't evolved past our fairy tales from the Stone Age yet. Give it time, our kids will.
People tend to believe what they WANT to be true so, Yes it does help their psyche.
no ....some of us are actually born again.....


no....the occult is the devil....
I say yes to all your questions.
The truth alone sets people free, Jesus is the Way,the Truth, The Life .