Religion 2.0

First, let me start this post by saying that I'm upset we picked this short week to talk about religion. We could TOTALLY talk about this for two class periods. That being said... here we go.

Religion has always been a fundamental part of humanity. Every culture has it's own way of fulfilling the needs of its people, namely through different types of religion.

ALL PEOPLE have some basic needs:
1. Explain the unknowable
2. Facing mortality
3. Infuse hope
4. Calm anxiety about everyday adversities

When we are suffering, and we feel alone, it helps to have a tender maternal figure there to help us feel like we are being cared for. This is why most major religions have figures like this. Ex: Mary, Durga, Khadija, Hecate.

Religion is also important for social moderation.

This is not the part where I go into a long, drawn out rant about how religion is to control people! And this is a CULT! And Y'all are sheep!!

This is the part where I say that we need to come to know, and understand the purpose in religion, because these needs are important. Even in these times where there are fewer and fewer people who believe in religion, "we still have to die. We still need to be comforted. We still need to be reminded, in conditions of aggressive capitalism, of our duties to the community and to the poor. And we still need somewhere to take our disappointed ambitions, frustrations, and sorrows." People like to feel like there's something or someone looking out for them.

I think religion is a valuable, and important way that human beings can fulfill these needs. The thing is... that it's not the only way. And I think that's an important concept too.