Amanda Kauppila
English 102
Assignment #3
November 5, 2008
Religion is all around us. On bumper stickers proudly displayed on cars, on jewelry, and even on each piece of money that we own. It is estimated that 86% of the world's population believes in some form of a higher power. Why are these beliefs so popular among the masses? Why do we as human beings need religion at all?
Based on man's evolutionary history, it is probably not possible to estimate exactly where religion first began. Written language has only existed for 10,000 years, whereas man has been around for an estimated 1 1/2 million. Without a written account of man's social history, it is difficult to say when and where exactly his beliefs began. We can only use logic and the facts that have already been gathered concerning this subject.
The likeliest reason for religion's inclusion into man's personal belief system is because it was favorable to survival. Having a firm set of values and beliefs held a group of people together, which enabled them to become a stronger force against animals and invading humans. As humans evolved further, their intellect growing far beyond that of any other animal, they began
to feel the need for an understanding of life. A religious figure, or figures, satisfied this need within man to know where he had come from and where he was going with his existence.
Religion seems to fill a void within human beings that they feel they are missing and cannot possibly stand to be without. Most often you will see individuals that are emotionally drained and vulnerable (sometimes for the first time in their life and quite suddenly) turning to religion for answers. Humans are by nature frightened of the unknown and the overwhelming---death, suffering, loneliness. The easiest way out for them is to appoint an all-powerful father-figure to be their guide and protector. It is understandable why the human mind would seek this very simple, magical answer to all of its problems and doubts. Yet, what of all the other traits that make us human? What of strength, resilience, endless curiosity? Why would they need religion to hold them up and tell them everything is going to be okay when they already possess the will to see their problems through on their own? I believe that humans are naturally drawn to religion, but that they don't necessarily need it as an essential tool for survival.
My own belief system is classified as agnostic. For the most part I do not believe that a higher power exists (beyond the many wonders of science), but at the same time I remain open to being proven wrong someday. It is important to remember that when it comes to science and evidence-based theories there is always room for refinement and expansion. Man does not yet know all the hidden secrets of the universe, and perhaps he never will. What he does know is discovered through careful repetitive testing and logical reasoning. Can a higher power be trusted to exist if there is no solid evidence backing up such an idea?
I am by no means attacking religion or those that choose to believe in it through writing this. I merely wish to raise a question that perhaps has not been given a lot of thought. Perhaps it has not been explored enough due to secret fears that questioning one's own belief system will lead to a complete disproving of everything in their life that has had any meaning. I don't think that this topic has to lead to such extreme conclusions. Simply to question life, every aspect of it, is a right that each of us should have the opportunity to explore enthusiastically and with complete abandon.
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