17th June 2010, 8:40 AM
The irony of this "comfort in a deity" is that, as ASM already explained, religion creates burdens for its believers as well. Sure, it's comforting to think that we don't cease to exist after we die and we'll go to a utopia called heaven where we'll always be happy and nothing bad will ever happen to anyone for all eternity, but inversely, there's also this fear of a place called hell, and quite frankly, I'd rather cease to exist than experience fire and brimstone for all eternity.
Then, in perhaps an effort to control the masses, religion lays out rules for how to live one's life. Some rules are basic and easy (don't kill, don't fuck around with other men's wives, etc.), but then some religions get carried away with ridiculous rules such as "don't eat pork" not to mention all the rituals and celebrations that are observed annually. Why is this necessary? Why would humans who simply wanted false hope invent these rules and observations? Why would a church put so much emphasis on hell if religion was invented simply to make people feel better about their own mortality? It's mind-boggling, really.
Life is short and you only have one. Eat pork, drink booze, have sex, and be happy. :)
Then, in perhaps an effort to control the masses, religion lays out rules for how to live one's life. Some rules are basic and easy (don't kill, don't fuck around with other men's wives, etc.), but then some religions get carried away with ridiculous rules such as "don't eat pork" not to mention all the rituals and celebrations that are observed annually. Why is this necessary? Why would humans who simply wanted false hope invent these rules and observations? Why would a church put so much emphasis on hell if religion was invented simply to make people feel better about their own mortality? It's mind-boggling, really.
Life is short and you only have one. Eat pork, drink booze, have sex, and be happy. :)