why do people choose to have religions?
90206
Religion can provide comfort and hope for people, and in a world thats so full of pain this is great.  I know my religion is the truth and stands out from all others because its founder demonstrated the power of God. He healed\nblinded eyes, deaf ears, sicknesses and diseases of many kinds! He walked on water! Dont argue with somebody who can walk on water, just say yes sir!
1047852
Because religion is all about social control , money and power.\nAll religions want to increase their market share just like any other business.
644656
That's up to the individual.\n\nI prefer spiritual.  I feel that finding a link between man and many faiths has lead me in a very positive direction.\n\nYet, I feel that religion has become a weapon for society.  However, I have met people that found that a particular religion saved their lives, and they genuinely became better people.  For them, being religious was the way to go.\n\nIn the end, it's up to each person to decide for themselves.
1103606
My husband and I believe in God and have faith in Jesus, not religion. Both of us have tried different religions throughout our lives but it seems like they all have negative aspects. We feel that we don't have to associate with any particular church or religion to have a relationship with God and we are much happier for it. We also believe that since God created this earth, then God is everywhere, so why should we have to confine our worship to a building or on a particular day?
759518
When it comes to religion, a lot of people are unable to accept anything aside from what they were raised to believe or have come to believe.  They believe that their way is the right way, and everything else is just bunk.
964073
I came to this conclusion about politics and religious types a few years ago and I will share this with you now ok...\n  Religious people feel the need to believe there is a greater force out there so that they think their lives have meaning. They have a Bible, they follow the Bible, they think that if they do not do exactly as the Bible says they will not go to heaven. Part of the Bible is to spread the word of God to as many people as possible. Part of the Bible is also that mankind has freewill to make their own choices and do as it pleases. \n\n      So the problem I have with religious zealots is that they remember the first and forget the second. \nWhy would someone want to join a religion where you come across sounding like a half baked loon to anyone you talk to about God?\n Wouldnt it be better to be loving and accepting of everyone and happy with yourself to the point where people ask you wow why are you so happy what are you doing right with your life? Rather than trying to cram it down our throats and legislate morality.\n Teach through example, be a good kind tolerant person who respects peoples wishes.  Uh there is more to is, but yeah Jesus would most definately be a liberal.
447859
Religion divides people because it is just that: religion. Most of us have a faith and believe in a higher power, but because we are humans, we make mistakes and let our own interpretations affect our decisions. I believe there is a difference in division that results out of interpretation and division that results out of moral questions. It is inevitable that those will happen.
7012
I'm sure that culture influences religion choice - especially so during childhood, however many people, when adults choose their religion.  I have chosen a different religion from the one I was raised in.\n\nI would say that all independently thinking adults choose their own religion.  I'm just not sure how many people that is.
341238
As it is in life, different religions cannot live in harmony. I personally belong to no religion, and find it easy to tollerate and co-exist with people of other religions. Maybe this is a lesson the children of the future need to be taught.
439587
People judge other people's choices of religion all the time when they choose a different religion. Tolerance relates more to not committing acts of violence (as you point out) than it does embracing others' religions.\n\nI can think of lots of religious practices that I find repugnant, tithing, worshiping the pope, communion, snake handling, holy rolling, etc., but I support people's right to do those things if it makes them happy.\n\nErgo, religious tolerance.
162105
Religions are beliefs of a higher power. How can a child of different religious based parents, or anyone for that matter, have a belief they don't believe in? The child would need to research each religion to see which one they agree with more than the other. The parents should not be an influencal factor in the decision making of such a powerful choice.
395136
For many people living in a Globalizing world is a pretty frightening idea. Traditions that people held on to tightly are slowly unraviling, family values are apparently breaking down, jobs are becoming harder and harder to hold and so on. When you find situations like this it becomes easy to see why people feel empty, or feel like they need somewhere else to turn because life is confronting them with challenges that they are unsure they can handle. One of the better things about religion is that no matter what your belief system you find religion empowers the believer (though you could argue whether or not this is for better or for worse). Religion often provides not only a legitamation of a lifestyle but also a community of likeminded individuals satisfying our needs to be social. For these reasons religion is as important as ever in a secularizing world.
1089985
Religion was designed to Comfort and Amuse you\n\nIf you are not amused or comforted by yours - \nFind a New Religion that Comforts and Amuses you
679223
Who cares about RSS and who cares what religion people want to follow. Everyone makes there own choice- let them make and follow whichever God they want to seek, Why Meddle?\n\nLets worry more about our own religious beliefs rather than thinking abt everyone else's
23406
Beware of collapsing the two-- religion and those who follow religion. For I posit, that even without "religion", we would be divided over something or other. \n\nObserve two toddlers at play for a few hours and watch them fight over one toy. Very quickly you'll see, it is not their religion that has divided them, but their "idea" that they both own this toy. \n\nWe fight not because of religion, but because of our differing ideologies, beliefs, etc. Throw our heated emotions into the mix, and we can really be hostile, violent people.\n\nHence, don't vilify religion but take note of human nature. For that's what religion does, it illuminates our human nature in hopes that we might be empowered to "be our best" in spite of ourselves.
207947
There are religions all over the world. People need to believe in something & they need to be controlled.\nIt is the same with all religions.
28459
Because more and more people are moving towards a better light and learning individualism.  People are beginning to understand that religions were old governments that were there to govern and supress people from their individualism through fear.  ex:..(God Fearing Christian).  \n\nChurches allow people to express their selves but they limit them in doing so, expecially if they were to follow it "religiously".\n\nPeople are seeing that we, as a "species" must evolve before we crumble.\n\nCameron L also has a great answer.  Very well put!\n\n:)\nPeace