Why religion have so big influence in people behavior?

1. 72

   kkndeposted 10 years ago

   Why religion have so big influence in people behavior?
   
   About impact of religion in day to day life.. And why is this happening? Is something people want or they are taught to want this.

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   Neil Sperlingposted 10 years ago

   Religion influences people mainly because they look outside themselves for the change they want in their life. Sheep follow!

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      gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Quite interesting answer, I can SEE your point!

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3. 84

   mbwalzposted 10 years ago

   "Religion" emerged very early in the history of man so I would say it's something people need. Even now, if people don't believe in a God, per se, they have political or social affiliations that create the same sort of grounding that religion does for others. In a huge and often scary world, it is only natural that people need something outside of themselves on which to focus as well as in which to have faith.
   
   The rules and such have emerged out of the tribe's need to keep order to survive. As life became more complex, more rules seemed to be needed. And then there is the human desire for some to have control and power over others.
   
   It all gets mixed into each religion. Thus, regional differences in beliefs and rules for the same religion.
   
   I believe it is innate in humans to need something like religion. And if you are taught something so it comforts you, then the particular "rules" you are taught are what you feel you need.

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      gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Interesting and analytical synopsis of the human condition. Love this answer!

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4. 90

   Marseiposted 10 years ago

   I don't have a particular "religion."  I attend a church called Unity, a metaphysically based church.  My beliefs, not religion, influence my life in that I try to do no harm to others, be kind to animals, spend some time each day in prayer and gratefulness, and follow the Golden Rule, which is incorporated in most religions.   I also have come to realize that my own thought patterns influence what manifests in my life, thus I try to keep a peaceful optimistic attitude, though I do fail often.  I also try to keep myself out of the past and future and in the present, love myself, which allows me to let go of resentment and love others.  Sorry I couldn't answer about religion, but this is the closest I come.  As a child in the Methodist church I learned that if you do good, God rewards you; if you do harm, God punishes you.  I do not and never will believe that.

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5. 85

   Billie Kelpinposted 10 years ago

   I don't think religion influences people's behavior in modern day living at all as evidenced from Christians who call themselves followers of Christ and are pro-war, prejudiced against those who are different, and look aside from true want and need in the world while espousing the virtues of wealth and capitalism.  And there Muslims who turn away from the peaceful teachings of Islam and have interpreted their religion to embrace terror and violence.  The problem is not religion; the problem is what is done in the name of religion when actually those behaviors reflect people's inner terror at change - change that will ensure rights of women, freedom to practice any religious belief, freedom of democracy where others vote for things you might not desire, and on and on.
   The behaviors in the world actually, in my opinion, are the fear of insecure men at losing power.  And I do say men, not because of bias, but because it is they who have the most to lose by the transitions that are happening in society right now.  And all of that reaction and terror and war is done in the NAME of religion and has NOTHING to do with the TEACHINGS of those religions.

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      Electro-Denizenposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      If women ruled they'd come to sensible agreements probably instead of murdering people. Testosterone drives us men crazy, and it's even worse when it's directed into religious fervor.

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      Lee Teaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I've been wondering lately with dads AND moms working so damn hard all the time, who's taking care of them?  I'm on a quest to mother the hell out of the world until we find our sense of well-being again.  Chicken soup and video games for all

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6. 81

   amer786posted 10 years ago

   Religion continues to be the primary validation for existence and purpose. Also, most religions believe that life will continue past the present form and that there will be reward and punishment based on the actions in this life. Some religions have a similar doctrine of reward and punishment but through reincarnation into the present form. This is probably why religion bears so heavily on psychologies and behavior.

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7. 0

   JThomp42posted 10 years ago

   Religion.... Christianity, Islam, Hindu, etc. has no influence on those lives whom do not believe. Those that are influenced believe in their religion and their Gods and have the self control to worship them as they are told by their specific religions.
   
   Those who do not believe are not influenced by anything that has to do with any religion, only what consists of their own lives. Yes, they are more comfortable in their little bubble than to think anything has a higher power over them and will scowl at anything otherwise.

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      Gareth Pritchardposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      If you think that religion has no influence on those who don't believe then you are sadly mistaken, the bases of all law is based in religion. People have to obey the law so how influential is that?

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      JThomp42posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      And your counter parts will argue that this is wrong because the separation of church and state??

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   3. 74

      Gareth Pritchardposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Then if that is true why do people still swear on the Holy Bible in a court of law if religion has nothing to do with it? Yes they can promise the truth in other ways but the main one is the Bible. The state can't be separated as it's based on it.

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      JThomp42posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with you. But, there are those who will disagree with you until the end my friend.

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      Billie Kelpinposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      On the contrary, JT.  Christianity, Islam, especially, has a powerful influence on those who don't believe. It is precisely the behavior in recent years by groups in those two religions especially that has driven so many away!

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8. 76

   arun.udayanposted 10 years ago

   I think it is human nature, or should I say, it is in nature of every living being to be scared/threatened of the unknown. Since humans can think, they thought of having a God for themselves who could protect them. Religion gives us unity and we feel protected when we know that there are others who too are afraid of the same God that we are! Also, I think that with this unity and feeling of being secure, sometimes a few people go crazy and start feeling a superiority complex about their religion. Also, when they come across the people of a different religion, they feel threatened because it is an unknown domain to them. And may be that causes religious disharmony.

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9. 74

   Gareth Pritchardposted 10 years ago

   The answer is simple all law is based on religion, the whole concept of law is based on religion, God gives the law to his people and his people have to follow the law or be subjected to some form of violence, punishment.
   
   How much more influence do you need?

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      Thomas Swanposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You could equally say that religious morality is based on the morals we derived in order to live together in groups/tribes. After all, civilization must predate organized religion, and civilization requires some form of morality in order to exist.

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   2. 74

      Gareth Pritchardposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes I could have, as well as said all law is to protect the haves against the have not's or that ownership is the root cause of laws but that has nothing to do with religion, religion influences your life like it or not as soon as your born.

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      Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I think you need to kind of get up to date. The law of this country on how you can prove some thing is found in the US Federal Rules of Evidence. If you can read through that and tell me it is based on religion with a straight face. I'l be impressed

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      Gareth Pritchardposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes Eric, I will and even the langue that is used was originally formulated by guess who? Henry the 8th for the creation of the Church of England which lead to the British Empire because they all sung from the same hymn sheet..

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10. 61

    Edwinoel Tanglaoposted 10 years ago

    Religion is a 'way of life.'  It's in one's belief system, culture, upbringing, faith, whether he believes in the supernatural or not, or he believes in God or not, that one may be influenced by his behavior. 
    
    After studying several religion, I have found the truth in God's words in Jesus through intensive research and prayer in the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
    
    I admit that I was baptized as a Roman Catholic in infancy, as has been the practice in the church, but I had some doubts in the past about the religion my family had adopted to practice.  But somewhere along the way, being baptized by the Holy Spirit after attending a Catholic Charismatic renewal movement, I grew closer and closer to Jesus for I have seen Jesus in a clear vision and the light, that Jesus is real. 
    
    The more I read the bible in prayer, the more I see the truth about God in Jesus, and this I confidently share with others for it is not about me anymore, but about God's truth.
    
    Other people of other religion can always be influenced by their own religion because of their belief system and it is what they 'will their mind' to follow, perhaps, in their pride, and in their upbringing or out of convenience or fear, they would rather believe in what their parents and their people taught them to believe, closing their eyes to what can be more freeing in being able to open one's heart and spirit to God's words in the Holy Bible, and see and feel the truth about Jesus in deep prayer and contemplation.
    
    Blessings to all and to kknde for this beautiful question.

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11. 58

    irenemariaposted 10 years ago

    God created humans with a will to serve a higher God.
    That influence is really big and people are searching for a meaningful religion.
    
    ALL they need are in the Bible

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    Lee Teaposted 10 years ago

    Could it be that religions were designed and established precisely TO influence the behavior of people?  All the rituals and group chanting and oils and incense aren't just perks of the club...they put one in a highly suggestive state.

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       Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       I certainly hope so. Better than the trance in front of a war video game or TV or pornography or alcohol or drugs or addiction to social networking or smoking or being a workaholic or bully.

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13. 46

    Ericdierkerposted 10 years ago

    I do not mean this as rude or overly frank but your question answers the question.
    
    One can seriously ask that question as opposed to posing it to Mass Media, Television, Youtube, Money, Materialism and violence and crime? Think about it. The crazy influences of the world, let us throw in politics and gossip and popularity and status definitely need a small something to balance out this mad house of a world.
    
    Shouldn't it be "why do they have such a small influence". How many hours a day, a week a month do people spend on their spiritual and love? 4? 6? a month?
    
    Yes people want a release from the madness of war and terror. Yes they want a little hope and comfort.
    You really believe that matters geared toward the spiritual are taking too much of your time or denying you rights or impacting us more than greedy industrialists. I suspect the price of things influences you about ten times more than religion even if you claim to have one.
    Do you really think for a second we have to be taught to want to escape the pollution the hatred and the over competitiveness of our world, not to mention poverty and sickness and corruption.
    No the proper question is why does it have such a small influence when compared to all the negative?

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14. 36

    edhanposted 10 years ago

    Religion is meant to teach goodness in people. But at times, we do see people exploit others using it when one is weak and seeking guidance. We should take control of ourselves to know what it right and wrong. Not to be influence in a wrong way.

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    Borsiaposted 10 years ago

    Controlling behavior is what religion is all about, it is the prime directive so to speak. So it would be far more surprising if they did not seek to control behavior.

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    enamateurposted 10 years ago

    All religions are different paths to the light. Almost everyone is looking for the light.

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