Why does a civilization need religion?
953415
it doesn't.  rulers and despots do.  it helps them control people.  look how Dumbya Bush used the christian cult to snow people here in the U.S.
1084344
well it's all connected with history, and when jesus walked the earth, and when god would talk to prophets to deliver his message to the people. the reason why there are so many religions is because with time people have decided to go their own way and come up with what they think the RIGHT religion should be, but in reality there is only one, and that's CHRISTIANITY.
211253
As long as all types of religions prayers are used (obviously if there is no-one from a certain religion, that prayer is not needed), then yeah, why not.
854675
Because of politics and religion.
503031
I agree. We need religion back in the heart of this nation. No one can argue it was founded on Religion. God is mentioned in so many documents, letters and journals of our fathers. The sooner we wake up and accept this, the sooner we will change for the better.
791814
none, because I want to accept things as I see them, not how others, and especially ancients see or saw them. the religions of today are to old and full of crap to be relevant in today's society. religion has caused more major wars in the history of mankind than any other single factor. Lack of religion has caused none. ever heard of an atheist st. petersburg? Have you ever heard of an athiest saying "i killed them because no god told me to"?
238966
Expansion for one. Missionaries carried the word of their gods to many tribes which would otherwise have just killed any strangers they met. The resulting expansion of trade encouraged development and research of resources which might otherwise be inaccessible.\nA strong moral code of ritual and conformity encourages cultural risk taking and production. Good for business, especially when a religion encourages its members to cooperate and obey (secular) government authority, rather than only religious authority.\nIt has also increased the size of wars. By combining people under a single purpose or religious code, many cultures can be used to fight larger battles that would otherwise have only been between locales over physical resources, rather than between regions over perceived moral threats.
460620
:}\nYES\n\npeople kill because people are fallen creatures, we have killed for land, wealth, racial differences and yes for religious reasons.\n\nYes we need Religion , not in spite of the fact that we are fallen creatures but because we are.\n\nThe Sad part is that only one of the religions can be true and it can represent only one of the gods.\n\nGood vs. Evil are juxtaposed\n\nYES, we need religion but which one?
1118414
The only religion the world needs is science.
553047
Just logic. Science has answered so many things about the world that religion hasn't been able to.\n\nThere is no need for religion or "Jesuses" anymore.
1174993
It's not that Islam is the obvious solution to everyone's spiritual needs, it's that it's the obvious solution to all your spiritual needs. Why do you think there are so many religions?
922458
Yes, of one sort or another.  Considering that religion is really just a way of explaining the world around us, and considering that some branches of science require just as much faith as some religions, we can assume that (in one form or another) we will always have religion.
923410
I think you mean morality.  Anyway, religion is a means to support the ideas that gives one a reason for life.  A weakness, I say, but still a means to an end.  As well, religion gives the powers that be, especially in the past, a means of control.  Fear is your only god, and that is the message.  Don't do what we say, you suffer forever. Now that is a good selling point.  Religion is, as the quote says, the opium of the people.
275363
Because that's the way it should be. Learn from history and look around you! Religion and state don't go well together. Too many conflicts, and it won't work unless the people all have the same religion. Try that, build a country based on religion and you'll go back to the dark age.
556453
i think that people only have a religion because the feel the chaos and random-ness of the world and it scares them.  If you think there is someone who is in control and knows what is going on you feel like they will step in and make sure that u aren't going to get into anything really bad.  i don't belive in god and don't have a religion but if u can make yourself belive in it, i;m all for it.  at your church or temple you have a really great family that will be there for you no matter what and that is nice to have.  also religion gives us a sense of belonging and importance tha we all strive for.  Just as long as you don't use religion to alianate people, it is a good thing.
1084553
I think religion today  is a matter of comfort. Being seen, being in a community, comfort for the after-life.\n\nReligion was very useful 1000 years ago to keep people down, to control and earn power.\n\nThis was very brief tho.
770314
religion was invented by people themselves