Comfort in believing

“It is allowed, that men never have recourse to devotion so readily as when dejected with grief or depressed with sickness. Is not this a proof, that the religious spirit is not so nearly allied to joy as to sorrow?”

It was so interesting to me that the idea of religion being an emotional safe haven has permeated through time. Religion is often justified as a means of comfort. Religion is kept around by some not for the purpose of pursuing a certain lifestyle, but more simply for the sake of having something to lean back on when the situations that a person faces in life become too much to bare. To be able to put the weight of a problem in someone or something greater, believing it will be able to address your issues and concerns, that removes a lot of worry as well as responsible from a person's life. This out, would obviously seem appealing to those in a low place, a place of struggle, or even one who is ashamed to due one's actions. Religion provides a social out as well as a form of escape from retribution for one's actions

I once heard someone say that religion is simply a means to give the weak hope and the less fortunate a reason to continue on in life. Religion being only a means to mentally keep someone at peace. I see where this idea could be drawn up due to the statements in the quote above.

Commented on Addison and Gabby’s

Comments

I think this opens up a door for a discourse on Faith vs Religion. While religion can be an emotional crutch or a means of momentary comfort, faith is more of a lifestyle that promotes a deeper relationship with our Creator and typically negates the need for an emotional crutch at all. Religion is an institution that can only help as much as the humans in charge of it can, but faith is based directly in the love of our Father. Much to think about! Great post!
Ezra Kennedy said…
Grief and despair has a way of bringing us closer to Religion more than anything else. You can worship and it brings you closer to God, but throwing yourself on the ground screaming and crying and begging for relief has a way of being you closer. Religion does give an escape, a hero to give your problems to. That’s why MOST people go to religion, So I concur.