A Different Perspective on Religious Behavior

[T.G.G. Moogly]

There's no doubting that some people actually believe there are invisible creatures all around them. Spirits, souls, ghosts, gods, angels, demons, all manner of magical, non-natural forces and entities. I remember being taught that we each have a guardian angel that watches over us and protects us. It's silliness of course but some folks do take it literally for their entire lives albeit with adjustments.

Last night I enjoyed watching LOTR - Return of the King. It's all fantasy but I enjoyed it nonetheless as I do other movies. I used to be a John Wayne fan. Lately I suppose that Avatar is my favorite movie and can't wait to see the sequel. And this brings up an interesting angle of religious behavior.

The reason I enjoy those aforementioned movies is because they make me feel good. That's it! Nothing else except that they make me feel good. I'm willing to spend time engaging in the fantasy that is these movies simply for the pleasure and satisfaction they bring.

No doubt religious behavior is the same thing for many people, even those who have made "adjustments" to their religious beliefs and may no longer take many of the claims literally. I know quite a few folks who talk quite disparagingly about christian dogma, jesus and miracles, the trinity, souls and other aspects of their religion. But they go to church on Sunday nonetheless, even observing holy days of obligation, partaking in sacraments and making regular financial contributions. Some are even on councils and have "sacramental" responsibilities. Some are divorced.

It can only be that what they get out of their participation is some measure of satisfaction. Maybe it's the comfort of participating in social rituals with community. Maybe there is a degree of fear involved about hell and eternal damnation. But on balance they must get more satisfaction than dissatisfaction. It's part of their identity and is their comfort zone and therefore they will defend their behavior, however delusionally perceived by others, because they are defending their identity and their community and something they find satisfying and comforting. It just feels good to do what they are doing same as my watching one of my favorite movies for the tenth time.

The rational behavior is in receiving satisfaction. No doubt there is a biological component, maybe a reduction in serum cortisol, but the behavior is comforting and therefore partaken rationally.

 

[steve_bank]

LOTR is classic good vs evil. Many of the cowboy shows and movies were moral tales. I grew up watchng Wayne. Now when I watch he old movies to me the image is not really good.

From what I have seen with Christians they believe they are on a great epic battle against evil as they define it. Moral agents of a god. It is all very real to them.

I think some of us atheists look at it as a debate with logic and facts but fail to recognize it is not logic and reason for the real believers.

It was repoted that New Zealnders were pissed at LOTR tourists who wandered around the movie sites dressed in costumes. To understand relgion and its appeal alls you have to do is look at pop entertainment culture. Trekies thought Nimoy was really like Spock. They probably did not realize Shatner, Nimoy, and Kelly were actors who all played cowboy-western roles in movies and TV. They were actos.

Shatner famously made a comment on a SNL skit telling Trekies to get a life it was just a show. Trekies turn apartments and houses into Enterprise. Theywalk around in ST uniforms.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

There's no doubting that some people actually believe there are invisible creatures all around them. Spirits, souls, ghosts, gods, angels, demons, all manner of magical, non-natural forces and entities. I remember being taught that we each have a guardian angel that watches over us and protects us. It's silliness of course but some folks do take it literally for their entire lives albeit with adjustments.

Last night I enjoyed watching LOTR - Return of the King. It's all fantasy but I enjoyed it nonetheless as I do other movies. I used to be a John Wayne fan. Lately I suppose that Avatar is my favorite movie and can't wait to see the sequel. And this brings up an interesting angle of religious behavior.

The reason I enjoy those aforementioned movies is because they make me feel good. That's it! Nothing else except that they make me feel good. I'm willing to spend time engaging in the fantasy that is these movies simply for the pleasure and satisfaction they bring.

No doubt religious behavior is the same thing for many people, even those who have made "adjustments" to their religious beliefs and may no longer take many of the claims literally. I know quite a few folks who talk quite disparagingly about christian dogma, jesus and miracles, the trinity, souls and other aspects of their religion. But they go to church on Sunday nonetheless, even observing holy days of obligation, partaking in sacraments and making regular financial contributions. Some are even on councils and have "sacramental" responsibilities. Some are divorced.

It can only be that what they get out of their participation is some measure of satisfaction. Maybe it's the comfort of participating in social rituals with community. Maybe there is a degree of fear involved about hell and eternal damnation. But on balance they must get more satisfaction than dissatisfaction. It's part of their identity and is their comfort zone and therefore they will defend their behavior, however delusionally perceived by others, because they are defending their identity and their community and something they find satisfying and comforting. It just feels good to do what they are doing same as my watching one of my favorite movies for the tenth time.

The rational behavior is in receiving satisfaction. No doubt there is a biological component, maybe a reduction in serum cortisol, but the behavior is comforting and therefore partaken rationally.

I have no doubt that religion can make people feel good. I have no doubt that heroine and whiskey can make people feel good too. Your movie-watching is harmless, while religion can be and often is harmful. That's why movies are OK to me, and religion to me is something we're better off without.