Religion has shaped cultures, laws, and lives for thousands of years, though the existence of gods cannot be proven. While organized religion has been responsible for wars and injustices, it also helps communities and individuals make sense of the world by providing structure, purpose and motivation. Humans are inherently curious and religions represent societies' attempts to answer questions about where we came from and why we are here, even if some religious claims have been disproven by science.
2. UNDERSTANDING
RELIGION
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Though no one is currently able to prove the
existence of one (or many) god(s), much
evidence exists of the power of religion.
Religion—from the Abrahamic religions of
Islam, Christianity, and Judaism to the
Dharmic religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, and
Sikhism—has shaped our cultures, our laws,
and our lives for thousands of years.
3. Organized religion has
inarguably been responsible
for many of history’s wars,
atrocities, and injustices, but
it’s not all bad. Religion can
help us make sense of our
confusing world,
provide motivation,
encourage altruism, and bind
communities together.
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5. Humans ask questions: It’s what
we do. For hundreds of thousands
of years, we’ve wondered where
we came from, why we’re here,
and what it all means. Religion, by
and large, represents society’s
attempts to answer those
questions. While it isn’t always
able to achieve that goal—many
religious claims can be disproven
by science—it often succeeds at
providing followers with structure
and a sense of purpose.
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