Functions of Religion

As I see it, there are two major functions of religion. One is to provide a means by which people can cope with things out of their control, and the other is to provide a society a means to justify its own rules.

(1)Humans generally survive by organizing data and utilizing whatever data is at their disposal to find solutions. Humans have a hard time with the incomprehensible, as it is incompatible with our main method of survival. In order for us to process information, we are programmed to seek justification, reason and logic. All that is not directly informative, including the random and the unknown, cannot be processed by us, and can only be dealt with through emergency back-up coping mechanisms such as humor, ecstasy, fear and rage. Failure to cope results in shock, in which our system shuts down and we cannot function. In order to prevent chaos and confusion from destroying us, we have learned to invent justification, reason and logic where none exists. Religion, morality and science are all means by which we provide explanations for the inexplicable, which we can than use as data for making decisions.

For instance, natural disasters pose a threat to humans because of their unpredictability and uncontrollability. Religion assures that natural disasters are controlled by forces which we can communicate with, giving us a perceived say in their occurrence. In religion, those forces are always logical or acting out in humor, ecstasy, fear or rage (we create gods in our own image), giving reason for their occurrence.

(2)In order for groups of people to cohabitate, rules for cohabitation must be established. Otherwise, chaos would prevent prolonged cohabitation. Before rules can be established, justification for the rules must be found. Religion provides that justification. Religion always echoes the values of its society.

For instance, polytheistic societies value the importance of the skills unique to various members of that society, and those societies are arranged in an attempt to utilize the varied strengths of its members. Monotheistic societies value the importance of leadership, and those societies are arranged to give power to and support its leaders. In reality, most religions efficiently utilize elements of both polytheism and monotheism, echoing the hierarchy of power in their respective societies. A society faithful to and trusting in its religion will be one faithful to and trusting in its rules.