O, boy. Anyone who knows me will know this is a loaded topic. This also comes right in the beginning of my endeavor to read the Bible cover to cover, intensively. Because I have already given so much thought to the topic, I will make here two cases: one for and one against the practice of religion.
First off, let's define what we mean by religion. The Merriam-Webster dictionary (by the third of three definitions) will tell you that religion does not require belief in a god, only that the belief be important to the individual. In that case, my worldview, although wholly natural, could be considered a religion. I will not be addressing this definition. I will, instead, refer to the first two dictionary definitions which are the belief and/or worship of a god or gods.
Resolved: Religion is a net positive for people.
The affirmative
Intro: Society and religion have always been intertwined
C1: Humans are social creatures and benefit from coming together
C2: Religion unites people in a common cause
C3: Humans need to have hope of increased happiness to strive
C4: Religion offers hope to even the most destitute
Conc: Religion gives people what they need
In nearly all of the ancient societies archeologists have found, there is prolific evidence of widely-spread religion. The ancient Greeks and Romans prayed to a myriad of gods that controlled everything from the sea and sky to social life and home life. The ancient Mayans prayed to the sun god, the moon god, and other gods of nature. The ancient Chinese prayed to a complex system of spirits and gods that controlled their entire lives. Due to this ubiquity of religion across the globe, it is easy to believe that people believed in supernatural beings since the dawn of man. With so many questions about the world that surrounded them, it is only natural that people looked to the supernatural for answers to the motives of natural phenomena that dwarfs the human race. I will show here that regardless of the validity of these supernatural hypotheses, religion has a positive impact on human society.
Studies on the effect of solitary confinement on prisoners has shown irrefutably that lack of interpersonal contact causes severe psychological damage. Although the amount of social contact required by each person varies widely, it is a fact that people need social interaction. Studies have shown the improvement of mood when people are shown affection and are received positively by others. Beyond the scientific, it is intuitive that happy people surround themselves with other people (hopefully ones whom they like). Children in school desire the feeling of being surrounded by their peers, married people live a happier life than those who remain single, and the sheer number of people who live in densely populated cities shows the tendency of human beings to favor sociability of isolation (there are, of course, prevailing economic factors, but psychological factors exist).
Religion offers people a common denominator that brings them together. Especially in the Judeo-Christian religions, the practice requires the interaction of the practitioners. Whether it be attending a common service for the sabbath or going on missions, the religions require people to meet and interact with others. Not only does this requirement open the opportunity for the positive social interaction that humans crave, but it increases the effect of coming together by providing them with common values. Modern religions not only answer the ethereal questions of humanity, but they teach a system of values by which its followers are to live. This creates droves of like-minded people being brought together on regular intervals, which tends to make people happy. Even people like me who yearn for debate enjoy when our views are reinforced by our friends.
This argument will not be based on fact, but will be intuitive. When we think of those who work the hardest or achieve the most, the thing that motivates them is the idea that when they have achieved their goal they will be happier. Regardless of whether or not it actually happens when they get there, the hope of increased happiness keeps them striving. Those that hold onto this belief the tightest tend to work the hardest and push through the most adversity. As the great Arnold Schwarzenegger would say, "Don't listen to the naysayers." When one keeps focused on the goal, they can more easily tune out the people who say that they cannot do it or that it is not worth it. From athletes to politicians and musicians to inventors, those that became known for their greatness put forth their best effort when all seemed lost because they believed that they could achieve their goal and, more importantly, that achieving it would make them happier.
Religion gives people hope. Some profess of eternal happiness in the afterlife. Other teach that Nirvana can be reached within this life. No matter what the goal is, it often guarantees much greater happiness than what its followers currently have. Belief in these end states allow people to look past the tough times and continue working toward something they want. In turn, they begin to take pride in this work. They feel as if something has been accomplished, and it gives them satisfaction. In the end, whether or not anyone ever goes to heaven, it is the act of reaching for it that makes people happy. Without religion, people must define their own goals and try to find and end state that will make them happier. These goals tend to be harder to hold on to. Especially those with a bleak outlook on life, religion can give them the hope they need to keep from giving up entirely.
Religion offers people the things they desire. It gives them the answers to the most important questions surrounding their origin and their direction in life. It also gives them the promise of a better life in the future and an opportunity to connect with other like-minded people. All of these things increase people's happiness.
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