(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Today, Wednesday the 13th of March 2013 Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was elected the 266th person to inherit the throne Saint Peter. Now by simply looking at my news feed on Facebook and spending time in the ShoutBox tonight after it I've discovered a lot of people don't understand religion and why an event like this is such a big deal. To most people he is just another person who they have no idea what he does. After nearly 2000 years people are losing their faith. This isn't a God vs Science debate, its simply; "Should you believe in a higher purpose?"

Most countries in the world today have their leaders swear an oath on a Bible and yet the majority of people have no idea why a Bible is used, they just accept it and don't think twice (ie. US Presidential Election). A bible is ultimately used because the person taking an office is pledging to put it before themselves, ie. serving a higher purpose. This is exactly what the Pope does too. He pledges to serve the Church (normally until death besides Pope Benedict XVI) and will put the Church before themselves until their time has come. What is the higher purpose?

In today's modern society faith is something many people don't have. Most people will say they are a Catholic but yet they can't name off five facts about the church that does not include sex abuse and old people. The church is so much more than that. For example we look at Argentina. It is a poverty stricken country who's people do not have many thinks to enjoy besides family. Having faith can be argued in keeping them alive. Praying to a divine figure can relieve a person of their sorrow by believing everything is happening to them for a reason. Throughout history some of the most important people have believed that and it is what guided them to having their name remembered in history. In these poverty stricken countries they do not have much, but they believe that God has their life like this for a reason and they thank God for their families health for example.

In a country like America etc, health and food etc are taken for granted. You think you have everything you need but in these countries people need to believe in something to feel their life is not worthless as they have no opportunities. They need to believe in a higher purpose. They believe that someday God will change things and it is motivation to try and make these changes for these people. They don't have the education we do, not near it.

My point is that religion is needed. If we didn't have religion the world would be a much worse place than it is today. You can believe what you want in life, that's a luxury our generation has. But please, don't hate on religion because it may do nothing for you, but to some it is the only thing they have. A higher purpose, which even our worlds leaders swear an oath too when they place their hand on a bible is needed. Most societies in the world are built around religion. Without religion the world would be a much worse place than it is today. One person can do something wrong in their life and although one bad decision can shatter their life they still have religion to turn to and do some good, to feel worthwhile when society rejects them.

So please, stop hating on religion because you feel it is worthless, to others it the only thing they have. So as this is a debate, do you feel religion is worthwhile or not? If you don't please tell us why, I'd love to hear your views on it.

Individual beliefs or believing with others. It doesn't really matter, but 1.2 billion people choose to believe in Catholicism for a reason. My real point is that most people need to believe in something, so you shouldn't hate on another's beliefs whether they are Muslim, Christian or Hindu.

I'm Agnostic myself, I find religion to be fascinating. I have Christian friends and Muslim friends so I've learned quite a bit about it.

I just don't see why people would go out of there way to hate on another religion... in my opinion you can believe in whatever religion you want, and nobody should judge you for it. Like you said, many people depend on it, and it's a very important part of society.

That is very true. I myself have read the Bible and The Qur'an and I feel religion is one of those topics along with sexuality that you shouldn't be judged on at all. I know both beliefs and I respect them, I only wish others would too.

The leaders swear an oath to uphold the status quo or better yet the Establishment. The trinity system of religion,politics, and banking is the establishment which is actually enslaving humanity. The bible was written by the Piso Family of Rome, filled with symbolism that the masses will never understand because they don't question it and research the history of their religion. They just go along because that is what they've been taught. Religions are a prison of the mind.

It is something in the mind, but it still gives people faith and is responsible for a lot of good in the world, along with some bad. But the good does over rule the bad mostly. The Piso theory isn't verified as far as I know, but even if they did it doesn't really matter. What matters is that people have a higher purpose that they believe in and even if everything isn't fiction, why care? Santa isn't real but children still believe. Everything is in the mind, but religion is an influence.

I definetely agree with the OP. Everyone needs to believe in something, in my opinion. ANY religion, that keeps you motivated is a :y: in my book. And religion has saved many an individual from leaving this earth prematurely. It's also promoted man to achieve great feats. Whatever keeps you going...

I was born a Catholic and still am, but I reject most of the Old Testament and those who read the bible literally. I appreciate all that religion has done in the past for me, but I can say that Religion has started war, and that it has started genocide. But most of these wars are coming from people who take the texts literally and act upon them with extreme actions. I have nothing wrong with other religions, and I have nothing wrong with Atheists and Agnostics. I know quite a decent amount of people who don't believe in God and are Agnostic/Atheists. Personally, I do find that in difficult times it's easier for me to sit down and pray and calm down, and it honestly does help. But I think that at the same time I know that it only helps because I think that it helps. If I thought that it wouldn't help, prayer would be useless.

Anyways, by following a religion I have very little to lose. At the very worst I die and I find out there's no afterlife. But if there is, well I'll be there and you can guess what will happen to the rest of them :troll:.

I respect everyones right to believe in what they want, as long as they don't try to enforce it on everyone else like it's the only truth (I had this happen with about 90% of religious ppl I met). If a religion help some ppl do better in life and keep them motivated, good for them. However, religion have mostly been used by the "higher ups" of the establishment for mostly negative things (wars,genocide,colonisation,mind control-fear,guilt,unworhtiness,etc).

Yes! They are deluded, and brainwashed from a young age with a book which is clear plagiarism of many other holy books from that time. Also people who have no religion, myself included should hate religion. It causes suffering and we see it everyday. I'm not saying people don't do nice things in the name of their "god" but I would rather they do it to be nice, not to appease some deity that may, or may not exist.