The masses need religion

I disagree. Care to expand upon this?

 

The masses also need to believe they are not part of the masses.

 

to whisperingwoods:
Sure, no problem, all what i write are just my opinions, discuss is of course okay, but no reason for getting angry (i dont say you are), it s just my two cents, anyway.

I see 2 reasons for humans to stay alive, and not jumping in the closests fire to burn and experiment death
The first one may be a very simple one, like animals we live under the influence of a, i imagine very strong, instinct of self preservation, as a species, a survival instinct. The one that leads animals to try everything to be able to reproduce (create life) and ensure the continuation of the existence of their species. We are not much more than animals, we must have childrens so that mankind keeps existing. This reason regarding what follows, could be enough for some school of philosophy to explain humans are still here, happy with nothing or not much more.

But there is another reason, more complicated to explain and put in words. There is a relationship between life and death. How you live your life is under the influence of the concepts you have of the death, may they be concrete and well thought or not really conscious (both ways can be, and are certainly wrong). If you knew that everything would remain exactly the same after your death, that would weaken your reasons to stay here. Especially when you just lost one or more members of your community, family. Why stay alive and keep suffering, giving lot of efforts to give your childrens a better environment, if you had no reason at all to do so. If you were to strictly apply the rule matter just change and never disappear, you could give up with life pretty easily.
I think thats what i meant with if death was meaningless, life would be the same.

As misterrain said, it s maybe very individualistic reasons that give us reasons to stay. Like rule the world, get more power, succeed in what you planned to do, be proud of yourself, be honest with yourself in doing what you wanted to do.
I am convinced a being with no self could leave our "scale" of existence, with no other will that having no will at all. One needs a reason to stay.
To me, the source of every mystical or religious feelings and thoughts is in question about death. You wouldn't have to worry about how you have to live your life if you didn't worry about your death. And there is one thing we all have in common, our bodies (if not the rest) will die. We all have to face one day or another unanswered questions. As many humans came before us, we can try learn about how they considered life and death thanks to the messages they left us. Most of them are regroupped under "Religions". We have all to win to consider how our culture and others consider death. It s hard to grasp every sides of such a topic with any help from those who came before us.
Religions give a very strong resistance bonus to any human being. You know you are "positive" so you keep fighting and surviving. This has also negative sides, it will by example certainly blind you about "new" concepts, those you never considered, that will look to you as being wrong at first. It will slow your learning rate if you are deeply convinced you are right.

(i dont know if i explained what was not clear in my previous post, i could try again)

Peace

 

The masses need spirituality, not religion.

Ponder this simple paradox, and you will understand.

 

I consider both as being very close, i wrote mystical and religious feelings or thoughts.

 

my english is so poor :-(