religions uniquely provide a source of meaning, community, and life guidance not available elsewhere
I’m not sure things like religion should be treated with a consumer mindset. For example, would it make sense to follow EA because it’s a source of meaning and community? No, the point of following EA is to do good. With religion it’s often similar, for example the early Christians were the first to build orphanages. The New Testament says a person is good or bad depending on what they do, not what they receive, so if someone said they were joining Christianity to receive something, they’d get very strange looks.
This is one of those things that’s weird about the modern world. Many of us are no longer part of a religion we grew up with, probably because we didn’t like it and actively chose to reject it. And so if we later want to come to religion, it necessarily means “shopping” for one in a certain sense that you have to pick one by some criteria.
I generally wouldn’t endorse someone deciding to become religious because they read this post and now want to optimize their life by becoming religious. I’d instead endorse them being open to seeing if some religious participation is right for them, and finding a group where they are able to participate in a way that feels wholesome.
I’m not sure things like religion should be treated with a consumer mindset. For example, would it make sense to follow EA because it’s a source of meaning and community? No, the point of following EA is to do good. With religion it’s often similar, for example the early Christians were the first to build orphanages. The New Testament says a person is good or bad depending on what they do, not what they receive, so if someone said they were joining Christianity to receive something, they’d get very strange looks.
Fair point.
This is one of those things that’s weird about the modern world. Many of us are no longer part of a religion we grew up with, probably because we didn’t like it and actively chose to reject it. And so if we later want to come to religion, it necessarily means “shopping” for one in a certain sense that you have to pick one by some criteria.
I generally wouldn’t endorse someone deciding to become religious because they read this post and now want to optimize their life by becoming religious. I’d instead endorse them being open to seeing if some religious participation is right for them, and finding a group where they are able to participate in a way that feels wholesome.