Many people in today's society have been taught, or have grown to believe, that there is one certain truth in our universe: that there is one all powerful god, or gods, that cares for us and watches over us. However, is it a reasonable belief? Does religion, in general, really make any sense?
Thanks to science and research, we know that some things that were once believed to fact are actually incorrect. For instance, the Earth was created over millions of years, rather than a few days, and humans were not made out of dust, they came into existence through an incredibly long development, or evolution. However, many believers in god, or gods, say that things like these were never meant to be taken literally anyway, and were simply metaphorical.
However, it is still confusing why so many people sting devoutly follow their religions, despite so much evidence against them. We know for a fact that our existence could have come about with the need of any deities. So one must wonder why people don't believe in things like evolution or old earth in favor of a creation by an intelligent being. A quick look at these religions, however, shows a clear answer. Most religions, with a few exceptions, have a concept of punishment and torture for anyone who denies said religion. So it's not too difficult to see why people may be frightened to believe in the chance that their religious beliefs my be wrong, especially when on the other side of the spectrum, most religions also promise eternal joy and bliss in a Heaven.
A person could say that whether religion is right or wrong, it has been helpful by keeping it follower from leading a dangerous lifestyle, and it has likely stopped people from committing crimes (though one could argue the ethics behind following morals out of fear and hope for reward). However, religion has also been harmful, in the past (The Crusades), and now. From the formation of cults (which isn't really the religions fault, just some of the followers), to the dislike of dissimilar people in society (gay, followers of other religions) among the more fundamental in religions. And many people have not planned for the future, believing the “end times” is coming near, though that is not common.
It is impossible, of course, to know whether a god does or doesn't exist (which is why I'm agnostic). No amount of scientific research will prove anything one way or the other, mainly because we'd be dealing with something well beyond our comprehension, and we have no idea where to look in the first place. It is important, I think, that everyone keep an open mind about the subject, and never believe that you are absolutely correct.
