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Debate Info

64
28
Yes No
Debate Score:92
Arguments:56
Total Votes:107
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 Yes (35)
 
 No (21)

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Libertarian1(1080) pic



Is Religion An Extreme Form Of Escapism?

Is religion a form of escapism? Is it merely a means of people finding ways to cope with their fear of death? Some may find the answer quite obvious to them but I encourage you to think through what warrants escapism. 

Yes

Side Score: 64
VS.

No

Side Score: 28
5 points

I'll start by saying that I don't think all forms of escapism are bad. A dose of fantasising is probably quite beneficial to your mental health, like winding down after a busy day by watching a movie. It's only when you neglect your real-life duties that escapist holidays become a problem.

With religion, however, escapism goes to a whole new level. The thing with most forms of escapism - watching movies, reading novels, gaming, even drinking or drug taking - is that you know you're escaping from reality. You're aware that you're indulging in something that is fake. But religion doesn't simply provide you with a fantasy; it provides you with a fantasy and tries its best to convince you that it is real. Escaping from reality while thinking you're firmly in the real world is dangerous indeed.

Karl Marx got it wrong when he said that religion is the opium of the people. At least opium users know they've created a fake world for themselves. Religion is a Matrix.

Side: yes

Yes, religion is nothing more then people forcing themselves to believe in a higher power due to a fear of death, a fear of becoming nothing. Throughout time people have taken advantage of this fear and given it rules and limitations, turning a phobia into a mass disease.

Side: yes

Very well said..

Religion is a tool of power to control the masses into conforming to a kings desire.

Side: yes
3 points

I believe so.

Once, when I was a child, I formed a cult. Between me and two of my friends. We seriously believed in magic and wizardry and mirror dimensions and differing planes of existence and spirits and demons and spells and...

We forgot about it after a few years. Just FORGOT about it.

Because we only believed in it because we were depressed.

People who search for something to believe in are people who feel like they have something missing. Some people find themselves and who they are and what they were put on Earth for, and other people find religion!

Though, children being raised from birth into religion is a different story. But once upon a time, everyone was religious. Children being born into religion instead of seeking for it themselves is the reason we have atheists and agnostics and cult leaders and people who just don't give a shit and have no opinion. Children being born into religion is also why we have moderate religious people, people who are apart of a religion, but only for the moral code and the spirit of the teachings, as opposed to the literal ideas of magic and miracles and an afterlife or whatever.

But people who specifically find religion later in life... yes, they are escapists. I know, because I was one of them. You have no reason to be a logical person, and then one day go out of your way to start believing in the literal translations of fairy tales like the New Testament or the Ancient Greek legends. That's practically the definition of escapism.

Side: yes
2 points

Yes, people have always feared the unknown. religion helps protect us from these fears.

Side: yes

Religion is the escape from our human conditions. Religion offers an "answer" to the unexplained. It explains death and life.

Side: yes
1 point

Well.. I'm not sure what you meant when you wrote down escapism. I can make a ton of interpretations out of it. If you are referring to the terrorist activities? Then.. Yes! It is of extreme in existence. But, I would like to clear, that every word spoken that covers their sins under the sheets of religion are not true. A certain things fall in reality. But, not all of it is how they portray.

If your speaking believes. I'm pretty sure some are blind. But, I don't see the harm that certain believes have in humanity. A lot of good has been done so far. From the time faith rose, religion has grown with one's personality. And that is the only reason how things today are. I wouldn't say it's wrong. But, religion is in the mind. I don't say God is. But, I do say that is not fully wrong.

Side: yes
2 points

"If you are referring to the terrorist activities?"

What the hell? Do you not know what escapism means?

Side: No
1 point

in a way it is, its an attempt at hope.That in the end there will be some grand homecoming, versus eternal nothingness. But, drugs and alcohol are extreme forms of escapism as well, why the hell not escape every once in a while.

Side: yes
1 point

I meant extreme in the context that it is the largest form of escapism on the planet.

Side: yes

When a person is alone inside a Church and it is very quite, Religion then is an extreme form of escapism.

Side: Yes
3 points

It can be, but that's not what it necessarily is. What's wrong with thinking of religion as an evolving phenomenon? In the simplest terms I can muster, a persons religion is their belief/value system. Or how about an individuals particular brand of intolerance? I think of religion as consisting of specific principles of philosophy that an individual chooses to live up to and promote.

I think someone can "have no religion" only in the sense that they have not chosen a specific sect to exclusively identify with.

My religion has been an escape for me in a sense. It helps me put aside my nihilistic tendencies, and reinvigorates hope, where despair is setting in.

Side: No
Jace(5222) Disputed
1 point

While religion may be capable of doing what you claim, and I do not necessarily agree that it is, does that necessarily mean it is not a coping mechanism? At the point where all of that can be reached without religion, does religion not become a crutch for reaching those things less directly and less critically?

Edit Oof. Also, I just realized this is a waaaaay old post after countering it... so feel free to ignore my post by all means. :P

Side: Yes
atypican(4875) Disputed
1 point

While religion may be capable of doing what you claim,

and I do not necessarily agree that it is, does that

necessarily mean it is not a coping mechanism?

No

At the point where all of that can be reached without religion,

does religion not become a crutch for reaching those

things less directly and less critically?

I don't look at religion in the same way you do. I think we all practice religion in one form or another. I don't think anything can "be reached" sans a systematic hierarchy of values. I don't think religion necessarily entails theism, spirituality, afterlife considerations, supernaturalism, or an aversion to critical thinking. Why should I? I do think it entails recognition of the sacred and profane, though.

Side: No
2 points

I don't belong to a religion. However I disagree strongly with your opening argument.

Yes, religion is nothing more then people forcing themselves to believe in a higher

power due to a fear of death, a fear of becoming nothing.

Religion is so much more than a fear of death, firstly since most religions teach that there is an afterlife why would they fear death? People can be religious because they are born into a religious family and have been brought up to follow a certain faith. Now, I'm not saying it's right to thrust your opinions onto your child. However if a child has never had any understanding of death except that there will be an positive afterlife for him how could he create a fear of death? I'd say people who have no religious belief can be more fearful of death. I know I'm fearful. I'd hate to think one day I'm just going to go to sleep and never wake up, destined to rot in the ground yet that is what I believe will happen to me.

People turn to religion for many reasons some may have had a life changing experience and believe it was a divine intervention from God (narrowly escaping death). Others turn to religion in a time of crisis perhaps an ill family member or appearing at a crossroad in their life. If it enriches them and makes them feel better by being able to communicate with their God why should it be of concern to anyone else.

Since there is no evidence to prove God does not exist who is to say that any God or religious stance is incorrect? I could be wrong, you could be wrong. There may even be a God, so I'd be reluctant to say that religion is escapism at all let alone extreme escapism

Side: No
Mahollinder(900) Disputed
6 points

In reading your response, I'm reminded of the writings of both Miguel de Unamuno and Karl Marx.

Miguel de Unamuno argued in the first chapter of his book, Tragic Sense of Life, that the man of flesh and bones wishes to persist in and of himself indefinitely. This means, Unamuno writes, "that your essence, reader, mine, that of the man Spinoza, that of the man Butler, of the man Kant, and of every man who is a man, is nothing but the endeavour (sic), the effort, which he makes to continue to be a man, not to die." And, it seems, the tragic sense of life emerges at the point where our knowledge of our mortality encounters our hope for that persistence, or our immortality. The religious phenomenon, irrespective of whether it promises an afterlife, is an institution and Philosophy of death: one that promises it explicitly and one that attempts to prepare the human spirit for it, one way or another.

And for Marx, I don't think there is any way for me to paraphrase the genius without demeaning it.

From the introduction of his Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right:

"For Germany, the criticism of religion has been essentially completed, and the criticism of religion is the prerequisite of all criticism.

The profane existence of error is compromised as soon as its heavenly oratio pro aris et focis [“speech for the altars and hearths,” i.e., for God and country] has been refuted. Man, who has found only the reflection of himself in the fantastic reality of heaven, where he sought a superman [Ubermensch] , will no longer feel disposed to find the mere appearance of himself, the non-man [Unmensch], where he seeks and must seek his true reality.

The foundation of irreligious criticism is: Man makes religion, religion does not make man. Religion is, indeed, the self-consciousness and self-esteem of man who has either not yet won through to himself, or has already lost himself again. But man is no abstract being squatting outside the world. Man is the world of man – state, society. This state and this society produce religion, which is an inverted consciousness of the world, because they are an inverted world. Religion is the general theory of this world, its encyclopaedic compendium, its logic in popular form, its spiritual point d’honneur, its enthusiasm, its moral sanction, its solemn complement, and its universal basis of consolation and justification. It is the fantastic realization of the human essence since the human essence has not acquired any true reality. The struggle against religion is, therefore, indirectly the struggle against that world whose spiritual aroma is religion.

Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.

The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. To call on them to give up their illusions about their condition is to call on them to give up a condition that requires illusions. The criticism of religion is, therefore, in embryo, the criticism of that vale of tears of which religion is the halo.

Criticism has plucked the imaginary flowers on the chain not in order that man shall continue to bear that chain without fantasy or consolation, but so that he shall throw off the chain and pluck the living flower. The criticism of religion disillusions man, so that he will think, act, and fashion his reality like a man who has discarded his illusions and regained his senses, so that he will move around himself as his own true Sun. Religion is only the illusory Sun which revolves around man as long as he does not revolve around himself.

It is, therefore, the task of history, once the other-world of truth has vanished, to establish the truth of this world. It is the immediate task of philosophy, which is in the service of history, to unmask self-estrangement in its unholy forms once the holy form of human self-estrangement has been unmasked. Thus, the criticism of Heaven turns into the criticism of Earth, the criticism of religion into the criticism of law, and the criticism of theology into the criticism of politics."

Side: yes
Bohemian(3860) Disputed
3 points

Religion is so much more than a fear of death, firstly since most religions teach that there is an afterlife why would they fear death?

That is precisely the point. People cope with their fear of death by believing in the afterlife. They are escaping that fear with religion.

Not convinced? How many major world religions today don't offer a promise of some sort of afterlife?

Side: yes

"How many major world religions today don't offer a promise of some sort of afterlife?"

Hey I already presented that. Get your own arguments lol.

Side: yes
catticus90(360) Disputed
1 point

I'm not arguing that escapism isn't involved with religion nor am I arguing that fear of death isn't a part of religion. I'm arguing that religion isn't just about fear of death.

Side: No
1 point

I don't understand why you didn't dispute but whatever.

"firstly since most religions teach that there is an afterlife why would they fear death?"

I am saying religion was created to offer a way of escaping the fear of death. Yes religions say that there is an afterlife, that is how they quell that fear.

" People can be religious because they are born into a religious family and have been brought up to follow a certain faith."

And I am still saying that the root purpose of religion is to quell fear of death. Whether or not fear is sustained is irrelevant, in such cases the purpose has been filled.

" I'd say people who have no religious belief can be more fearful of death"

That is completely right, and that fact is why man created religion.

"People turn to religion for many reasons some may have had a life changing experience and believe it was a divine intervention from God (narrowly escaping death). Others turn to religion in a time of crisis perhaps an ill family member or appearing at a crossroad in their life."

What you just listed more terms of escapism and still adds to the argument that religion IS a form of escapism.

"Since there is no evidence to prove God does not exist who is to say that any God or religious stance is incorrect?"

Whether or not god exists is irrelevant, religion is the culprit of the argument, god may exist and there still be no afterlife, so god is not part of this question.

Side: yes
catticus90(360) Disputed
1 point

I am saying religion was created to offer a way of escaping the fear of death. Yes religions say that there is an afterlife, that is how they quell that fear

Not all religions promote a heaven and hell concept if that's what you meant by that statement.

That is completely right, and that fact is why man created religion.

You later state that this debate has nothing to do whether God exists. However God's existence, or lack of, determines whether religion was created by man or created by a God. Therefore there is nothing to prove what created the concept of religion.

What you just listed more terms of escapism and still adds to the argument that religion IS a form of escapism.

That was in the context of arguing that religion isn't just a fear of death. Not whether some acts involved with religion are forms of escapism.

Side: No
churchmouse(328) Disputed
1 point

ARE you saying that people of faith are the ONLY ONES who fear death? Come on....be realistic.

I personally think most athiests are empty and many live like it. I think for the most part they choose to be emotionally excluded from society in a way searching more heavily for happiness, and when they confront people who do have faith, they don't know how to act. They seem easily offended and parnaoid when they are confronted with someone who does have faith in God.

You keep saying man created religion. But see what you don't get is that my faith is not about religion, its about a relationship that I have with Christ. Its not going to church, getting baptised, taking the sacriments....its about my daily prayer life, our communication to eachother. You cant get this and will never get it because you have never been convicted by the Holy Spirit. You can have head knowledge about this...but certainly nothing involving your heart.

It is not religion that is bad. It is human beings who twist it to fit what they want it to say.

Side: No
1 point

Sometimes it is, but Religion itself is not a form of escapism.

Side: No
0 points

I am sure it is for some...but for the masses it is much more. I am a Christian so I will speak to this faith. I am a Christian because I have weighed the evidence and taken into consideration everything science says and does not say, studied the Bible....and have come to the conclusion that there must be a intelligent designer. I believe Christ came to earth to do what He said...to save me from spending eternity in hell...But its more than this. Sure I don't want to die now....I am in the prime of my life. I am not afraid of death....just missing those who I leave behind. But my faith is no different than others who use escapism as a way of life. People addicted to sports, music, even the computer....etc. look at these as gods.

Side: No
0 points

"I am a Christian because I have weighed the evidence and taken into consideration everything science says and does not say, studied the Bible....and have come to the conclusion that there must be a intelligent designer."

You must have weighed using a broken scale but whatever.

" People addicted to sports, music, even the computer....etc. look at these as gods."

There are people who believe there is a all powerful computer or music in the sky? I never knew. Either I have just never seen these guys or you have an odd definition of god.

Side: yes
churchmouse(328) Disputed
0 points

Well if you can prove me 100% wrong using facts (that you insist I use)....then I will change my mind, my position. Can you do this?

Show me my error, Mr. Know-it-all.

An idol can become a god to some people. Idols can be people or objects. There ya have it.

I am sure you idolize things in your life....probably yourself.

Side: No
0 points

It is an invocation for God's help, His peace and His insight.

Surely there can be nothing harmful to an individual in those?...

Side: No
Peekaboo(704) Disputed
2 points

Implied in the question is that religions offer false teachings - i.e. God isn't real and there is no afterlife, but some people believe otherwise in order to escape from the harsh reality. Under such an argument, religion would indeed be a form of escapism.

Side: yes
churchmouse(328) Disputed
1 point

So what do you THINK (I say think because you can't possible really know for sure) happenes after one dies?

A lot of things are a forms of escapism. Work, sports, writing, hobbies, etc

Side: No
1 point

Debatable, especially when "god's" "peace" includes discriminating against gays and such. Sounds harmful to me.

Side: yes
churchmouse(328) Disputed
1 point

Well look at the harm that nonbelievers have thrusted on society.

Take communism...... it’s an atheist ideology. It calls for the elimination of the exploiting classes and it pushes violence as a way to social progress. It calls for using any means necessary to do it. Marx was an atheist and atheism was a central part of Marxist doctrine. It also was a part of the Soviet Unions ideology. China today still holds to this doctrine. Both Stalin and Mao enforced atheist policies by systematically closing churches and by murdering priests and religious believers. Do tell me what Communist regime was pro-religion? Same with the Nazis they also held a secular, anti-religious philosophy very similar to communism. They wanted a master race. (Similar to Margaret Sanger founder of Planned Parenthood when she targeted Blacks) Their enemy of communism was the capitalist class. The enemy of Hitler was the Jews and other races they thought inferior. If you look at communism and the Nazis they both treated the Christian churches as enemies. And they used revolutionary measures in order to try to create human beings and a new social order devoid of religion and more importantly morality. All I am saying is this……the Crusades was a dark time in Christian history, I do not deny this. But you need to compare both the Crusades and the crimes of atheism applying a constant standard.

If Christians have to answer for the Crusades, atheism has to answer Torquemada. (sp) Who is responsible then for the inhumanity done in the name of atheism?

You look at these regimes, both communism and the Nazis and you can see that they operated without any moral restraints. Yes the Crusades were horrible but nothing compares to the bloodshed carried out by atheism.

You can not say that religious beliefs and godly people that stand on faith have caused all the worlds miseries. They are not the only source of human conflict and violence. Atheism is responsible as well and must take a direct hit.

Side: No