"RarrReeRReeAHHE" PteraGina

There are 2 thigns to be addressed in this particular blog. 1- What does tradition do for those following a particular faith? 2- How is it that certain religions are able to promise a future when they are so firmly rooted in the past? These are very difficult to address for anyone in general. I think that I view religion in general a little bit differently than most people so I am having a lot of trouble addressing these things. I don't really know much about religion as a whole and can't answer these questions for myself, let alone explain it to all of you. So I'll do my best to portray my thoughts.

Religion does a lot of different things for different people. For some people they find hope that they would not otherwise have without something to believe in. It helps people cope with things or understand things that don't otherwise make sense. Tradition provides some stability and comfort in religious institutions. It is always good to know what to expect instead of being blindsided by the strange and unknown. With traditions you know what to expect. For example some people know that every sunday they are going to get up by 8:30 am, have breakfast, be at church by 9:45, have a huge family lunch at Grandma's and then sit around doing family stuff like watch football games until you can't see straight. This is a tradition that shapes some people's family values that stay with them their whole lives. Unfortunately it has to be said that I feel some people misuse religious tradition to conform to something they wish they were. If that makes any sense. Some people wholly believe in the traditions they follow and live their life accordingly. These people I have the most respect for because sometimes it's so hard to believe in anything especially something you just have to feel like you know without hard proof. For these people tradition is how they live their faith.

My outlook on religion promising a future but being rooted in the past is a little less optimistic. It really can't promise a future. But for some people, religious or not, they have to believe in an afterlife--something better--or they will go crazy. We have to believe that the people that we love that have passed went onto some place better than the constant chaos of here. It makes things easier pretty much. Other than pure ambition what incentive do you have to live the "right" way if you believe that after you die then you're nothing more than worm bait? Not too much. But if you believe that living the "right" life will get you a ticket to paradise where everyone you have ever loved would be waiting for you then you have a pretty good incentive to live the way we are told we are supposed to. Who is to say scripture can't be written today too? Why wouldn't God chose modern day "prophets" to speak through? It doesn't make sense to me that Christianity cna't continue to be expanded upon. That of course is just my opinion outside of a strongly informed religious background. I feel like I'm not really answering the question, but I don't have really any idea how to answer it. All I can really do is toss out my opinion and hope it's not completely off the reservation.