Explain the potential benefits and costs of holding strong religious beliefs

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

a . Religious beliefs can play very helpful roles in people's lives. Religion often provides a sense of explanation or an answer in situations in which science cannot provide that meaning. As such, religious belief can help people cope with tragedy or misfortune. Religion can also provide social support or a sense of community to people who practice the religion or worship together. People often find a sense of purpose in their religious beliefs that helps direct their time into meaningful, productive activity. Finally, religious beliefs can help people reduce the unpleasant state of dissonance.
b. Socially, religious beliefs often promote values that benefit the collective—honesty, integrity, and so forth.
c. Yet even with these benefits, people may find that religion doesn't always result in reduced dissonance. Sometimes two religious beliefs may be in conflict, creating dissonance for a person. Sometimes religious beliefs can promote guilt and shame, hardly a pleasant state in which to find oneself. Finally, religious belief may result in anger at God if tragedy or misfortune befalls a person. Although ultimately religious belief may provide the benefit of an explanation for the tragedy, it may also result in the negative emotion of anger.