Most people think of religion as going to church on sundays and praying with your family at the dinner table. Although that is true for some religions, there is much more to religion as a whole then that.

Why should anyone be religious? What is the point of religion? The questions here are hard to answer because there are so many different ways to respond. For every person, there is a different answer, but there are a few that are universal.

Have there ever been moments where the silence overwhelmed you and you wanted to cry because you felt alone? Many people believe that they are never alone because their god (or gods) is watching them every moment of their lives. It is true that most people aren’t this pious nowadays, but many people find their religion to be something that they can fall back on.

In my eyes, religion gives you hope when things seem bleak. The words “no one is ever there for me” become false because there’s always an omnipotent presence there guiding you. The point of religion is to give people faith and guidance. Religion is there to help, not hinder. Although that seems far-fetched, religion really does give instill hope. It gives people the power to believe; that’s why there are so many optimists who believe that things will get better because they are being protected. Even when there’s a crisis or everything seems to be falling apart, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.

People believe that “talking” to God (or whomever their religion is centered around) is a time to talk about things that would never be spoken to anyone else. It is a time to let go of inhibitions and think about the things that really matter. “Talking” to their god gives them a time to self-reflect and take a deeper look at the situation without any criticism or negativity.

It seems strange to those who were not brought up with a religion, but for those who were, they understand what it means when an omnipotent force is with you. It isn’t a ghost or a stalker; it’s “God”. You are with “God” all the time whether you’re with people or not because there is a little bit of “God” in everybody and in nothing. There is never a moment where there is no one to talk to because “God” is always there.

For the most part, religions are very positive in their teachings. They install morals into children and adults of all ages and ethnicities. Although children detest having “the bible shoved down their throat”, they realize how positively that affected their lives. It made them better people indirectly or taught them lessons in one way or another.

When I was younger, the whole class was told to go to confession, whether they were Catholic or not. We all grumbled about how unfair it was and how boring it was to sit in the pews while 30-something kids talked to priests about their problems and their sins, but as we got older, we learned to appreciate it. Suddenly, we began to say things like, “Wow, I feel so clean now, like there’s nothing holding me back anymore.” We learned to not bottle negative feelings and admit when we were wrong. If it wasn’t for that, we might all be reclusive and prideful.

Religion could give you wisdom, understanding, good judgment, and innumerable other traits if you really look into it. Although it is rare to see a person devout to religion, those to who are usually feel at peace and content because they see things with a certain clarity. It is a universal subject that could benefit anybody.