[tman_ndsu08]

The purpose of religion is to explain the unknown.

When something unexpected happenes it's god's plan (aka fate). When something unbelievable happens it's a miracle. When someone asks an unexplainable question (what happenes when you die? why did mommy get killed in a plane crash? how come that man didn't die even though he was swept out to sea for 5 days?), religion gives you an answer.


As far as modern religions go, they also serve as a moral guideline for how a person should live their lives. The 10 commandments, for example, are an arbitrary set of rules that some people thought would be a correct way to live.



As far as the whole sex thing goes. Modern religions definiately promote lifelong pairs, which is exactly opposite of what evolution has programmed humans to do.

For humans to have the best chance of survival, men need to impregnate as many different women as possible. The more that different genes spread around, the more likely humans will be able to resist the changing climate of the earth.

I also disagree that it's better for human children to have 2 parents. I think mother's are programmed by evolution to care for their children until their children can live on their own. While some fathers are certainly capable of helping to raise their own children, they're simply not programmed for it.