Is religion universal?

[bob]

Just to be clear, when I use the term "religion" I am most likely referring specifically to the mumbo jumbo horseshit bits like "the reason your life is so crappy is because in the last life you were such an ingrate. Don't be ambitious in this life but rather devote your life to cleaning toilets at the funny farm and maybe in the next incarnation you'll come back as rich business man." That sort of stuff. The community that religion sometimes provides, the art it inspires, that's all part of it but has nothing to do with people being weak minded and often nuts with regard to religion, which is what interests me.

Some people take a reverential attitude towards science, but that attitude is not itself science as I use the term. Science is the scientific method and the knowledge gained by it's honest application.

Religion and science might perhaps sometimes share surface similarities but in essence they are polar opposites. The one states what truth is based on faith and the other attempts to find the truth based on experimentation and reason.

[yuli]

With such different definitions to start from we certainly don't need to argue.

Religion and science [...] The one states what truth is based on faith and the other attempts to find the truth based on experimentation and reason.

It is by far not as black and white as that: for example, the teachings of the Buddha are also based on experimentation and reasoning - people have then created a religion around them.
On the other hand, science cannot work (be applied) without faith (consider, for example, the principle of induction), and for many (if not most) people science is in practice a religion.
(Assuming for a moment my definition of religion here... )
Anyway, the answer to the opening question seems to be "yes", regardless of what you and I think about science...

[bob]

Did the Buddha say anything about reincarnation?

[yuli]

Did the Buddha say anything about reincarnation?

He didn't...

[antarcticbeech]

Did the Buddha say anything about reincarnation?

He didn't...

Off topic but did he say anything about soap?

[yuli]

did he say anything about soap?

According to a certain modern translation/interpretation he did mention a "soap bubble" - but there is something there that makes me doubt the veracity of the story:
http://www.oshoteachings.com/osho-on-ga ... her-shore/

[golf]

As long as there are intelligent creatures, such as humans, who understand what 'future' is, curious about what the future will be, and never know what the future will be, there will be religion, because only religion can tell you what the future 'really' will be.

[zender]

As long as there are intelligent creatures, such as humans, who understand what 'future' is, curious about what the future will be, and never know what the future will be, there will be religion, because only religion can tell you what the future 'really' will be.

I was with you until the very end. I mean, I liked what you said until you said the last part.

I might change it to the following:

As long as there are intelligent creatures, such as humans, who understand what 'future' is and are curious about what the future will be, there will be religion. Especially if these intelligent creatures live in a complex (and unjust) world where not all is known; they can see that, without religion, individuals are limited to one rough life.

It looks like a recipe for many hopeful believers.

ETA: For those who are lucky enough to live long lives, they watch all of their family and friends pass before them. What could be more consoling than the idea that they'll meet up again in a perfect place?

[golf]

Even though, I believe in god. This god is not in shape of human body nor in any form we can realize. I know there is but I don't know what that is. Any god that can be depicted is not god.

Religion is a good thing for people to believe in/live on/obide by. It reduces a lot more chaos than that it causes, eventually.

[bob]

I dunno man.... your avatar is REALLY frightening.