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RELIGION
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Why are there so many religions? For example we have Christianity (in all its many many flavours), bhuddism, Hindu, Islam, Muslim etc). Surely they can't all be 'right', can they?
I personally believe in the Holy Goat. All sheep will follow this goat and worship him. Any non believers will be condemned to a life in the Great Sheep Dip. The Holy Goat has several saints, the most important is St Sheppy Sheep Dog, a true jedi in the art of rounding up sheep and keeping them all in order.
Baaaaaa, Baaaaaaaa, baa, baaaaaaaa. (chapter 6 verse 7)
Seriously though, I just cannot understand how ANYONE can be so stupid as to believe in ANY religion, whatever its name. Nearly every single war in history is caused by religion.
Just look at all these religions. People follow their 'master' like sheep in a field, to such amazingly fanatical lengths where they will even kill themself for their master. Why are people so frightened of being unique???? You dont have to be religious to be 'spiritual' either.
I suggest anyone who hasnt seen Monty Pithons Life of Brian to check it out.
I personally believe in the Holy Goat. All sheep will follow this goat and worship him. Any non believers will be condemned to a life in the Great Sheep Dip. The Holy Goat has several saints, the most important is St Sheppy Sheep Dog, a true jedi in the art of rounding up sheep and keeping them all in order.
Baaaaaa, Baaaaaaaa, baa, baaaaaaaa. (chapter 6 verse 7)
Seriously though, I just cannot understand how ANYONE can be so stupid as to believe in ANY religion, whatever its name. Nearly every single war in history is caused by religion.
Just look at all these religions. People follow their 'master' like sheep in a field, to such amazingly fanatical lengths where they will even kill themself for their master. Why are people so frightened of being unique???? You dont have to be religious to be 'spiritual' either.
I suggest anyone who hasnt seen Monty Pithons Life of Brian to check it out.
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Comments
I happen to be an agnostic, I have an open mind. If i see evidence of a god then ill get down on my knees and worship. If its proved beyond doubt that theres no god then ill be fine.
I think you will find that more wars have been fought over land than religion.
Very few religions have a following of people who will glady and willingly kill themselves for their god. Islam being the only one im aware of.
PS, Islam is the religion, Muslims are followers of Islam.
For me, followers of the Church of England ARE stupid. I mean, that dirty ram Henry VIII created it so he could dump his lady.
I would certainly agree with you about land being a major cause of war but it is nearly always linked with religion. The recent sequence of events in the US is a crystal clear example of how religion causes so much dispute.
I wouldnt mind betting that if religion did not exist any shape or form then the world would be a CONSIDERABLY safer place to live in.
I do agree that religion has caused most of the wars, or being related to them in some way.
I do have one question.... this is the polotics forum. Is religion part of polotics?
Well considering we are about to go to war with the entire Islamic world I would say that it is an important political issue.
If you don't believe then claim religious exemption. I did (my parents kindly backed this up with a note to say I was Buddhist) and therefore missed God-(haha)knows how many hours of religious rhetoric.
The problem with religion is that it doesn't tolerate non-believers too well, it doesn't always accept that people can have individual beliefs, challenges towards points written in holy books are frowned upon. Science is becoming its number one enemy. It used to be a money empire, promising what couldn't be proved; "feed us money and we will deliver you to a tranquel afterlife".
It has caused lots of wars, or indeed contributed to them. But then it has also given people hope, even non-believers in religion turn to it and pray in times of need hoping that something will help them through.
I personally don't believe in god or religion, I can understand people who do and do have a problem with their beliefs so long as they don't start throwing them in my face trying to change me.
Of course science (i.e. the scientific spirit) is religon's Number One enemy. Science is the antithesis of religon. One is predicated on a tendency to look for evidence and explanation; the other is based on a pre-given "explanation" that will tolerate no dissension.
See: The Real Enemy as Unmasked by September 11, here.
By that rationale it is better not to believe then.
There are certain arguments emerging from the more insanely theoretical sciences that would suggest there is more to the construction and maintainance of the Universe than random chance would dictate. Wether this feeling/theory can be translated into something more substantial may give the concept of God a new lease of life, and perhaps a new meeting point for Science and Religion.
But, one thing I am quite sure about. If some speccy scientist does discover something profound, I am quite sure it wont be Islam, Christianity, Bhuddism, Hindu or the Holy Goat.
One thing we must remember is that all religion equals is belief. Everyone needs to believe. What we believe in is important to us as human beings.
I believe that all Gods are created in the mind of man to give him a faith, and once he has that faith he himself decides what it is. If we are, as a world, ever going to live in religious harmony then we have to accept all religions. While that may seem like common sense it is (obviously harder in theory than practice).
For mankind to survive along with his beliefs he or she has to understand that we are NOT all the same, and we would never want to be.
If peace in this world is to prevail we have to embrace our differences.
Not all religions follow their 'master' like sheep in a field. I for one am Buddhist (and for those that don't know... just as Christianisty has many differing branches, so does Buddhism - I follow Nicheren Daishonin's Buddhism). And before you say - "hah- but you follow the Buddha" I'll let you in on a secret.
There is no single Buddha. Everyone has buddha nature inside them. Everyone can become a Buddha. This means everyone has the potential to make their own decisions based on their own Buddha nature.
The good thing about this is that people are asked to believe in themselves. I have absolutely no problem with anybody elses religion. Because I know, that they are all Buddhas inside. Once you know that, then you can see the good in all people, and you see the pointlessness of killing.
Interesting that you should say that "Science is religion's number one enemy" (Mckenzie). We are actually using the scientific priciples to prove that Buddhism in fact works, and is true.
Just to let you know. My Buddhism has only one goal - World Peace. And we feel we are starting to make a difference. Not one that you guys/girls can see probably, but it is starting.
Ask me again in 50 years who was one of the main religions that help set up the lasting peace that we will then be enjoying!
End of $0.02
Start your own religion - Colin Morris
And anything by Alan Watts - The wisdom of insecurity and This is it are good for trying to sort out in your head the difference between "belief" and "faith".
The word 'Religion' is much misused!
You could also read Why I am not a Christian - Bertrand Russell.
He's not the Messiah - Just a very naughty boy!!
Quality!!
Sorry couldnt resist! Please carry on
"You don't need to follow me. You don't need to follow anybody! You've got to think for yourselves. You're all individuals"
"we're all individuals"
Remember islam and conversion by the sword...what next time?
Diesel
88888888
I see any religion as a set of rules to live by. obviously the ten comandments but also smaller, for example jews are sercomsized to be clean if you think about it this makes sence as originaly the jews lived in the desert, and sand down the foreskin cant be pleasant.
so if everybody followed these rules the world would be a safe and easy place to live, but this will take away peoples freedom of choice, which is why i dont follow any religion. but i do have a few questions about the bible i would like answered if somebody doesnt mind.
wise men talk because they have somthing to say, fools talk because they have to say somthing.
laws and how to best follow them.
When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord (Lev. 1:9).
The problem is my neighbours. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. How should I deal with this?
I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as it suggests in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.
Lev. 25:44 states that I may buy slaves from the nations that are around us. A friend of mine claims that this applies to welsh but not Scotts. Can you clarify?
I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10-12), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?
Lev. 21:17-23 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear prescription glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
I am so glad that religions and their teachings remain unchanged.
wise men talk because they have somthing to say, fools talk because they have to say somthing.
Quote from President Bartlett - The West Wing.
I thought that the writers made a few good points too...
Can I aplogise if this sounded like I was preaching. I'm not at all. I have a heap of respect for anybody who is strong enough to stand up and state what they truly believe in. At the end of the day everyone is entitled to have a faith which they beleive in and by making comments like yours may offend some people. ( made me laugh actually! <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/smile.gif"> )
I can see clearly now, the rain has gone.
I took a "psychology and religion" module at uni and it was brilliant. The first (and lets face it probably last) time I WANTED to get up and go to lectures.
I think it's weird how religion always causes the opposite in people that it's meant to. Psychological studies show church goers to be less tolerant. And yet Jesus' example was not to exclude or look down on anyone. He hung out with prostitutes and lepers. I think the bible runs aground on a few ponits, Leviticus for example contains some seriously extreme stuff, loved the questions btw!! I just can't accept that homosexuality is "wrong" for example.
Religion may not cause all the wars, but it is often used to justify the most horrible crimes against humanity. The statement that god is on our side tends to give people a licence to genocide, and they get to go to heaven for it. This is why I don't think I'll ever be standing in a church tell my story of how I came back to the Lord.
Of course science has also been used to justify some attrocities of its own. Look at the holocaust and slavery; all stemming from the "superior race" theories of the time.
I define religion as any system of control over people based upon their superstisions.
Yep, the old books are literal...not just 'guidelines' otherwise you wouldn't have Leviticus 13:20...or is it 20:13?...telling us to give homosexuals a 'rock show' when they are found...tough policy of don't ask and don't tell!
Diesel
88888888
as i previously said...'I believe that all Gods are created in the mind of man to give him a faith, and once he has that faith he himself decides what it is. If we are, as a world, ever going to live in religious harmony then we have to accept all religions. While that may seem like common sense it is (obviously harder in theory than practice).'
Thats the way I see it anyway...
Actually, the old book says to only accept one...and he is a god of war!
Diesel
88888888