It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Finding the True Religion ? Help Somebody
page: 2share:
Religion can mean a lot of things. I view it as a means to an end or a tool that people use. Also, I would say that the term 'religion' actually
stands for two general concepts rather than one. The first is a belief system or system of behavior, devotion, etc. that someone employs to better
themselves, increase understanding, achieve union with "God" etc. The second is an institutional grouping of people that is in essence subject to
the same forces affecting all other institutional groups (corporations, social clubs, political parties, nations, etc.) and in turn has engaged in
things like war, oppression, suppression of scientific knowledge, and exploitation.
As far as a true religion, I would say that there is no one true religion, only the one that is best for the particular individual, or maybe even a combination, or none at all, I couldn't really say. I'm reminded of a passage I read in a book by Thomas Merton. Merton was a monk and one of the most respected Catholic writers in recent history. In the passage I alluded to he mentions how, in his own spiritual quest, he talked to a Buddhist monk who actually encouraged him to explore the tenets of his own faith (Catholicism) in order to further his spiritual growth. This of course led to Merton becoming a monk and writing many influential books, but the point is the Buddhist recognized 'religion' as a stepping stone to something more profound and not simply an end in itself.
Now, ideally the two aspects of religion should match up seamlessly, but since people are imperfect, they don't. (And of course this is the argument for the necessity of religion in the first place!) In the case of Christianity, I would argue that Jesus was not intent on establishing another institutional system, but on leading people in a massive 'spiritual' change. For example, Matthew 21:22 - "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's" & Luke 17:20-21 - "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."
So, to summarize all this - 'religion' and the human church are merely tools that can ideally be used to promote 'true' religion, but in many cases are used to actually oppose 'true' religion and attack the principles that Jesus taught (again using Christianity as an example). So in conclusion I would say that the question of whether or not the church is valid is irrelevant because really the 'church' (or even a specific church) is the product of the people involved. This leads us back to to the more fundamental questions regarding the people who make up the church, which leads to questions about human nature (and specifically the individual considering his/her own nature), which leads to the search for understanding, truth, enlightenment, etc. and that's where the individual turns to religion to answer these questions.
As far as a true religion, I would say that there is no one true religion, only the one that is best for the particular individual, or maybe even a combination, or none at all, I couldn't really say. I'm reminded of a passage I read in a book by Thomas Merton. Merton was a monk and one of the most respected Catholic writers in recent history. In the passage I alluded to he mentions how, in his own spiritual quest, he talked to a Buddhist monk who actually encouraged him to explore the tenets of his own faith (Catholicism) in order to further his spiritual growth. This of course led to Merton becoming a monk and writing many influential books, but the point is the Buddhist recognized 'religion' as a stepping stone to something more profound and not simply an end in itself.
Now, ideally the two aspects of religion should match up seamlessly, but since people are imperfect, they don't. (And of course this is the argument for the necessity of religion in the first place!) In the case of Christianity, I would argue that Jesus was not intent on establishing another institutional system, but on leading people in a massive 'spiritual' change. For example, Matthew 21:22 - "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's" & Luke 17:20-21 - "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."
So, to summarize all this - 'religion' and the human church are merely tools that can ideally be used to promote 'true' religion, but in many cases are used to actually oppose 'true' religion and attack the principles that Jesus taught (again using Christianity as an example). So in conclusion I would say that the question of whether or not the church is valid is irrelevant because really the 'church' (or even a specific church) is the product of the people involved. This leads us back to to the more fundamental questions regarding the people who make up the church, which leads to questions about human nature (and specifically the individual considering his/her own nature), which leads to the search for understanding, truth, enlightenment, etc. and that's where the individual turns to religion to answer these questions.
new topics