What is so wrong with religion?

reply to post by apushforenlightment


But since this is just your interpretation, and since it is obviously just one of many, many different versions, don't you see how any interpretation might be equally good, and how that might cause a lot of problems and conflicts?

And since man has a tendency to want to survive, most would interpret, what ever religion that might be in question, so that it suits themselves best?

There is no standard, so any interpretation is as good as the next.

Originally posted by apushforenlightment

If you feel like to see if you can figure it out for yourself then my suggestion is to listen to chakra meditation sounds on Youtube or something like it.

Oh - it is on!
Got any recommendations or should any chakra meditation sound be sufficient?

Originally posted by subject x
Religion kills people.
Always has, always will.

Lol. Life kills people. Societies kill people. Ignorance and smallmindedness kills people. If it is not religon then it is race or culture or something else that is different that we will kill each other about. Not accepting differances kills people.

Originally posted by apushforenlightment

Originally posted by subject x
Religion kills people.
Always has, always will.

Lol. Life kills people. Societies kill people. Ignorance and smallmindedness kills people. If it is not religon then it is race or culture or something else that is different that we will kill each other about. Not accepting differances kills people.

Hmmmm... with a bit of imagination I can see how many of the things you suggest indirectly kills people.

But the thing is, that people are killed in the name of religion and most religions actually encourages violence in some form or another.

Ignorance does not encourage murder, murder might be the result of it but it doesn't work the other way around. Some societies do encourage murder but more often as a result of religious influence than not.
Race doesn't do it either, some might kill other because they have a different race, and some have actually tried to justify this with science, but science does itself no encourage violence it simply couldn't, it is a system by which we can efficiently solve problems, and tell fact from fiction, nothing more.

Besides ignorance, not accepting others, or smallmindedness (which I believe are all sort of the same thing), are all a result of something else and hardly ever something that anyone would take pride in.

So I honestly think you are comparing apples and pears on this one.

Originally posted by Mads1987

Originally posted by apushforenlightment

If you feel like to see if you can figure it out for yourself then my suggestion is to listen to chakra meditation sounds on Youtube or something like it.

Oh - it is on!
Got any recommendations or should any chakra meditation sound be sufficient?

There was one video serie that was really good but that one have been removed so I only have it on mp3 now. But this one do increase the effects in me to the point that I become very heavy and I use headphones while lying in bed while listening to it. soundcloud.com...

If it feels uncomfortable then stop it. From my point ot view if it is not easy then it is not for you.

I had this one in a list and I am testing it now and it seem to do something .
www.youtube.com...

Originally posted by andy06shake
reply to post by AlreadyGone

 

I pray as well, but not in a church, just me and the big dude, no more, no less!

Whats wrong with organised religion, War, hatred, famine, pestilence, rape! Whats wrong with organised religion is it has an agenda, and its not saving you soul, its total control of you free will! Essentially organised religion is hijacking your thought processes and modifying then to there way of reckoning.

edit on 11-7-2012 by andy06shake because: (no reason given)

I totaly agree. Human conditioning towards dualistic views and anti what Jesus and Buddha preached.

reply to post by andy06shake


A religion that is organized...you have a group of people that share a common faith and view... so they organize so they can acheive tasks... like helping people... say a fund raiser...

Someone has to pick a date, a type of fundraiser...say a chicken dinner...OK.

Then there are grills to come up with, who will get the plates... the plastic sporks and napkins... canned drinks or tea? Stuff like that. It just doesn't happen... it has to be organized.

Like wise... where will they meet? will they have their own building or lease? What about upkeep...maintainance. Will we have a full time preacher/ priest/ whatever...part-time...how much pay?

Who keeps the books...where do we bank?

Organized... a religious group that is organized.

An organized religion determines doctrine... how the doctrine is exercised... who is capable of leading...etc.

To me... there is a difference between organized religion and a religious group that is organized.

Originally posted by subject x
Religion kills people.
Always has, always will.

Religion doesn't kill people... people kill people.

reply to post by Mads1987


My only concern is that too often... everyone of faith is thrown in with the wackos and hypocrites and extremists.

I have attended church most of my life... we never hated anybody, never turned anyone away, never declared war on anyone...

More often than not... we help people that don't look like we do, help people that don't speak the same language as we do, have given money and food and clothes and heat and baby supplies to people that never crossed our doorway... unfortunately because we baptize with full immersion of water as was Jesus... we are Baptist... and are lumped in with all the Baptist... the good, the bad, and the ugly.

We went to mexico last year with 27 giant samsonite suit cases loaded to the max allowed with clothes and books and pencils and supplies and baby foods for a bunch of dirt poor Mexicans in Tizimin... nothing was expected in return and we were much more blessed by them than anything we could have done for them. And we help local people and groups and charities... not just with money but inviting people into our homes and providing shelter and heat.... fixing homes... medical supplies and on it goes.

My analogy of the baseball bat vs religion... it is how you use it... it can bring joy and unity and peace... or if misused... can bring pain, distress, and even death.

Had religion been outlawed or abolished, humanity would be 100 times better off. We probably wouldnt even still be limited to our solar system, technology would be 100s of years ahead of what it is now,

Religion..pfffffft

reply to post by loves a conspiricy


There will always be religion. It might not be God or Allah or Yaheweh...

For some it is the Dallas Cowboys or Ford Shelby Mustangs or French Wines... somewhere someone is worshipping something... why it might just be a tall, long legged blonde with pouty lips and big ol'... I digress. But you get my point.

Want to see a good fight of a very religious nature... pit the Cowboys agianst the steelers... or Ford trucks vs Chevy trucks... heck, watch a NASCAR race in a crowd... or Farmall vs John Deere... I have seen fights break out over that one..

religion is the worship of something...

Originally posted by AlreadyGone
reply to post by Mads1987

 

My analogy of the baseball bat vs religion... it is how you use it... it can bring joy and unity and peace... or if misused... can bring pain, distress, and even death.

I think you might have me confused. I never commented on your baseball analogy, but rather on your air and something analogy. That since rapist breath air, none of us should breath air.

Either way, not air nor baseball bats has ever encouraged anybody to commit acts of violence, I am not sure if there is a religion that doesn't justify violence in one or more ways.

I am all for the charity work you guys do, and personally I am a fan of the church on sundays concept, because it seems like a healthy think for a community to do. But I would prefer to see it done in the name of solidarity, compassion, love and logic, rather than in the name of (any) God - and not without reason. I don't want to give of the vibe that I am holding a grudge, I completely accept that we all come from different backgrounds and the way the world looks today is pretty understandable. But my point is, that even though religions have good sides to them, they have bad as well. I won't deny the fact that many religious people are very happy with their lives. But there are to many obvious flaws in it for it to be true, it does create a lot of problems, and there is no reason that we can't keep all the good stuff. Like church on sundays, and songs, and charity, and all that jazz, cause science do agree with these things. They are good. But causing pain and suffering in others lives just because of religion or in the name of it, is just plain f'ing wrong.
I still clearly remember bush saying how he was doing gods work and stuff. That freaked me out! What the hell was that fool talking about - and fact is many people do think they know what God wants. Not all, properly not most, but still many - and that is scary.

What is so wrong with religion?

I couldn't honestly say that I know what "organized" religion is, because I've never belonged to one. This is not to say I'm not "religious" or "spiritual", I am. I tend to think that people waste a lot of time focusing on what is different about each other, rather than what is the same.

At the root of religion is compassion. When I work with the community, it is always the community churches who are the driving force behind many of the local charities and works. They are even the driving force behind our housing development in our area. This is where I form my opinions. With what I experience, with what I see, with whom I actually hold a real conversation with. I don't base my opinion of religions on wars that happened 800 years ago or even religious conflict that is occurring today. Why? Because the conflict isn't JUST about religion, it never is and never was. It's just the scapegoat, the excuse to hate, hurt and take from others. It's not complicated.

Religion is suppose to be about the search, it is about seeking out purpose and comprehending the world around us and our role within it.

I think multiple religions are a built in fail safe. A one world government of tyranny and oppression would be so much easier to accomplish, should we all believe the same way and same things.

My religion is to seek truth in life, and in seeking life I hope to discover truth.

~ Serra

reply to post by johngrissom


I can't believe some of the simple minded responses I see here. (then again I guess I can)

There is nothing wrong with religion, only people. A religion is just a belief that requires faith, nothing more.
It does not matter if you believe in God, aliens, many gods, elves, pixies or all of it, it's how one uses it that matters. Religion is not the cause of war, greed is because every war is and was created for money and/or power.

Religion can't control anyone, yet people can control simple minded people with religion, but then again they can control the same people with money, lies or anger.

Again there is nothing wrong with religion, only people.

reply to post by AlreadyGone


We have a group of people, its called the population of Earth, no more segregation is necessary, no colours, no creeds, just people. Now if all the religious fundamentalists could realise this and stay the duck out of everyone elses crap then this verse would be a better reality for all!

Organised religion = organised hatred, this statement in fundamentally correct, i dare anyone to prove otherwise using recorded history!

Ile give you some examples

Jews/romans kill Jebus coz they hate him for saying he was the messiah = hatred

The crusades to take Jerusalem and the holy lands because Cristians dont like Muslims on there holy ground and vice versa = Hatred

The Inquisition kill around 6 million people more than 3/4 are midwifes, i dont even know where to start with this one but trust me it = hatred toward women and the female aspect of creation.

Originally posted by GunzCoty
reply to post by johngrissom

 

I can't believe some of the simple minded responses I see here. (then again I guess I can)

There is nothing wrong with religion, only people. A religion is just a belief that requires faith, nothing more.

Again there is nothing wrong with religion, only people.

I don't really buy it.
Some, if not most, religions do require more than just faith. But since most of us are brought up in a country founded on the religion we take part in, we don't notice all of the small stuff that has become ingrained in our society through tradition and so on. Not that these traditions are necessarily bad, but I am just saying that religions usually require more than just faith.

Originally posted by apushforenlightment
Lol. Life kills people. Societies kill people. Ignorance and smallmindedness kills people. If it is not religon then it is race or culture or something else that is different that we will kill each other about. Not accepting differances kills people.

Everything kills us. One of the major causes of ageing is oxidization. Yes, oxygen is killing us.

The difference being that the things you listed are not just made-up institutions that the world could probably do without..

reply to post by johngrissom


The only redeeming quality I see that religion offers people is a structured environment to share their beliefs in with like-minded people. Some people need that environment where there are followers and leaders of religious texts. I understand that. As long as they keep it to themselves and don't bother other people with their viewpoints, I have no problem with it.

I don't think anyone here has a problem with those people either OP, but I really hope you understand that every religion is going to have their outspoken proponents who get media attention and do extremely bad things to their fellow humans, therefore giving the impression that most religious people are like that, when in reality that's not the case.

I don't like religion because I see it as something man made. What religion did God practice? I'd REALLY like to know. Religion stifles the personal and spiritual progress we can make for ourselves as a whole. It's a spiritual prison. I've lost count of the people I've met in my life, family members included, who never realized their full potential because of religion. Whatever the purpose of any given religion is, that seems to be the end result.

If what you say is true, that you can leave whatever religion you want at any time, then do it. Go out and study the different practices of spirituality for awhile. If they don't suit you, then by all means go back to the religion of your choice that gives you peace. Because in my opinion, if you're at peace with yourself you're not going to go out and make life difficult for other people.

youtu.be...

reply to post by loves a conspiricy


"Had religion been outlawed or abolished, humanity would be 100 times better off. We probably wouldnt even still be limited to our solar system, technology would be 100s of years ahead of what it is now,

Religion..pfffffft"

Spot on mate 1000-2000 years further along the technological road anyways, imagine the possibilitys! And all thats required is complete religious freedom, i mean how easy would it be to leave people alone to think and do there own thing? Population levels would have leveled out centuries ago due to contraception, FTL travel quite possibly could have been achieved, War could be a thing of the past. And lets not forget poverty, coz the vatican has all da dosh, why does god need money anyway, i have allways wondered that?

Simply put religion divides people and causes them to personally attack another view on the matter with their words or actions including but not limited to war. Its personal and subjective because everyone feels their way is the only way. Did the great teachers who taught love mean that we should wage war with our neighbors? No... The opposite.

Religions are a major dividing factor that has plagued this earth for decades and its disgusting. I love Jesus and all the great teachers who came before and after him..... But i choose no religion as all have truth but not the whole truth.... And in my opinion they teach hate in disguise and I am totally against that!