Organized religion

[Knowledge 6 6 6]

Do you think organized religion sorta just tries to control you into believing God, or a supreme being in a form? Religion's too free and too broad a topic to be closed off and to be followed like an army...

I also read that the higher one's intelligence, the less the faith...

But being intelligent shouldnt sacrifice one's faith, or make it weak. If anything, intelligence strengthens one's faith in their own belief system. Dont you think that organized religion just tries to control you to sort've believe in God in a certain way? I mean, shouldn't we all take God into our own meanings and apply it to life? I dont think I should recite a prayer every night like a robot without deep thought to the words...muchlike alotta ppl I know do...

Don't you think God would want us to explore different religions and truths? I mean, its like saying 'I'm a christian for life and dont wanna hear anything about any other religion against that'. I'm not saying everyone should be liberal on the topic, but at least try to accept/understand other religions...

just a thought..

[Hate Is Art]

I Personaly don't believe in a God.

In my eyes organised religion is a sham, it shouldn't be followed like an army or like a damn set of commandments to rule you. No one should have their lives ruled by an ancient book which makes little sense in all reality.

Religous Fanatasicism(sp?) is a side effect of organised religion which is, i reckon, the stupidist thing ever. Don't ever follow anything blindly.

[kyotou]

I agree with the first topic. There might be some 'bigger' religions, but one should find their own religion. Even if that means no religion.

I respect more those who believe after a long time of SERIOUS thinking and reflexion. Same as I respect more those who don't believe after the same time of SERIOUS thinking and reflexion.

I lack of respect for people who blindly believe what they're told. As much as those who claim the inexsitant of God and that everyone else is wrong just 'cause it's "fashion" or 'cause their favourite singer/group denies God.

I find myself in the first category, wether I believe or not is irrelevant, once I thought things well I come to the simple conclusion that: no one's fully right and no one's fully wrong.
And I ask those who are in the second category to QUESTION everything about their religion, to question the traditions, to question the books, to question even the very existance of God. The result of that is uncertain, but I'm pretty sure that whatever the result is, you'll be a much better person.

[Pedro Alonso Lopez]

Try reading Marx's historical analysis of history and work it out for yourself, religion was used to explain what we didnt understand blah blah blah, people realised if they were priests etc. they did'nt have to work etc.

Havent time to explain it but you all surely know the story.

Organised religion serves one purpose, to oppress the masses.

As Jim said, 'We need something else that's new, something else to get us through'.

[Bradyman]

Organized religion is for suckers.

I've got nothing against people with a particular type of belief, but they should keep it to themselves because there is no way to prove that their "belief" is right. Organized religion has got to go.

[18tir]

I have no belief at all in organized religion. The entire concept of a God and an afterlife is untrue and harmful. If a paradise after this life does exist, then what is the point of trying to solve our problems in this life? If you believe in heaven, then it doesn't matter if your currently a slave or a wealthy businessman. It wouldn't matter that tens of thousands of people starve to death each year. If they're all going to heaven, why should we care?

The truth is; there is no afterlife and there is no God. These ideas were put into people's heads to justify the existence of ruling classes and their oppression of the peasants and workers.

[Ortega]

Originally posted by Knowledge 6 6 [email protected] 19 2004, 03:18 PM
Do you think organized religion sorta just tries to control you into believing God, or a supreme being in a form? Religion's too free and too broad a topic to be closed off and to be followed like an army...

I also read that the higher one's intelligence, the less the faith...

But being intelligent shouldnt sacrifice one's faith, or make it weak. If anything, intelligence strengthens one's faith in their own belief system. Dont you think that organized religion just tries to control you to sort've believe in God in a certain way? I mean, shouldn't we all take God into our own meanings and apply it to life? I dont think I should recite a prayer every night like a robot without deep thought to the words...muchlike alotta ppl I know do...

Don't you think God would want us to explore different religions and truths? I mean, its like saying 'I'm a christian for life and dont wanna hear anything about any other religion against that'. I'm not saying everyone should be liberal on the topic, but at least try to accept/understand other religions...

just a thought..
I completely agree with that. I see God as more of a presence - not neccesarily some man in the sky, but a need inside yourself to do social good, and help out the people of the world. God is whoever, or whatever, you want it to be. If you're a hardcore Christian, and you want to see God as a big, bearded, old man sitting behind the gates of a pearly kingdom, then that's perfectly fine. I see God as a presence in all of us, and in all of the world. I didn't believe in God at all for a long time, until I came to realize that God could be seen in different ways depending on the person and their beliefs.

[Ortega]

Originally posted by [email protected] 19 2004, 07:59 PM
Organized religion is for suckers.

I've got nothing against people with a particular type of belief, but they should keep it to themselves because there is no way to prove that their "belief" is right. Organized religion has got to go.
"Religion is the opiate of the masses" sums that up pretty well. Organized religion can be dangerous - large masses of people can be manuevered by their church or temple, and terrible things can happen because of religious fanaticism. Brainless, unwavering trust in one religion is never a good thing to have.

[The Children of the Revolution]

I am religious - or spiritual, call it what you will. I believe in a God; in heaven and hell...

But organised religion IS bad, and HAS been used to oppress people in the past. There are numerous examples of this as I'm sure you are all aware.

My beliefs are founded on a philosophical and spiritual basis, and developed by myself alone; I don't go to church or sing random hymns at people, I don't preach. (Unless people WANT to listen, rare though these occurences may be!) However, I believe there is a way in which I should live - a set of moral guidelines that everyone should follow.

Organised religion is BAD news!

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Organised religion is BAD news!

AMEN!

It has definately got to go!

[Pedro Alonso Lopez]

Originally posted by The Children of the [email protected] 20 2004, 02:46 AM




My beliefs are founded on a philosophical and spiritual basis


Explain that, what philosophical basis are you talking about?

[cubist]

my dad is a Ceng Cma with a PHD in maths and a masters too he is a christian, so i would say the more intelligent doesn't mean the less faith.

the more rational the less faith, or the less ignorant the less faith.

[The Children of the Revolution]

Explain that, what philosophical basis are you talking about?


Oh man, this could take all night!

I'll sum it up VERY briefly...

>Human Being = Body + Mind + Soul
>Soul has no physical presence, it is "immaterial"
>Soul cannot therefore die
>I believe that the teachings of Jesus (or of the prophet Mohammed - I know next to nothing about Islam, correct me if I make any henious errors) are a fundamentally good set of "guidelines" to follow in life.
>I am free to interpret these moral guidelines however I choose, but I will be judged when I die
>On this basis, my soul (a non-physical entity) will either go to Heaven or Hell
>Hell is not a physical place, (burning etc) rather it is anywhere that ISN'T Heaven
>There is a God - maybe the Christian one, maybe not
>I will never take a life

And other stuff; this is probably rather rambling and incoherent, but I know what I mean!

[revoevo]

I believe in God as a presence, very much like what Ortega described. I certaintly do not believe in heaven or hell. If anything happens after death, I think it would be reincarnation. I think if a soul is judged in anyway, it is in how it is reborn, such as in Buddhist teachings where a soul that has done good deeds is reborn on a higher plane of existence, or as a human or god, and one that has done bad deeds is reborn on a lower plane, or as an animal or ghost. Maybe I prefer to believe in this because it inspires personal spiritual growth and an eternity for the soul to reach enlightenment. The Christian ideas of heaven and hell seem to be nothing more than incentives to go to Church every sunday and do what the Bible says. Organized religion seems sort of pointless, because I see religion as a personal spirtual experience, not a set of rules and regulations to keep the masses in fear of God. I respect those who participate in organized religion, but it's not my thing.

[Anastacia]

>There is a God - maybe the Christian one, maybe not

I believe that there is the christian one but nobody knows exactly. I'm not so worried about that. I want to live here in this world a good life to myself and other people. If there is a christian God, I believe that he judes by works, or attitude. Like if you at least want do his will. So, I'm not so worried about that. Anyway, I would live that way. I can't believe that there is a God that judges people according to that, have they herad about him. That makes no sense.

[LSD]

I believe that there is the christian one

I can't believe that there is a God that judges people according to that, have they herad about him. That makes no sense.

Sorry to say, but those two statements are contradictory.

By definition the "Christian God" is the God of the New Testament, and he judges people exactly according to whether or not they've heard of him.

So if you believe in the Christian God, you believe that he judges that way

If you don't believe he judges that way, you don't believe in the Christian God


I think what you mean to say is that you believe in a god but not the Christian one.

[BuyOurEverything]

>Human Being = Body + Mind + Soul
>Soul has no physical presence, it is "immaterial"
>Soul cannot therefore die
>I believe that the teachings of Jesus (or of the prophet Mohammed - I know next to nothing about Islam, correct me if I make any henious errors) are a fundamentally good set of "guidelines" to follow in life.
>I am free to interpret these moral guidelines however I choose, but I will be judged when I die
>On this basis, my soul (a non-physical entity) will either go to Heaven or Hell
>Hell is not a physical place, (burning etc) rather it is anywhere that ISN'T Heaven
>There is a God - maybe the Christian one, maybe not
>I will never take a life


But your basic premise is flawed. What is your reason for believing in a soul? Since you already acknowledge that there is a physical mind, what is the purpose of the soul? The entire concept of the soul was conceived before we had knowledge of the physical mind. It has been proven that mental attributes can either be genetic (nature) or be a product of one's environment (nurture.) What is the place of the soul in all of this?

[Rasta Sapian]

your souls goes much deeper than your mind, taking your thoughts to a higher level of understanding, from love and praise to the meaning of life. Its more like a conscious to deciefer right from wrong, and something that contains pure rightous energy :lol:

separating the mind from the pysical brain + body, ie. dualism (the beleif of the existance of a soul, separate from your flesh and bones)

peace yall

[BuyOurEverything]

your souls goes much deeper than your mind, taking your thoughts to a higher level of understanding, from love and praise to the meaning of life. Its more like a conscious to deciefer right from wrong, and something that contains pure rightous energy

separating the mind from the pysical brain + body, ie. dualism (the beleif of the existance of a soul, separate from your flesh and bones)


But one's understanding of right and wrong can be affected by their upbringing, can it not?

[hazard]

the topic itself is redundant in its utilization of language

religion itself MUST be organized in order to be considered one. it infers, already, that it is organized. religion is shared belief, as opposed to the deranged lunacy of lone individuals.

[Pedro Alonso Lopez]

Originally posted by [email protected] 22 2004, 07:22 AM
the topic itself is redundant in its utilization of language

religion itself MUST be organized in order to be considered one. it infers, already, that it is organized. religion is shared belief, as opposed to the deranged lunacy of lone individuals.


How is the topic made redundant by the utilization of language when it is simply a title telling us what the topic is about or do you mean the first post of the general idea of the thread. I'm not sure but you really ought to utilize your language better ;)

Of course religion must be organised, who stated otherwise, the people here are stating a belief in God, your argument holds that belief in God is only confimed when it is organised thus the first Christian would have been considered a lunatic before he gained some followers or fellow believers.

The deranged luncay of individuals: Rubbish.


your souls goes much deeper than your mind, taking your thoughts to a higher level of understanding, from love and praise to the meaning of life. Its more like a conscious to deciefer right from wrong, and something that contains pure rightous energy

I don't get this...What makes you believe in the soul? Is it tangible etc. Explain some proofs for the soul's existence, maybe your a Platonist I dont know.

Are love and praise to the meaning of life higher faculties? Are they not simply subjective traits, love could be along the lines of Kantian aesthetics, a subjective universility.

Why must the soul be a consious which shows right from wrong, dosent your consious do this for you anyway?

I don't understand why we need a soul to understand the meaning of life. I would sooner follow empiricist thought or rationalist thoughts when dealing with what we can know or attain in relation to the meaning of life which may well be nothing.

[Rasta Sapian]

oh yes it is effected by one's ubringing, however the individual still has to use common sense and go with a gut feeling from time to time! ;)