Does anyone else have hope for the world when they see how many people on here question organized religion?

Question

Religion, of all things, should be a unifier and a bringer of peace and enlightenment into the world. And, in a way, it is one of the only things that has been successful in uniting people across cultural and geographic boundaries. Unfortunately, that unity typically stems from the ideology of; believe what I tell you, in its entirety, or suffer eternal damnation. From that heavy-handed authoritarian place religion actually becomes a very divisive thing. Its all or nothing nature leads to an us vs them mentality. When brought up against other religions with the same ideology and all-or-nothing belief structure it creates a conflict and paradox that cannot be resolved.

I hope we are coming to a place where people will reject organized religion and the divisiveness it brings. I hope we are entering an era where people will approach the world with an open mind and ask more questions instead of thinking they always have the answers.

Open your eyes a little and you will see more and more people essentially accepting that organized religion is a man-made construct. There may be a god but it probably isn't Jesus/Allah/Vishnu/Oprah, and if it is one of these four I hope they are extremely pissed at what some of their so call adherents do and say in their name...

The only truth is you don't know the answer and I don't know either, thats why you have to ask questions not just give answers...

Guess I should clarify what the question is: I feel hope and some amount of optimism for the world and humanity as a whole when I come on this site and see so many people questioning organized religion. Does anybody else feel this way?

Answer 1

I agree with you, despite all the opposition. Organized religion is a silly concept. If someone tells you what to believe is it still called a belief? I thought a belief was an individual thing, not a group organized thing.

I do not mean to detract from any and all good that some churches do regularly, but seriously, if there were no organized religion, and only individual beliefs, there wouldn't be war in the name of religion, or it would be pretty small, one on one. It makes a lot of sense.

Answer 2

I was tricked into your question. Now I don't see a question. But, now that I'm here, I'll share what I think.

I think that you're right about organized religions- and the all or nothing, in or out, mentality that can arise from them. I think it should be more about relationships. I think that's why Jesus DIDN'T go after the masses but rather avoided them. He spent so much of his time with just a few. I believe that was to show us that all of the beautiful things he wanted to teach about love, friendship and God are best learned in the context of relationships, families and/or communities rather than in "organizations."

Jesus used the analogy of salt- "you are the salt of the earth." This parable teaches that his followers are to go into something (i.e. "the earth" or world) and have a positive influence there. They are to add flavor and a positive influence to life, not the opposite. Organized religion CAN BE like the salt shaker that doesn't sprinkle the salt but stays unto itself, proud of it's so called saltiness when all the while it may be losing it's saltiness (something that Jesus warned about).

Jesus could have captured something very big and organized. But he didn't. Yet he predicted that what he started would become big. And with anything that is growing successfully, there usually arises the need for some "organization." It's a definite challenge for his followers to maintain the emphasis on love and relationships and yet maintain some order to their endeavors. Something to think about. FWIW

Love, joy and peace,

Hesed

Answer 3

I seriously doubt that organized religion will ever be rejected or eliminated in our lifetimes. The reason is mostly because it's apparent that people are 'hardwired' for the religious impulse, and it is a subjective thing that is very easily exploited. Instead of eliminating it, we need to find a way to utilize it in a way that is not spiritually harmful to ourselves or those around us. This is doable.

The best thing I think that we can do to keep the more virulent forms of religion from overtaking us is to encourage independent thought and education- especially that of women. These things keep people from being exploited by religion- and religious leaders. That might plug up one source of trouble and strife in this world, but certainly not all of it. People quarrel, and if isn't over faith, it's over sex, money, kids, power, and who has the flashiest [insert toy here].

Answer 4

Questioning anything is not a bad thing in and of itself.

Organized religion has never been a unifier of cultures. Religions compete with and are greatly opposed to one another.

The only thing which will give hope for the world is spirituality, not religion, as spirituality transcends organized religion - always has and always will.

Answer 5

In a perfect world, religions would follow their basic tenets of peace and brotherhood.

Unfortunately, wars are still fought because of religion, or use religion as an excuse.

Jesus said there were only two commandments: Love the lord thy god, and love thy neighbor as thyself.

Answer 6

im not really sure what the question is, but there is nothing wrong with organized religeon. it is usually the extremists of a religeon that cause the probalems. I have seen instances where two religeons joined resources to do wonderfull things, in this case christians and sihks joining to start a charity and an orphanage in india.

Answer 7

Hope for the world in the sense that God loves all people even though just some of them will respond to that love.

Answer 8

both prepared faith and subculture are recommendations that would favor to be defined. in my opinion, and on account that this question is interior the "faith AND Spirituality, neither prepared faith or subculture -inspite of ways you outline them- are of any genuine importance to the non secular progression or spirituality of mankind. In different words, prepared faith would (or gained't) halt subculture's progression, and -interior the full- it doesn't count. Neither prepared faith or subculture exist except interior the fellow's mind's eye. purely what occurs on the fellow non secular factor concerns. purely there can there be any "progression".

Answer 9

Any belief system can bring division. Not just religion, though it's done its fair share.

Answer 10

spread some light-thing we are reaching there-not the no religion part but more and more i see acceptenced-when that happens i will be happy indeed-keep the peace old hippie here