And the one common trait being that the religions sell salvation. What I mean is that religious leaders insist that this Earth life sucks, but instead of trying to make it better we should just become a member of the religion so we can have a nice afterlife.
2006-09-17 12:36:12 · 16 answers · asked by Jordan P 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I promise that I intended to put a disclaimer mentioning that pagan religions do not have that trait. Sorry to have forgotten!
2006-09-17 12:42:04 · update #1
Nope. I have studied a lot of different religions and I can say that "salvation" isn't something that is a part of each and that there are a lot that don't say "Earthly life" sucks. And definately not all religions say that you have to be a member of their religion to get a nice afterlife (in fact, some religions don't even have a philosophy of an afterlife).
The one thing that all religions DO have in common is that the search for greater meaning and awareness IN life itself. And while that may sound contrary to what some religions "promote" (sometimes very loudly), it is there if you study the religions in depth enough.
2006-09-17 12:54:54 · answer #1 · answered by gabriel_zachary 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All religions are man-made. None ever came into existance because a 'god' willed it. Religion was invented to answer many of the unknown ocurrances in a primitive early life, like where does the sun go? In time, men structured the religion to help or guide its followers, and even later in time, religious leaders bent the religious message to keep the followers in line. The use of 'fear' became popular, like saying what would happen to you if you stopped believing in their god. But they all claim the same message... that there is a higher power, and this power can make your life easier, and help you after you die.
2006-09-17 19:45:09 · answer #2 · answered by Arnold M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmmm. Not really. I get what you're saying. But in some religions there's no such thing as "salvation". All souls go into the next world, not because they've pleased their god(s), but because it's inevitable and part of the natural cycle.
2006-09-17 19:44:50 · answer #3 · answered by Maria Isabel 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buddhism stresses the ending of our suffering through selfpurifictaion by meditation. If we achieve Nirvana we will never be born again, we wil cease to exist. Our life on earth is horrible, but we can either be reborn or seek enightenment and not be reborn. The afterlife is never nice.
2006-09-17 19:43:28 · answer #4 · answered by Shinkirou Hasukage 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no that is not fair to say.
most Pagans believe in reincarnation and ee life as a great learning experience to be repeated as often as needed to keep the soul in a state of constant learning and gaining of higher wisdom.
2006-09-17 19:39:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pagan religions don't sell salvation.
2006-09-17 19:38:39 · answer #6 · answered by Frodo the space bard 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not true of Pagan religions, but seems to be true of Monotheistic religions, as far as I can tell.
2006-09-17 19:40:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are religions like paganism, but your statement is generally true
2006-09-17 19:40:35 · answer #8 · answered by . 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe they do and that is greed for money and power, the afterlife thing is just a way to keep you coming back so you will keep on paying.
2006-09-17 19:41:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
spiritualism does not have any salvation mentioned
we believe in the afterlife .. but that is open to all
2006-09-17 19:45:00 · answer #10 · answered by Peace 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋