Do people use religion to make their decisions for them or do they try to think for themselves?
2006-10-31 15:42:48 · 28 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Religion thrives on the fact that people stop their cognition and intrinsic inquisitive notion. Having a religion is an easy way to have a framework already with all the solutions without having to go out there finding solutions and evaluating things. The irony is that their life becomes harder having to measure up to what these religious texts tell them.
Look at gapeach above me for the clearest example of what I just said. "I don't need to use my brain. Someone already thought for me. I just need to follow it."
2006-10-31 15:45:57 · answer #1 · answered by Alucard 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Perhaps with some religions but not all. I do believe with Christianity there are a lot of decisions already made for Christians. That is one aspect of the religion I didn't adhere to when I looked into for myself.
Personally, I like to make my own decisions and some times my own mistakes. That is how I learn. When I began studying Wicca and found there to be only one rule, a rule that is only common sense (An it harm none do as thou will) I found my calling.
Some people do prefer to live by a book. I do not.
2006-10-31 23:56:59 · answer #2 · answered by Ersabette 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually religion has taught me to think more.
First and foremost, Jesus used analogies (parables) in his teachings. He was definitely a thinking mind. A great example was when he rebuked the pharisees when he healed on the Sabbath. Jesus' response was to ask the Pharisees if they would pull a donkey out of (I think) the mud on the sabbath. Jesus knew to use thoughtful analogies to drive his points home.
And the Bible teaches how important wisdom is,..just look at the book of Proverbs.
Finally, because of a thing like Yahoo!Answers, it does stretch my brain cells a few times to think about this from a spiritual context in order to answer.
So, do I believe that as a Christian, we are to think for ourselves. Yes. But I also leave you with one food for thought.
Even the most wisest of all people know when to have advisors around. They may think for themselves, but they also show wisdom by seeking counsel when necessary.
Take care!
2006-11-01 00:32:04 · answer #3 · answered by Searcher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both. Using your religion helps you make the right decision. Thinking for myself would get me into a world of trouble.
2006-10-31 23:45:44 · answer #4 · answered by gapeach 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Religion is a part of you ...so you use that part of you to decide what you should do...you are the one who chooses what religion u want and if you want to have a religion and when you do it becomes a part of u. So its not that religion is what makes you stop a thinking mind...Religion is what helps you think, etc
NEVER CONSIDER RELIGION AS A BURDEN
and ill rest my case...its up to u to answer this question...do u have true faith???
2006-10-31 23:49:25 · answer #5 · answered by ♥ hey! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those who are devoutly into their belief do find that it opens the mind to things which have been promised to them. Things not understood by the conscious intellect. Things beyond intellectual understanding.
As you can see by most of these questions posted, there is no understanding at all, of anything higher than intellect...Even the intellectual capacity continues to be abused. As such, pious people will regard it only as Satan's influence over the minds of man. Apparently there are many willing minds, accepting that influence.
2006-11-01 00:06:34 · answer #6 · answered by mrcricket1932 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lots and lots of people try to use religion as a catch all for their actions. "I did this or that cause my religious leader said it was right..." is a standard answer anymore.
When people stop thinking for themselves, when they stop questioning the answers that come their way thats when they become little meat puppets for an organiziation
2006-10-31 23:49:10 · answer #7 · answered by Zach 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that both are true. I believe that there are some who need or desire the structure of an organized set of codes by which to live. Others oppose such structure and in fact, create their own structure by their lack of it - if you choose not to make a choice, you've still made a choice.
I also believe that it all depends on the definition of religon - dogma or true belief. It's all in the hands of the thinker.
2006-10-31 23:46:40 · answer #8 · answered by thedarkduchess 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, people can still think... the problem is, religion believes it has all the answers, and that it's right. Someone devout enough not to question this is closed off to further learning along that vein.
2006-10-31 23:46:01 · answer #9 · answered by KC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God gave me a brain for a reason...I think for myself and I try to make the right decisions, although I seem to miss that objective a good bit.
2006-10-31 23:47:30 · answer #10 · answered by Rita 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋