What do you think of this, honest and serious answers please?

Question

I don't know much about religion or spiritualism but I like to think I have an idea of what is wrong and wrong, and how to lead a good life- my view is basically lead a good life, and if there is a God he'll smile upon you; but if there isn't a God, you still would have led a good life regardless. I think that religion can be a good thing and that all of the world faiths basically want, and say, the same thing in their truest forms.

I was thinking (dreaming, actually) of setting up something like a monastery, somewhere remote like an uninhabited Hebridean island for example, where people could follow their own beliefs and basically lead a good life without conforming to any of the major organised religions if they didn't want to. I'd like the place to be peaceful and self-sufficient and, like I said, basically a simple, modern and above all non-denominative monastery for everyone to join if they wanted.

Do you think it would work? I'd like to hear your ideas- thanks!

Answer 1

you can try... all the best to you!

Answer 2

Setting up a secluded monastery would be a denomination of its own. It'd still be an "organized religion", in that it'd be a place where there are certain expectations and beliefs.

Most people have a handle on what's right and wrong, and most people fail to follow through with these beliefs. It's impossible to live a "good enough" life. And no matter how good a life you think you lead, it's not good enough by God's standards. The Bible says more than once that "no one is good; no, not one". I believe there is a God, and I believe that He is the only way to go. Many religions do tend to say similiar things, but the big difference about Christianity is that our God walked the earth (He was all human and all God at the same time), He died, and was resurrected. You can visit Muhammed's grave, for example, and find his body still there...not so with Christ. The only way to go is to follow Christ. That's the only way to be "good" in God's eyes. There's nothing we can do of our own strength to "make it".

Answer 3

I Think There Are Many Who Would Share Your Ethos My Friend, I Too Had Such A Dream, Only In My Case It Was An Attempt To Unite All Main Stream Religions Under One Roof To Work Together For Harmony And Towards World Peace.
As To Weather It Would Work Or Not? It Couldn't Hurt To Try.
God Bless You And Have A Gooday Mate.

Answer 4

I think it is a lovely dream but far too idealistic.

To create an environment where people could follow their own beliefs would mean that you would theoretically be disallowing all culture, morals and ethics to become common. These are the principles by which people live and in the majority of population determine right and wrong. By dispelling these deeply personal factors you would create conflict within the population.

A further point is that if the created area was to be developed where people could follow their own beliefs you would not be able to determine the type of environment - "peaceful and self-sufficient" unless you implemented a strong screening program for people that entered to ensure they have the same views, ideals and to some extent personalities.

I also believe in just living a good life but I also think that to do that you do not need any special physical facilities. Just react to your environment in ways that comply with your morals and you'll achieve your goal...

Answer 5

I think it could work, but I still question the need to keep yourselves isolated from the rest of society. I have wondered that about traditional monasteries as well. Why can't you have such a place in the middle of a city or suburb? Wouldn't your beliefs and practices be strong enough that you could continue with them among other people? All of the good that comes out of such an enterprise would be better shared with the world than keep in a remote Hebridean island. I think life on a remote Hebridean island is going to be rather bleak and dismal in any case. Is that part of it - you wish to punish yourselves by living in deprivation? If so, to what end?

Answer 6

That same type of set up was found in the Bible as well-they called it the alter to the unnamed God. Problem is that all religions are not the same. Jesus said I am the way, I am the Light, and NO ONE comes to the Father except through ME. So that kills the synchronicity of Islam. God Himself said you shall have NO other gods before me- so that knocks out Krishna and Buddhist, Shintoist, ancestry worship, satanist, Wicca, and many other religions there. The Bible says in Revelation not to add anything or take away anything so that knocks out Mormons-who added- and JWs-who took away. Unity is a great idea- it just can't work with religion. This isn't a closed minded view because it's a view of truth. In as much as saying all animals can fly because you seen a lot of birds and that freedom seems wonderful-doesn't make it sense. Wonderful idea-just not one that can work in the realm of Truth.

Answer 7

in short you want a humanistic island where people can think that their wonderfulness can get them somewhere? Where everyone agrees and no one ever offends another...for that to be possible you would have to change the very nature of man because we can always be offended. I find it interesting that you know what is wrong and wrong, but do you know what is right? I do believe that most people want to believe that they are "good" but there is no such thing as a "good" person..because we are carnal and we have that nature we are liars and haters..heck we even hate liars. We have a tendency to look at other people with a magnifying glass and we rose tint our own behavior..your island might work for a little while but unless you have programmed everyone to think and act the same it wouldn't be long before someone became offended and want to get even with another. It's a very nice thought but just not plausible.

Answer 8

Your idea is a good one and the last thing I want to do is put a dampner on it, but, because of human nature it wouldn't be long before there was conflict. There would always be someone who was opinionated, thinking that they are always right, there would always be someone who wanted to control. Can't remember what the programme was called, but do you remember the BBC documentary on the group living on an island in the Hebrides - it all went pear shaped because of human nature. I think if you really wanted it to work you would have to carefully hand pick those you wanted to join you. If you do it, then good luck and I hope it works out well. The idea is a good one, not so sure about the practicality.

Answer 9

Sounds like something out of the movie The Beach!

I don't know the practicalities of setting up something like that, but what exactly is the difference between that an a cult? I know you say there is no religion, but someone would have to be in charge, and would any set-up like that really be self-sufficient? You would need a lot of money to start it up, and to maintain it.

Nice idea, though. We could all do with escaping the rat race sometimes!

Answer 10

Well, hon, that is GREAT. We all should lead a good life, but who's standard is good? Really? How would you measure what is good, becuase there are so many people's ideas of what is good. Secondly, tell me you have not sinned. If you have sinned, what makes you think God will smile on you because God says that He cannot look upon sin. What you need is someone to remove your sins, which is the blood of Jesus (accepting Jesus into your life as payment for your sin) After that, is NOT a reason to just sit back and say "Well I am going ot heaven anyway so I can act like I want" We are to strive to obey and do good deeds because of our faith.

Answer 11

It sounds sorta idealistic to me, it seems like you are a conformist. It is very difficult to create a place where people can follow 'their own religion' cos as you said, it all comes down to leading good life. Remember that what one considers good, the other can think immoral and simply bad. So , without organised religion, like in Roman Catholicism, where rules are pretty well established, it will be difficult to maintain this idealistic asylum for a longer time...