Can deeply religious people think for themselves?

Question

It seems to me that most relious people blindly obey their sacred texts (bible, Torah, Koran) without regard to the current times or how they may actually feel about an issue. Do you christians really believe in an eye for an eye? If not, would you say the bible is not true?

Answer 1

yes

Answer 2

I think the correct answer is no, and yes.
They obviously have given up some personal thinking, at least some decision making, over to another entity.
I suppose it could be said that they made the decision to stop thinking about some things by independent thought, but individual circumstances could reveal the likelyhood of that claim. That might be a chicken and egg question.
The net result is that they do not do independent thinking on certain issues.

However, does this not mean they are incapable of independent thinking on other issues.

Your question seems directed at fundamentalists of all sorts, who take the most rigid interpretation of whatever texts they use. They are not the majority, although they seem to make noise out of proportion to their numbers, and so may appear to dominate things.

I suspect that the majority of people take the best, and leave the rest.

Answer 3

Indeed, deeply religious people can think for themselves... C. S. Lewis was one great example. The truth is, though, that some people use religion as an excuse to not think for themselves. This isn't the fault of the religion, it is the fault of the person who is too intellectually lazy to examine their own beliefs.

In order to understand what Christians believe about things like "an eye for an eye," you need an understanding of systematic theology. It is true that an eye for an eye would be just; that's rather hard to argue against. However, this law (and many others) existed to show that there is a Creator who is just, and furthermore, that He is the one who is to judge humanity ("'Vengeance is mine, I will repay' says the Lord"), not man. Therefore it is our job to "turn the other cheek," despite what we know would be just; for we are not called to be vigilantes. We are to treat others justly, and turn the other cheek when we are treated unjustly.

There's so much more to explain, obviously, but I'm afraid the discussion of Christian theology and the call for Christians to live righteous lives is well beyond the scope of Yahoo! Answers...

Answer 4

This will quickly become a hated question among those that are deeply religious, lol. But in my opinion, I find that the most religious people are the most close-minded. Now that is just my OBSERVATION, not fact.

I do believe, however, that people need to feel there is something on a much higher plane of existence than thier own. Otherwise they would feel lost and unguided in life. I think that religions were created to help calm those people down and give them something to look up to.

But again, I could just as easily be torn down about this by an angered fanatic. LOL.

Answer 5

The Holy Bible is 100% truth and the Word of God.

What makes you believe we (Christians) do not think for ourselves? What does it matter about "current times?"

The Holy Bible applies today in our lives as much as it applied when it was written. Holiness and Holy principles don't change, just because someone wants to be self-centered, self-absorbed and selfish.

An eye for an eye is in the Old Testament. The O/T is the law. We as Christians live under grace in the New Testament. That doesn't mean we can't or don't apply the principles of the O/T, it just means that we live under the grace of Jesus Christ.

Answer 6

"Eye for an eye" is Old Testament. New Testament is "turn the other cheek." Of course religious people think for themselves. You think just because the Bible says to not do something it's still not sometimes a struggle to obey? You don't think we weigh the options of everything we do like other people? Faith and beliefs can change over time - don't insult my intelligence or reasoning just because I believe in God.

Answer 7

Yes, of course deeply religious people can think for themselves. You have taken a cross section and seem to think they can only quote. Religion to be truly practiced has to be breathed and lived.

Christians do not believe in an eye for an eye. Find me the new testement passage where it says that Christians (those who try to be Christ like, hence the name) need to take an eye for an eye.
I believe you are misquoting or not quoting a full passage, peace.

Answer 8

I would love to give you a sarcastic answer like "No I can't think for myself, someone else read your question, and told me what buttons to push to reply....."

The main point I'd like to address with you is bible prophecy. It is all about "current times".

Are you not the least bit interested in what the bible has to say about what will happen in the future?

What about the prophecy that has been fulfilled already and the fact that to date all has been 100 % accurate? If you came across a book like that wouldn't you take it seriously?

Can non-believers keep turning a blind eye to the truth?

I challenge you to study the prophecies in the bible and then get back to us with your questions.

Answer 9

Can we think for our selves? No, actually I check into Yahoo Answers regularly to know what I should be thinking. lol
The eye for an eye was not something God demanded we do. It was rather a limit. For instance there was a tendency for wanting to cut someone's arm off if he broke your finger! God said: "No, the penalty must be in proportion to the crime".
It is really a description of justice. But later in the Old Testament we read about mercy. In fact I think there is more about mercy than about law.
You've got to read these things in the context of the big picture.

Answer 10

Yes we can which is why so many of our views are unpopular. The world wants God to be in their image but for true humility you have to submit your will to His. As to the eye for an eye, I think that I'm more into turning my cheek although it is proving difficult and sometimes I still want to slap someone ect.. but He is still fixing me and trying to make me more like Him. I'm sure He must spend a lot of time and energy changing me. No the Bible is true but it is much easier to look to New Testament for how God lived while He was here. He was much kinder than His legalistic followers of that day and this. What I mean is I believe He gave the law for a yardstick to measure ourselves not everyone else. I barely in control of me and don't have time to worry about what my neighbor does as long as not hurting me or mine.
I would like to be able to help others draw closer to God or just accept His existance and try and get to know Him. But if someone is resistant to it the bible says to dust off shoes and go on. God does not want His crammed down peoples throats. He wants us to be open to talking with people but not militaristic about it.
I better way would be to say that I don't follow God blindly but I do have this love affair (non-sexual) with Him and pleasing Him pleases me. I have more happiness and peace in obedience to Him, but I'm still a sinning human and I always will be as long as on the earth I guess but now I try to make decisions with Him in mind but I still don't always choose the way that He would have even then.

Answer 11

That's exactly why I chose the religion I'm in... I thought about it.

I still think of it... that's what makes me obey the rules, what is in the holy book is always for my benefit.

It's like obeying the traffic lights so that I won't get into a car accident. It's that simple, the more you think... the better person you become.


Peace.