They seem to be saying the path to God is only available through them.
2006-12-17 07:16:04 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
They're not in business to put themselves out of business.
Religion is sometimes referred to as the 2nd oldest profession: charging for doing for others that which they should do for themselves.
2006-12-17 07:20:49 · answer #1 · answered by comicards 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You've answered your own question, therefore your question is rhetorical.
Religions by definition require Faith, This concept implies a 'belief' in a spoken rather than a self evident Truth. Religions use Deity worship as the only path to their heaven, rather than encouraging meditative techniques to free the mind of distraction and create an atmosphere where positive thought and conscious concentration will purposefully provide a person with self awareness as a pathway to see the truth rather than percieve it through clouded and mystical Dogma.
It follows that this self awareness will reveal the true nature of ones existence through contemplation of such issues as why do I get angry, or why do I need to hurt others, or how do I stop craving self serving sensation.
It further follows that if such contemplation were allowed and encouraged then religions would no longer be able to survive, therefore contemplation of this question reveals the true nature of organised religion, that is it is self serving and therefore not worthy of our effort.
Whereas meditation and conscious effort in contemplation of the various natures of the human condition makes effort in this regard logical and in my mind necessary if human beings are to evolve fully and become more reasonably tolerant of each other in this existence.
2006-12-17 15:38:03 · answer #2 · answered by Gaz 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most religions cannot survive if intelligent people start thinking for themselves, especially open-mindedly and critically. They'd lose control and then lose money, etc.
They are saying that everything is only available through such leaders to keep control... except the Buddha, who told us never to take his word for anything but to test his logic, teachings and so forth like gold, thinking and meditating on it and come to the same conclusions he had.
_()_
2006-12-17 15:29:50 · answer #3 · answered by vinslave 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The darkness seeks to destroy man and rule in his place.
2006-12-17 15:23:22 · answer #4 · answered by guidedlight 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they don't want you to question anything. It means they lose power over you.
2006-12-17 15:21:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, that is what they are saying.
2006-12-17 15:19:31 · answer #6 · answered by a_delphic_oracle 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋