Is it the Message or is it how the clergy and the people interpret the Message? What is wrong with recommending that people observe the Golden Rule, refrain from adultery, theft, lying etc?
Thats basically the Message from each of them.
2006-12-28 05:18:57 · 20 answers · asked by regmor12 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Those are small parts of the message. The message also includes instructions to kill nonbelievers and people who participate in certain behaviors.
2006-12-28 05:21:07 · answer #1 · answered by ÜFÖ 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Obviously it’s better to live by the Golden Rule than not to live by it. But that’s just part of the answer. You are still missing out on so much of value if you go through life without God’s guidance and comfort.
I had to learn this the hard way. I used to believe that the Golden Rule was enough.
As to what causes the problems in religion? When you put all your trust in another person or an institution you are giving it power than can corrupt. Good churches and pastors certainly should be valued but we are supposed to worship God, not the church or preacher.
The lesson we should take from the history of religion is that we must not place too much power in the hands of any single person or institution. We must keep God first, not the church. The messenger should never overpower the message.
2006-12-28 13:39:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"What is wrong with recommending that people observe the Golden Rule, refrain from adultery, theft, lying etc?"
There is absolutely nothing wrong with that as long as it is truly a "recommendation" or some sage "advice." That leaves the individual open to either take it or leave it.
The real trouble with religion springs from the idea that a specific text is the word of god above all others. This action, this belief system, negates the divine gift we all carry with us. It imagines that we are somehow separate from this divine force when in fact we carry that force with us at all times. It is our consciousness. Our very being. It is the ultimate creative force, and unfortunately, this attitude of "my beliefs are correct and yours are wrong" puts the focus of the divine squarely outside of ourselves. It leaves people wandering in the dark, desperately looking outward for some proof of divine existence rather than inward, where it lives. Add to that the idea of reward or punishment and you have a disastrous recipe for genocide between people of different beliefs.
Everything comes from within. Including reality. The trouble with most book religions is that they do not recognize this gift. Instead, they want to keep the focus on the exterior so they will continue to have control and power. It is only through this book that you will find god. Sadly, all one needs to do is look within.
2006-12-28 13:35:03 · answer #3 · answered by gjstoryteller 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is the message, but religion is a male dominated organization, so someone always tries to one up the other. And the cycle is never ending...
In this day and age, the golden rule, is not the same as it should be. People forget to judge not , lest ye be judged....If people would follow at least half of what the "good book" preaches, the world might be a little safer to live in.
2006-12-28 13:25:05 · answer #4 · answered by Bevin M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a very deep question...
If you are talking Christianity I would say that it is not the Message but the interpretation of it. You have several ministers and theologians that way God meant this, another group that says He meant that, and then another group that says the other two groups are wrong. The Golden Rule is good but you also need to accept Christ in your life. (Note: I say this because 1. I am a Christian, and 2. the 'Golden Rule' came from the New Testament)
There are a lot of unsaved people that observe the Golden Rule but will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven because they didn't accept Christ in their lives. The bible (the Message) does not teach to kill, chastise, or condemn unbelievers. True and mature Christians know they are to spread knowledge about Christ and His ministry, not force people to believe. We are to love everyone. The only one who has the right to smite id God...
2006-12-28 13:33:44 · answer #5 · answered by nacobelove 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Radicals!!!
People who get delusions of grandeur & believe "THEY" are the chosen ones that God speaks directly to & that they are perfect & can do no wrong. When religion cannot answer all of our questions & neither can the preachers, pastors, etc.
When ministers are more concerned with living in big fancy houses, driving big fancy cars, wearing designer clothes & NOT PRACTICING WHAT THEY PREACH!!!!
When ministers point fingers & then they are doing what they preach against.
I do NOT believe in organized religion & I will NOT go to church to judged by people who "think" they are better than me. I will NOT go to church & be guilted into paying to be there.
I believe in God & I know that I can pray at home & he still listens. I do NOT have to be in church with people who are only there because they think they will get points for being there. I don't need or have to go to church to have faith.
Too many wars have been faught & too many people have died in the name of religion. I believe the way I want to & it does NOT make me a bad person, it makes me a BETTER person....
2006-12-28 13:32:23 · answer #6 · answered by More Lies & More Smoke Screens 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The message they put out is well-intended. The path they take to put out that story is highly the opposite of what should be done. When they say "don't do this" to an Atheists or whoever, they expect people to convert just because they say so.
2006-12-28 13:31:17 · answer #7 · answered by Cold Fart 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not only the fact that it instructs people to kill for god, it teaches people to close their minds and never question anything because learning is only for God. It teaches that people must subjugate their women, kill anyone who disagrees with you or your interpretation of God, you must sacrifice everything for other people, that to die for your god is the greatest sacrifice (especially if you kill not believers ing the process). The list is endless. Society wouldn't function of we got our morals from the Bible. The Golden Rule isn't from the Bible. Religious Morality is based on Punishment and Reward. As long as people live in fear of God their entire lives and hope they never do anything wrong, then they will be rewarded, and God will forgive you for everything except if you question the holy Spirit. The biggest sin in religion is thinking for yourself. And i say that's a load of crap.
2006-12-28 13:33:53 · answer #8 · answered by Warp 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, that's not the ENTIRE message.
There's a lot more in there, which basically deals with killing and/or shunning anyone that's not a member of the club.
That's the trouble with religion. Take those parts out, and no one would have a problem with them.
2006-12-28 13:23:22 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your message is good..
I think the negative thinking of a person causes the trouble with religion...
2006-12-28 13:46:12 · answer #10 · answered by Dr. Aabroo Aman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋