If religion is the best way.....?

Question

than why has there been more deaths in the name of religion than any other cause? Why do religious people believe so strongly that they are right? That kind of arrogance is one of the biggest problems with the world. Why is it that Christians have the loudest voice that there religion is the right one. Are they not able to realize that everyone else believes what they believe and dont really care what they have to say?

Answer 1

I find it funny actually. Western religions at least claim that the following are the absolute worst sins:

1.) Insubordiation - IE - Adam and Eve not following God's order to never eat of the tree of knowledge. The message is "do what the church says or go to hell" Why the 'church'? Because the 'church' has framed itself to be the arbiter of what the 'word' means.

2.) Pride and Arrogance - Lucifer being expelled for not bowing to the supremacy of Man. The message is "don't question the church or go to hell" Again, why the 'church'? Because the 'church' has framed itself to be the arbiter of what the 'word' means.

Nice way to frame things if you are a church leader that gets the tithe and unquestioned subordination isn't it?

Lets look at this for a moment: What purpose does getting people to think these are mortal sins serve? Is it to give a reason to follow God's will or is it a reason to follow the will of the church?

What ends up actually happening as a result of working to avoid mortal sin? Since the interpretation of 'the word' is open, doesn't that just beg for the creation of zealots that disagree on the finner points to the level that they would kill over these same finner points? (Crusades, Current Middle East Fundamentalism, etc.,...)

That said, is the problem God or is the problem Man and his, by definition, fallible, interpretation OF God?

Seems to me that if there is a God, its not him, but us that's the problem. We sit here and argue to the point of attacking nations and blowing ourselves up based on arguments like "Its red" "No, its NOT blue" No, Its red" "No, its NOT blue"

Can't both be true at the same time or is that too threatening? Or is everyone so blinded by dogma they don't notice? Do people not remember that Jesus was a Jew and that both Jesus and Moses are prophets according to Islam? I'm no theologian, but isn't it amazing that a normal, non-expert is the kind of person to point out these facts? I challenge any Christian or Muslim person to argue those points.

Its not religion, its man - man is just not capable of perfection and that's what causes all sorts of problems. Religion is just one. Others are politics, economics, international relations, racism, sexism, etc.,....

I'm sure to get all sorts of comments to the contrary, but in the end, they DO NOT do anything but support my personal opinion. Try as you might, but the only way for a zealot to convince me otherwise is to acknowledge my question rather than simply trying to shove theology down my throat. The burden of proof so to speak is on the zealot, not me - so, convince me. Appeal to my mind with logic and rational thought rather than threats of impending doom and an eternity in Hell if I don't repent my subjective sins.

I think its interesting to note that I've talked to and discussed this kind of thing with numerous pastors of numerous faiths. Its never been the pastors that have had trouble with my comments - they have always acknowledged my viewpoint and try to offer their own alternative to think about.

The zealots have never been the pastors, they have always been exactly that - reactionaries that refuse to fathom anything other than their own viewpoint.

If your viewpoint is such that its painful and threatening to even think of an alternative, how strong is your viewpoint in the first place?

And so in the name of an unquestioned viewpoint, we kill each other in the name of God - a God that universally in the west has said time and time again, first in the Torah, again in the Bible and yet again in the Koran that killing is BAD..... unless of course the its sanctioned by the synagogue, church or in recent times, mosque.

I have to admit my own bias, but this is what it looks like to me - man taking an idea and using it to manipulate mankind. Why do you think christianity came about? Because Judaism stopped being about God, but about other crap - That's why Jesus blew his top in the temple isn't it? Isn't that also why Gabriel dictated the Koran to Mohamed as well? God tried simply laying down the rules - Man didn't listen. He tried sending his son to appeal to our emotions and reason. Again, Man, didn't listen. He tried threats through Mohamed. Again, Man didn't listen.

Sounds exactly like a parent trying to raise an insolent child to be a good and decent adult don't you think? Basic rules, then appeals to emotion and reason, then threats.

What's next I wonder? In the Bible, according to Revelations - the answer to "what's next" is quite clear. "Behold!..... Come and see."

I'm open to discussion and I realize that my own view is just as clouded as everyone else's. However, I'm not trying to preach - I'm questioning and trying to understand. At least that is my intent - regardless if I've communicated it successfully or not Does anyone have an answer that will satisfy me in a rational way? Does anyone have an original, scripture based (ie - not contradictory to but actually based upon actual word found in the Torah, Bible or Koran) interpretation that will make me think in a new way? If so - I have been looking for that kind of discussion for a long time.

In the meantime, I find it fascinating that people wonder why I'm a Buddhist.

Answer 2

Religion includes four primary subjects, namely pious activities, economic development, satisfaction of the senses, and finally liberation from material bondage. Irreligious life is a barbarous condition. Indeed, human life begins when religion begins. Eating, sleeping, fearing, and mating are the four principles of animal life. These are common both to animals and to human beings. But religion is the extra function of the human being. Without religion, human life is no better than animal life. Therefore, in human societies there is some form of religion which aims at self-realization and which makes reference to man's eternal relationship with God.
Of course in the name of religion people are committing all kind of nonsenses due to their lusty desires.
Churches, mosques or temples are now practically vacant. Men are more interested in factories, shops, and cinemas than in religious places which were erected by their forefathers. This practically proves that religion is performed for some economic gains. Economic gains are needed for sense gratification.
In the material world, everyone is envious of everyone else, and therefore there is competition, even in religious groups.
A real religious person is free from desire of economic development, sense gratification, lusty desires and enviousness, his only interest is to love God and serve Him and give this knowledge to others.

Answer 3

This is a planet of suffering and trials. The people who incarnate to this world, are not even half way through evolving to a pure level. You can thus deduct why there is so much pain, death, and destruction on this planet.
As the planet evolves, along with those who incarnate upon it, peace will eventually be gained, and one religion/philosophy based in logic and science will be attained.
At that point the world will be a place for recuperation rather than struggle, a place for education, rather than ignorance.

Answer 4

faith:- faith is a equipment of ideals and worships which incorporates a code of ethics and a philosophy of existence. there are various faiths interior the international right this moment. a number of those religions are of modern-day commencing place yet maximum of them are very previous. in certainty all of us be responsive to from historic previous that guy has continually had a faith. Even the primitive adult men residing in caves or jungles had some variety of religion. The thoughts and rituals in guy's faith have continually developed and alter into greater rational and state-of-the-paintings as time went on. The primitive religions of the Cave guy and the Bush guy gave upward thrust to the sought after religions of the previous 3 thousand years. right this moment, the main significant religions of the international incorporate: international faith ----- Originated in Zoroastrianism ----- Iran Confucianism ----- China Hinduism ------ India Taoism ------ China Jainism ------ India Judaism ------ Neat East Christianity ------ close to East Islam ------ close to East Buddhism ------- India Shinto ------- Japan those are the great religions of the international which at the instant are not purely answerable for all our amassed wealth of understanding, philosophy, ethics, and social and ethical codes, yet have motivated the way of existence, the language and the ethical attitudes of merely approximately each guy or woman residing right this moment. difference between non secular and Non non secular Peoples. a million. The non secular human beings have faith in some thing at a similar time as the others do not. 2. The non secular human beings carry out particular acts of worship at a similar time as the others do not. 3. The non secular human beings look to maintain on with a undeniable code for his or her social and ethical behaviour at a similar time as the others do not. 4. The non secular human beings hit upon a purpose of existence and have a different philosophy in direction of it, at a similar time as the others do not.

Answer 5

Come out of the dark. Christians have been persecuted throughout history for their beliefs just like several other religions. I assume your question has something to do with the war in Iraq also. Tell us, do you think the Iraqi's allow christian soldiers to practice their faith in public over there? Do the homework. Was the vietnam war about religion? Was WW1 or WW2 about religion?

Answer 6

I think, all told, battles over land have caused more deaths than religion, though in some of those cases, religion was used as an excuse.

Also, please do not generalize. Not all Christians are so insistent upon converting others. I, for one, believe that every religion is equally correct--it's all interpretation.

Answer 7

Religion -good.
ORGANIZED RELIGION= BAAAAD.
The organization of religion has taken one of the most pure, loving religions (Christianity) and turned it into something some fear. (if you're not in church every time the door's open, YOU'RE GOIN TO HELL. if you don't convert now, YOU'RE GOING TO HELL!)
How do we Christians know, for 100% that we're right?
We don't.
God is God.
Yeah, he told people guidlines for living, but he's GOD, he can change his mind!
The only true "way" is to know that there is a God/higher power, and to hope like hell you're living the right way, and hope that he/she's a loving God. (which, I think, he/she is).
Sheena

Answer 8

If religion is the best way... to what?
Heaven? Hell?
There have been more deaths in its name because no other thing can move people so strongly... that's religion in itself. And I for one believe that religion(ONE religion, sorry) is the ONLY way.... to heaven, or course.

Answer 9

True that

Answer 10

Simply put, they are stupid.