Why Doesn't Religion Encourage People To Think For Themselves?

Question

It seems that you have this book and not much else is important, especially self-awareness, scientific research and open-mindedness.

To say the Bible is true but self-awareness can be deceptive is the most ridiculous thing I've heard recently. Weren't the writers of Biblical and other Christian texts self aware, did Jesus not say the Kingdom of God was within? You've got to be self-aware to find it I would have thought.

Faith in something that is not proven is foolish. Some religion is just about believing what was told and accepting it as gospel when religion is man-made and not divine. The Nicene Bishops decided what was to be in the Bible, not God.

Please explain the 'alternatives' to Christianity. Not going to Heaven? Sounds like posturing or positioning to me. Do it for the positives not to escape the so-called negatives. Your Hell & Heaven are both here & now so don't waste your life not living it to the fullest.

Some talk about God like God is human with feelings like people have. Sounds much like the Pagans worshipping Emporers in Rome in the first and earlier centuries to me.

Your's might not, mine does sounds rather childlike in it's delivery in my humble view.

Thanks, Sun. I was referring to the most common religions as I don't know much about the others but what I can say is that if a religion relies on a promise of better things in the afterlife then it is as negative as the rest.

The role of science is to explain natural phenomena not to disprove God. Science does explain some of the mysteries religions hold so dearly.

The role of science is to explain natural phenomena not to disprove God. Science does explain some of the mysteries religions hold so dearly.

If Paul said to study to know why you are Christian then why do so many Christians reject the Nag Hammadi texts eventhough science proves they were written within the New Testement timescale and that it was a group of sexist, homophobic males who decided what should be placed in the Bible and why are so many Christians ignorant of the history of the religion if this studying is the norm?

The question is not about how can one believe in God nor is religion the ultimate moral code. You have ethics and morality without religion. Remember the Crusades and the witch hunts done in the name of religion? Great morals, not.
Belief in supernatural beings is part of human nature and we use it to explain many mysteries such as what constituted that atom prior to the big bang and where it came from or who created it and so on.
That's fine but the belief in a system which was originally about self-awareness and understanding but is now about mind control through dogma, ritual and blind acceptance of ancient texts is beyond belief.

Thanks for the advice but I do think for myself and I know you cannot find God through a book written to supress the masses. Studying Christianity leads any right minded person to realise that the church does not want people to think for themselves so that the church continues to make the collection box each week claiming that the only way to God is through them.

That's deep, Swirly. Well put but a difficulty I have with Abrahamic religions is also about dogma, ritual and equal opportunities for men & women alike.

Do you need to belong to an organised religion to find God though, Hana?

Thanks for the time, Swirly. E-mail me.

Why do people think God just sits around setting tests for us like some sort of chess game or something similar to the Greek Gods mythology. Then after that getting jealous & vengeful? Sounds more human than anything else to me.

Answer 1

I used to think all religions teach us not to think for ourselves. I realised that actually society along with mass advertising and media influences convince us not to think for ourselves. All information is handed to us on a plate, we never have to find answers for ourselves. The best part is that most people don't realise any of this is happening because we're always told (in the media) to think for ourselves, to be independent "but why don't we make things easier and give you the information you need." I had to work so hard to look at other religions without that preconception that all religion is constricting. In the end i had to become muslim, not because i wanted to or that it felt natural. Contrary to most people it was the most un-natural feeling i'd ever felt. I just couldn't contradict anything that it taught, there would always be logic behind what seemed weird rituals. Now that i am muslim i have a drive for learning and understanding all things from science to sociology because i need to know that i am believing the right thing. For many many years muslim scholars were way ahead of the rest of the world when it came to science and new technology (we made the first university), becuase it is part of our religion to learn. Granted though, people get lazy when it comes to seeking knowledge.

Quote from Muhammed (pbuh) "To seek knowledge is a duty for every Muslim (male) and every Muslimah (female)."

ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION
I never wanted to be part of an organised religion. I found my belief in an unlimited force before i even began thinking of religion. I used to believe that nature was a supreme force until i tried to define nature. Nature doesn't define it's own limits, that's why you don't find trees 10 miles tall or animals that live forever. If everything in this universe is limited and it's true that something cannot come from nothing, then it can only come from an unlimited source. You cannot split the unlimited force or make it human like becuase then it becomes limited. It was because of the idea of the trinity and god as man that i discounted christianity and dismissed other religions as one and the same. But i still studied other religions (arrogantly at first, as if i knew better) but it kind of came to me that if i wanted medical answers i'd go to someone who claimed to know medicine, if i wanted building advice i'd go to a builder. So i started to look at answers to my questions in other religions that claimed to have answers. It wasn't like i became muslim overnight it's just that the more islam gave me answers i couldn't deny it became harder to ignore the fact i was becoming muslim. If i could come up with all the answers about this unlimited force then i would, but i'm only one person, one falible mind etc. There's nothing wrong with agreeing with something if you believe it to be 100% true, you'd be wrong not to, just for the sake of being different. Moreover with islam it's not about the people, there is no heirarchy, men and women are totally equal (women had the right to vote and learn and own property 1400 years ago, unlike anywhere else in the world). The book has never changed, there are no two versions of it, every punctuation mark is the same as it was when it was first written. The book is the corner stone because as much as people try to guide you in different directions or whatever, the book never changes so it cannot be subject to human error. I guess i read it first to deny it and point out its discrepencies but in the end i found nothing, i looked at other peoples attempts to find flaws in it but the arguements were so weak. The flaws you find in the muslim community is not error with Islam but error with people. But i guess you'd have to know Islam sincerely before you knew that hence all the bad press we get. If you look for God with the attitude that you should only find your own answers then you end up the same as someone born into their religion who never chooses to look outside it at the possibility that they may be wrong. Because there is no unique thought, there is no idea that has never been thought of before, so even if you come up with your own logical explanation for things, they're bound to fit in with someone elses. It's not that Islam is organised, it's that muslims all believe the same thing. The more people believe in it and study it, the less likely it is that all of you are wrong. That's my conclusion anyway.

Answer 2

There is so many people and organisations on this planet that try and control you and i hate that. if someone says to me you cant control your kids . i say i don't want to control them. I believe that deep down my kids are basically good and may need a little guidance but not control I am a person who knows their own mind. Ive read different disciplines of science and continue to do so. What i have learnt from this is that on the whole they understand nothing really. I am a Christian and this is a choice people make cos Gods way makes sense. If you live on this planet long enough you are inevitably going to be brain washed by something or some one. you may as well let it be the truth

Answer 3

christianity does. paul says to study and be able to explain why one is a christian. the bible celebrates scientific exploration/discoveries. that one reason we were put on this earth. to explore and discover the wonders that God has made. Thats why we see the world getting more and more complex the deeper we search. chrsitians are to be able to defend their religion against challenges and explore options that people come up with. Keep in mind, there is a difference between openmindedness and acceptance of all. I can keep an open mind about Saturn, but i'm still gonna believe it has rings, unless someone can prove to me it doesn't. Same thing with christianity for me. I can keep an open mind about God, but if someone can prove to me this world didn't come about by an intelligent being, than i'm gonna believe God did.

Answer 4

1. People want simple answers and the reality of the physical world is that most answers are complex
2. Science is hard to understand
3. People gain money and power from having people listen to them without question
4. Any reason for a community to form will be naturally selected over independent individuals. Religion helps people to interact and start off conversations which lead to business contacts, etc. Kind of like professional sports--it serves no functional purpose but there's a lot of money made.

Answer 5

The Bible encourages the pursuit of certainty. The regulation of non-contradiction states that 2 assertion which oppose one yet another can't the two be authentic. might you argue with that? " that's purely by way of Jesus which you will detect salvation" that's a real assertion that Jesus pronounced himself. "Atheists don't have morals as morals come from God" The Bible teaches that God gave people consciences and purely with the aid of fact God is definitely the arbiter of what constitutes morality does no longer mean that a individual has to have faith in God as a manner to make ethical judgements. "Atheists are being fooled by utilising devil" The Bible does teach in one passage that devil or "the god of this international" blinds the minds of unbelievers to the reality of the gospel message. that does no longer mean that atheists can't evaluate for themselves no depend if or no longer God exists and have faith that He would not all on their very own.

Answer 6

Religeons may not necessacarily encourage independent thought, however that does not mean those that are religeous can't think for themselves.

There are certanly some very religeous people who seem completely blinkered, but just being religeous dosen't make you so, or not.

I think what you really mean to ask, is how can people believe in God.

The whole point of religeon is to give people a moral code to live by and something to 'believe' in when they die (most people find it hard to accept there may be nothing).

is it better to believe a possible truth\lie where everyone goes to heaven and lives in bliss, or a possible truth\lie that there is nothing and you just rot.

I personally don't and can't believe, but wish I could

Answer 7

Because organised religion was created by man to control man!!!
Its easy to control someone who just believes every thing you say, than to control someone who is going to question you, and look further into the reason why you want them to do something.

Also people find comfort in these so called facts and rules just like a child would, with what there parents have to say and how they are brought up

Answer 8

You ASSUME way too much .. for someone who claims to be intelligent.

For starters: Generalisations such as yours are the language of a fool.
Many people with faith have indeed thought for themselves, and we have
weighed up the alternatives on offer, in choosing our preferred values.

To hide behind the "SCIENCE" word like you do is also utter foolishness.
You have no explanation for professors of science who have religious faith
nor can you explain why a brilliant test-pilot and astronaut, Neil Armstrong,
can be a man of science and a Christian.

The short answer is: You are a deluded fool.

Answer 9

You have God's word the Bible. There is God.

Perhaps you should start thinking for yourself.

How are you going to find God using His word?

Asking other people may not prove to be the best or most intelligent method.

Why don't you seek Him for yourself? If you use His word and the promises contained within, then how could you fail?

How often people are more guilty of the fault they criticise in others!

Answer 10

God gave us free will. We can choose what we do, it's just most Christians would choose to do things His way having tried the worldly way and discovering it does not work.

I came to know Jesus because I felt like a hole was inside of me. I just asked one day how can I fill this hole?

Jesus said, "Come to me all who are weary, and I will give you rest"

My Bible has great life advice in it. I literally would not be here without knowing my Saviour and my Redeemer lives.

God bless you

Answer 11

which did you mean by 'Religion'?
cz first of all:
Islamic teachings actually include the 'must' of having scientists in each group of people living together. It's like that: each village\ city \ group\... has to have include amongst its people at least one of each of the following:

a. Men of God "Sheikhs"
b. Doctors
c. Scientists and teachers in different fields
d. food suppliers like farmers or so..

So if NONE of the people are Scientists, all are sinful. If there is at least one, then it's fine.

Then if you have any idea about Islam and the Qur'an, you'd probably know that the first word of the Qur'an ever to be said to prophet Muhammad was "Iqraa" meaning [read]

Then there are hadiths " Speeches given by prophet Muhammad (pbuh)" too many of them encouraging people to seek knowledge, and not only about Religion, but about everything :

Of what I remember, Hadiths meaning :

"prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once said:{ Seeking knowledge is a must for every Muslim and Muslimah }(Men and Women)"

" prophet Muhammad(pbuh) once said: { No group of people gather to talk about something useful unless Angels surrounded them} "

" prophet Muhammed (pbuh) once said: {He who walks any road seeking some kind of knowledge, God equally eases his way to Heaven for doing this} "

" prohpet Muhammad (pbuh) once said: { Ask for knowledge even if in China} ( that was said to Arabians)"

And there's more that I either can't translate or remember lol
Thanks for reading, and sorry for the kinda crappy translation

=)