I met a nice lady tonight who tried to tell us a bit more about her religion. I tried to push forward the following argument, that no matter what your set of beliefs is (whether Jesus was human, divine, in between, etc.) the main aim of religion is to encourage you to become the best person you can be, not to hurt those around, and, as such, be a good member of society. I was shocked by her relentless argument that, unless I shared HER set of beliefs, I would be "condemned". What do YOU think? Is an aboriginal person doomed because they don't share "the methodology", her interpretation of "the handbook"? What is the main aim of religion? To be a good person or to obey a set of rules and ideas? Is God the same (at the core of every religion)? Are religions like programming languages or (neck) ties, everyone chooses the best for his/her case? Please include your denomination in your answer, to get an insight to your background. I'd love to know what YOU think. Thanks a lot. =)
2007-01-30 11:06:24 · 9 answers · asked by Devine L 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The main focus of at least the Christian faith is to strive to be like Christ. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Also, with the Christian faith is the realization that you can't be perfect...and God's grace is what gets you into heaven...You can't earn it by good deeds.
I by the way am a non denominational christian, though I have attended anglican, baptist, pentecostal, alliance churches on a regular basis. Also a youth pastor.
2007-01-30 11:14:03 · answer #1 · answered by James B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I am Christian, but I'll agree that she should not say you were "condemned" by no means. She has no say in your existance whatsoever. Everyone, or maybe just people like me have a different interpretation of the "handbook". I can only trust in how I see it and how it affects my life. The way someone else sees it sometimes is too confusing and I'm not sure if they are even on the right page. It may be them, or may be me, but unless God decides to show me a different way of thinking, i'll keep what I have.
On religion's aim, I think religion itself is stupid. I think of it more as a spiritual growth toward the kind of person you would most want to be. A guidance system to work out your own existance.
When someone pushes thier religion or interpretations on anyone else, I would consider it thoughtless and judgmental. It's okay to talk about it, but not to force the issue onto them. Everyone was made different and so they should have thier differences without being coerced or judged by anyone else.
Though I do find it appropriate to always keep an open mind involving all opinions or thoughts, you may just ind something to help yourself out.
2007-01-30 19:24:39 · answer #2 · answered by Shiverbane 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Gospel is not a self-help tool for becoming the person youve always wanted to be. The Gospel is an immutable set of truths including that Jesus is the son of God and died for our sins. Without those set of truths, the Gospel is watered down into something that distorts the truth and provides no insight into who God is nor how to be saved.
So religion (belief in 1 god or many) is the starting point to believe in what God has done for humanity and how he has revealed himself (in Jesus). But the church (which is probably more of what you are talking about) is mankinds and Jesus' effort to reach the lost by preaching the Gospel. Becoming a better person is a good side-effect of faith but that is not the goal of the Gospel.
I am a member of Church of Christ.
2007-01-30 19:26:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
She's approaching the argument from a narrow perspective. You can't argue with a narrow-minded person whose beliefs are so narrow in view. She's approaching her argument from ego and arrogance, and in order to argue with someone you have to be able to agree on some simple basic points before you being debate.
Your take on it is more open-minded and logical, in my opinion, since that is usually the basic tenets of most religions... altruism, self-improvement, wisdom etc. Sometimes people need guidelines to discern what causes harm and what doesn't and some don't... people's psychological needs and education, upbringing and such are what determine which religion is best for them.
Next time just remember if they don't track along with a few points of basic agreement, you're wasting your time in debate.
Tibetan Buddhist (Gelugpa lineage)
_()_
2007-01-30 19:17:55 · answer #4 · answered by vinslave 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a combination. The "rules" are there to help you become "the best person you can be"...
It's the old case of "Faith vs. Works". As the great C.S. Lewis said: "Arguing about which is more important, your faith or your works...is like asking which blade is more important in a pair of scissors."
2007-01-30 19:14:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is about doing what God and Christ taught, NOT what another human being tells you, esp. if they are saying that their religion in the only religion that will enter the Kingdom of God.
and all religions say in one form or another that we are to love one another and harm no one. the greatest gift that we have is LOVE and we are to love one another as we do ourselves.
my religious belief is Christian/Universal/Celtic Druid.
don't let fanatics stop you or scare you away from how you believe. you ARE on the right path.
Many Blessings!
2007-01-30 19:33:17 · answer #6 · answered by polgara922 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Blasphemy!
2007-01-30 19:13:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
For me its really both, being the best person I can be, but above that obeying my Gods commandments.
2007-01-30 19:12:47 · answer #8 · answered by Spike 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its about obeying rules
2007-01-30 19:12:08 · answer #9 · answered by andrew w 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋