Religious devotion involves pushing certain thoughts aside in favor of adhereing to the norms of the particular religion.
Does such self-denial result in a reduced ability or tolerance for one's own independent thoughts?
Please explain your answer.
^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^
2007-02-01 03:03:27 · 11 answers · asked by NHBaritone 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You stop searching for answers once you think you have them all.
2007-02-01 03:06:37 · answer #1 · answered by Omni D 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so. When I began investigating my own beliefs, or I should say the beliefs of the church I was raised in, I really explored what I believed and what the different churchs/religions I was investigating believed. I used, at first, a book that contained write ups about all (or at least most) of the religions in the world from the adherents themselves. I was extremely open minded and when I came to a concept I hadn't thought about I thought about it and decided if it fit in with my beliefs.
When I found the church that I'm now a member of, one of the things that drew me to it was that they want you to find out for yourself if it's true. I've always been an independent thinker. I still am, even though the church I'm a member of is considered quite conservative.
So maybe for some people they can allow a particular religion take over their thinking and their responsibility, but for me it didn't happen that way. The more I looked into the religion, the more I found that it taught the same way and same things that I believe. It's a perfect fit. I've learned and grown in my knowledge and belief since joining, but when something doesn't quite make sense I investigate it further and pray about it and sooner or later I resolve my questions about it.
2007-02-01 11:32:46 · answer #2 · answered by Tonya in TX - Duck 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Think logically.
Adherence to any ideological dogma impedes independent thinking. And dogmas exist everywhere, in every field of thought.
The exception that proves the rule is that sometimes becoming encased in a dogma (religious, scientific, philosophical, political, etc) actually stimulates independent thought, because the pressure to conform causes an opposing pressure to follow one's own lines of thought. Without the opposition, the person may never have explored their own thinking, hypotheses or discoveries.
Look, I'm a dyed in the wool relativist. I believe (dirty lil' word, huh) that everything that has a weakness or flaw, also has a corresponding strength or advantage, and vice versa.
.
2007-02-01 11:11:28 · answer #3 · answered by cyclgrrl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Does accepting a certain scientific theory impede independent thoughts? One could make the argument that presupposing that there is a naturalistic explanation for everything closes one's mind to the possibility of there being other types of existence. One cannot talk about Noah's ark or a global flood being a miracle here on Y!A without a load of people immediately ridiculing you for being "childish" or an immature believer in "fairy tales".
I would say that buying into any system of though tends to close one's mind to other possibilities by necessity, but the human mind seems to reject ambiguity, and one has to believe something about the fundenmental nature of reality in order to function in the world, so there you go.
2007-02-01 11:13:32 · answer #4 · answered by Randy G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most religions encourage one to recite pat answers to questions about origins, morality, ethics, and history. The elements of the system are expected to be believed as true rather than being questioned or scrutinized.
The exception to this seems to be some of the Neo-Pagan religion where each adherent is expected to find their own path.
2007-02-01 11:07:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Depends upon the Religion and the religious teacher you place yourself under.
So ultimately YOU choose to shut your own mind your religion is only one of many things that can sway your choice
PS TRiforce She needs to call the Police. This does not represent the Protestant church.
2007-02-01 11:07:18 · answer #6 · answered by williamzo 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Yes, literally. My grilfriend is recovering from Protestant church. It supported this 25 year old guy coming in and having his way with her (she was 16 at the time) whenever he wanted and the foster parents didn't do anything to stop it. In fact, they let her keep $30 from a $400 check from her job, and the foster parents kept the rest of it.
2007-02-01 11:06:42 · answer #7 · answered by Cold Fart 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yes, because if you think rationally and freely, you will notice how "bogus" the religion is.
2007-02-01 11:05:32 · answer #8 · answered by Zhukov 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Only a FEW religions.
2007-02-01 11:05:35 · answer #9 · answered by whynotaskdon 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sometimes yes and sometimes no.
Thank God for diversity!
2007-02-01 11:07:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋