I have been brought up to adhere to strong religious beliefs (I shall not state which), but now I question the origin and need of any religion!
Through my own experience and that of others all around the world I have come to a conclusion that religious beliefs are Humankinds way of dealing with questions that cannot ever be answered and proven without question.
Why do so many religions exist in our world with a similar principal?
Why do we follow a religious belief that has been modified by those in power over the centuries?
The principal for each religion or following in my experience is that of a 'Belief & Faith' system.
Why should some people have the good fortune of experiencing a so called 'miracle' that proves their beliefs when the rest of us will be damned just because we did not have any 'divine intervention'.
If there is a God, or Supreme Being, then he/she/it is unfair and self centred, and allows people to destroy each other and their precious lives!
2007-02-02 02:50:33 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well done for seeing this. You must have suffered somewhat to get to this point. Now you can really see whats happening. Start anew. No beliefs whatsoever. Start from there.
2007-02-02 03:28:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, it's a way of dealing with complex issues that used to have no proven explanation. While many of the issues dealt with by religion are murky abstracts with no real-world equivalent, many of the others (creation of life and the birth of the universe, for example) have since been dealt with in real-world terms, which is why the ongoing argument between the religious and the scientific seems to be flaring up a lot more lately. As far as I can see, religion gave us homophobia and street-corner nutcases, while science gave us electricity and the waffle iron. I'm with science.
2007-02-02 10:56:54 · answer #2 · answered by singlecell_amoeba 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
partly - prayer is known to calm people...
studies have shown that prayer has little or no effect...
you can check this link for further information.http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/health/31pray.html?ex=1170565200&en=0142d8c19ada74e3&ei=5070
However people pray hoping to gain something - if nothing - mental peace which is sooo important....
That is why when prayers arent fulfilled, the explanation given is two fold:
1. Either the prayer wasn't in accordance with god's will who knows what is best for you OR
2. it's one's 'karma' that has come in the way
Yes, i believe god exists - but i'm not sure as to what role he plays in my life...religious people would argue that it's simply my ignorance that makes me doubt god's power - i don't doubt his power or abilities - i just wonder whether his role is passive after creation...
I can say i'm more spiritual than religious
religion tries to explain everything based on a person's virtues and god's will which no one - not even the people who read/interpret the holy scriptures can comprehend. Yet, they say it with conviction as 'faith' plays a greater role in case of religion....
One can never prove how right or wrong the whole thing is. If someone is suffering, they say it's for the best and that it's god's will - well if that is the true case, how is someone being homeless or starving to the extent of dying (which is the case of many poor farmers in third world countries) the best thing for them?
in this case, the theory of 'karma' based on the past life thing just doesn't click for me as one never remembers this past life so one doesn't know what the penance is for....it's just a solace to assure the person that once the karmas are wiped out, life will improve for those people....something which may or may not happen in this life time, may be in the next....
I reiterate that i'm no sceptic - i'm a spiritual person who also believes very strongly in destiny and in the power of god - i just don't buy some of the explanations given by religion or believe in certain practices recommended in religious books.
Further more, religion plays a very important role in people's lives and it is a reality - people get married as per religious custom, funerals are conducted according to the same, people's conduct is also moulded according to the belief system they are brought up in.
People who have faith rely solely on it to give them strength and hope in the darkest moments of their lives. Studies have also proven that people who are more spiritual and more religious have a lower tendency to commit suicide.
Prayer reduces stress levels as it gives you a reason to believe that things will be better if you have faith.....
So if not its literal impact, the psychological impact of religion, prayer and faith cannot be undermined.
2007-02-02 11:04:58 · answer #3 · answered by honey007rmsas 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think so, in my experience we all want answers to the "big" questions, Why are we here? etc. That's the reason that "cults" target adolescents, those questions tend to be more pressing when one is younger.
If people find peace with their religion, then good on them. I almost wish I could swallow the rhetoric, However, I can't believe in a God (or Gods depending on the religion) that would allow such awful horrendous things to happen in the world. And as for the defence "Its all part of his/her plan", in my opinion that's just a cop out.
Like I said, I respect those who find peace in organised religion, but I cannot. I'll just try to be the best person I can!
2007-02-02 10:59:47 · answer #4 · answered by lululaluau 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We sadly do alot of that our own self without Gods intervention at all and many other ugly things besides thank you
2007-02-02 11:12:13 · answer #5 · answered by jeff 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋