I've noticed that many religions claim that their supposed Deity has a "divine plan" for humanity and the Universe. Concordantly, every action can then be blamed on the Deity's plan, thus rejecting responsibility over one's own actions.
Or one can take extreme action (eg: terrorism) and claim to do so under the name and glory of a God.
What do you think about Religion and Responsibility?
2007-03-26 13:02:16 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Religion affects the devotee's core beliefs in profound ways in accord with how the devotee internalizes the respective ideas and concepts or their religion. What you propose can happen with some people, but most healthy religious people have a system of belief that causes them to accept more responsibility for their actions, not less.
2007-03-26 13:09:21 · answer #1 · answered by ? 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
This is kind of funny because I've seen other questions in which people claim that Atheists use lack of religion to avoid responsibility.
I think that religion doesn't change one's overall acceptance of responsibility.
Reasons why religion leads to acceptance of responsibility: Many religions require that to be cleansed of one's sins, one must apoligize for them. This clearly requires acknowledgement of one's own misdeeds. In addition, religious people often are careful to behave properly so that they can receive the reward that their religion promises after living a moral life.
Reasons why religion leads to a lack of acceptance of responsibility: I've heard religious people saying that certain things happened because fate, destiny, God, or the devil was responsible, rather than admit that they or someone else was to blame.
Overall, these two ideas balance out.
Now for your idea about terrorism. Terrorism is not in any way the rejection of responsibility. It's the exact opposite. It is saying that someone is taking full responsibility and acting upon what one thinks God wants done. Remember, even though murder and terrorism are bad, terrorists genuinely believe that killing "infidels" is a good thing. Terrorists, though misguided, do take full responsibility for their actions. If you need proof, look at the news after a terrorist attack. Usually, there will be a report that some terrorist organization has taken credit for the attack.
In short, religion is does not cause a rejection of responsibility, nor does it lead to an increase in acknowledgement of responsibility.
2007-03-26 20:22:43 · answer #2 · answered by x 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would just like to say this is a very good question. I used to believe that we had a destiny. But then i thought about it. God or what ever Deity you have wants you to do good in life. You are responsible for your actions. However your deity if it is a true God will guide you and help along the path to reach that final goal. You receive this help by praying or meditaion or however you communicate with your god. When you dont pray you dont really understand everything. Your deity is always with you, sometimes you dont realise it. So i would say that, knowing the world through your eyes is a lot worse than knowing the world through God. In general through God you understand everything a lot better and your life will be much better off. Take it or leave it
2007-03-26 20:20:42 · answer #3 · answered by Joe M 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually it is just the opposite. God does have a plan. If you are ever in a church that adhears to the full message of the Bible and seeks to hear and obey God as a way of life, you would see some very exciting things happening, even situations working out that defy reason. It is when we don't fall in line with God's will that things fall apart. The secret is getting to know His will. To start with, you need to get to know Jesus and His Word.
All the problems we have in this world are because it is out of line with His will. You can't blame God for that. He has given each of us the freedom to choose; with Him or against Him. Sometimes our bad decisions hurt us. Sometimes they hurt others. Sometimes, maybe many, we never see just how many get hurt, or in what ways. The choices really are black or white. Those that try to think of grey areas to choose are just choosing not to see who they hurt and don't want to be responsible for their choices.
We only have ourselves to blame.
When we follow His will he deserves all the glory.
Terrorism is a very poor example for your point. If it is said that suicide is cowardly, terrorism is ten times more so. There is no contribution to a solution. They kill innocent people, by intention. They kill themselves so there is no accountability here. And their leaders deceive them into thinking they will earn their way to heaven if they die, which removes any accountability (trace) to the leaders after the deed.
2007-03-26 20:39:32 · answer #4 · answered by jb 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christianity is all about personal responsibility. We are not robots but given the choice of how we will act. The idea of God having a plan for us is not about passing responsibility off on God. It's about spending time learning what that plan is and choosing to follow it. Even the idea of hell is about personal accountability, not punishment.
By-the-way Christianity hold the same ideals as Judaism. We follow the same God. People in both areas make a mess of it though.
2007-03-26 20:21:37 · answer #5 · answered by kaehya2003 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My church doesn't teach that we can just shrug off human suffering as somebody else's problem. We are to feed the hungry and help the poor. Personally, I feel that my sense of responsibility has grown with my increased understanding of my religion and what it teaches. I do have a stake in what's happening in the world around me, and am urged to take action instead of remaining complacent. I have a responsibility to act in an ethical and humane manner.
2007-03-26 20:17:02 · answer #6 · answered by solarius 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, God has a divine plan for us all which is spreading the word of Jesus Christ to others. This is definitely a responsibility as the world is looking at us all the time to act in a Christ like manner. When we do make mistakes we have to admit it is us making the mistake as we are all sinners.
2007-03-26 20:57:31 · answer #7 · answered by G.W. loves winter! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religions do not make any such claim. Some who believe that they belong to a particular religion and understand that religion but are essentially jealous practice cruelty. They do not forsake responsibility : they take responsibiltu for defining God.
2007-03-26 20:09:32 · answer #8 · answered by sensekonomikx 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i don't know what kind of weird religion you're talking about, but Christ spoke often and passionately about responsibility, about right and wrong...there is a phrase you will see over and over in the gospels that Christ said...'go and sin no more'...so much for rejecting responsibility...this is one of the most common falsehoods about Christians and about Christianity...and it speaks volumes about the intellectually honesty of those who keep repeat it along with the old chestnut about 'more people killed in the name of God'...anyone who spent five minutes or more reading what Christ taught would have more sense than to believe that nonsense...i can't speak for other religions...their believers can speak for themselves...
2007-03-26 20:31:13 · answer #9 · answered by spike missing debra m 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is so true. Religion is the christians "god given right" to never be at fault. I made this connection many years ago.
Religion is humanity's way of AVOIDING responsibility. Its never their fault - it's always the devil's fault, or someone else's fault, or Gods fault because he did not answer a prayer.
Noone helps the poor anymore. Its either - Oh God will look after them, or Serves them right for being bad people.
I may not be teaching my son about any religions - but I sure am teaching him about being responsible for his OWN actions.
2007-03-26 20:16:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋