I have traveled and/or lived in Christian, Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist countries. The thing that strikes me most is how religion tries (often successfully) to make people with their subsistence existence by promising them something better in the afterlife. Of course, this has the effect of propping and corrupt governments and subsistence economies.
2007-04-02 02:22:25 · 12 answers · asked by Brendan G 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, inevitably.
2007-04-02 02:27:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Religion does not devalue this life. Everyone needs to believe in something or someone just to make it throught. The only problem with religion is that too much religion is made by the heads and those who violate the rules that they themselves have sworn to follow. By that way it is devalued but not this life, it has devalued their life. The earth needs to believe in something in order to live life even after death. Doing good as they religion normally preaches makes our legacy live on and whether or not we have an afterlife we can be remembered in a good way in people's hearts and not in a bad way where they curse and give us bad names even after our time. Religion is not a bad thing. Though i myself would say that I have not fully followed my religion I chose what i do believe because I only make religion a guide to help me make life worth living and i do not follow it word by word because i know there are some who do and they are usually the ones who end up devalueing what they believe in.
2007-04-02 02:38:19 · answer #2 · answered by Babybop 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, very simple logic. You have an 16 year old who has finished his/her 12th grade and wants to drop out of school, saying she can see a bright future and maturity with just that level of education. You could then scare the crap out of him/her by telling her what will happen if she doesn't go to college. And you can paint great pictures of what will happen if he/she did.
Because we both know, he/she won't go to college or even believing in the concept of college unless you talk about something that's going to be something better than what she can see now.
Got it? Why would anyone pray if you tell them, their current life is perfect and nothing more to look for?
Yes, religions are meant to scare people and tell them their current life is pointless, unless they start living a religious life, and talk about how there is even a bigger future or distaster, which they can no way verify today. But it might be scary enough to get 5 year old to enter the church/temple/mosque.
2007-04-02 02:33:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
-I am not a believer, but I feel it is a mistake to look for failings of Religion that are not there.
-I do lack your experience in eastern countries, but I am willing to hazard a guess based on my personal knowledge. I have noticed that threw out history religion has tended to have a stabilizing effect on it's indigenous culture. That is to say its introduction may have disruptive consequences, but once in place it generally reinforces social stability.
-Of course, if it is a corrupt or oppressive culture, that stability would work to the detriment of the people in the culture. This would work just the same way and to the advantage of people in a less oppressive setting. I can not see the social stability caused by faith as a wrong, unto itself.
2007-04-02 02:42:57 · answer #4 · answered by Herodotus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion exists in heart, in the moral code, not in the words of priest of monk! Buddhism - Mahayana! Buddha's teaching is based on mercy and harmony. When you understand this basic concept, you will distinguish what is right and wrong in the words of the religious leader. Fault religion can only devalues the life of the ones who blindly trust in it.
2007-04-02 04:34:59 · answer #5 · answered by holyfire 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That has always been the way whether it was the Serfs of the middle ages or the peasants of a 20Th century Mexican ranchero. In many places it has actually become a sin to protest any order from the Church or the local employer.
I dislike the ideas of the Russian communists intensely, but one of their statements does ring true. This statement is, "Religion is the opiate of the masses."
2007-04-02 02:36:08 · answer #6 · answered by Terry 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
YES!
"religion is Spiritual fraud"; "religion is the Worse invention of humanity" - Jesus Christ, Buddha and any other being with Spiritual intelligence.
Without God, there is No Love; Without religion, there are No Wars!
Here's the Solution to prevail OVER religion this life:
Create a private, personal, direct, divine Relationship with Our Creator and save your Soul from religion.
Only with Our Creator's Love and Peace will we be Truly Free!
Love and Believe in Our Creator;
Love and Believe in Yourself.
2007-04-02 02:27:46 · answer #7 · answered by drwooguy 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
YES, that happens because of the support christianity must give to the "rulling order" - Capitalism, as a way of controling the masses, and obligating the people to be submissive to it´s masters, for that will result in future heaven. Sure thing. Check "Rerum Novarum"...
2007-04-02 02:46:57 · answer #8 · answered by Gabriel G 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Religion does not HAVE to devalue life. It depends on the person and what they do with their religion.
2007-04-02 02:29:18 · answer #9 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not all religions devalue life!!
2007-04-02 02:30:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋