Do religious ppl place strong emphasis in cultivating their heart...?

Question

or do they merely study religious verses and texts on a theoretical level and argue using these text with people from another religion?

Isnt the purpose (or essence) of a religion to cultivate a person's nature (from bad to good, from good to better?)
I do feel puzzled cos i see many ppl getting fierce when certain ideologies dont agree with what they were preached... are these ppl supposed to feel angry? Isnt anger an attachment that blinds a person's wisdom?

So what do u think? Shd religious ppl argue endlessly about theories or practice the essence of the teaching?

Answer 1

most people are born into a religion. they are made to follow the customs and teachings of that religion and most of these people don't think deeply other than just follow the religious practices. a religion itself is created by the people who don't really understand the essence of the teachings of the teacher. the great teachers taught the people to become universal and open minded. but most of the people are so narrow minded that they only look at the teacher and not the teachings. these people make a religion in the name of the teacher. that is how a religion is formed. they are doing just the opposite of what the teacher has taught them to do. in fact all the great teachers have taught the people the same thing but in different ways. the person who understand the teachings will not follow any religion. if u want to change for the better just leave the religion and follow the teachings.

Answer 2

Anger is not always a bad thing. However, some people don't use it appropriately, and some people do get offended when they are disagreed with. Here's something most non-Christians (probably no few Christians as well) don't seem to understand: When we become Christians, God doesn't wave some magic fairy wand and make us all perfect and our emotions all perfect and calm. We are still imperfect, still have all of our human passions and imperfections. It takes time to develop character and patience and graciousness. When people (Christian or non) argue angrily, it is not always because oft he issue at hand, it is often some undealt-with pain that causes the person to be defensive or angry.

As far as debating theology and the Bible; I think that, if done properly, it can bring people together, instead of seperating them, and can be completely appropriate in done in the right spirit. We are created to live in community, and we need each other's perspective on things is we are to have a whole or complete picture of God and His Word.

Answer 3

The answer to this question is not quite so simple as it would seem.

Many non-religious people show no respect at all for the faith of religious people, and from their point of view may well think, "Why should we? We don't believe anything that religious people believe."

And it is easy to find religious people showing no respect for the wishes of non-religious people to be left alone with their beliefs (or an apparent lack of beliefs) and not be targeted continuously by evangelical believers trying to convert them.

It seems to me that religious people arguing endlessly on Yahoo! Answers about belief and non-belief are most likely not spending much time practicing the essence of their religion, whether it is Islam, Christianity, or one of many other world religions.

I like to think there are Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, and so forth getting on with their lives in quiet contemplation, with love and respect for other people in their hearts. These believers have better things to do than spend their lives arguing and complaining, and they can see the hotheads and loudmouths (religious and non-religious) for what they really are.

Answer 4

You are completely correct with pretty much everything you just said (and I am religious). Many religious people today don't do what they should. They act as if they are perfect and as if everyone else is below them. Sometimes the point is missed of trying to get your own beliefs and heart pure first BEFORE trying to get others.

It seems very hypocritical to me when people have tons of problems in their own life and with their priorities and they will sit and argue with someone about their beliefs when they should actually be using that time to fix their life instead of wasting it on arguing with someone who more then likely won't change their beliefs.

It also irritates me how naive, rude, stuck up, arrogant, and down right stupid some religious people are because they give us all a bad name. I don't want to be known for the things you just described above.

And to answer your last question. .No religious people shouldn't argue endlessly about theories. Instead, we should be practicing what we teach.

Answer 5

I so agree with you!!! 100%!!! The basic tenant of all religions is to "love your brother", and "do unto others" but all over the world we see pain and suffering caused by politics and religion. If people really lived what they preached instead of making judgements on others based on some text written a millennia ago. This would be a better planet.

Answer 6

True. I agreed with sybil. There are too many formalities in religions. And yes, it seems to be getting sensitive an issue, especially by stubborn or 'die-hard' religious people who arent that broad-minded and tolerant of other teachings.

Most of the time, a lot of them are only 'scratching the surface' of the Truth when they argue and counter-argue with one another.... and fail to realize that they are missing out the true significance of 'self-cultivation' or 'self improvement'.

Answer 7

The whole point of becoming a True Christian is to "put on the new personality" that Paul talked about- cultivating the "fruits of the spirit" and displaying them in our lives: love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self control. (Galatians)

If we have truly reconditioned our hearts and minds then we will be loving, peaceable people with faith and the accurate knowledge necessary for salvation. It will burn in our hearts and move us to share it with others.

Knowledge is essential, but it is the fruit that the knowledge yields that makes the changes evident in our lives. We are by no means perfect, since "all fall short of the glory of God," but we make a concerted effort to live our lives according to God's righteous standards as well as we possibly can.

Answer 8

It's alternately amusing and nauseating to watch "Christians" rip each other apart over the doctrine of the Trinity, or some other bit of completely irrelevant and meaningless theology. It shows that neither side of the argument has anything but the most superficial grasp of his religion. They're mistaking symbols for the things they're supposed to represent.

Answer 9

umm...

Philip. 2:14-16 (NLT)
In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing, [15] so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them. [16] Hold tightly to the word of life, so that when Christ returns, I will be proud that I did not lose the race and that my work was not useless.

COMMENTARY
"Why are complaining and arguing so harmful? If all that people know about a church is that its members constantly argue, complain, and gossip, they get a false impression of Christ and the gospel. Belief in Christ should unite those who trust him. If your church is always complaining and arguing, it lacks the unifying power of Jesus Christ. Stop arguing with other Christians or complaining about people and conditions within the church and let the world see Christ."

Answer 10

Scripture tells us to seek wisdom as treasure and knowledge begins with a fear of the Lord. (Proverbs 1) That in mind, you can see that there is a STRONG emphasis in the cultivating of the heart before ANYTHING else.

The study and adherance of God's interpretation of His own Word should be the thing to influence your marriage, parenting, career and all other areas of our life. How can we do that if we do not cultivate our hearts? I always do those things of my father.