Does religion encumber Spiritual growth?

Question

Namaste

Peace and Love

I bow to All. What beautiful, honest answers!! Thank you!

Answer 1

No question about it.

Dogma will stop just about anything.

"A dogma will thrive in soil where the truth could not get root." ~Lemuel K. Washburn

Answer 2

All religions are good insomuch that they are able to assist the individual in their development where ever that maybe, as each must start where they can reach. People find themselves in a religion by the laws of their birth, so the religion itself is an important aspect of what they came into this life to work on. Religion becomes an hindrance because each of their strengths invokes their weakness, there is an ascending aspect and a descending aspect, as one can't exist with out the other, and also equally true for any religion to be valid and construction in ones life they must be polarized to it in the beginning, they will likely see it as the whole truth or in other words it will become their filter through which they view all things.

And this is where the greatest problems comes into play in opposition to spirituality, religion itself will eventually invoke complacency and after the person becomes so immersed in it and develop under it there comes a time when the religion itself as in how far it can take you loses its usefulness and basically flat lines you. A seeker is supposed to continue in movement, not resting until they they achieve what they sought after. Religions and isms are like rungs up a ladder, if you stay on one under the illusion that it is the top of the ladder they there is no further progression.

So yes Religion can come to a point where it hinders growth and invokes complacency, Atheism is in the same state as well, some are just as closed minded as a religious nut. One must become a religion within themselves (Know thy self).

Answer 3

Religions tend to be many things to different people. They often combine different traditions and many generations of experience. The older they are, the harder it is to say what they are they gather so many contradictions. So it becomes very difficult to reach any agreement about them, and very easy to offend. Often we're not even talking about the same things when we discuss a religious issue, there is so much that is undisclosed, like an iceberg under the water. In my experience they all teach exploration at some level and they all are dogmatic. But in my understanding, the prophets around whom the religions were founded often encouraged the sort of spiritual exploration and first hand experience with God, that you seek. It is the people around the prophet, and those who later manage the bureaucracy of the religion who place the limitations on followers. So what is the religion? What Christ actually taught, economically recorded in the Sermon on the Mount? Or what Paul determined it to be after he stopped torturing followers of Christ? What Buddha experienced when he sought truth through many different religious paths? Or what his followers distilled into myriad lists: 4 of this, 8 of that yet 12 of another and so on, that are still drilled into dulled minds today? Religion is many things and we must differentiate carefully if we want to communicate with each other, and debate our viewpoints. I think it's unlikely you can get a definitive answer as to whether a particular religion teaches spiritual exploration. It's more likely any given religion both teaches against it and for it if you look deeply enough.

Answer 4

I believe that most religions have a conventional was of thinking which hinders spiritual growth. However, most religions offer excellent ways to promote spiritual growth if you can over look the dogma.

Answer 5

Religion most definitely hinders spiritual growth. Religion is about following the group and doing what one has been 'commanded' to do.
Spiritual growth is about finding your own way.
Religion is slavery or servitude of a sort. Spiritual growth is the sure path to freedom.

Answer 6

I believe it does.
My opinion is that your spiritual beliefs and understandings, (faith might be the best word for this) are/is such a personal experience and really should relate to the individual. If you follow that opinion this means that beliefs and faith should be different for everyone and be as individual as all humans are.

When one puts a name on something, and creates a way of life and belief system around this name. Labeling things, making stories, rules, and a belief system that is supposed to relate to the masses they are distorting the whole idea of faith.

(Faith as defined: a personal belief and dedication)

I think when we get together as a group and attempt to speculate what "God" is, what the meaning of life is, what the higher power is, they miss the point of faith and belief to begin with.

We need less labels and more pure understanding and faith, be it in a God, or Gods, or Spirits, Nature, whatever you feel that inate understanding and pull towards.

Answer 7

It can, if you choose to get too wrap up in dogma or the letter of the law, & lose the spirit or heart of the message. We all have seen the ones whose Religion is no more than a tool for separating themselves from others, who use Religion as a weapon, or who just suffer from Religious ideation.

Answer 8

I think so. I think if there is any god, it would be within ourselves. So, I think sticking with dogma and blindly following a religion means inhibiting independent thinking. You lose the ability to think deeply and fully because you simply regurgitate what others have told you. Most Abrahamic religions call for you to give up common sense and independent thinking (I know people will disagree with me on this but they are also the ones who are brainwashed).

Answer 9

I believe you already knew the answer before you asked this question.
"Religion" is a word that brings forth feelings of what we have experienced in our lives in it's name. Some are positive, some are negative.
This is not a condesending answer but an observation of what happens when the voice of doubt is allowed to overide what you already feel to be your truth.

In love

Answer 10

It depends on how one defines "religion" and how one defines "Spiritual growth."

My personal experience with Protestant Christianity would force me to say YES! This is due to the fact that it puts drastic constrictions and limitations on the definition of "Spiritual growth" and on "acceptable methods."
.

Answer 11

No, at least not for me. I have grown and learned so much since I started going to church and fellowshipping with other believers.
I know there are those will say otherwise, and I think that some religions might do that, but I hate blanket statements, you know?

-B