I was a Christian for 25 years. I am now a Pantheistic Pagan. I searched my soul and found many things about Christianity that left me feeling empty and many unanswered questions. But I also found beauty in all religions I studied, including Christianity.
My question is, and as I said I know I'm beating a dead horse and I'm sure its been answered thousands of times here in R&S, but I'm going to ask it again.
It is my opinion that there are many paths that lead to the Divine (God, Allah, Muhammed, insert Deity). There are many who agree with my opinion. This being said, why does individual beliefs about God(s) continue to cause such hate, war and death? In a day and age filled with such contempt for our fellow man, if what I believe causes no harm (the fundemental base for Pagans) what does it matter what I believe, and why do others continue the persecution of religious differences. Aren't we trying to create a better legacy for our children?!
2007-09-10 01:57:07 · 22 answers · asked by swee_pea630 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
rumbler_12; I wish I could have had a minister of your line of thinking earlier in my life. It is enlightening to see minister who is willing to accept that THERE ARE other truths and paths. There are other ways to reach the Divine, and WE (religious doctrine) DO NOT have all the answers!
I am also very impressed with many of the other answers so far. This will be a very difficult decision to make.
2007-09-10 11:30:36 · update #1
It isn't the existence of separate traditions which is the cause of this hatred but our blindness to the existence of a deeper truth beneath them all.
All religions and traditions stem from the same place - the deep inner spirituality of the human soul. But because of the historic isolation of our different cultures each civilisation understood the revelation in a subtly different way, evolving different ways, names and symbols to understand the Mystery.
Now historically there is no isolation. Where once it was possible to be a Hindu or Christian or Daoist or Muslim without ever encountering another way of looking at things now it is impossible to avoid it. But the human mind is usually hotwired to stay with the familiar and be suspicious of what is not us. People of real vision and understanding leap boundaries, but too many people need those boundaries to keep them feeling secure. Think how frightened and hostile people are to people who speak a different language or have different colour skin. Well its the same with religions. Too many people are afraid of what they don't understand.
But we have to evolve out of this tribal way of thinking. THere is a Truth with underlies all religions & beliefs and which also transcends them. We are at a historic moment in which we can either chose to step forward, to look at each others' ways and say 'How can yours inform mine? How can I enhance my understanding through yours and vice versa? How can we step forward into a new future which brings us all together?' or we can continue to go down the road of 'If I'm right you must be wrong' and remain in a state of conflict and hatred...
Jiddu Krishnamurti said 'Truth is a pathless way'. Imagine a mountain with different approaches. Each religion approaches that mountain from a different angle and so sees a different facet of the mountain.
But it is still the same mountain, and we will all meet at the summit.
But we won't get there, any of us, if we spend our time fighting the other climbers...
2007-09-10 04:02:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You either have never understood this or conviently forget...paganism wasn't always the candle chanting daisy chain making peaceful free love religion that it is today. Pagan religion was the first religion on the planet and its practices are what compelled God to fight fire with fire. You can't find God by searching your own soul. You sure as heck can't find gods. At least not any with any real power. Any true believer in Christ would not harbor hate, war and cause death because that was not Jesus message or purpose...yet, He knew that all of this was coming. He also knows, because He is the One True God, that there will be no legacy for our children except His as He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. This world will pass away. It doesn't matter what you believe..it only matters what is true. Christianity isn't about just worshipping and causing "no harm'...its about active, responsible love...the ecclesia...the purpose..the church of Christ if you will is the only pure religion...
James 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
If there is a faith system on the planet that is not doing this...then they are a false religion with false doctrine following the traditions and beliefs of man. There is no power, no hope and no real love in them..
The empty feeling and unanswered questions...that's called doubt and every Christian has it...faith comes only One Way...by hearing the Word of God. That is the lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path...Love in Christ, ~J~
2007-09-10 09:19:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Opinions are usually what cause the most trouble for any religion or belief. We all have opinions about different things and those opinions differ greatly at times. No religion will offer us all the answers we seek. Christianity, when lived as instructed by Christ, seems to be a way of living that enables man to accept the differences of others, that teaches tolerance, love, forgiveness, and helps to create a society that can live in harmony together. But like any religion, it has it has those who give it a bad name.
2007-09-10 09:21:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because most religions, especially the 3 Abrahamic religions, are completely exclusive. They believe they are right and that they are the ONLY ones that's right. Primoa1970 the Proselytizer is a perfect example.
And of course, in the bible and quran it is commanded that "the word be spread" and that thy neighbour must be converted, so of course they are fighting with those who disagree with them.
I am an atheist and I've never minded religion as such. Its the "trying to convert you" part of religion that irritates me and don't even mention the blood that's been shed in the name of religion. Throughout history and even today still. Personally I believe everyone is entitled to believe or not believe what they want. But of course the fanatics don't think like that...
2007-09-10 09:40:28 · answer #4 · answered by Jingizu 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that most forms of persecution come from a lack of creativity. Sometimes we believe things so hard for so long we can't even begin to imagine something different. Just knowing that something that is terribly important for me to get through my day can mean less than nothing to some else is very unsettling. And some times when I'm having a rough day, it's easier for me to attack that other person than to look at why I feel like I'm having a hard time.
2007-09-10 13:40:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You begin with the claim that you were "a Christian for 25 years".
Were you "raised" or "grew up" as what you believe to be Christian? *OR* had you entered into the covenant of the New Testament? HUGE difference between the two...and what I'm noticing (especially here in R&S) is that the "raised" or "grew up" folks are the ones who haved moved to another belief system.
The covenant of the New Testament is clear concerning what is needed for the salvation of the eternal soul thru God's Son, Jesus. In my belief, it also is the defining moment of becoming a Christian.
Why do individual beliefs continue to cause such hate, war and death? Could it be that some belief systems not only deny and reject the divine nature of Jesus, but command its followers to kill Jews and Christians wherever they may be found? Could it be that some belief systems are so intolerant that ANY discussion, criticism or questioning is swiftly and harshly (oftentimes fatally) dealt with?
"what does it matter what I believe"? It only matters if you have any concern whatsoever about your eternal soul.
The greatest legacy for our children would be for them to have their hearts and minds open to the love and mercy of the one true God...and to know and enter into the covenant of the New Testament.
I personally do not believe that a person can sincerely enter into this covenant and then reject the one true God and become a [fill in the blank].
2007-09-10 09:08:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
It is because many people only see the legalistic side of their faith and not the important side, which is humanism and love for humanity.
Also people take their religion and p[olitics very seriously and get bent out of shape if anyone challenges thier beliefs, which in may cases they do not really understand very well.
It sounds like you are pretty enlightened as to how to treat people and you look for the good side of your faith andnot the negative. Few people reach that state and you have!!
I am a Christian minister, but also believe their are many doors to enlightenment. After all, Jesus very well may have studied Budhism.
2007-09-10 09:21:41 · answer #7 · answered by rumbler_12 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Gods and beliefs exists as long humans exists.
Humans are not clones to have the same desires and beliefs.
It is not the belief itself that causes harm to each other's kin, but the wants/wishes of humans.
Some humans want things that others don't like.
There will never be order. Anarchy will live as long as humans live.
One last thing, humans are really selfish creatures. I don't think they would be thinking about others or their children if it would not give them the joy or satisfaction of doing something good for them.
2007-09-10 09:19:48 · answer #8 · answered by Panji P 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because if you're right, I'm wrong. If I'm right, you are wrong. All religions are mutually exclusive (even your 'inclusive' mentality is exclusive). That is the nature of truth. Because we are frail and petty human beings in need of the Divine, we will continue to fight over such matters.
2007-09-10 09:08:27 · answer #9 · answered by capitalctu 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I absolutely agree with you, and it's beliefs like those held by the first answerer that make me so angry with Christianity. I'm not even saying he is wrong, but that he really doesn't know any more than you or I or anyone else. I don't want anyone to change their faith, but to understand that no matter how strongly they believe it, it is not an established fact.
2007-09-10 09:09:59 · answer #10 · answered by ZombieTrix 2012 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋