Why do people have to turn to other people for religious instruction? If they want to follow a particular religion, can't they just read the Bible, Torah, Talmud, or Qura'n and decipher the meanings of the text for themselves?
2007-11-07 07:24:43 · 14 answers · asked by tangerine 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Because they never read the manual
2007-11-07 07:32:25 · answer #1 · answered by Peter A 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Many have. Hence the splintering of all the faiths you've mentioned. Not everyone thinks the same. There are several different types of Christianity because people grabbed on to ONE line of the bible and decided THIS is the end all be all way to heaven.
Priests, ministers, rabbis and imams have gone to school. They have studied theology, psychology, history and many other things that make them teachers. That's why we have them.
Look at witchcraft. Back in the 50's and 60's when it first came out of the broom closet, there were two "traditions." Gerald Gardener's and Alex Sander's. There was no structure to it though. So it's splintered into so many kinds of things. Witchcraft, wicca, feminist wicca, lesbian feminist wicca, paganism, neo-paganism, cyber-paganism, blah blah blah...
2007-11-07 07:33:43 · answer #2 · answered by Max Marie, OFS 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
religion was created to be a hierarchy - the priests/ministers/rabbis/imams are the authority figures. People should read for themselves and seek with their own spirits, not simply follow another blindly
2007-11-07 07:29:56 · answer #3 · answered by bregweidd 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sure they can. In Judaism, rabbis are there for spiritual guidance if need be and if you have a law dispute, they give you an answer if you want one. It's never required to go to a rabbi.
The Talmud says to find yourself a teacher.... :-)
2007-11-07 08:07:53 · answer #4 · answered by LadySuri 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ever heard of the Society of Friends (Quakers)? They are a Christian denomination who has no preachers and no official list of tenets. They don't even rely on the bible as their primary source of revelation/inspiration. They rely on the movement of God's Holy Spirit in their hearts for instruction and guidance.
2007-11-07 07:28:37 · answer #5 · answered by Acorn 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If God actually existed, there would be no need for holy people OR religous texts. God would come and speak to each of us himself.
The Bible is pretty long and complicated so most Christians never read it.
2007-11-07 07:31:35 · answer #6 · answered by Defunct 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because priests, ministers, rabbis, and imams claim to know the answers - even though they don't have a clue.
CD
2007-11-07 07:28:35 · answer #7 · answered by Super Atheist 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why turn to Jesus then? Why turn to God, just read the bible and decide what you want it to mean. These people are smart, religious, and often holy people- God chooses them for a reason.
Besides, I cant turn wine into the blood of Christ. I enjoy hearing people read the scriptures, and God said 'where two or more gather'
2007-11-07 07:28:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Because the Iman can explain what the koran tells you and follow Islam.
2007-11-07 08:15:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
we dont turn to imams ,we just ask them for knowledge bec they know much than us ,if you have a pain will you ask doctor or not? if you are not aware about disease ,imams dont have right to give contradicting traching to qur`an or sunnah ,
but for rabbis and priests they do
2007-11-07 07:36:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋