Is all religion basically the same?

chopitdown

Abookamongstthemany wrote:

which bible lesson is more important. Many of them seem to contradict each other from my viewpoint.

Matthew 22 - Teacher which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[a] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.

I think this one sums it up perfectly.

ArmsinaV

sponger wrote:

Beyond the interest in the unknown, I think there is another aspect of religion that draws its followers, and I think that aspect takes precedence over all others.

People have a natural tendency to want to believe that they are superior to others. It's an innate "snobbery" so to speak. Religion satisfies that need by creating the image of a "supreme being" and promising that its followers will walk in its image, so to speak.

So, subscribers to religion develop the idea that their belief in god makes them superior to those who don't believe in god, as god is the supreme being.

Do you think Jesus was a snob?

even flow?

They all seem to fear something that has never been seen, so they sure do basically fit one mold. Just like heads of countries who want their people to think they are the best or the one and to defend that at any cost. What makes religion any different than that?

Juberoo

even flow? wrote:

They all seem to fear something that has never been seen, so they sure do basically fit one mold. Just like heads of countries who want their people to think they are the best or the one and to defend that at any cost. What makes religion any different than that?

Because with religion you are defending/worshiping/glorifying God...the creator of all things whom without, you would not exist.

gue_barium

healthy religion is enthusiasm for a belief, a mild obsession. the inspiration derived for such can be and is varied for each individual, though a voiced belief, common to many, can be (and usually is) part of the religion/enthusiasm itself. at its core, religion is entirely individuated, therefore religions are as individual as fingerprints.

Abookamongstthemany

gue_barium wrote:

healthy religion is enthusiasm for a belief, a mild obsession. the inspiration derived for such can be and is varied for each individual, though a voiced belief, common to many, can be (and usually is) part of the religion/enthusiasm itself. at its core, religion is entirely individuated, therefore religions are as individual as fingerprints.

That is a fantastic post!

even flow?

Juberoo wrote:

Because with religion you are defending/worshiping/glorifying God...the creator of all things whom without, you would not exist.

I would not exist? Or a believer would not exist?

I know I exist. And I don't need to know why.

know1

Nope...but all athiests are the same

Cosmo

know1 wrote:

Nope...but all athiests are the same

...
Probably explains why Atheists don't kill other Atheists because their lack of belief is is different from another's lack of belief.

know1

Cosmo wrote:

...
Probably explains why Atheists don't kill other Atheists because their lack of belief is is different from another's lack of belief.

No - they kill each other for other reasons.

I personally would never kill anyone for religious reasons, so I guess that makes my religion different....

Smellyman2

Atheists and religious kill people. However religion can make people kill who normally would not.

chopitdown

Smellyman wrote:

Atheists and religious kill people. However religion can make people kill who normally would not.

so can drugs and political ideology and hate for religion.
How do you know that those people would not normally kill? If people allow themselves to buy into a specific dogma and commit an act of murder they are acting normal for them, I would agree it's not normal from societal standards, but they may be acting perfectly normal for them.

cornnifer

Smellyman wrote:

Atheists and religious kill people. However religion can make people kill who normally would not.

Same old tired rhetoric. *yawn*
Allow me to ask, yet again. Maybe, although i really doubt it, you'll be the first to answer. Can you point to one passage, in any "religious" holy book, that condones killing?

RainDog

cornnifer wrote:

Same old tired rhetoric. *yawn*
Allow me to ask, yet again. Maybe, although i really doubt it, you'll be the first to answer. Can you point to one passage, in any "religious" holy book, that condones killing?

Well, you can take this for what it's worth (and there's plenty more - Joshua's a fun one, too):

Numbers 31: 16-18
16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.

18 But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

Now, this doesn't say "Killing" is O.K. in general (i.e. Murder); but you can certainly see how someone who believes they are on the side of God might take it.

Uncle Leo

RainDog wrote:

Well, you can take this for what it's worth (and there's plenty more - Joshua's a fun one, too):

Numbers 31: 16-18
16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.

18 But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

Now, this doesn't say "Killing" is O.K. in general (i.e. Murder); but you can certainly see how someone who believes they are on the side of God might take it.

And it's not just the books, but the big players in organized religion. Maybe it is not "religion" but "organized religion" that promotes killing.

People kill in the name of religion all the time. Muslims do it every single day. Without religion, would these people be killing in the name of something else anyway? Maybe not, but maybe those that are kept moral be the fear would be killing. Maybe it's a wash?

fanch75

Abookamongstthemany wrote:

That is a good point. Do most modern day Christians follow a strict intrepretation of the bible and believe all non-believers will go to hell? Do they believe this is justified? To punish someone eternally for thinking differently? Or do they believe more tolerance will be permitted by God and that the bible is a bit off on this? Very interesting.

Catholics believe (I think) that some folks are not held wholly accountable to the idea that Christ died for them. Those would be good moral folks who were raised in other religions, cultures, etc, who never got to know that Christ is the Son of God and culturally wouldn't ever accept it because it's such a foreign concept to them. Perhaps someone who is an informed Catholic could help me out here.

I am a Christian, but not Catholic, but I tend to agree with this as well. I don't think a God so compassionate as to sacrific His own Son would condemn the (in this context) unknowing to an eternity in hell. I could be wrong, but I guess it makes me feel better to think that way. Plus it makes sense to me.

Uncle Leo

fanch75 wrote:

Catholics believe (I think) that some folks are not held wholly accountable to the idea that Christ died for them. Those would be good moral folks who were raised in other religions, cultures, etc, who never got to know that Christ is the Son of God and culturally wouldn't ever accept it because it's such a foreign concept to them. Perhaps someone who is an informed Catholic could help me out here.

I am a Christian, but not Catholic, but I tend to agree with this as well. I don't think a God so compassionate as to sacrific His own Son would condemn the (in this context) unknowing to an eternity in hell. I could be wrong, but I guess it makes me feel better to think that way. Plus it makes sense to me.

I certainly can appreciate this. I just cannot believe that the unknowing would go to hell.

But I am curious whether other Christians would have anything to say about Fanch's Christianity here. Is he a "poor Christian"? Does the bible directly contradict what he thinks? I am trying to be a smartass to nobody here. I really am curious.

deadnothingbetter

fanch75 wrote:

Catholics believe (I think) that some folks are not held wholly accountable to the idea that Christ died for them. Those would be good moral folks who were raised in other religions, cultures, etc, who never got to know that Christ is the Son of God and culturally wouldn't ever accept it because it's such a foreign concept to them. Perhaps someone who is an informed Catholic could help me out here.

I am a Christian, but not Catholic, but I tend to agree with this as well. I don't think a God so compassionate as to sacrific His own Son would condemn the (in this context) unknowing to an eternity in hell. I could be wrong, but I guess it makes me feel better to think that way. Plus it makes sense to me.

well..... actually........

"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God." Romans 1:20, 21

not unless of course, not every scripture is taken literally

deadnothingbetter

Uncle Leo wrote:

I certainly can appreciate this. I just cannot believe that the unknowing would go to hell.

But I am curious whether other Christians would have anything to say about Fanch's Christianity here. Is he a "poor Christian"? Does the bible directly contradict what he thinks? I am trying to be a smartass to nobody here. I really am curious.

who is Fanch?

Cosmo

cornnifer wrote:

Same old tired rhetoric. *yawn*
Allow me to ask, yet again. Maybe, although i really doubt it, you'll be the first to answer. Can you point to one passage, in any "religious" holy book, that condones killing?

...
Leviticus 20
10: And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
11: And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them

Deuteronomy 13
6 If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;

7 Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth;

8 Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:

9 But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.

10 And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

There are MANY more references... if you need them.