Judaism is older then Taoism and Buddhism.

But every religion has extremism. All religions are hyporcritical and all religions have killed many people in the name of their religion. Yes, even Christianity.

 

But that doesn't make any of them bad, it doesn't make them anything. No religion is better than another, it just depends on you.

 

And for the Christians who claim their religion is the only one (all religions do this but I hear it most from Christians), Hinduism and Toaism have been around a heck of a lot longer, so don't assume yours was the original religion.

 

I only singled out Islamic extremism because it probably has a bigger impact on the world today than any other religious extremisms. I'm not saying Christians haven't done bad things before, it's just that today Islamic extremism is a major issue.

Seriously? (see above)

 

Yep.

I only singled out Islamic extremism because it probably has a bigger impact on the world today than any other religious extremisms. I'm not saying Christians haven't done bad things before, it's just that today Islamic extremism is a major issue.

I know that, and I tried to show that in my wording. I knew you knew.

The original religion was probably worshiping the mother Goddess, but that's more of an anthropological & archaeological matter..

Back to the question "Do you think following God always means "you are doing the right thing"?

Perhaps inherent in the question is what do the teachings of the religion say, and are they consistent, contradictory at times, and unquestionable?

Wars are a big piece of shit..

I'm Muslim, and I think Muslim extremists are batshit crazy.

 

But anyway, I doubt that wars, genocide, etc. would really be the kind of think requested by any sort of god. Would any sort of god (who, in fact, according to all religions, wants humans to thrive and live peaceful lives) want the Crusades? The wars in the Middle East? It really amazes (and kind of scares me) me how some people want awful things to happen "in the name of God".

But anyway, I doubt that wars, genocide, etc. would really be the kind of think requested by any sort of god. Would any sort of god (who, in fact, according to all religions, wants humans to thrive and live peaceful lives) want the Crusades? The wars in the Middle East? It really amazes (and kind of scares me) me how some people want awful things to happen "in the name of God".

 

It's not God's fault..

There are some crazy asses all over the world thinking that killing people from a certain religion will clean the planet or something. Hitler reference I guess..

It's all in human mind.

God doesn't tell you to hurt.

True - unfortunately, woven into many religions are stories of wars, justified as "good wars".. Not the central teachings, but still, therein lies the problem - kooks can use these bits to justify their extremism. Religious states scare me, regardless of the religion. And my own nation has it's own kooks for sure - with their use of religion to justify their warring ways..

I dont think you have to believe in God to do the right thing... "right thing" meaning: not to hurt anybody. If you are raised by parents who have never visited a church... dont believe in God... or any kind of spirit entity... and you havent got that education... does that mean that you're automatically going to hell? Any christian here would think so?

 

In my opinion, it doesnt have to do with religion or anything about that... is just... being human... treat people the way you want to be treated..

 

I feel disgusted by just watching people do things in the name of God, and end up twisting everything to their favor... hypocrisy

I completely agree with everything you said here.

 

I have no idea.. I was raised like that: Do something wrong -> hell.

Do right -> heaven.

 

But is that the only reason to do right? to get to heaven? to avoid hell?

But is that the only reason to do right? to get to heaven? to avoid hell?

 

Well.. if heaven means a peaceful state, I guess so.

But also, you're bad and you do bad stuff = you don't give a shit and you don't believe in God.

Do good stuff = you care, and you want good stuff after you die, in case you believe in heaven and hell.

I see what you're saying, but I guess what I meant was...

I would hope we do good because it's the right thing to do... not merely because if we don't, we'll go to hell.

 

I would like to think that people can determine what "good" or "right" is without god or religion having to define it for them.

My approach to religion is to suspend care about the afterlife. Its just an obstacle of reason and most of the ways we depict heaven and hell are the result of human fabrication, hell is scarcely even mentioned in the Bible. In my opinion its a sin to let fear influence your pursuit of truth.

My approach to religion is to suspend care about the afterlife. Its just an obstacle of reason and most of the ways we depict heaven and hell are the result of human fabrication, hell is scarcely even mentioned in the Bible. In my opinion its a sin to let fear influence your pursuit of truth.

 

So, are you implying that there's nothing after death?

So, are you implying that there's nothing after death?

not at all. I'm saying its unethical to let your emotions, hopes and fears about what may or may not happen after death influence your actions.

 

Edit: All I care about is truth, whatever that may be. And letting emotions get in the way of reason often leads to a life motivated by fear or fabricated hope. Its important that we pursue truth regardless of how scary or beautiful it might be. To quote Thoreau...

 

"I wanted to live deep and suck out the marrow of life...If it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion."

not at all. I'm saying its unethical to let your emotions, hopes and fears about what may or may not happen after death influence your actions.

 

But we can't be rational all the time, and we mainly act based on emotions, at least that's what I think.

Why is it unethical? I think that you just care, or not.

If you care, you'll do it right.

There is a neural network, and the cycle of life provides the nexus of connections, our minds, linked, and echoing throughout time and space.. The afterlife is in my mind what those who are living bring forward in time with them, of our memories. But there could be more - it would be unscientific to rule out the possibility, however remote as it may seem..

But I think of it in terms of the kind of world we want to live in, and the kind of world we want to be carried forth. Good patterns of peace, justice, enlightenment, and progress enhance our lives and the lives of our fellow time travelers. If we want a world that approaches heaven, then that is what we need to work towards.. It takes imagination to see the value of joy that will be for our next generation to live in, and to be willing to sacrifice for the betterment of humanity, or share in the experience that brings some greater happiness for all.

Just ramblings..

But we can't be rational all the time, and we mainly act based on emotions, at least that's what I think.

Why is it unethical? I think that you just care, or not.

If you care, you'll do it right.

 

Sorry, my edit came late...

 

What I'm getting at is, when I was pretty young, by greatest conviction was a refusal to belief that there was nothing after death. But when I matured, I came to realize how wrong that way of thinking was. I had built my faith on a childish wish, a denial even. I was so afraid of the prospect of non existence, that I mndlessly clung to the alternative. Regardless of whether or not there is a God or an afterlife, that sort of behavior was truly ignorant.

 

Now, if that mindset carries over to our moral choices, and we behave towards others in a way motivated by our hope of getting to heaven or avoiding hell, instead of sincere love...that, I find disintegritous, because you're motivated by a similar selfishness by which suicide bombers act. Jesus's primary message was love of God, and thy neighbor. And whoever loves his/her neighbor, in turn, loves God. So I guess the distinction I'm making is we shouldn't care about heaven or hell, but instead act upon what we believe is right. The rest is just incentive and bribery, as well intended it may be.

I'm at a pretty strong Christian college, and I was deeply upset by a discussion in a sociology class last year where people were arguing that its pointless for atheists to act morally. I rebuttled saying that morality is a human obligation, that regardless of religion we are aware that it is wrong to steal or murder, and that I have far more more respect for atheists who act upon what is right, than a quote unquote Christian who acts the same way only because they expect some reward from God.

Jesus's primary message was love of God, and thy neighbor. And whoever loves his/her neighbor, in turn, loves God.

 

True.

I'm Muslim, and I think Muslim extremists are batshit crazy.

 

But anyway, I doubt that wars, genocide, etc. would really be the kind of think requested by any sort of god. Would any sort of god (who, in fact, according to all religions, wants humans to thrive and live peaceful lives) want the Crusades? The wars in the Middle East? It really amazes (and kind of scares me) me how some people want awful things to happen "in the name of God".

Are you really from Antarctica? :thinking:

 

It's because people originally used the name of God as a way to justify doing selfish things. The Catholic Church selling sin repention for money for example, and Holy Wars another example. Any religious texts can be interpreted to fit the reader's whim and that leads to dangerous justifications.

 

 

It's not God's fault..

There are some crazy asses all over the world thinking that killing people from a certain religion will clean the planet or something. Hitler reference I guess..

It's all in human mind.

God doesn't tell you to hurt.

Though Western religions tend to be more apt to hurting people. In the Quran it says those who praise Allah will be blessed, those who do not believe will receive despair.

 

Similar in Christianity where non-believers are damned to hell if they don't repent their sins and accept Jesus (speaking generally here, some Protestant religions have variations).

 

 

In my opinion its a sin to let fear influence your pursuit of truth.

If I was to have a quote in my sig, this would be it.

 

Sorry, the humping smiley still has that spot.

True - I feel the same. Simplistic motivators and simplistic thinking can be misused to lead people into doing the unthinkable. Better to seek a better world in that which is tangible through our senses and common sense.

Lasting happiness is one which is not achieve simply on the whims of the moment, but through a deeper understanding and appreciation of the roles we play in life. (but having moments of fun on occasion helps!)

Religion sucks.

I'm at a pretty strong Christian college, and I was deeply upset by a discussion in a sociology class last year where people were arguing that its pointless for atheists to act morally. I rebuttled saying that morality is a human obligation, that regardless of religion we are aware that it is wrong to steal or murder, and that I have far more more respect for atheists who act upon what is right, than a quote unquote Christian who acts the same way only because they expect some reward from God.

If atheists see the whole universe as an equation and set of physical laws, then it takes civility and civil society to allow us to unravel the mysteries. Hence, something that breaks that greater social contract to be fair with one another reduces our potential (as individuals and collectively) to gain that greater insight. You're right - morality is a human obligation, and we are inherently aware that it is wrong to steal or murder - in fact, compassion as I understand is innate in human nature, as science is showing us this to be true. We are not simply born "sinful", nor strictly self-interested. I am not an atheist, but I do understand atheists, and atheism - and perhaps to disregard atheism is simply done out of fear of actually discussing and considering some of the valid points Atheism might bring to the table about what is true and what is not?

Religion sucks.

 

No