Jump to content


Photo

Following Gods Commandments...


  • Please log in to reply
160 replies to this topic

#41 THOTH

THOTH

    Veteran

  • Banned
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,610 posts
  • Location:USA
  • Interests:many

Posted 09 June 2004 - 12:39 PM

QUOTE (Sasun @ Jun 9 2004, 01:22 PM)
The answer is Christianity is not the only religion or the only right religion. All religions are right in their own way, and have their wrongs too. ....

I can pretty much agree with you here actually (all religions right in their own way...at least in part...as they are human contrived sysytems to make sense of the world around considering our limited perspective/ability to know etc...)...though I would more likely perhaps say Christianity is not the only wrong religion...same difference - effectively...and while you may be imbued with Christian virtue - and your religious views are more positve then negative - and I like that - in the end (I don't think) you can really call yourself a Christian - because by definition the prime docrine of accepting Christ as savior and the bible as the (one and only true) word of the lord - seems to irreparably contradict the tennents of other religions...(which don't at all recognize such and which are composed of completley different ritual & observance & acceptance...)

#42 Armen

Armen

    Veterinarian

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,456 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Yerevan

Posted 09 June 2004 - 11:14 PM

QUOTE (Sasun @ Jun 9 2004, 12:36 PM)
I suppose Steiner is talking about Christ consciousness and not Christianity as presented in various dogmas. And I agree with the quote, though you can't say that the same is not true for Buddha consiousness, or Krishna consciousness. They all far transcend religious dogma and trascient moral codes.

You're right Sasun. In his understanding of Christianity...all the messiahs built that consciousness during the course of human history. Buddha, Krishna, Orpheus, Moses, Zaratushtra, Mani etc. with Jesus being its culmination...

#43 Anoushik

Anoushik

    Veteran

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,973 posts
  • Gender:Female
  • Location:Los Angeles
  • Interests:Armenians, music, philosophy...

Posted 10 June 2004 - 12:23 AM

QUOTE (Sasun @ Jun 9 2004, 10:25 AM)
Not really Anoushik, there is no freedom without diversity. The differences are not at all responsible for conflicts, but intolerance for such differences, rigid dogmatism and fanaticism are responsible.

Thoth is right. Religion creates certain values, ethics, morals, and beliefs for its members and suggests and encourages its members to live their lives according to certain practices. This leaves little room for tolerance. There needn't be any rigid dogmatism or fanaticism for any religion to become intolerant. Religion, by nature, is intolerant. Therefore, there should only be one kind of religion. Diversity is important in other aspects of life but it is dangerous when it comes to people’s beliefs. If God was wise He would’ve made sure that people all over the world practiced only one kind of religion.

#44 Sasun

Sasun

    Veteran

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 5,533 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:NJ, USA
  • Interests:Art, Yoga, Spirituality

Posted 10 June 2004 - 07:51 AM

QUOTE (anoushik @ Jun 10 2004, 02:23 AM)
Diversity is important in other aspects of life but it is dangerous when it comes to people’s beliefs.

It is dangerous to have different beliefs? I don't think you would be happy if somebody forced you to have Domino's beliefs biggrin.gif I am sure in that case you would blame God for not being allowed to have a different belief. So no matter what God gets blamed.

QUOTE
If God was wise He would’ve made sure that people all over the world practiced only one kind of religion.


Do you think you are wise enough to correct God?

QUOTE
Religion, by nature, is intolerant.


Is that really so? Out of all religions let's take Christianity for instance. Christ said "Love your enemy". This statement alone proves your conclusion completely false.
All major religions hold very high values and high standards of tolerance, hence by nature they are all tolerant. It is another issue if parts of followers of these religions observe the high standards. So don't blame religion because of its abuse, it is not fair.

Edited by Sasun, 10 June 2004 - 08:28 AM.


#45 THOTH

THOTH

    Veteran

  • Banned
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,610 posts
  • Location:USA
  • Interests:many

Posted 10 June 2004 - 08:56 AM

Sasun - while I respect your belief in the idealized version of things - I must say I find your views to be perhaps even more divorced from reality then Domino's...

Religions are by nature tolerant???????? In what universe of the many in Domino's multiverse are you refering to?

And while you are correct - the staement attributed to Christ to love ones enemy seems to imply a sort of tolerance (though its not exactly the same thing...the statement/commandment to "have no enemies" might be more directly applicable in this case....but what I find is that few Christians seem to abide by this particualr tenant - and there seems to be plenty of other verses that give one leeway to smite God's enemies and to view those who believe otherwise as lesser...and the mark of a particualr religion should be the behavior and beliefs of its followers - no? I mean if you look at all the documents underpinning the United States you would think that we were the most pure nation on Earth eh? Yet within that framework we have found ways to justify slavery, beat up on lesser nations, undertake coups, violate civil rights of folks, etc etc etc - so one must look beyond the propoganda - which will always make one out to be "good guys" - I mena we have no religions that explicitly call out for evil do we? But its the actions (and writings) of the followers that matter....heh lets hear it for the crusades and the inquisition!

#46 Anoushik

Anoushik

    Veteran

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,973 posts
  • Gender:Female
  • Location:Los Angeles
  • Interests:Armenians, music, philosophy...

Posted 10 June 2004 - 09:49 AM

Sasun, what I meant by saying that there shouldn't be a diversity among religions I meant that, as an example, Christ should've appeared everywhere in the world so that people wouldn't be confused by what teachings they should folllow. You're a very open-minded person (and I admire that a lot) but the majority are and will always be narrow-minded individuals who are not able to see the bigger picture of things.

As of my comment about God being wise: it doeasn't botter me because God doesn't exist in the first place. Since I don't believe I am wise enough to correct and yet I see so many things that should have been different if a "wise" God existed than it's enough for me to say that God doesn't exist.

#47 THOTH

THOTH

    Veteran

  • Banned
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,610 posts
  • Location:USA
  • Interests:many

Posted 10 June 2004 - 10:02 AM

But Anoushik - God has his ways - his intentions - which are beyond our understanding - thus who are we to judge right? (I think most Christians are with me so far)....but how do we know that he is not Loki? or Syrdon?

http://www.canada-os...yston/saga.html

#48 Sasun

Sasun

    Veteran

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 5,533 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:NJ, USA
  • Interests:Art, Yoga, Spirituality

Posted 10 June 2004 - 10:23 AM

QUOTE (anoushik @ Jun 10 2004, 11:49 AM)
Sasun, what I meant by saying that there shouldn't be a diversity among religions I meant that, as an example, Christ should've appeared everywhere in the world so that people wouldn't be confused by what teachings they should folllow. You're a very open-minded person (and I admire that a lot) but the majority are and will always be narrow-minded individuals who are not able to see the bigger picture of things.

As of my comment about God being wise: it doeasn't botter me because God doesn't exist in the first place. Since I don't believe I am wise enough to correct and yet I see so many things that should have been different if a "wise" God existed than it's enough for me to say that God doesn't exist.

First of all, there are other teachings that are just as good to get you there. As much as I value Christ's teachings I also know that to follow a right path one needs not necessarily follow Christ's path, it could be some other path, but one thing is sure a person must take a path to get somewhere.
Secondly, where Christ has appeared people did not necessarily follow him, on the contrary, they crucified him. So if Christ appeared in all places of earth that would not mean everyone would follow.
Ultimately, it is up to the person, would it really change things if Christ appeared in all places every hundred years and was crucified every time, be it physically or rejected in other ways.
There are many teachings, but how many people follow them? There you are Anoushik, you think that you are not wise enough, yet you also conclude that there is no God. You believe some moral principles are right, yet you do not always follow them (I am not pointing fingers, we are all like that with the exception of a few pure beings).
Critics of religious values are many, yet these critics do not follow anything, their religion is ignorance and blindness. All they can say is, ohh I don't believe this, I doubt this, I suspect that. There is no knowledge in that, only a show of ignorance. Very often they criticize religion in order to justify their immoral and inhumane life.

Show me a fool that cannot criticize a wise man. It is indeed very easy to see the virtues of religious teachings, but blind men or men with prejudice against religion do not like to see it. If a religion teaches love, then it teaches love, there is no other way to look at it. One must be blind to say that, oh it teaches love but see it does not. Don't mind the bad followers or hypocrites of religious establisments. When you try to evaluate a religion, read its main scriptures and weigh in and out how it sits with you. It makes no sense to learn about religion by how Joe practices it. You have your own mind and conscience, what matters is what you think of it, not how others see and practice it.

#49 THOTH

THOTH

    Veteran

  • Banned
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,610 posts
  • Location:USA
  • Interests:many

Posted 10 June 2004 - 10:29 AM

Why does love need to be taught?

#50 Anoushik

Anoushik

    Veteran

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,973 posts
  • Gender:Female
  • Location:Los Angeles
  • Interests:Armenians, music, philosophy...

Posted 10 June 2004 - 10:48 AM

Sasun, what is the point of religion if it isn't able to guide as many people as possible, no matter how good and kind that religion is? You always point out the goodness of religion but isn't the purpose of religion to be as a guide for the people to follow? Yet it fails to do so and has failed to do so. And because of it humanity has seen countless wars and atrocities, all in the name of religion. It's not the idea that is important in religion but the outcome caused by various beliefs in various religions.

#51 Sasun

Sasun

    Veteran

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 5,533 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:NJ, USA
  • Interests:Art, Yoga, Spirituality

Posted 10 June 2004 - 11:17 AM

QUOTE (anoushik @ Jun 10 2004, 12:48 PM)
Sasun, what is the point of religion if it isn't able to guide as many people as possible, no matter how good and kind that religion is? You always point out the goodness of religion but isn't the purpose of religion to be as a guide for the people to follow? Yet it fails to do so and has failed to do so. And because of it humanity has seen countless wars and atrocities, all in the name of religion. It's not the idea that is important in religion but the outcome caused by various beliefs in various religions.

Anoushik, had there not been religions we would not have morality, we would be beasts. Wars are not caused because of religion but because of human misunderstanding. But most of the wars had nothing to do with religion.

As to religion guiding us, how can religion guide a person if a person is not willing to follow it ??? You should ask to yourself, why do you not follow a religion? The purpose of religion is to change the human nature from bad to good, from low to high, to teach rightous behavior, etc... What puzzles me, why do you expect someone to force you or compell you do things? It is impossible to force someone to be compassionate, to love, to be humble, and other things that religions typically teach.

There are two sides, teacher and student. Religion is the teacher, man is the student. If the student sleeps at the class no matter how brilliant the teacher is there will be no learning. Learning is a difficult task, religious practice is more difficult.

Religion is always there, it is up to you to follow it. But you prefer to criticize it with or without reason. In that case all bad students should criticize their teachers.

Well, I said what I said. It seems a simple logic to me, but if you don't understand then I am unable to make you understand, as simple as that. The same goes with religion and not understanding it.

#52 Anileve

Anileve

    Epicure Maximus

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,201 posts
  • Gender:Female
  • Location:NYC
  • Interests:Running around at dawn and poking innocent bystanders with pipe cleaners.

Posted 10 June 2004 - 11:23 AM

QUOTE (gamavor @ Jun 8 2004, 05:12 PM)
Let me guess! Love your neighbor…but be careful not to get caught!

Thoth, if this is the case you are forgiven by Gamavor! biggrin.gif

THOTH, care to explain? Have you stolen an owned property? If that's the case, I hope it was done with tact and grace. biggrin.gif Poetic skills at their finest.

#53 DominO

DominO

    Veteran

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 7,455 posts
  • Gender:Male

Posted 10 June 2004 - 11:48 AM

QUOTE (Sasun @ Jun 10 2004, 07:51 AM)
It is dangerous to have different beliefs? I don't think you would be happy if somebody forced you to have Domino's beliefs biggrin.gif I am sure in that case you would blame God for not being allowed to have a different belief. So no matter what God gets blamed.

No one need to force her... as she will adopt my belief very soon by choice...

Prediction...

Hyeforum in 2010 change its name to "Fadixian multiverse" after a general vote, where the members all adopted Fadixian multiver and rejected any other kind of belief. laugh.gif

By then... I would have brought evidences from my lab... that the theory in question is the best to discribe the world we live in. smile.gif

#54 Anoushik

Anoushik

    Veteran

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,973 posts
  • Gender:Female
  • Location:Los Angeles
  • Interests:Armenians, music, philosophy...

Posted 10 June 2004 - 08:44 PM

QUOTE (Domino @ Jun 10 2004, 09:48 AM)
No one need to force her... as she will adopt my belief very soon by choice...

Well... I don't know about that just yet... rolleyes.gif

#55 Anoushik

Anoushik

    Veteran

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,973 posts
  • Gender:Female
  • Location:Los Angeles
  • Interests:Armenians, music, philosophy...

Posted 10 June 2004 - 09:01 PM

QUOTE (Sasun @ Jun 10 2004, 09:17 AM)
Anoushik, had there not been religions we would not have morality, we would be beasts...

As to religion guiding us, how can religion guide a person if a person is not willing to follow it ??? You should ask to yourself, why do you not follow a religion? The purpose of religion is to change the human nature from bad to good, from low to high, to teach rightous behavior, etc... What puzzles me, why do you expect someone to force you or compell you do things? It is impossible to force someone to be compassionate, to love, to be humble, and other things that religions typically teach.

At one point you're saying that religion gives moral guidance and can change the human nature from bad to good, and then you're saying that it is impossible for religion to be able to change people who don't want to be changed. Then what is the purpose of religion? From your argument I can say that people who follow religion and want to be good already have this goodness in them, it just needs to be nourished through religion (much like a teacher nourishes and develops the talent of a certain student, but the talent has to be there) but if people are lacking this goodness (likewise the understanding of morality) then religion really has no real purpose. It is only for a select few who long for guidance in life. The rest will likely misuse and abuse the teachings of religion for their own personal gain. This is why I think religion is dangerous, and the more religions there are the more dangerous it becomes.

#56 Sasun

Sasun

    Veteran

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 5,533 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:NJ, USA
  • Interests:Art, Yoga, Spirituality

Posted 12 June 2004 - 10:41 PM

QUOTE (anoushik @ Jun 10 2004, 11:01 PM)
At one point you're saying that religion gives moral guidance and can change the human nature from bad to good, and then you're saying that it is impossible for religion to be able to change people who don't want to be changed.

Some don't want to be changed, some want to be changed but have no faith in themselves, some want to be changed and have faith in themselves but are lazy to work. Deep inside everyone wants to be happy and satisfied with life, this change is the only thing that can make one truly happy and satisfied. This is what those who have gone through this path will say with absolute confidence.

QUOTE
Then what is the purpose of religion? From your argument I can say that people who follow religion and want to be good already have this goodness in them, it just needs to be nourished through religion (much like a teacher nourishes and develops the talent of a certain student, but the talent has to be there) but if people are lacking this goodness (likewise the understanding of morality) then religion really has no real purpose.


Everyone has a degree of goodness, it is not possible to find somone who has no virtue at all. So everyone can use religion to be good and better if they choose so. If you agree that people should be good, and if you agree that if people follow religion they will benefit from it, then I don't see what the problem is.

QUOTE
It is only for a select few who long for guidance in life.


These select few are said to carry the humanity forward, while the rest of people live for themselves.

QUOTE
The rest will likely misuse and abuse the teachings of religion for their own personal gain. This is why I think religion is dangerous, and the more religions there are the more dangerous it becomes.


Knives can be properly used for the benefit of the kitchen, and knives can be misused to hurt people. Should we conclude that knives are dangerous?
If religion can be misused, it is not the problem of religion but the problem of misuse. If we agree that religion properly used is beneficial for the humanity then it is unfair to call it dangerous. Dangerous are people who are willing to misuse it for selfish needs. Religion is not to be blamed. If there was no religion these people would find something else to misuse.

I must make a note, when I refer to religion I have in mind the pure, intended meaning of it, not the religious structures, hierarchies, authorities, etc. I hope this makes my point clearer. We find that many religious people are misusers rather than sincere practicioners working to transform their nature. Nevertheless, religion in the sense of spiritual discipline and growth is our only hope.

#57 Anoushik

Anoushik

    Veteran

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,973 posts
  • Gender:Female
  • Location:Los Angeles
  • Interests:Armenians, music, philosophy...

Posted 13 June 2004 - 08:31 PM

QUOTE (Sasun @ Jun 12 2004, 08:41 PM)
Some don't want to be changed, some want to be changed but have no faith in themselves, some want to be changed and have faith in themselves but are lazy to work. Deep inside everyone wants to be happy and satisfied with life, this change is the only thing that can make one truly happy and satisfied. This is what those who have gone through this path will say with absolute confidence.

If deep inside everyone wants to be happy and satisfied with life and you say that the change in a person brought by religion makes one happy and satisfied why doesn't everyone want to be changed? Is it because some people don't know of the benefits by turning to religion? Or they aren't born religious? Whichever reason it is it shows that only some will truly benefit from religion. If it had been otherwise this world would have been a different place.

#58 Anoushik

Anoushik

    Veteran

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,973 posts
  • Gender:Female
  • Location:Los Angeles
  • Interests:Armenians, music, philosophy...

Posted 13 June 2004 - 08:46 PM

QUOTE (Sasun @ Jun 12 2004, 08:41 PM)
...religion in the sense of spiritual discipline and growth is our only hope.

I disagree. Religion is not our only hope. Secular humanism should have been much more encouraged in our society and throughout the history of mankind. In fact, I strongly believe that humanity would have been better off if there was no religion at all (or at least religion wasn't given so much importance).

#59 Sip

Sip

    Buffet Connoisseur

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 8,366 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Online

Posted 13 June 2004 - 09:14 PM

Anoushik, it's human nature to simply that which she cannot understand in order to make sense of it. Religion and God is just a by product of that so I think it was inevitable that it would exist as we evolved.

#60 Sasun

Sasun

    Veteran

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 5,533 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:NJ, USA
  • Interests:Art, Yoga, Spirituality

Posted 13 June 2004 - 09:48 PM

QUOTE (anoushik @ Jun 13 2004, 10:46 PM)
Secular humanism should have been much more encouraged in our society and throughout the history of mankind.

What is secular humanism? Where does it come from?




0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users