Religion throughout history

[shiner]

It is interesting to note that as time goes by society in general becomes less and less religious. For example I am sure more emphasis was placed on religion in the 1600's than in the 1800's, and more in the 1800's than in the 1900's, etc.

 

Also, it seems as if as time goes by, the interpretations people have are more numerous and various. It is much harder to find 2 people today, even from the same denomination, that believe and interpret things exactly alike. 200 years ago, I think there was less variety in the opinions people had about religion, their interpretations and their beliefs.

 

This is not surprising. Humans are becoming more curious and inquisitive, there are a lot of things explained by science which for some create conflict, people tend to be more objective, analytical etc.

 

Where do you think we are headed if this trend continues? Is it possible for religion to be looked upon as something "of the past" 500 years from now?

[raffiaharonian]

It is truthfully so but for a simple reason:

 

People had and have the tendency to get rid off the ethical/psycological/moral burden, whereby one has to account internally to his own deeds and limits.

By getting rid of the various taught and conditioned 'beliefs' , we feel free and at liberty to act as our 'hearts' desire.

"no one and nothing stands on the way of humans to explore his limits...."

 

Knowing man, and knowing what he is capable of doing, do you think we are heading towards a better future , without the limitations of beliefs and religion ?

 

In short: Is man a better person to himself and to those around him, by not having any sort of belief in the "Higher power" ?

[shiner]

I don't know. I would say we are not heading towards a better future, but then again we are not necessarily heading towards a worse future.

It is possible for man to be good to himself and others without belief in a higher power. There are many people like this. Afterall, often when someone does a good deed, a humanitarian act, or makes a decision not to do something morally wrong, it is not done in the "name of God"; it is done because that person feels that certain way regardless.

I can see what you're saying, if you are refering to the fact that religion keeps people in check. But this is still less true today than before. Today people tend to act more based on their own decisions and emotions.

Also oftentimes religion is the cause of man acting harshly to those around him. There are a lot of clashes between different denominations, prejudices, discrimination, even wars. This is not a good thing for the overall well being of society.

[raffiaharonian]

As you might notice in my previous post, I am referring to one’s accountability to himself and not to anybody else or any organized religious or other group.

 

The benefactors (especially the anonymous ones) are indeed believers. Believers to the benefits of their own deeds and the positive influence on others.

 

You are suggesting that today most people tend to act on their emotions and this is exactly what I am referring to. A learned or conditioned behavior produces a result, a good deed or an evil outcome. No matter what, our actions and interactions are not ‘stand alone’ objects in the thin air, they are the outcome of our (???) own beliefs.

Now let us remove the ‘Belief’ term, what do we have ?

 

Man is capable of doing great things, but he is capable of worse things as well. All of their deeds are based on beliefs and the question is whether these beliefs have been properly ‘implanted’ and have been acquired through conditional learning.

 

We are at a point where every known ‘value’ in life is under question. Of course the questions are there, correctly ‘inspired’, however no one is giving or even trying to give the answers to those who seek guidance.

Question everything, get the pseudo feeling that everything is within your reach, but finally discover that nothing is yours. Get an end result feeling of ‘nothingness’ and ‘meaningless’.

 

Discovering God or the higher power ( if the word God bothers), is a continual process of self discovery and the missing meaning of life. Otherwise we are all indeed ‘dust to dust’…