Are many people only focusing on the "negative" in religions?

[sun rise]

Personally I can find something positive in most beliefs or the lack thereof. There is an exception I make for human sacrifice etc, but outside of that I see them all as having value for those that choose them.

 

[viole]

To me Gods, Buddhas, are not imaginary beings, I do not need to physically see them to understand that they are there. Everything in those spiritual teachings I have read and those I have cultivated my self, are showing up as clear evidence in my daily life. The "negative" or evil things we see in our physical world today has been spoken about for thousands of years in religions all over the world.

Yes. And why? Because we all know when something is negative. The very fact that you are able to understand what is negative, or what is evil, should make it obvious that you do not need any supernatural support to tell you that.

only people who do not know if killing a baby is wrong, or helping the needy is right, need that external metaphysical help. Assuming that the metaphysical help does not confirm their prejudices.

ciao

- viole

 

[Piculet]

If a religion cannot stand up to scrutiny, it is a poor one.

This answer is such a cop-out. It also resembles an emotional abuse tactic...

Questioning is how we can come to a logical conclusion.

I'm just afraid we'll all be dead before you get there.

 

[Spirit of Light]

We? Did you get a pet mouse you keep in your pocket?

I don’t often find this.

If you and your mouse are finding this to be the case, perhaps it would be wise to focus on the positives people contribute and teach your mouse the same.

Figure of speech.
Sometimes it is difficult to focus on the positive when one get bombarded with negativity, and questions that is so far away from any logic in spiritual practice.

PS: this tread is not one of my rant about non believers, it is a OP with genuine question about why some people only focus on negativity they find in spiritual teachings.

 

[Spirit of Light]

Yes. And why? Because we all know when something is negative. The very fact that you are able to understand what is negative, or what is evil, should make it obvious that you do not need any supernatural support to tell you that.

only people who do not know if killing a baby is wrong, or helping the needy is right, need that external metaphysical help. Assuming that the metaphysical help confirms their prejudices.

ciao

- viole

I see spiritual practice as a tool to realize enlightenment, and for that we do need the teaching of how to cultivate.

 

[viole]

I see spiritual practice as a tool to realize enlightenment, and for that we do need the teaching of how to cultivate.

And what happens when you are enlightened? why do you strive for that?

ciao

- viole

 

[SalixIncendium]

Figure of speech.
Sometimes it is difficult to focus on the positive when one get bombarded with negativity...

Then you’ve met a challenge.

What will you do to overcome this? Focus on what you perceive as negativity of others? Or focus on what you see as positive?

PS: this tread is not one of my rant about non believers, it is a OP with genuine question about why some people only focus on negativity they find in spiritual teachings.

Why does it matter to you?

 

[Spirit of Light]

And what happens when you are enlightened? why do you strive for that?

ciao

- viole

So this reincarnation in physical realm ends, that is all there is to spiritual practice in my understanding. Everything is about getting back to the original state of consciousness in what some call heaven

 

[SomeRandom]

This answer is such a cop-out. It also resembles an emotional abuse tactic...

I’m sorry you felt emotionally abused. I’m just saying, the truth should not be afraid of scrutiny, yes? And scrutiny is how we all grow and learn.

I'm just afraid we'll all be dead before you get there.

Isn’t that itself a cop out answer? An emotionally abusive tactic, one might suggest even.

 

[SomeRandom]

You have a mouse, too?

I hope not. It might bite me.

 

[SomeRandom]

All human ideologies would be poor, though, by this standard. There is no way of thinking that doesn't rest upon assumptions that do not stand up to scrutiny (aka, that cannot themselves be proven).

Nah, I think the better route is to understand what those assumptions are and then ask something along the lines of "are these assumptions useful and acceptable for what I intend to use this ideology for?" Everything has its niche, or its strengths and weaknesses. There's not really much need to be negative about things to examine the pros and cons of everything. If anything, consistently being negative causes folks to blind themselves to appropriate usages and merits of an idea. If you only look for bad, you will only find bad, as it were.

I can agree with this.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I hope not. It might bite me.

That could be tragic.

Or awakening.

 

[Spirit of Light]

Then you’ve met a challenge.

What will you do to overcome this? Focus on what you perceive as negativity of others? Or focus on what you see as positive?



Why does it matter to you?

1: my focus is toward getting positive to be main focus of all religions or spiritual practice. But to do that one has to ask about why some people only see negativity in religion.

2: personally I have to focus on being more positive toward every being then I managed to be this summer. I got a bit of work to do too.

 

[SomeRandom]

If you do not believe in a certain religion do you think your scrutiny is even needed when someone follow the teaching?, could it be that because you do not practice that spiritual teaching, , you can not understand the wisdom within it? And misunderstand why the " negative" part has to be taught in that religion?

If I believe in my religion, I would welcome scrutiny.
Of course many religious folk seem intent on telling me how to live my life. If they engage with me in such a manner, am I not allowed to speak back?

Besides I don’t think I scrutinise religion unless someone asks me to. And this is Religious Forums after all. Discussions will be had. Many of them might contain negativity. Such is life err RF

 

[SomeRandom]

That could be tragic.

Or awakening.

Perhaps both

 

[SalixIncendium]

1: my focus is toward getting positive to be main focus of all religions or spiritual practice. But to do that one has to ask about why some people only see negativity in religion.

Why?

 

[Cooky]

Stop playing the suppressed victim. It’s unbecoming. Worry less about what others think and focus on your own path.

I think @Amanaki would do well in the moderation department. You're not worried about him taking your job, are you?

 

[Spirit of Light]

If I believe in my religion, I would welcome scrutiny.
Of course many religious folk seem intent on telling me how to live my life. If they engage with me in such a manner, am I not allowed to speak back?

Besides I don’t think I scrutinise religion unless someone asks me to. And this is Religious Forums after all. Discussions will be had. Many of them might contain negativity. Such is life err RF

I welcome scrutiny of me as a person and if I speak with others from Falun Gong practice I accept they might understand the teaching better then I do. That I have no problem with.

Where I struggle to understand is when people try to make scrutiny of a teaching they them self do not know or practice, but they read something they find to be " negative" so they really digg deep to ask as many "negative" questions as possible. And when someone from that practice can no longer answer " to satisfaction" to the one who scrutinise their belief, the person who ask suddenly conclude that the teaching is false or evil. Even before they have actually understood why the teaching say as it does.

But yes in RF there will be discussion and debate, that is why we are here. But maybe people would learn more from asking in a more positive way? Like, why do you practice this way or what does this mean to you in your understanding.

 

[Spirit of Light]

Why?

Because true religious and spiritual practice is positive

 

[Polymath257]

I find it much more common that people focus on the positives of their own religion and on the negatives of other religions.

VERY few people dwell much on the negatives of their own religion or the positives of others.