Do Religious Ideologies Encourage Timid, In-the-Box Thinking?

[Sunstone]

Do religious ideologies encourage timid, in-the-box thinking?

Are religious ideologies compatible with spiritual growth?

To be sure, you could ask the same two questions of any and all ideologies -- either religious or secular -- but I'll stick to religious ideologies here. For the purposes of this thread, an ideology is an intellectual frame or lens through which a person might see or interpret something. 'Spirituality' is however you want to define it. Please let us know what you mean by the term if you are using it in an unconventional manner.

Comments?

 

[SigurdReginson]

In my own personal experience? They did encourage timid, in the box thinking.

At the same time, I used religious ideology to break out of that timid, in the box thinking as well.

As for religion vs. spiritual growth, I care more to concern myself with the human spirit rather than the supernatural sort.

Religion can also strengthen or dampen the human spirit as well; depends on the ideology.

 

[Brian2]

Do religious ideologies encourage timid, in-the-box thinking?

Are religious ideologies compatible with spiritual growth?

To be sure, you could ask the same two questions of any and all ideologies -- either religious or secular -- but I'll stick to religious ideologies here. For the purposes of this thread, an ideology is an intellectual frame or lens through which a person might see or interpret something. 'Spirituality' is however you want to define it. Please let us know what you mean by the term if you are using it in an unconventional manner.

Comments?

Isn't that what confirmation bias is about, we run from the things that frighten us and we do not want to consider or accept.
Some religious groups have extra barriers to stop the entrance and acceptance of alternative ideas. This may entail the threat of death or losing ones family and friends etc.

 

[Quintessence]

No.

Yes.

No comments - these strike me as absurdly rhetorical questions.

 

[epronovost]

Do religious ideologies encourage timid, in-the-box thinking?

Religions aren't exactly epistemological nor do they promote a certain form of methodology either. They aren't exactly linked to problem solving, experimentation, analysis or observation. A religion can transmit a certain epistemology and encourage some form of methodoloy, but that's never really a core component. You can be religious, but not care a second about theology and your religion might not even be taken into consideration for any sort of problem solving, experimentation, analysis or observation.

Are religious ideologies compatible with spiritual growth?

Define "spiritual growth".

 

[sun rise]

Do religious ideologies encourage timid, in-the-box thinking?

To me an ideology is an organized way of looking at religion (and politics, of course). So by its very nature, people are invited to agree with it and internalize the rules and philosophies.

This will of course generate those who disagree because of their own ideology or lack thereof (roping in atheists). The end result tends to be a "which side are you on" stance.

That's not necessarily so because there can be inclusive ideologies such as Unitarian-Universalists and others which prize creative ruminations. But it's certainly true for quite a few.

 

[osgart]

Nothing is ideal. If someone picks an ideology to live by then they better be right about it or it will cost majorly.

I have a moral ideology that I set up as a standard to attain to. I really don't desire any other direction then the one I'm on. It gives me spiritual direction.

I don't think religious people are timid, they are boldly going about their lives in the box they have chosen, or have fallen into. It's not that they chose a safe reality, they see reality as being what the religion dictates it to be.

They would be timid if they use religion to hide from actuality. And that simply isn't the case of a true believer.

 

[Left Coast]

Do religious ideologies encourage timid, in-the-box thinking?

Are religious ideologies compatible with spiritual growth?

To be sure, you could ask the same two questions of any and all ideologies -- either religious or secular -- but I'll stick to religious ideologies here. For the purposes of this thread, an ideology is an intellectual frame or lens through which a person might see or interpret something. 'Spirituality' is however you want to define it. Please let us know what you mean by the term if you are using it in an unconventional manner.

Comments?

A religious ideology, taken too strictly and dogmatically, can encourage in-the-box thinking, yes. I think that's essentially what fundamentalism is. Fortunately, all religions/religious ideologies are not fundamentalist.

 

[Brian2]

In my own personal experience? They did encourage timid, in the box thinking.

At the same time, I used religious ideology to break out of that timid, in the box thinking as well.

As for religion vs. spiritual growth, I care more to concern myself with the human spirit rather than the supernatural sort.

Religion can also strengthen or dampen the human spirit as well; depends on the ideology.

Isn't "spirit" in general regarded as supernatural?

 

[Brickjectivity]

When we are guided by what is acceptable thought we are thinking logically. In the box thinking has an identifying characteristic that it is guided by very logical thinking. I don't mean that logic is bad but that it is a trap, and very often that is why religion can become a trap. When it becomes a logical system people stop looking at it creatively. They stop looking at it as part of a larger context and that context as part of a still larger context and so on. There is always a larger context, and looking for it is one way out of the logical trap. Then nothing is a trap.

 

[The Hammer]

Do religious ideologies encourage timid, in-the-box thinking?

Are religious ideologies compatible with spiritual growth?

To be sure, you could ask the same two questions of any and all ideologies -- either religious or secular -- but I'll stick to religious ideologies here. For the purposes of this thread, an ideology is an intellectual frame or lens through which a person might see or interpret something. 'Spirituality' is however you want to define it. Please let us know what you mean by the term if you are using it in an unconventional manner.

Comments?

Depends on the religious ideology. One that encourages Individualism over groupthink would avoid the first, and Promote the second. Which is why I like Paganism. It's a path YOU walk.

 

[Dawnofhope]

Do religious ideologies encourage timid, in-the-box thinking?

It would depend on the religious ideology. There are religions whose leadership is very controlling but for many of us religion is a personal matter where we choose how apply religious principles to our lives. Religion should empower its members rather than suppress or oppress them IMHO.

Are religious ideologies compatible with spiritual growth?

The purpose of any genuine religion is to promote spirituality among its adherents. If it does the opposite it may be best to leave and find a better path. I believe no religion is better than the wrong religion.

To be sure, you could ask the same two questions of any and all ideologies -- either religious or secular -- but I'll stick to religious ideologies here. For the purposes of this thread, an ideology is an intellectual frame or lens through which a person might see or interpret something. 'Spirituality' is however you want to define it. Please let us know what you mean by the term if you are using it in an unconventional manner.

Comments?

People tend to get out of a religion what they put into. If we don't make an effort to live in accordance with our highest principles, we're unlikely to reap the benefits and be less able to positively contribute to our communities.

 

[oldbadger]

Are religious ideologies compatible with spiritual growth?

Comments?

Only a question:-
What is spiritual growth, please?

Description? Definition?
Tangible? Intangible?

 

[SigurdReginson]

Isn't "spirit" in general regarded as supernatural?

Depends on the context. The first dictionary definition is. The second one? Nope.

spir·it
/ˈspirit/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
the nonphysical part of a person which is the seat of emotions and character; the soul.
"we seek a harmony between body and spirit"
2.
those qualities regarded as forming the definitive or typical elements in the character of a person, nation, or group or in the thought and attitudes of a particular period.
"the university is a symbol of the nation's egalitarian spirit"

 

[Hellbound Serpiente]

Depends on the practitioner of the religious ideologies and [perhaps] religious ideologies as well. If the practitioner is of a timid ego with inherent in-the-box thinking, then any ideology can encourage the kind of in-the-box thinking resonating with him/her. It all comes down to the individual and whether or not the said individual is inherently an egoistic bigot. There are many atheist bigots too who use science for their in-the-box thinking as well.

But that doesn't mean religious ideologies themselves can't be free from this bias. I said "perhaps" because I am uneducated about MANY religions and their school of thought. Maybe some religions are like that. So far, the religions which I have limited knowledge of [like Islam, and maybe Christianity, Judaism ("maybe" because I've forgotten most about them)] doesn't seem to encourage any sort of in-the-box thinking, especially not Islam. In fact, Qur'an encourages us to think scientifically about nature.

 

[Hellbound Serpiente]

Are religious ideologies compatible with spiritual growth?

I think so. Unless they are of "my way or the highway" nature, I'd say yes.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Do religious ideologies encourage timid, in-the-box thinking?

Are religious ideologies compatible with spiritual growth?

To be sure, you could ask the same two questions of any and all ideologies -- either religious or secular -- but I'll stick to religious ideologies here. For the purposes of this thread, an ideology is an intellectual frame or lens through which a person might see or interpret something. 'Spirituality' is however you want to define it. Please let us know what you mean by the term if you are using it in an unconventional manner.

Comments?

Do religious ideologies encourage timid, in-the-box thinking? No, not all.
Are religious ideologies compatible with spiritual growth? No, not all.

Spiritual to me is mental, cognitive, feelings, subjective, individual, subjective and so on. Any evaluation of what matters to humans is non-physical, non-materialistic, without evidence and can't be done strictly rationally.

 

[PureX]

An ideology IS a conceptual "box". So by it's very nature it would be encouraging "in the box" thinking.

But that begs the question "in the box" compared to what?

 

[Hellbound Serpiente]

An ideology IS a conceptual "box". So by it's very nature it would be encouraging "in the box" thinking.

Not necessarily, just because it's a conceptual box, doesn't necessarily mean that it prohibits us to embrace other such boxes and their structure.

But that begs the question "in the box" compared to what?

Other boxes?

 

[SalixIncendium]

Do religious ideologies encourage timid, in-the-box thinking?

Are religious ideologies compatible with spiritual growth?

Several years ago, my answer to both questions would have a resounding yes. But as I experienced other religions outside of the paradigm into which I was raised, my answer changed to "often."

There are religion that do, indeed, encourage in-the-box thinking and that inhibit spiritual growth, but as I began to study Theosophy, I realized that there are those that do quite the opposite...that accept that there is wisdom and truth in the views of others, theistic and atheistic alike.

So yes, there are some religious ideologies that are compatible with spiritual growth.