Faith/Religion Isn't Only About Belief But Also About Action

[ChristineES]

I've been thinking about my own faith as a follower/disciple of Yeshua (Jesus), I've been looking at his commands and I realize that they are all about action. The studying I've done about various other faiths I have reaped the same conclusions: That it is about action.

Although we Christians believe that we are not saved by works or deeds, but by grace, we also feel as though action would be a part of that faith; that we do works because we believe and follow Yeshua's commands. It goes along with the saying "By their fruits, you shall know them".

What do you all think? Do you agree?

(This is mostly for theists, but I'd like to hear non-theist, atheist, and agnostics views, as well. That is why I posted it here instead of another forum).

 

[Skwim]

I've been thinking about my own faith as a follower/disciple of Yeshua (Jesus), I've been looking at his commands and I realize that they are all about action. The studying I've done about various other faiths I have reaped the same conclusions: That it is about action.

Although we Christians believe that we are not saved by works or deeds, but by grace, we also feel as though action would be a part of that faith; that we do works because we believe and follow Yeshua's commands. It goes along with the saying "By their fruits, you shall know them".

What do you all think? Do you agree?

(This is mostly for theists, but I'd like to hear non-theist, atheist, and agnostics views, as well. That is why I posted it here instead of another forum).

Your "we Christians " is a bit broad. Although Protestants believe in sola fide or "by faith alone," other Christians, such as Catholics, believe works are necessary.

 

[metis]

When I read the Sermon on the Mount and then follow that up with the Parable of the Sheep & Goats (Matthew 25), I have long felt that Jesus was an activist who cared less about political correctness but who cared a lot about doing God's will of compassion and justice.

 

[Skwim]

Double Post

 

[Jainarayan]

Yes Christine, I believe it is (or should be) about action. There's a saying "nara seva narayana seva", service to man is service to God.

A conversation allegedly between the Buddha and his disciple goes:

Ananda asked: Would it be true to say that the cultivation of loving kindness and compassion is a part of our practice?"

The Buddha replied: "No. It would not be true to say that the cultivation of loving kindness and compassion is part of our practice. It would be true to say that the cultivation of loving kindness and compassion is all of our practice."

A distillation from a section of the Rig Veda goes:

He is never happy who does not offer food to the hungry, to his friend. He who does not help his friends is no friend at all. The rich must give alms to the beggars. He who does not have the feeling of charity is in fact wasting the food he is consuming.

And from the Mahabharata:

“Should even one's enemy arrive at the doorstep, he should be attended upon with respect. A tree does not withdraw its cooling shade even from the one who has come to cut it.”

There are many more verses from Buddhist and Hindu texts.

So far we have 3 religions: Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism that stress action, compassionate action to be precise. I'm sure Islam, Judaism, and a host of other religions have verses in their texts that are similar. In fact, if we took them all, mixed them all together, I'll bet we couldn't tell what verses came from what religion (OK, a little hyperbole there ).

 

[Quintessence]

Our understanding of religion is inevitably shaped by the dominant religions in our culture and historical period. Because of that, there is a tendency in my country to refer to religion as a "faith" or "belief" as the most pervasive forms of religion are grounded in ideological doctrines. In other words, we are shaped to think of religion in terms of orthodoxy, or right belief. Then, as people grow dissatisfied with their religion in this country, it usually centers around matters of belief or faith.

I think it's valuable to recognize this bias, because in the world of religions, orthodoxy is not always a focus. There are many, many religions that focus more on practice and ritual, or are orthopraxic in nature. Paganisms (contemporary or otherwise) have ever been more about practice and ritual than any sort of creed or doctrine. I'm obviously going to be displaying some bias here, but IMHO, religion done right is your way of life. It's whatever that center is that provides the narrative of your life and the meanings and truths of it. Even if your religion tends towards orthodoxy instead of orthopraxy, if all you're doing is the talk and not the walk, your religion is not your Way - it's just so much words.

 

[Sabour]

I've been thinking about my own faith as a follower/disciple of Yeshua (Jesus), I've been looking at his commands and I realize that they are all about action. The studying I've done about various other faiths I have reaped the same conclusions: That it is about action.

Although we Christians believe that we are not saved by works or deeds, but by grace, we also feel as though action would be a part of that faith; that we do works because we believe and follow Yeshua's commands. It goes along with the saying "By their fruits, you shall know them".

What do you all think? Do you agree?

(This is mostly for theists, but I'd like to hear non-theist, atheist, and agnostics views, as well. That is why I posted it here instead of another forum).

It is the "belief" and "doing good deeds" both side by side that save a person.

However, we can discuss what is the belief we are speaking about here.

I am impressed that you noticed that, many Christians won't get that message through the bible and keep on repeating we are sinners and we can't be good.

However, I wanted to invite you to look up whether Jesus peace be upon him claimed divinity. Look at the trinity for example. Is it valid?

The belief I am talking about at the beginning of the reply is the belief that there is no God to worship except Allah.

 

[Vinayaka]

Most Hindus I know don't really clearly know what they believe, yet they still act ethically according to dharma. It's not really a philosophical religion at all, other that the few who go for that. In the west, because of the 'religious' paradigm Quintessence alluded to, people interested in Hinduism usually do it through philosophy first, often practically ignoring ethical action. Kind of sad, that, IMHO, as it sets up a gap between two groups.

 

[Chakra]

It's not really a philosophical religion at all, other that the few who go for that.

Really? A lot of Hindus follow some of the more philosophical sects of Hinduism like Vedanta. I am wondering why you think this. Could you please explain?

 

[Vinayaka]

Really? A lot of Hindus follow some of the more philosophical sects of Hinduism like Vedanta. I am wondering why you think this. Could you please explain?

99% of the Hindus I know are from Sri Lanka or India. (I know a lot of people) I've tried to strike up religious conversations with them, but other than a few simple things, they get lost fairly quickly. Most wouldn't know what Vedanta was, or what sampradaya means, but they'd know the difference between Murugan and Krishna ... maybe. OTOH, I know very few western Hindus, but many whom I do know know exactly where they stand philosophically ... like myself, for instance.

The Indian Hindus, generally, when asked, have very simple non-philosophical answers. Peole like Poeticus are different.

But then, everyone has a different experience.

 

[Chakra]

99% of the Hindus I know are from Sri Lanka or India. (I know a lot of people) I've tried to strike up religious conversations with them, but other than a few simple things, they get lost fairly quickly. Most wouldn't know what Vedanta was, or what sampradaya means, but they'd know the difference between Murugan and Krishna ... maybe. OTOH, I know very few western Hindus, but many whom I do know know exactly where they stand philosophically ... like myself, for instance.

The Indian Hindus, generally, when asked, have very simple non-philosophical answers. Peole like Poeticus are different.

But then, everyone has a different experience.

I guess I would agree when you say that people who technically believe in philosophical systems don't really know that much about it, but more about the Gods and ethics

But I still think that Hinduism can be a philosophical religion, as well as a mystical one.

 

[Vinayaka]

But I still think that Hinduism can be a philosophical religion, as well as a mystical one.

Of course it CAN be. But for your average village Hindu, it simply isn't. It's just a way of life handed down from family to family for centuries.

 

[ChristineES]

Your "we Christians " is a bit broad. Although Protestants believe in sola fide or "by faith alone," other Christians, such as Catholics, believe works are necessary.

You're right, it is very broad. There are some denominations that believe that we are saved by works. I should have been more specific in that statement.

 

[roger1440]

I've been thinking about my own faith as a follower/disciple of Yeshua (Jesus), I've been looking at his commands and I realize that they are all about action. The studying I've done about various other faiths I have reaped the same conclusions: That it is about action.

Although we Christians believe that we are not saved by works or deeds, but by grace, we also feel as though action would be a part of that faith; that we do works because we believe and follow Yeshua's commands. It goes along with the saying "By their fruits, you shall know them".

What do you all think? Do you agree?

(This is mostly for theists, but I'd like to hear non-theist, atheist, and agnostics views, as well. That is why I posted it here instead of another forum).

The entire Bible is about compassion for our fellow man. I can sit here and quote hundreds of verses to make a point. The first one that comes to mind is, “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” (1 John 4:20)

The word compassion is Latin in origin. The prefix “com” means together, common or one. Passion comes from “pati”, which means suffer. When we put them together we have “to suffer as one” or to “feel pity”.

It is only when we are attached to the world around us that we have compassion for our fellow man. It is the love of God that is the cohesiveness that binds us together.

 

[ChristineES]

The entire Bible is about compassion for our fellow man. I can sit here and quote hundreds of verses to make a point. The first one that comes to mind is, “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” (1 John 4:20)

The word compassion is Latin in origin. The prefix “com” means together, common or one. Passion comes from “pati”, which means suffer. When we put them together we have “to suffer as one” or to “feel pity”.

It is only when we are attached to the world around us that we have compassion for our fellow man. It is the love of God that is the cohesiveness that binds us together.

Compassion is an action.

 

[ChristineES]

Christine, it doesn't work.
In fact, I don't remember them specifically, but there are verses, (i'll find them), tht talk about people thinking they can do things via 'action'. they cant. that's the whole point. if they could ,they wouldn't need Jesus. That's where so many xians have it wrong, they think that their "ACTIONS are actually correct, half the time they're harmful.

Loving God is an action, loving our neighbor is an action, what Jesus called the most important Laws given. Jesus final command to His apostles, according to scripture, was to "Love each other as I have loved you". That is an action. I can't speak for other faiths, I don't follow. We are not saved by these actions, these actions are a result of being saved- according to my faith.

No, not ALL actions are good, I never insinuated that they were.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

99% of the Hindus I know are from Sri Lanka or India. (I know a lot of people) I've tried to strike up religious conversations with them, but other than a few simple things, they get lost fairly quickly. Most wouldn't know what Vedanta was, or what sampradaya means, but they'd know the difference between Murugan and Krishna ... maybe. OTOH, I know very few western Hindus, but many whom I do know know exactly where they stand philosophically ... like myself, for instance.

The Indian Hindus, generally, when asked, have very simple non-philosophical answers. Peole like Poeticus are different.

But then, everyone has a different experience.

Probably because it's such a part of their culture and tradition that they just generally believe and take part in the rituals and festivals without really thinking about it. It's more of an automatic reaction. That's how much people in the West are, too, with religion. They just do it because it's part of their tradition and that's it.

If someone wants to follow a minority religion or a religion that's foreign to their culture, they have to really study it.

 

[roger1440]

Compassion is an action.

yes, you are right

 

[Phil25]

99% of the Hindus I know are from Sri Lanka or India. (I know a lot of people) I've tried to strike up religious conversations with them, but other than a few simple things, they get lost fairly quickly. Most wouldn't know what Vedanta was, or what sampradaya means, but they'd know the difference between Murugan and Krishna ... maybe. OTOH, I know very few western Hindus, but many whom I do know know exactly where they stand philosophically ... like myself, for instance.

The Indian Hindus, generally, when asked, have very simple non-philosophical answers. Peole like Poeticus are different.

But then, everyone has a different experience.

I think westerners(as converts) know more about Hindu philosophy because they studied it deeply and compared it with other religions before converting to Hinduism.

 

[Secret Chief]

In my understanding, it is about authentic living, so yes to the OP. What use fine words or regular visits to religious buildings if daily lives are not authentic? The mismatch would suggest a hypocrisy. Who quotes a holy book and then disparages the intention of it in their action? It is inauthentic.

True faith is expressed in the moment by our living action.