If Everyone Followed Your Religion...

[Twilight Hue]

On the plus side, life would be one giant rendition of Fiddler on the Roof.

If I was a rich man...... =0)

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

The proof is in the pudding. Before Christianity, the most 'civilized' societies considered watching people die horribly the height of entertainment. Since we mostly live in a world founded on Christian values, I think they are too easily taken for granted.

Lol, not every pre-Christian society was Roman.

 

[Scott C.]

If everyone in the world followed the same faith (or non-religious worldview, e.g. atheistic naturalism), how would the world be different? Would it be nicer, or about the same? Worse, even? What things we see in the world today wouldn't exist, in terms of cultural trends and ideals?

I'll only respond with regard to Christianity. Some of what I say would be true for some other faiths as well. There's a big difference between a person identifying himself as Christian and actually following Christianity. If everyone in the world perfectly followed Christian principles constantly, the world would be a far, far better place. Everyone in the world would try to emulate Jesus Christ in the way they behave in private and in public and in the way they deal with others. War would cease. Crime would cease. Violence would cease. Prisons would not exist. Poverty would be greatly reduced, if not eliminated. Sexual promiscuity would not exist. No teenaged pregnancy. No STDs. No rape. No spouse abuse. Love at home and in the community. Respect and love among all nations. No greed. No lust for power. No corruption among those in power. No selfishness. Everyone would care about others more than about themselves.

Think how the world would be if every human soul followed the principle "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

 

[Guy Threepwood]

Lol, not every pre-Christian society was Roman.

arguably the most advanced pre-Christian civilization, would you not agree? Yet civilization, in and of itself, did not inherently breed morality, it was just much better at organizing immorality than primitive society

Also - a little off topic perhaps, but do you know what a Scotsman's favorite Rolling Stones song is?

 

[Deidre]

The world is predominantly Christian....so, hmmm...looks like the world has a lot of work to do? lol

Religion and faith beliefs don't make people more or less moral or happy...if deep down their choices are still in following things that won't bring them happiness. You can strive to follow Buddhism, and still be in chaos. You can strive to follow Christianity, or Judaism, or Islam...and still be in chaos. Most faith beliefs have at their core, the central theme of bringing peace to their followers. So, why are so many people who follow some type of religion or set of beliefs, seem to be without peace? Mainly because they haven't yet reconciled what it is that brings them unrest. God can only help someone who wants to be helped. Just my thoughts

 

[Riverwolf]

Well, this was a turnaround - maybe in your case the religion would 'traditional ancestral religions' or something like that.

...kinda...? I mean, modern Heathenry is largely either reconstructed or revived; the original folk religions of the Germanic speaking peoples are long gone, either secularized, merged with Christianity, or forgotten. That's pretty much the same with all of Europe's pre-Christian religions.

I suppose if everyone followed their indigenous folk religions... I guess... the world would probably look more or less like a more technologically advanced form of what it looked like before proselytizing got invented. So... I suppose the question, in that case, would be similar to asking "what if proselytizing religions (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, etc.) never formed?"

 

[Riverwolf]

arguably the most advanced pre-Christian civilization, would you not agree?

Indeed, for a civilization with an army that got so confused by back-facing horseback archery that they never successfully conquered Persia.

Be careful of Eurocentricism in determining the degree of qualities among pre-Christian civilizations, especially in terms of "advanced." Rome was certainly the most militarily advanced pre-Christian civilization of Europe, but Europe isn't the whole world, and Rome didn't preserve a lot of other advancements from pre-Roman Greek civilization that its culture didn't deam important.

 

[DawudTalut]

Thanks for the responses everyone! My, you're a level-headed bunch........I'm surprised to hear you say there'd be peace, as we see conflict among Muslims in the real world, even when the more violent groups have non-Muslims to vent on.

Peace be on you....Why surprised? When there will be Ahmadiyya Muslims in majority, there will be no violence as per their understanding and practices of real Islam since 1889 which they have demonstrated even in worst situations.

 

[Kirran]

Peace be on you....Why surprised? When there will be Ahmadiyya Muslims in majority, there will be no violence as per their understanding and practices of real Islam since 1889 which they have demonstrated even in worst situations.

Ah, you didn't specify only Ahmadis! I apologise for misunderstanding.

Do you think there would be any strife between mainstream Ahmadis and the Lahore Ahmadis?

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

arguably the most advanced pre-Christian civilization, would you not agree? Yet civilization, in and of itself, did not inherently breed morality, it was just much better at organizing immorality than primitive society

Also - a little off topic perhaps, but do you know what a Scotsman's favorite Rolling Stones song is?

I wouldn't say Rome was the most advanced civilisation. Persia was far in advance of them; so were the Greeks, the Babylonians and the ancient Egyptians in many aspects. Rome was just a military superpower. They banned the pursuit of philosophy, for instance, because it wasn't an activity 'true Romans' should devote their time to. Yet one of the most important aspects of society is how its citizens think and how they understand the world.

Certainly compared to most medieval societies, pre-Christian ones were considerably more advanced, if not in terms of technology, then in other ways. Pre-Christian societies that created & gathered a lot of knowledge on the subjects of astronomy, medicine, philosophy et al. Knowledge which was lost to Europe when it became Christianised because the Christians had a tendency to destroy that which they saw as pagan - and which was only introduced via the Islamic conquest of southern Spain as well as the Renaissance. Zoroastrian Persia was one of the more tolerant empires before Christ - it was multicultural (as an example, the Ionian Greeks were permitted to keep their identity and were not pressured to ape Persian culture), even though Zoroastrianism was the official faith, religious freedom was practised (again, the Ionian Hellenes as well as other people like the Babylonians were permitted to continue worshipping their own gods) to a greater extent than the Roman Empire; who merely Romanised the gods of conquered cultures and insisted every citizen (including Jews & Christians) worship them.

I dunno. What's a Scotsman's favourite Rolling Stones song?

 

[DawudTalut]

Ah, you didn't specify only Ahmadis! I apologise for misunderstanding.

Peace be on you.
Thank you. No problem friend.

Do you think there would be any strife between mainstream Ahmadis and the Lahore Ahmadis?

No.

 

[Guy Threepwood]

I wouldn't say Rome was the most advanced civilisation. Persia was far in advance of them; so were the Greeks, the Babylonians and the ancient Egyptians in many aspects. Rome was just a military superpower. They banned the pursuit of philosophy, for instance, because it wasn't an activity 'true Romans' should devote their time to. Yet one of the most important aspects of society is how its citizens think and how they understand the world.

Certainly compared to most medieval societies, pre-Christian ones were considerably more advanced, if not in terms of technology, then in other ways. Pre-Christian societies that created & gathered a lot of knowledge on the subjects of astronomy, medicine, philosophy et al. Knowledge which was lost to Europe when it became Christianised because the Christians had a tendency to destroy that which they saw as pagan - and which was only introduced via the Islamic conquest of southern Spain as well as the Renaissance. Zoroastrian Persia was one of the more tolerant empires before Christ - it was multicultural (as an example, the Ionian Greeks were permitted to keep their identity and were not pressured to ape Persian culture), even though Zoroastrianism was the official faith, religious freedom was practised (again, the Ionian Hellenes as well as other people like the Babylonians were permitted to continue worshipping their own gods) to a greater extent than the Roman Empire; who merely Romanised the gods of conquered cultures and insisted every citizen (including Jews & Christians) worship them.

I dunno. What's a Scotsman's favourite Rolling Stones song?

I would not agree but that debate aside; Roman pagan civilization is what pre-dated and was replaced by Christianity directly.

And the church was the keeper and protector of knowledge- science, art, music during the dark ages was it not?, the only people who could read and write and value books at all. Hardly a coincidence that the church led the renaissance

Scotsman's favorite Rolling Stones song:
Hey! Mcleod! Get off a' ma ewe!

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

I would not agree but that debate aside; Roman pagan civilization is what pre-dated and was replaced by Christianity directly.

That doesn't mean it was the most advanced pre-Christian civ; merely the one that Christianity replaced.

And the church was the keeper and protector of knowledge- science, art, music during the dark ages was it not?, the only people who could read and write and value books at all. Hardly a coincidence that the church led the renaissance

While true; that doesn't mean they shared their knowledge widely. How long did it take European societies to progress and advance in terms of science, art, music, philosophy etc once the Dark Ages began? Did it lead the Renaissance, especially considering much of it was secular in nature?

Scotsman's favorite Rolling Stones song:
Hey! Mcleod! Get off a' ma ewe!

Ha ha! The best part is I actually am of Macleod blood. So careful where you aim your stereotypes

 

[Guy Threepwood]

That doesn't mean it was the most advanced pre-Christian civ; merely the one that Christianity replaced.

I'd say it was, but agree it's debatable depending on how we define 'advanced' point being... what were we talking about anyway?!

oh...that before Christianity 'civilization' in the sense of technology, structure, organization, cooperation, - in this case- did not in itself lead to greater morality- only a more efficient way of carrying out immoral acts right?. In the larger perspective, most of us, and the successful, free, prosperous modern world is largely founded on Christian values, in it's laws, morals etc- directly or indirectly- and this is so permeated that we take it for granted.

But is there any reason to suspect, that if the pagan Roman Empire had prevailed in similar global dominance, we wouldn't still be building stadiums for the public enjoyment of live brutal murder?

While true; that doesn't mean they shared their knowledge widely. How long did it take European societies to progress and advance in terms of science, art, music, philosophy etc once the Dark Ages began? Did it lead the Renaissance, especially considering much of it was secular in nature?

probably the two most familiar works of the renaissance?:

Ha ha! The best part is I actually am of Macleod blood. So careful where you aim your stereotypes

That's pretty cool, Macleods were Highlanders right? none of yer lowland rubbish!

 

[metis]

The best clan of course was MacDonald of Clanranald. Some really good looking and intelligent people emerged from that one.

 

[Revoltingest]

The best clan of course was MacDonald of Clanranald.
Some really good looking and intelligent people emerged from that one.

But like all Scots, the Clanranald Macdonald was feisty.

But they were a big hit with the lassies!
\

 

[metis]

But like all Scots, the Clanranald Macdonald was feisty.

But they were a big hit with the lassies!
\

Funny, but I don't remember posing for those. Hmmmmm, must be an age thingy.

BTW, I think you said you're a Scot, so do you know which clan(s) you came out of?

 

[Revoltingest]

BTW, I think you said you're a Scot, so do you know which clan(s) you came out of?

Johnston

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

I'd say it was, but agree it's debatable depending on how we define 'advanced' point being... what were we talking about anyway?!

Given that we're using separate criteria which I doubt we'll come to a consensus, I suspect it's more sensible to just agree to disagree. How does that sound?

 

[metis]

Johnston

Who apparently "loved" the English as much as the MacDonalds.