Off to Reform a Religion?

[Aštra’el]

If I could reform religions I would reform the big two monotheisms for sure. I would kick all the hate, bigotry, discrimination, and violence. I would kick the guilt and fear and forced indoctrinations and conversions. I would kick the political influence and intolerance. I would kick the "one truth all else burn" rhetoric and replace it with all the love bits people try to hold on to. In the end this just amounts to kicking all the radicals and extremists, the intolerant and the violent, leaving behind only your sweet neighbor, colleague, or friend who just wants everyone to be happy.
I'm a dreamer, I know.

So basically you would turn Abrahamism into a G-rated movie...

 

[Aštra’el]

The Abrahamic religions invented God as a lawgiver and judge, creating a population fearful of divine wrath should they violate convention or tolerate unorthodox thought-crimes -- or allow others to do so.

I would remove this doctrine of lawmaker and enforcer. it's been responsible for too much repression and death.

The YHWH archetype is one of ultimate Creation and ultimate Destruction, and ultimate Order over ultimate Chaos. These things are obviously not without their consequences.

 

[Iti oj]

If you could reform any one, some, or all of the world's religions, which religion(s) would you reform, and what specifically would you do to reform it or them?

All religions preach that sunstone will become supreme over Lord .

 

[Valjean]

The gist of it is; God gave the 10 commandments and told people to keep the commandments. Knowing that nobody could keep the commandments perfectly, to the effect that the harder you try to keep them the more you realize that you are a sinner, you are incapable of keeping the commandments because you are corrupted with sin and need a Savior to fix you, and to the best of my understanding is the purpose of death and resurrection.

This doesn't sound psychologically healthy. Wouldn't this lead to a depraved self-loathing and disdain for the human race in general?
I can see no good coming from this.

 

[Sunstone]

All religions preach that sunstone will become supreme over Lord .

Thanks so much, but I don't want the job. Too much responsibility - not enough play time. I would much more cherish being the towel boy in a strip club. That's where the real fun begins!

 

[Kemosloby]

This doesn't sound psychologically healthy. Wouldn't this lead to a depraved self-loathing and disdain for the human race in general?
I can see no good coming from this.

No, just a touch of melancholy and a humble spirit.

 

[lovesong]

So basically you would turn Abrahamism into a G-rated movie...

No, I would just get rid of the ***holes. Life is better without ***holes.

 

[robocop (actually)]

Like Thomas Jefferson Raelians believe in censoring violence out of scripture. Whatever world ruling party can do it should try to take the violent parts out of scriptures, especially wars.

In the words of the Beastie Boys, "due time we fought the non-violent fight."

 

[Tumah]

I would reform me first. If I were perfect, I'm sure others would follow... or crucify me.

That's ok. Historically, we perfection hasn't been one of the requirement to get us to crucify you. So if you're interested...

 

[Laika]

If you could reform any one, some, or all of the world's religions, which religion(s) would you reform, and what specifically would you do to reform it or them?

...hmmm... Exercising the power to over-ride the soverignty and liberty of individual thought over the most private and intimate questions of religious belief in the name of doing whats best for humanity?

I'm sure I'll be able to think of something.

 

[Scuba Pete]

So if you're interested...

I've had a few try right here on RF!

The point is, I'll worry about changing others once I'm done with me. I don't get the desire to pick the mote out of my brother's eye while there are still planks in my own.

 

[DeviChaaya]

Like Thomas Jefferson Raelians believe in censoring violence out of scripture. Whatever world ruling party can do it should try to take the violent parts out of scriptures, especially wars.

In the words of the Beastie Boys, "due time we fought the non-violent fight."

Battle and wars in scriptures are not necessarily bad. Take the Vaishnava scripture, the Bhagavad Gita. It is set in the centre of a battlefield where a battle is about to commence. Or hey, take the whole Mahabharata; the violence in this scripture is primarily the fight of good over evil but the 'evil' is not people; you cannot create an 'other' to hate when the dharma over adharma narrative points out that we all have adharmic thoughts and actions and must therefore work to over come it.

 

[savagewind]

If you could reform any one, some, or all of the world's religions, which religion(s) would you reform, and what specifically would you do to reform it or them?

My first respond was, it is not possible. Then I read it again and I thought too much reform needs be, I do not have all day..........so I left and then an idea came to me. I am going to share it. It is true (imo) and not troll.

I might reform the Jehovah's Witness religion. The first thing I would do is to change their belief that one mind means everyone must agree to have the same ideas about what is good to think and to do.
I would change that back to what I believe was the intent for writing Acts of the Apostles 4:32 (The congregation of believers was one in heart and soul.); Philippians 1:27 (of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel), 1 Corinthians 1:10 (Now I urge you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you should all speak in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you,+ but that you may be completely united in the same mind and in the same line of thought.+ 11 For some from the house of Chloʹe have informed) was for.

I think that what was intended is that the whole body of Christ heads for the same goal.
A crowd of people can go together thinking and doing different things, but end up together at the same place. Also, if you would look at it, Jesus never said anything of that kind, that we should all believe the same things about everything.

Then I would change the assumption that everyone who disagrees with their One Mind doctrine should be removed from them.

Of course, I would change some things in their holy books.

 

[Rival]

Protestantism. Make it, well, not exist lol.

 

[Quintessence]

Not sure I feel it is my place to make declarations of reform for any religion other than my own, as it is not my place to dictate what other religious traditions do with themselves and I value diversity far too much to want to warp other people's cultures and traditions.

With respect to Druidry, I wouldn't use the word "reform" as much as there are certain things I'd like to see develop over time as the new religious movement becomes more established. And that's... well... establishment. Infrastructure. I'd like to see the same of the contemporary Pagan movement as a whole, and in many respects, becoming more organized is necessary in the long term. There are pockets of infrastructure out there, but it's laughable compared to other minority religions in this country that have even fewer numbers than we do.

There's not much else that could be "reformed" (again, not really the word I would use) given the non-dogmatic nature of the movement. If anything, it might not be so horrible to draw some more lines.

 

[JustWondering]

If you could reform any one, some, or all of the world's religions, which religion(s) would you reform, and what specifically would you do to reform it or them?

I would have all religions that contain supernatural forces/beings include a disclaimer at the beginning of all their religious texts that they are works of fiction.

 

[James Barnes]

If you could reform any one, some, or all of the world's religions, which religion(s) would you reform, and what specifically would you do to reform it or them?

The only thing I would reform is the mind of the so called black man belonging to the United States of America. The Hebrews spoken of in Miqra.

 

[kaoticprofit]

If you could reform any one, some, or all of the world's religions, which religion(s) would you reform, and what specifically would you do to reform it or them?

Islam needs it most but is beyond reformation. The only hope to reform it is to get out of it or ban it. I would reform Christianity, it has really gone bad in the last 20 years. It still has hope but needs a lot of help.

 

[crossfire]

If you could reform any one, some, or all of the world's religions, which religion(s) would you reform, and what specifically would you do to reform it or them?

I would take the sneaky approach. I'd work at waking people up, and let them do the reforming as they see fit, with open eyes and a clear mind.

 

[kaoticprofit]

The only thing I would reform is the mind of the so called black man belonging to the United States of America. The Hebrews spoken of in Miqra.

On that note I think we should reform the Media and Police Departments too, or at least provide the training to assure that the task can truthfully and adequately be fulfilled.