Religious Cherry picking-yay or ney?

[Me Myself]

(I hope the poll appears and comes out okay)

For those unfamiliar with the term:

Cherry picking: Choosing in what you agree or not of any religion, point by point and not as a whole.

So far I had only seen it as a pejorative form of not believing absolutely everything of sacred-text/religion/X but evaluating point ofr point of it instead, and keeping that which makes sense to you of it, and leaving the parts that don´t make sense to you behind.

My answer:

Believe in God/s but take from religions what I see fit.

I am comfortable with this actualy. I choose every believe I have and trust only in myself to make them, acept them or refuse them. I listen to everything religious or moral and decide for myself point by point.

Most religions can have awesome jewels of wisdom to offer, and most religions I find something that shouldn´t be there (IMO) to begin with.

So I accept that none is going to be "Perfect" and choose the bits I like without remorse for the rest.

The religion was made for the man, not the man for the religion.

EVERYONE

Feel free to share and discuss opinions on your answers. (now lets see if the poll shows)

 

[waitasec]

in my world, there is a tree to pick the cherries from...

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I actually cherry-picked my approach to this issue from the Bible:

Test everything. Hold on to the good.

I've got no problem with taking ideas from any source as long as I actually have good reason to do so.

The issue I have with cherry-picking is when it's done for reasons of convenience, not pursuit of truth, especially when it results in inconsistency. For instance, I've encountered Christians who say they believe that the Bible is God's Word but choose to ignore passages like "slaves, obey your worldly masters" and commands for husbands to "rule over" their wives.

I think it's fine to have a standard and accept or reject ideas based on whether they meet that standard or not, but IMO, the standard should be consistent and justifiable.

 

[Breathe]

Answered "I believe in God/s, but when it comes to religions I take only what I see fit.".

Some religious concepts are outdated as they are influenced by social and cultural norms.

 

[Awoon]

Religion is to serve humankind.

To Answer our questions about our thoughts, dreams, feelings, sicknesses. IMHO

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Some religious concepts are outdated as they are influenced by social and cultural norms.

Some?

I generally take religious concepts to be examples of social and cultural norms themselves.

 

[Me Myself]

in my world, there is a tree to pick the cherries from...

Methaphorical? You must tell me it is methaphorical!

I actually cherry-picked my approach to this issue from the Bible:

Test everything. Hold on to the good.

I've got no problem with taking ideas from any source as long as I actually have good reason to do so.

The issue I have with cherry-picking is when it's done for reasons of convenience, not pursuit of truth, especially when it results in inconsistency. For instance, I've encountered Christians who say they believe that the Bible is God's Word but choose to ignore passages like "slaves, obey your worldly masters" and commands for husbands to "rule over" their wives.

I think it's fine to have a standard and accept or reject ideas based on whether they meet that standard or not, but IMO, the standard should be consistent and justifiable.

Sounds reasonable. Yeah a lot of people do that, but I would say it goes way beyond christians.

Answered "I believe in God/s, but when it comes to religions I take only what I see fit.".

Some religious concepts are outdated as they are influenced by social and cultural norms.

100% agreed :yes:

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Sounds reasonable. Yeah a lot of people do that, but I would say it goes way beyond christians.

I totally agree. That was just the first example that came to mind.

 

[ChristineES]

I don't really care for the term "cherry picking". Don't tell me that there is one person alive who agrees with anything 100%, including religions. I don't consciously go through my faith and say "I don't like this one" or "I choose not to follow that", my faith is my life and I live my life with it. It is a part of me and my life but more than that, God is a part of my life- my belief in God is more important than my faith/religion.

But this is a good topic.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I don't really care for the term "cherry picking". Don't tell me that there is one person alive who agrees with anything 100%, including religions.

I believe I can think of a few people I know who disagree with their religion's doctrines on a few points and think that they shouldn't feel the way they do.

 

[GabrielWithoutWings]

I believe in God/s, but when it comes to religions I take only what I see fit.

That's pretty close.

I don't limit myself to only religious-specific literature in my spirituality.

Valerie's Letter from V for Vendetta, is a great example. I consider that a very holy bit of writ and it's from a comic book.

/shrug

 

[ChristineES]

I believe I can think of a few people I know who disagree with their religion's doctrines on a few points and think that they shouldn't feel the way they do.

It is like swimming in the ocean. Not every drop of water can touch you, but you are surrounded by the water and all of the water is connected. I am sure there are some people who consciously pick out of their religion doctrines that they don't agree with. I just don't do it.

 

[LuisDantas]

I voted other. I consider myself a religious atheist, and there is no ready-made option for that.

As for cherry-picking, it is sort of a duty for any serious religious person. The Dharmas are a bit more explicit on the matter, but it is true for the Abrahamic Faiths as well - even if they often deny it.

 

[Levite]

Judaism is a religion of multiple meanings and different schools of thought. We don't really have a concept of "there is one correct Jewish set of dogmas and one either accepts them all or not." And we are generally more concerned with actions than with beliefs-- whether one observes the commandments (according to whatever interpretation one follows) is more important by far than the nuances of one's theology. So the concept of "cherry picking" doesn't entirely fit us.

 

[crossfire]

I freely pick and eat from every cherry tree in the garden.

 

[4consideration]

I chose Other. I cherry pick a lot. I pick only what I understand to be applicable, and sometimes put some back.

I think cherry picking is perfectly fine, as long as the cherries you are picking are for your personal use and consumption, according to what you see as being correct, "true," and applicable. Cherry picking for the purpose of shoving them down the throats of someone else (or to "make them wrong") is dumb and unkind -- and likely to cause the person to regurgitate on you.

 

[crossfire]

I chose Other. I cherry pick a lot. I pick only what I understand to be applicable, and sometimes put some back.

I think cherry picking is perfectly fine, as long as the cherries you are picking are for your personal use and consumption, according to what you see as being correct, "true," and applicable. Cherry picking for the purpose of shoving them down the throats of someone else (or to "make them wrong") is dumb and unkind -- and likely to cause the person to regurgitate on you.

I like to put the cherries on the snack table and let anyone help themselves.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Judaism is a religion of multiple meanings and different schools of thought. We don't really have a concept of "there is one correct Jewish set of dogmas and one either accepts them all or not." And we are generally more concerned with actions than with beliefs-- whether one observes the commandments (according to whatever interpretation one follows) is more important by far than the nuances of one's theology. So the concept of "cherry picking" doesn't entirely fit us.

Very nicely put. :clap

 

[Jainarayan]

Ooh, old resurrected thread is resurrected. A good one, no less. I cherry-pick and syncretize.

I have a specific religion in which I identify myself but I do cherry pick a little.

I identify primarily as Vaishnava Hindu, but I've always thought there was more to it than "classical" or archetypal Hinduism. I have always had an interest in Buddhism, but knew almost nothing about it, and still know little, but I'm being drawn to Vajrayāna. I'm also drawn to Taoism and 'Jesuism'. Jesuism is only the "red print" parts of the gospels, that is, only what Jesus spoke.

The not-necessarily-accurate-Belief-O-Matic quiz results for me are:

Hinduism (100%)
Mahāyāna Buddhism (89%) Vajrayāna comes out of Mahāyāna Buddhism.
Neo-Pagan (83%)
Sikhism (81%)
Jainism (77%)
Unitarian Universalism (77%)
Theravada Buddhism (71%)
.
.
.
Taoism (55%) That's a surprise.

 

[beenie]

Judaism is a religion of multiple meanings and different schools of thought. We don't really have a concept of "there is one correct Jewish set of dogmas and one either accepts them all or not." And we are generally more concerned with actions than with beliefs-- whether one observes the commandments (according to whatever interpretation one follows) is more important by far than the nuances of one's theology. So the concept of "cherry picking" doesn't entirely fit us.

Maybe I'm really Jewish!

Seriously, this is how I view things as well, which is why this is my choice:

I believe in God/s, but when it comes to religions I take only what I see fit.

It's not an exact match, but it's the closest there is in the poll. Actions speak louder than words, and if there is one major issue I see amongst Muslims in particular, it's that many will preach all about believing in one God and how we have to do this and do that... follow all the rules... but they don't extend one inch to help others, ESPECIALLY non-Muslims.

Sure, there are many who do, but the majority do not. It's sad.