Religious Teachings in Your Life

[Trey of Diamonds]

What benefits the tribe and what benefits the individual, at least in immediate terms, are often in conflict. When you sort out that conflict, you have morality. We see this in every social species; why would humans be any different?

They aren't different, that's my point. This questions was answered instinctively, as with all those other social species you mentioned. With that process in place, early man's first contemplative thoughts turned to the why things happen. This is what made us human rather than animal. A lion may be curious but they don't sit around thinking about why something happened to them. As for what is right or wrong, they either chose what is right for them or the pride, depending on the situation. This is why a mother will abandon it's young in some situations. Do you think that they consider the right and wrong of this or act on instinct.

As fun as this arguement may be, to be honest, it has no relevance to the OP. But I do love my tangents...

 

[challupa]

I think as a social group, which we were from the beginning, we learned very quickly what worked for our survival both personally and as a group. While some of that was instinct as you say Trey, it could also be called innate as Carlinknew says. In order to survive we had to decide on things that provided survival and they became right and the things that didn't became wrong. Morality wasn't the driving edge, survival was. I believe religions were formed based on these rights and wrongs that made survival and cooperation within a community more beneficial. Imo morality was attached to what works and what doesn't work later on by religions wanting to control. I think we took morality to far because to this day there are circumstances that make an act that is deemed "immoral" and makes it right. eg. stealing to survive in dire circumstances and killing in self defence. We now have rules that guide morality and while that isn't really "bad", it does not take into consideration the circumstances as much as it should imo.

Now back to your question. I do read many religious works in an effort to try and understand this world that is filled predominately with people who believe in one religion or the other. I have studied many religions to understand what they believe and the history of these organizations. I also try to understand where they got these beliefs. It is very interesting and it makes me understand just how much all religions have in common and don't need to be fighting about who is right.

 

[Muffled]

Before I was saved I sought wisdom in the book of Proverbs in the Bible and found it there. I tend to think my spirit from its experience in previous lives already knew what wisdom would be and that is how I could recognize Proverbs as being wise.

Now that I am saved, I do not have to refer to scripture for salvation and guidance. However my savior likes to work through His Word and leads me to it often enough.

IMO the person who trusts in his own concepts is like the mentally ill person who has to go to a psychiatrist and the one that does not does crazy things.

 

[Luke]

How much religion do you have in your life? Do you actually refer to the texts and teachings of your particular religion or do you merely go to Church and call yourself religious? Are you an Atheist who completely disregards anything religious or do you think that religion has something in its texts and teachings that can be useful to you even if you don't believe the myths behind it?

there are no myths i n my religion.i learn m y religion and society i n study tech becuase my church want m e to beleive i n myselve,the communiity and societe.

 

[OmarKhayyam]

How much religion do you have in your life? Do you actually refer to the texts and teachings of your particular religion or do you merely go to Church and call yourself religious? Are you an Atheist who completely disregards anything religious or do you think that religion has something in its texts and teachings that can be useful to you even if you don't believe the myths behind it?

The only value I ever found in ANY religious crap was as a child. I learned that the ability to recite bible verses on command saved some of hide. So I learned and parroted as required.

But SINCE then, in more than 50 yrs now I have YET so understand why anyone finds anything of value in these hateful medieval myths.

The sooner we leave this entire idea of supernatural religion in the ash can of history the better off we ALL will be.:yes:

 

[Shahzad]

I'm not remotely religious but neither am I an atheist or an agnostic, but I do find some religious texts to be deeply inspiring, moving and uplifting. I regard them as having some aspect of allegorical truth. There are pearls amongst the stones. I don't find it necessary to apply religious teachings though.

 

[darkendless]

How much religion do you have in your life? Do you actually refer to the texts and teachings of your particular religion or do you merely go to Church and call yourself religious? Are you an Atheist who completely disregards anything religious or do you think that religion has something in its texts and teachings that can be useful to you even if you don't believe the myths behind it?

Religious teachings have no impact on me what so ever. I find it insulting here when i ask questions and scripture is the response i get. If i wanted to hear what the bible/Quran/whatever said, i'd read it.

I think personal experience is much more valuable than a 2000 year old book. There is only so much you can take from these texts, if you don't make your own decisions you're missing out on crucial parts of life.

 

[challupa]

Religious teachings have no impact on me what so ever. I find it insulting here when i ask questions and scripture is the response i get. If i wanted to hear what the bible/Quran/whatever said, i'd read it.

I think personal experience is much more valuable than a 2000 year old book. There is only so much you can take from these texts, if you don't make your own decisions you're missing out on crucial parts of life.

I know what you mean. When people start quoting scripture my eyes glaze over and I just don't read it. I grew up with that stuff and have read the Bible from front to back several times. I don't want to have to do it again as an adult!! I would much rather hear their interpretation of what they understand not the scripture. That takes no thought at all!

 

[Riverwolf]

The only value I ever found in ANY religious crap was as a child. I learned that the ability to recite bible verses on command saved some of hide. So I learned and parroted as required.

But SINCE then, in more than 50 yrs now I have YET so understand why anyone finds anything of value in these hateful medieval myths.

The sooner we leave this entire idea of supernatural religion in the ash can of history the better off we ALL will be.:yes:

Have you ever actually READ one? Not parrot one, but actually READ? Not individual verses, but an entire book?

The way you may be able to at least understand what we find in these texts is to pretend that all the bigots and extremists simply don't exist, and furthermore to pretend that people who believe in them literally don't exist, either.

Oh, and I fail to see how the gospels could be considered hateful when the overarching message is love. Surely you should know that.

And another thing: these stories have been around for millenia before the medieval times.

 

[Smoke]

There's no room in your poll for theists who aren't religious or atheists who are.

I'm an atheist, and I'm religious. I find (some) religious texts useful -- specifically, some Buddhist, Quaker, Taoist and Hindu texts. Not all of them or most of them, but some. I find some texts of other religions interesting but not particularly useful. The Eddas are particularly interesting.

 

[OmarKhayyam]

"Oh, and I fail to see how the gospels could be considered hateful when the overarching message is love. Surely you should know that."

No, the message is: Believe or burn Son. And burn forever. Goody Goody. As evidenced here.


If forgers and malefactors are put to death by the secular power, there is much more reason for excommunicating and even putting to death one convicted of heresy.


That the saints may enjoy their beatitude and the grace of God more abundantly they are permitted to see the punishment of the damned in hell.
Saint Thomas Aquinas http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/s/saintthoma192529.html#

 

[Storm]

"Oh, and I fail to see how the gospels could be considered hateful when the overarching message is love. Surely you should know that."

No, the message is: Believe or burn Son. And burn forever. Goody Goody. As evidenced here.


If forgers and malefactors are put to death by the secular power, there is much more reason for excommunicating and even putting to death one convicted of heresy.


That the saints may enjoy their beatitude and the grace of God more abundantly they are permitted to see the punishment of the damned in hell.
Saint Thomas Aquinas

Not the Gospels.

 

[OmarKhayyam]

Not the Gospels.

The Blessed Saint would care to differ. And since He is a Saint and you - technically - a heretic which of you speaks for the "faith.":thud:

 

[Storm]

The Blessed Saint would care to differ.

Really. When and where did Aquinas claim to have written the Gospels?

And since He is a Saint and you - technically - a heretic which of you speaks for the "faith."

When and where have I claimed to be Christian?

 

[Don Penguinoini]

Not everyone who is religious will go to a church, Trey

I incorporate a lot of things which I think are religious in my life... If i drop a book, i will sort of ask for forgiveness. Books are sacred, they are knowledge. Knowledge is one of the highest things we have. Also for money. This may seem materialistic, but let's be realistic. Money is extremely important. I cannot put my feet on money. It is not right, that which provides man with food and shelter is sacred, to me.

I am a vegetarian, even though this is NOT a Hindu belief, or teaching, its a part of ahimsa. To me, eating animals is the same as kiling an animal, though indirectly. By eating it, you are calling for another one to be killed for your next meal. I do not want to be responsible for an uneeded killing of an animal that has been killed needlessly. Though I will never think someone is a bad person for eating meat. You should judge someone on their personality, not their eating habits.

Even in my house, everything is orientated towards God. Like, my football team lost a HUGE game recently, and my mum said it was down to God. I am not sure whether I agree with this or not. Sometimes, I think it just Karma at play, all the time. Even in my Room, I have a couple of posters of murtis, my map of India, and alongside it my Manchester United posters

I think overall, religion has a HUGELY positive impact on my family. I can see my family deteriorating without religion. I think religion on a whole is being judged by atheists on the merits of only two religions. That is just sad...

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

I think religion on a whole is being judged by atheists on the merits of only two religions. That is just sad...

Only some do this and they are not in the majority. Sometimes I think Atheists should have denominations so you can know which kind of Atheist you talking to or about.

 

[challupa]

Only some do this and they are not in the majority. Sometimes I think Atheists should have denominations so you can know which kind of Atheist you talking to or about.

That actually might be a good idea!! There do seem to be many different types don't there. I would say I am an athiest because I don't believe in certain gods, but I do believe there is something so not sure what that makes me?

 

[OmarKhayyam]

Really. When and where did Aquinas claim to have written the Gospels?

He didn't. And this is relevant because . . .?

When and where have I claimed to be Christian?

You didn't. And this is relevant because . . .?

 

[Storm]

He didn't. And this is relevant because . . .?

You posted a quote from Aquinas, I responded that it was not from the Gospels, you contradicted me. Actually, you said Aquinas himself contradicted me. So, either I was correct, and it's not from the Gospels, or.... nope, that's pretty much the only option.

You didn't. And this is relevant because . . .?

You implied I was Christian.

BTW, please don't reply inside the quote box. It makes answering a pain.

 

[Don Penguinoini]

Only some do this and they are not in the majority. Sometimes I think Atheists should have denominations so you can know which kind of Atheist you talking to or about.

I cant remember the last time I saw an atheist who confronted religion, and not Christianity.