Some religions shouldn't exist.

[Midnight Pete]

Agree of disagree.

I am most curious about this one in particular:

Church of Euthanasia

Depraved and disgusting.

But you can't kill an idea once it's out there.

 

[YmirGF]

You clearly overlook the facts that not only are there FIVE Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, the Babi Faith, and the Baha'i Faith; but that the Baha'i Faith has created NO SUCH THING--and indeed, arguably quite the opposite!

Now, if only Baha'i's and Babi's had had any real impact on the world...

 

[bobhikes]

How and when did the existence of beliefs become synonimous with the existence of specific people?

Where do beliefs come from are they not generated by specific people. As to how we do it. You would need to get rid of all the extremists it would be as easy as getting rid of any specific religion.

You show me how to get rid of a specific religion and I'll show you how to get rid of the extremists.

 

[dogsgod]

I joined the church of euthenasia last month when there was 300 members, but now that most have euthanized themselves, there's only ten members left. :thud:Make that nine.

 

[bobhikes]

I joined the church of euthenasia last month when there was 300 members, but now that most have euthanized themselves, there's only ten members left. :thud:

I like this religion, It needs a lot more members.:clap

 

[EtuMalku]

You guys are but babes of the new woods . . . give it time.

Your belief that Bahá’u’lláh is a greater manifestation of God than Moses, Muhammad, or the Christian Messiah is the same Abrahamic mandate and not much different than the partisan politics that it so condemns.

Contrary to unifying people and religions, the Baha'i Faith is creating divisions between Muslims and Jews, for this is just another religion that they (and Christians) will not agree upon. Baha'i uses unprovable doctrines that stand in direct opposition to both Islam and Judaism.

Abdu'l-Bahá (son of Bahá'u'lláh): "If religion becomes a cause of dislike, hatred and division, it were better to be without it, and to withdraw from such a religion would be a truly religious act. For it is clear that the purpose of a remedy is to cure; but if the remedy should only aggravate the complaint it had better be left alone. Any religion which is not a cause of love and unity is no religion."

You clearly overlook the facts that not only are there FIVE Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, the Babi Faith, and the Baha'i Faith; but that the Baha'i Faith has created NO SUCH THING--and indeed, arguably quite the opposite!

Peace,

Bruce

 

[Riverwolf]

Now, if only Baha'i's and Babi's had had any real impact on the world...

And what does that say about humanity?

 

[Caladan]

I think that the major religions are 'legit', religions which stretch thousands of years into various cultures livelihood and history, as well as the various native religions which have a long historical baggage behind them, everything else pretty much brings confusion into people's life and into society, and by that I mean modern reconstructionist religions, new age, and modern peseudo-scientific religions.

 

[YmirGF]

And what does that say about humanity?

That we are no quite so inclined to accept the religious ranting of people anymore? For one, I don't see that as a bad thing - in the slightest.

 

[St Giordano Bruno]

Any religion that condones torture or even practices it should never exist. Muti is one of those.

 

[Riverwolf]

That we are no quite so inclined to accept the religious ranting of people anymore? For one, I don't see that as a bad thing - in the slightest.

Not quite what I had in mind... nor am I so sure that's the case.

If it were, bogus Sages wouldn't have so much influence.

 

[EverChanging]

Voting yes means your saying some people shouldn't exist. Which I'm ok with. If you get rid of enough people all religions will be fine.

I agree. In an alternate universe, if my clone nevertheless had a completely different culture and background than me, it wouldn't be "me," which is ever changing anyway. However, I do not think that some religions should exist. Quite the contrary. Thus, I think certain people shouldn't exist, at least when thinking from a moral point of view. Hitler comes to mind, and some others.

In any case, I don't know that I would get rid of any religions. So while I don't think some religions should exist, I also wouldn't arbitrarily eliminate them. History has worked itself out as it has. If I were in control of such a massive process and erase parts of it as I wished, there's no telling what we would come out with. I trust an indifferent universe more than myself.

 

[Father Heathen]

I'm fairly certain that the "Church of Euthanasia" is a gag religion.

 

[EverChanging]

I think that the major religions are 'legit', religions which stretch thousands of years into various cultures livelihood and history, as well as the various native religions which have a long historical baggage behind them, everything else pretty much brings confusion into people's life and into society, and by that I mean modern reconstructionist religions, new age, and modern peseudo-scientific religions.

Why do you think that?

 

[YmirGF]

Not quite what I had in mind... nor am I so sure that's the case.

If it were, bogus Sages wouldn't have so much influence.

I like you too much to bother arguing the point with you, Riverwolf. There are only four beings who have ever existed that I would call "sages" and am quite unimpressed with those who think differently.

 

[Breathe]

I do think the world would be better off if some religions in particular did not exist.

Kind of a shame to say that, really, but I think it's true.

 

[Caladan]

Why do you think that?

Because the major religions are practically a 'genetic' reality of the cultures who practice them, as has been the case for thousands of years. for Europeans or Americans to reconstruct the religions of semitic and near eastern people, or the pantheons that were practices by the pagans in their lands has no relevance for today's society, when people want to be considered excessively 'unique', they will alienate themselves more and more from the rest of society, they will lose touch with the real relevant religious and political issues. furthermore many of these systems have a problem with accepting hard science without bending it or without leaning on outdated theories from the romance era which have been eradicated from academic thinking decades or centuries ago.
Btw I feel the same about people who practice the religions of other societies. I think that western people only damage themselves when they practice eastern religions, or convert to middle eastern religions, because they will never experience the thousands of years behind these religions and their cultures.

 

[EverChanging]

Because the major religions are practically a 'genetic' reality of the cultures who practice them, as has been the case for thousands of years. for Europeans or Americans to reconstruct the religions of semitic and near eastern people, or the pantheons that were practices by the pagans in their lands has no relevance for today's society, when people want to be considered excessively 'unique', they will alienate themselves more and more from the rest of society, they will lose touch with the real relevant religious and political issues.

I know serious practitioners of neopagan religions who grapple with life's struggles, religious questions, and who are very informed in politics, and very well-read, even within the Abrahamic faiths. I do agree that much of what passes as spiritual, including the New Age movement, is actually trash.

I also think a person can be influenced by other faiths and still keep to a core tradition. My spirituality is grounded in Christianity, the religion I am most familiar with, but I am still influenced by studying other faiths. My rituals and liturgical practices are all interconnected, and I don't just introduce foreign arbitrary elements, but sometimes I will incorporate an insight gained from another tradition, or at times a more nature-based or neo-pagan ritual or prayer, when appropriate. The world religions cannot help but to influence each other in a global world, and increasingly even people in traditional Christian denominations are becoming syncretic or somehow influenced by another faith such as Buddhism. This is the experience of some of my friends. There has even been a goddess Eucharist in the Episcopal Church (although not formally approved by the national church). There has also been a Muslim/Episcopal priest, although I think her new bishop suspended her.

furthermore many of these systems have a problem with accepting hard science without bending it or without leaning on outdated theories from the romance era which have been eradicated from academic thinking decades or centuries ago.

This is also true of the world religions.

Btw I feel the same about people who practice the religions of other societies. I think that western people only damage themselves when they practice eastern religions, or convert to middle eastern religions, because they will never experience the thousands of years behind these religions and their cultures.

This could be a valid truth, but what about people of religious traditions learning about each other? This is important because sometimes different traditions can be linked. For example, the Christian monastic practice is said to have developed out of Christian missionaries coming into contact with Buddhism.

 

[Caladan]

I know serious practitioners of neopagan religions who grapple with life's struggles, religious questions, and who are very informed in politics, and very well-read, even within the Abrahamic faiths. I do agree that much of what passes as spiritual, including the New Age movement, is actually trash.

so far from my experience, the political knowledge and knowledge of religious issues around the world have not impressed me from modern religions adherents, because they find much of the political and religious motivation in the world which has been there for centuries is at odds with their own dogma.

I also think a person can be influenced by other faiths and still keep to a core tradition. My spirituality is grounded in Christianity, the religion I am most familiar with, but I am still influenced by studying other faiths. My rituals and liturgical practices are all interconnected, and I don't just introduce foreign arbitrary elements, but sometimes I will incorporate an insight gained from another tradition, or at times a more nature-based or neo-pagan ritual or prayer, when appropriate.

It sounds like a mish mash to me, no offence. religions such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have been so successful because their adherents have kept strict to their own traditions.

The world religions cannot help but to influence each other in a global world, and increasingly even people in traditional Christian denominations are becoming syncretic or somehow influenced by another faith such as Buddhism. This is the experience of some of my friends. There has even been a goddess Eucharist in the Episcopal Church (although not formally approved by the national church). There has also been a Muslim/Episcopal priest, although I think her new bishop suspended her.

Its not necessarily a thing that will help preserve the religions. I believe the major religions should maintain a constant dialogue, but some of the religions are so radically different that it would be bizarre and unconstructive to mix them in liturgy.

This is also true of the world religions.

However no person who knows history can deny that science has flourished in Jewish, Islamic and Christian societies for centuries, and that modern science has sprang from these societies.

This could be a valid truth, but what about people of religious traditions learning about each other? This is important because sometimes different traditions can be linked. For example, the Christian monastic practice is said to have developed out of Christian missionaries coming into contact with Buddhism.

All in good proportions, Abrahamic religions study about each other constantly for many centuries now, Dharmic religions experience each other for centuries as well, but there is no point in making lofty comparisons and linkage between all faiths in order to create an image of a utopic universal spirituality.

 

[LuisDantas]

There is something for your argument, Caladan. But I am not sure it doesn't extend itself almost as fully into inherited religions as well. IMO all major ancient religions only survived because they developed the means to adjust minimally to changing social circunstances. They have become, to a degree, more general in scope than they were built as.