The Measure of a Religion

[Halcyon]

A wise monk was once asked, "If you discovered that your beliefs in the gods and the afterlife were false, would you regret how you chose to spend your life?"

In reply the monk said, "If, on this very day, I learnt that the sacred stories and beliefs of our religion were not true, I would continue to be a monk.
I have spent my entire life ridding myself of negative feeling towrds my fellow man, I have shown compassion and understanding towards those in need. I have never killed nor purposefully harmed another human soul.
And I have found a peace and bliss within myself that I would not trade for all the riches in all the kingdoms of the world.

These things I did because of the teachings of my faith, which in-turn originated in the sacred stories of our people. If there is not afterlife, no gods or spirits beyond - at least I have lived a very good life and I owe that to my beliefs."

Can you say a similar thing about your religion? Can you say with all honesty that your religion has only ever inspired goodness and love within you and your fellow worshippers?

If not, what does this say about your religion?

 

[sandy whitelinger]

I would have no problem saying that. I would also have a problem saying that I have lived my life as a fine example of a Christian. I suppose that's what forgivness is about. I can also say that I am a batter person for following the example of Christ.

 

[Aqualung]

I wouldn't have trouble saying that about my religion, but I might have trouble saying that when I take into account how well I've been following my religion.

 

[jonny]

I would have no problem saying that. I would also have a problem saying that I have lived my life as a fine example of a Christian. I suppose that's what forgivness is about. I can also say that I am a batter person for following the example of Christ.

For some reason baseball came to mind when I read your response.

I agree with your statement though, but of course I can't know for sure how I would have turned out were it not for my religion. I might be exactly the same.

 

[flupke]

I was very disappointed when they told me Santa Claus didn't exist. But, at least, it kept the kids 'good'; they learnt to have some morals. A very convinced christian in my earlier years (until the age of 15), I now look back with great regret about all the time 'wasted' going to church every sunday and saying prayers every day. Could have read a lot of good books instead of making the zillionth '...father in heaven...'. And despite losing my religion, I still have morals (although they did change in the process of conversion)

 

[Buttons*]

I've always been obedient because I find reason in it. Why rebel for the sake of rebellion? I dont follow my religion fearing a God that would kill me or strike me down. If something makes sense to me, and I can understand it, then it is valid, and therefore something to be looked after. Basic ideas of following the law of the place we live, doing our best for humanity, and having fun every so often *wink* are some things I find important...
I find good in whatever I can, and try to live it out... but i'm not very successful.

 

[flupke]

I've always been obedient because I find reason in it. Why rebel for the sake of rebellion? I dont follow my religion fearing a God that would kill me or strike me down. If something makes sense to me, and I can understand it, then it is valid, and therefore something to be looked after. Basic ideas of following the law of the place we live, doing our best for humanity, and having fun every so often *wink* are some things I find important...
I find good in whatever I can, and try to live it out... but i'm not very successful.

Which brings up an interesting sociology question: would the moral standards of our society go bad if there was no religion ?

 

[Buttons*]

Which brings up an interesting sociology question: would the moral standards of our society go bad if there was no religion ?

do you mean if our society had always been atheist?
Or
Do you mean if our society simply dropped it at this very moment?

...Personally? I think that Philosophy would be the next best thing to a religion, for finding codes of ethics and such. It all depends though, how big a society are we talking?

 

[TheGreaterGame]

If there is nothingness and a void and only my conscious . . . no I loved the life and my ideas and the ethics I lived by.

 

[flupke]

do you mean if our society had always been atheist?
Or
Do you mean if our society simply dropped it at this very moment?

...Personally? I think that Philosophy would be the next best thing to a religion, for finding codes of ethics and such. It all depends though, how big a society are we talking?

Let's say that some dictator had the morbid idea of killing all religious people, thinking the world would be a better place, and committing suicide after his mass extermination.

Would the whole world (a few million of atheists widespread), starting afresh, indeed be a better place ?
There would be no wars "in the name of god". But would things such as charity be largely reduced ? An atheist and pacifist myself, for my personal part, I would not be any 'worse' or 'better' without any religion. But it's dangerous to extrapolate such to millions of people. (there will always be criminals etc; the question is, will the percentage be higher ?).

 

[Buttons*]

If the population was lowered dramatically, then of course there would be less crime...

 

[sandy whitelinger]

For some reason baseball came to mind when I read your response.

I agree with your statement though, but of course I can't know for sure how I would have turned out were it not for my religion. I might be exactly the same.

LOL, I wasn't a very good ball player either.

I know I would have turned out different.

 

[michel]

A wise monk was once asked, "If you discovered that your beliefs in the gods and the afterlife were false, would you regret how you chose to spend your life?"

In reply the monk said, "If, on this very day, I learnt that the sacred stories and beliefs of our religion were not true, I would continue to be a monk.
I have spent my entire life ridding myself of negative feeling towrds my fellow man, I have shown compassion and understanding towards those in need. I have never killed nor purposefully harmed another human soul.
And I have found a peace and bliss within myself that I would not trade for all the riches in all the kingdoms of the world.

These things I did because of the teachings of my faith, which in-turn originated in the sacred stories of our people. If there is not afterlife, no gods or spirits beyond - at least I have lived a very good life and I owe that to my beliefs."

Can you say a similar thing about your religion? Can you say with all honesty that your religion has only ever inspired goodness and love within you and your fellow worshippers?

If not, what does this say about your religion?

Can you say a similar thing about your religion? Can you say with all honesty that your religion has only ever inspired goodness and love within you and your fellow worshippers?

Yes I can, with the exception that there have very rarely been times when I could have 'fellow worshipers' - simply because mine is definitely an 'odd' Faith...

I guess that's the only downside to what I believe in; I would love to meet others, whose thoughts are parallel to mine.:shout

 

[St0ne]

I havn't lived my life like that enough so far but I can honestly say that my beliefs do hold up to that.

 

[Elphineas]

Though religion gives us some pretty good standards, I think that God would rather us be "moral atheists" than "immoral theists".

When you were a kid, how many times did your parents tell you, "I shouldn't have to tell you to clean your room. You're old enough to do it by yourself."? My mom was always saying that.

Don't you think God would be the same way? He shouldn't have to tell us to be good. We should be able to do it on our own. I should think that he would rather us do it on our own.

 

[jeffrey]

My faith started out being of the conventional kind, but as progressed into unconventional. When I have tried to conform to a certain religion, a light goes off atop my head and a voice inside my head says "DANGER, WILL ROBINSON, DANGER! DANGER! I would not change anything and think I have lived and loved the road God has given me to travel.

 

[Katzpur]

Though religion gives us some pretty good standards, I think that God would rather us be "moral atheists" than "immoral theists".

When you were a kid, how many times did your parents tell you, "I shouldn't have to tell you to clean your room. You're old enough to do it by yourself."? My mom was always saying that.

Don't you think God would be the same way? He shouldn't have to tell us to be good. We should be able to do it on our own. I should think that he would rather us do it on our own.

Wow, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I totally agree! (I actually believe His real preference would be for us to be "moral theists," but since that wasn't your premise, I won't go there.) Even though I firmly believe that He wants us to know the truth about Him and about our relationship to him and has established a Church where we can come to this knowledge, I am even more convinced that it is the way in which we lead our lives that is most important to him. And I have always been of the opinion that an athiest can just just a good a person as a theist. This forum has more than proven that to me.

 

[Green Gaia]

Can you say a similar thing about your religion? Can you say with all honesty that your religion has only ever inspired goodness and love within you and your fellow worshippers?

Yeah, I know I can.