The nature of religion

[sandandfoam]

I read this morning that the role of theories is to organise information already obtained "and to direct the search for new information. Theories are however, only tools, to be discarded when no longer useful."
This is how I feel about religion. Religion can be a vehicle towards understanding, but it is not an end in and of itself. It's just a raft to get you over the river.

 

[Willamena]

I think of religion more in terms of ritual. It's practices and social situations that reinforce knowledge in a sense of community.

 

[sandandfoam]

I think of religion more in terms of ritual. It's practices and social situations that reinforce knowledge in a sense of community.

What about things like the Bible, one can take it as not literally true and draw meaning from it ?
Also ideas like for example the trinity.

 

[Willamena]

The reading of the Bible is a part of practice, if you see where I'm coming from. "Relgiion" to me isn't whatever truth may be held to be in the Bible, rather it's demonstrated in the practice of reading and sharing ideas (however interpreted).

 

[sandandfoam]

I get you, I think. It's a cultural thing to you ?

 

[Rolling_Stone]

I read this morning that the role of theories is to organise information already obtained "and to direct the search for new information. Theories are however, only tools, to be discarded when no longer useful."
This is how I feel about religion. Religion can be a vehicle towards understanding, but it is not an end in and of itself. It's just a raft to get you over the river.

Most in RF probably think I'm nuts for thinking The URANTIA Book has useful, or at least interesting, information. Here is what it says about the real nature of religion. For me, it's fun to separate the sense from the nonsense. Papers 99-103 are all interesting.

 

[Starfish]

I read this morning that the role of theories is to organise information already obtained "and to direct the search for new information. Theories are however, only tools, to be discarded when no longer useful."
This is how I feel about religion. Religion can be a vehicle towards understanding, but it is not an end in and of itself. It's just a raft to get you over the river.

If the "river" is life, then yes.

 

[Markal]

Religion can be a vehicle towards understanding, but it is not an end in and of itself. It's just a raft to get you over the river.

Unfortunately, a raft can be cast about by the strongest currents. Best to make a bridge over the river.

 

[Willamena]

Unfortunately, a raft can be cast about by the strongest currents. Best to make a bridge over the river.

...provided you have a fixed destination on the other side of the river.

 

[jtartar]

The reading of the Bible is a part of practice, if you see where I'm coming from. "Relgiion" to me isn't whatever truth may be held to be in the Bible, rather it's demonstrated in the practice of reading and sharing ideas (however interpreted).

Willamena,
If it were true that you could interpret the Holy Scriptures any way you wanted, it would have been useless for Jesus to come to earth to teach the TRUTH, John 18:36,37. Jesus said that people worshiping God MUST worship in spirit and TRUTH, John 4:23,24.
TRUTH means one way, whereas false has a multitude of different ways. Remember, in the first century the Christian way was called, THE WAY, because there was only one way to live,and there is only one way to live today, and be approved by God, Acts 9:2, 19:9,23, 22:4, 24:22. It is up to each one of us to find out what God's requirements are for us, Eph 5:10, Rom 12:2, Phil 1:11, Thes 5:21. We are to be honest in all things, Heb 13:18, and obey the Kingly Law and the Golden Rule, James 2:8, Matt 7:12.
Jesus said that it means our everlasting liife that we take in knowledge of the only true God and of the one He sent forth, Jesus Christ, John 17:3. People will be condemned because they do not have a love of the truth, 2Thes 2:9-12.
When a man asked Jesus what he must do to be saved, Jesus said that he must obey the first two commandments, because the whole law and the prophets hung on these two, Matt 22:36-40.

 

[jtartar]

I read this morning that the role of theories is to organise information already obtained "and to direct the search for new information. Theories are however, only tools, to be discarded when no longer useful."
This is how I feel about religion. Religion can be a vehicle towards understanding, but it is not an end in and of itself. It's just a raft to get you over the river.

stephenw,
Everything is relative. It is God's will for us to come to a accurate knowledge of truth, 1Tim 2:4. There is but one truth of the Bible. It was called THE WAY, in the first century, Acts 9:2, 19:9,23, 22:4, 24:22.
To please God we MUST worship Him in spirit and TRUTH, John 4:23,24.
God has laid commandments on men, not because He just enjoys making laws. God made these laws for a protection for us, because even when we want to do what is right, we often do not know what we should do, Jere 10:23, Isa 48:17, Deut 10:13.
The religion of the Bible is a way to live that affords us the very best life now and the hope of everlasting life, in the future, 1Tim 6:12,19.
The Holy Scriptures tells us there is only ONE FAITH, one hope , one baptism, Eph 4:3,4. It is up to each of us to find the one true religion, the one God is blessing, Acts 15:14,17.
As you mention, theories come and go, but the Holy Word of the Bible has remained accurate for centuries, in fact it is the most up to date book in existence.
For us to be pleasing to God we must study His word and get bact to the beliefs that Jesuus and the apostles taught in the first century. Only ONE religion is teaching exactly as was taught by the apostles. Study them carefully, because the religions that claim to be Christian have been contaminated, by allowing false doctrines, mainly pagan doctrines to infiltrate the teachings.

 

[Rolling_Stone]

stephenw,
Everything is relative. It is God's will for us to come to a accurate knowledge of truth, 1Tim 2:4. There is but one truth of the Bible. It was called THE WAY, in the first century, Acts 9:2, 19:9,23, 22:4, 24:22.
To please God we MUST worship Him in spirit and TRUTH, John 4:23,24.
God has laid commandments on men, not because He just enjoys making laws. God made these laws for a protection for us, because even when we want to do what is right, we often do not know what we should do, Jere 10:23, Isa 48:17, Deut 10:13.
The religion of the Bible is a way to live that affords us the very best life now and the hope of everlasting life, in the future, 1Tim 6:12,19.
The Holy Scriptures tells us there is only ONE FAITH, one hope , one baptism, Eph 4:3,4. It is up to each of us to find the one true religion, the one God is blessing, Acts 15:14,17.
As you mention, theories come and go, but the Holy Word of the Bible has remained accurate for centuries, in fact it is the most up to date book in existence.
For us to be pleasing to God we must study His word and get bact to the beliefs that Jesuus and the apostles taught in the first century. Only ONE religion is teaching exactly as was taught by the apostles. Study them carefully, because the religions that claim to be Christian have been contaminated, by allowing false doctrines, mainly pagan doctrines to infiltrate the teachings.

Do not forget that Jesus was born a Jew, lived as a Jew, taught as a Jew, and died as a Jew. He was not a Christian. Do not forget that the early Christians were regarded as a Jewish sect and only later became regarded as a separate religion.

Religon evolves and is punctuated by revelation. But if revelation is to upstep the religions of evolution, its teachings must not be too far removed from the thought and circumatances of the age in which they are presented. The religion of revelation must be limited by man's capacity of receptivity.

Over the centuries since Christ, the human capacity for advancement has increased tremendously, but God cannot be revealed to those who do not seek nor to those whose hearts are closed to advanced ideas.