Which is more important money or religion ?

[Foxfyre]

My dad isn't super religious but I know he was raised Catholic but his true God is his job which brings him money.

The question is akin to "When did you stop beating your wife?" Or more accurately, what is more important to life: breathing? or food/hydration? You will live much longer without food/hydration than you will live without breathing, but both are critical in importance to live apart from any necessity for religion.

If you have to have money in order to live, you will live longer without religion than you will live without money.

When necessities of life are secure, those to whom religion is important will likely describe their religious faith as most important to them.

And those who equate life eternal with their religious faith will likely say that faith is the most important thing.

 

[The Hammer]

I have both a religion and money but I don't think either one is the source of happiness.

What do you think is?

 

[Trailblazer]

What do you think is?

Love.

 

[Kathryn]

One problem with christianity is that every one of the 50,000(ish) sects has its own take on their version of the 80,000+ bibles (over 450 in English) that they prefer.
This is why so many of the sects claim other sects are wrong and consequently will go to hell while their sect is the only correct one in gods eyes.

Well I don't do that. For one thing, I picked my religion because it works for ME, not to proselytize others. I mean, I have my own favorite bible but that doesn't mean I think the others are evil or whatever.

 

[The Hammer]

Love.

Too broad imo. There are so many types of love. But I like the sentiment.

 

[ChristineM]

Well I don't do that. For one thing, I picked my religion because it works for ME, not to proselytize others. I mean, I have my own favorite bible but that doesn't mean I think the others are evil or whatever.

I've seen enough of your posts to know that. If only all Christians were the same. I've seen it on RF often enough, someone saying "...not a real Christian", "you're going to hell [because you don't believe what i believe]" etc.

 

[Kathryn]

I've seen enough of your posts to know that. If only all Christians were the same. I've seen it on RF often enough, someone saying "...not a real Christian", "you're going to hell [because you don't believe what i believe]" etc.

Well, thank you. I can only be responsible for myself - I am a full time job!

 

[Trailblazer]

Too broad imo. There are so many types of love. But I like the sentiment.

To narrow it down a little, I mean love for living things rather than love for material objects like cars and cell phones.
So a person can love and be loved by animals or other people, which does not have to be romantic love.

I have love for a few friends which are all online and I have love for my cats and all the wild animals and birds I watch on my deck.
I don't feel a need to be loved by people but it is nice if they love me. I get love from my cats since they are always here for me.

I believe that God loves me so that gives me some solace.

 

[Alien826]

I believe that there is something waiting for me after I die, but I don't pretend to know what that is!
Now that I am widowed there is nothing (outside my self) helping me in my daily life. I am getting used to it, but it is not ideal.

If there's one thing I learned from Buddhism, it's that happiness is optional. External "things" are transitory and will always let you down in the end. Your reactions to these things though, that's under your control.

(If only I could practice that myself!)

 

[Trailblazer]

If there's one thing I learned from Buddhism, it's that happiness is optional. External "things" are transitory and will always let you down in the end.

I learned the same thing from the Baha'i Faith.

Your reactions to these things though, that's under your control.

I am not so sure that our reactions to these things is under our control.
I mean I don't think we can control our thoughts and feelings even if we can usually control our behavior.

 

[ppp]

If there's one thing I learned from Buddhism, it's that happiness is optional. External "things" are transitory and will always let you down in the end. Your reactions to these things though, that's under your control.

(If only I could practice that myself!)

External things are the best. Transitory things are the only things of value. Eternal things (or effectively eternal things) are merely backdrop.