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Religion
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| JOEBIALEK |
With the passing of Pope John Paul ll, perhaps some reflection on religious beliefs is appropriate. Religion is defined as a set of beliefs concerned with explaining the origins and purposes of the universe, usually involving belief in a supernatural creator and offering guidance in ethics and morals. It also consists of any of several institutions with their own beliefs, rituals, and teachings. Throughout history and even still today, most religions claim to be the one true religion and all others are considered either phony imitations or some sort of heretical sacrilege. It is a sad reality that most people do not recognize the benefit of what can be learned from other religions along the way of their spiritual journey. If one studies the major religions of today such as Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism etcetera they will find more similarities than differences. They are guides for how to live and grow spiritually. Some would argue that religion has been one of the biggest causes of humanity's problems but others counter that it is the misinterpretation of religious tenets that causes strife. Still further, many people see religion as a form of control over the masses whereas others see it as a necessary shield against evil influences.
I had the opportunity to read a book recently concerning near death experiences {NDE}. The book was a compilation of individual testimonies by those who left their bodies temporarily and returned to tell about their experience. The author characterized their stories and then pointed out the large similarities and small differences in each of the NDE's. Two personal friends of mine have had an NDE and shared their experience with me. I've also communicated with a deceased friend by way of a psychic medium. All three sources agreed that upon death of the body, we travel through a tunnel toward a bright, warm and loving light. Upon entering the light, we are given a life review. During the life review, we re-experience all the thoughts, words and actions that came from us. Anything negative is re-experienced as though we are the person on the receiving end of our negativity. For example, one of the contributors to the book re-experienced the event where he had severely beaten another man although this time, he felt the blows he had administered. The whole premise for experiencing the light appears to be an opportunity to examine what we have learned along our spiritual journey. In conclusion, it appears that Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, Confucius, and Buddha were all very wise men who made a significant impact on humanity teaching spirituality as it applied to a specific civilization. Perhaps if humanity could somehow integrate all these religious belief systems toward the goal of one spirituality with God, we could finally begin to see the emergence of world peace. |
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| trancaholic |
| I'll never understand this guy.:conf: |
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| ::TranceVanDyk:: |
| quote: | Originally posted by JOEBIALEK
With the passing of Pope John Paul ll, perhaps some reflection on religious beliefs is appropriate. Religion is defined as a set of beliefs concerned with explaining the origins and purposes of the universe, usually involving belief in a supernatural creator and offering guidance in ethics and morals. It also consists of any of several institutions with their own beliefs, rituals, and teachings. Throughout history and even still today, most religions claim to be the one true religion and all others are considered either phony imitations or some sort of heretical sacrilege. It is a sad reality that most people do not recognize the benefit of what can be learned from other religions along the way of their spiritual journey. If one studies the major religions of today such as Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism etcetera they will find more similarities than differences. They are guides for how to live and grow spiritually. Some would argue that religion has been one of the biggest causes of humanity's problems but others counter that it is the misinterpretation of religious tenets that causes strife. Still further, many people see religion as a form of control over the masses whereas others see it as a necessary shield against evil influences.
I had the opportunity to read a book recently concerning near death experiences {NDE}. The book was a compilation of individual testimonies by those who left their bodies temporarily and returned to tell about their experience. The author characterized their stories and then pointed out the large similarities and small differences in each of the NDE's. Two personal friends of mine have had an NDE and shared their experience with me. I've also communicated with a deceased friend by way of a psychic medium. All three sources agreed that upon death of the body, we travel through a tunnel toward a bright, warm and loving light. Upon entering the light, we are given a life review. During the life review, we re-experience all the thoughts, words and actions that came from us. Anything negative is re-experienced as though we are the person on the receiving end of our negativity. For example, one of the contributors to the book re-experienced the event where he had severely beaten another man although this time, he felt the blows he had administered. The whole premise for experiencing the light appears to be an opportunity to examine what we have learned along our spiritual journey. In conclusion, it appears that Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, Confucius, and Buddha were all very wise men who made a significant impact on humanity teaching spirituality as it applied to a specific civilization. Perhaps if humanity could somehow integrate all these religious belief systems toward the goal of one spirituality with God, we could finally begin to see the emergence of world peace. |
in my studies of christian new testament scriptures, that fits right into revelations prophetic account of a One World Gov't & Religion. The truth is, every religion has some aspect of truth in it, otherwise, they would have no followers, but each religion is different in their beliefs. in my studies of religion, i see christianity in a catagory by itself, not like any other world religion.
humanity is a currupt race. war, murder, rape, incest, genocide, curruption, fraud, totalitarianism, islamic fundamentalism, neo-nazi's, drug empires, divorce, illegitamite children, drug addicts, abuse, mechanical failures, computer glitches, etc.
all evidence for the existence of sin. the utopian idea of peace on earth under human will power is but an illusion like that of communism. just as in society, everyone can never be equal, the human race can never fix its imperfections on its own. |
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| George Smiley |
Well its certainly a toss-up between TranceVanDyk's post and JOEBIALEK's as to which one is the biggest pile of bollox!
TVD wins!
And I'm aethiest so I am allowed to say that before either of you start crying!
:p |
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| ::TranceVanDyk:: |
| quote: | Originally posted by George Smiley
Well its certainly a toss-up between TranceVanDyk's post and JOEBIALEK's as to which one is the biggest pile of bollox!
TVD wins!
And I'm aethiest so I am allowed to say that before either of you start crying!
:p |
and atheists claim that theists are "close-minded":p |
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| tiesto14 |
| quote: | Originally posted by ::TranceVanDyk::
humanity is a currupt race. war, murder, rape, incest, genocide, curruption, fraud, totalitarianism, islamic fundamentalism, neo-nazi's, drug empires, divorce, illegitamite children, drug addicts, abuse, mechanical failures, computer glitches, etc.
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War?...more wars have been fought in the name of God then any other reason
Murder?...more people have died in the name of God then any other way since the beginging of time.
Rape/Incest?...Read the bible..then read on priests.
Genocide?...The Holocaust, Rwanda, shall i go on?
I would answer the rest of your claims....but not worth it.
Humanity is only corrupt BECAUSE of religion! |
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| nic01445 |
| quote: | Originally posted by tiesto14
Humanity is only corrupt BECAUSE of religion! |
I hate religion just like the next man, but this is just absolute . What corrupts Man is the lust for more. More of everything: assets, prestige, legitimacy, power, recognition, you name it. Anyone with an ego is going to be greedy in some way, shape, or form. People just USE religion as a tool or even as a justification for their greedy acts. If people didn't excuse attrocities because they are "in the name of religion" then they would just find some other means to excuse them. |
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| LiquidX |
| quote: | Originally posted by tiesto14
War?...more wars have been fought in the name of God then any other reason
Murder?...more people have died in the name of God then any other way since the beginging of time.
Rape/Incest?...Read the bible..then read on priests.
Genocide?...The Holocaust, Rwanda, shall i go on?
I would answer the rest of your claims....but not worth it.
Humanity is only corrupt BECAUSE of religion! |
It's the people who DONT know how to use religion.. Not religion itself. |
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| pkcRAISTLIN |
| ive also had contact with those that have died. yoda, ben & anakin all say gday :rolleyes: |
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| tiesto14 |
| quote: | Originally posted by LiquidX
It's the people who DONT know how to use religion.. Not religion itself. |
Religion over the centuries has been directly responsible for:
- Countless deaths
- Imprisonments
- Needless suffering
- Torturing
- Genocide
- The oppression of people on grounds of sex, race, color, sexuality or belief
- The Crusades
- The Inquisition
- The Holocaust
- Witch trials in Europe and America
- Persecution of heretics - e.g. Galileo for daring to suggest that the earth orbits the sun
- Children dying because their parents refused them medical treatment on religious grounds; relying instead on faith healers and prayer
- Slavery, supported by scripture (slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, just as you would obey Christ. St.paul, Ephesians 6:5)
- Holy wars in the name of benevolent, loving and merciful gods
- The destruction of great works of art considered being pornographic/blasphemous, and the persecution of the artists
- Censorship of speech, art, books, music, films, poetry, songs and, if possible, thought
- Persecution of blasphemers
- Serial killers believing they are doing the work of Satan (or sometimes Jesus)
- Wwhole societies divided by minor differences in belief or doctrine, resulting in violence.
- Mass suicides of cult-members following a charismatic leader who believes the world is about to end
- The discouragement of rational, critical thought
- The spread of sexually transmitted diseases (e.g. aids) due to churches prohibiting the use of condoms.
- Suicide bombers taught to believe that martyrs go straight to paradise
- The indoctrination of children into the religion of their parents, giving them an arbitrary, life-long belief that is almost entirely dependent on their place of birth
- Women treated as second-class citizens or even slaves
- Hatred of gays and lesbians
- Abuse of power, authority and trust by religious leaders (for financial gain or sexual abuse of followers and even children)
- Cults stockpiling weapons to defend themselves from the armies of Satan (the police and gov).
Religion is so damn great
:rolleyes: |
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| George Smiley |
To be fair, one or two bad things down the line have been caused by non-religious factors...
Also, religion happens to be the dividing lines in conflicts but it isn't neccessarily religious belifs they are fighting over (eg Northern Ireland between protestants and catholics has nothing to do with religion) |
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| tiesto14 |
| quote: | Originally posted by George Smiley
To be fair, one or two bad things down the line have been caused by non-religious factors...
Also, religion happens to be the dividing lines in conflicts but it isn't neccessarily religious belifs they are fighting over (eg Northern Ireland between protestants and catholics has nothing to do with religion) |
I agree...but just, for a moment, think of ALL the people who would of lived if it had not been for religion. |
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