You could assume that each person lives in there own "universe" anjd what ever they believe in is true for them but not for someone else that believes something different. In this case, all religions would be technically correct.
RavenStar said:It seems just as likely that some dude is sitting up there in the clouds planing our lives for us and making us bow down before him.
RavenStar said:It seems just as likely that some dude is sitting up there in the clouds planing our lives for us and making us bow down before him.
whiteflag said The real reason I was drawn to religion was the extraordinary joyfulness and uncommon heroism of religious believers. I was drawn to Christianity in particular because I saw Christians exemplifying this effect especially in their response to the worst possible situations. In short, I came to see that religion is the best way to maximize our lives, to add on to our ordinary strength, not as some way to make up for some perceived lack of strength
Achtung Bubba said:In fact, with all the religions out there, there seems to be only one of two possiblities: either they're ALL wrong, or all but ONE.
Well, most religious people would say that most instances of violence in the name of God were instances of abusing that name and violating the tenets of the faith. As a Christian, I can only speak for Christianity, but I can say without hesitation that things like the Spanish Inquisition were the results of disobedience to Christ - not adherence to His principles.
(And I would remind the forum that people have killed for godlessness, too - namely, the terror of atheistic Communism imposed by Lenin, Stalin, and others.)
Giant Lemon said:
Couldn't it possible that deep down they're all right? I realize that with the great variety of religions there are many contradictions, but when it comes down to it all religions (at least that I know of- feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) are based on a belief in a supreme being. Couldn't this just indicate that a supreme being does exist and everything else is just added on?
I completely agree with you here, and I admit that religion does have many virtues in terms of bringing people together, helping others, encouraging good morals, etc. It just seems that if organized religion didn't exist, we'd be free of so many deaths that were (wrongly) justified by religion. But, I suppose people would just find some other characteristic to be used as a basis to fight about. Sigh.
Anyway, I don't come to this forum often, but I think I'm going to be visiting more because threads like this are very interesting to me. Very nice insights, Achtung Bubba!
Achtung Bubba said:
Let's say, for a moment, that Jesus Christ is in fact the resurrected Son of God. Without organized religion, that fact (or, at the least, His specific teachings) would have probably vanished from this planet.
RavenStar said:you mean that opinion
Let's say, for a moment, that Jesus Christ is in fact the resurrected Son of God. Without organized religion, that fact (or, at the least, His specific teachings) would have probably vanished from this planet.
oliveu2cm said:
But if there is no God why would anyone have to be moral? because the law says so? But what if you can be immoral (kill, steal..) and get away with it? Does the act become okay?
This reasoning to me still sounds like cultural relativism. Even within Western Civilization there are immoral beliefs held and practiced by people- racism being one of them. And how do we tell people who are not of Western Civiliation to apply to our morality? We have no right to- unless God tells us there are specific rights and wrongs and that everyone should adhere to them.
RavenStar said:I said "You could assume that each person lives in there own "universe" and what ever..."
you started arguing that statement. You indeed were arguing against nobody because I don't believe that. I do know some people who believe that though. They have got to be the most open minded people I've ever met.
whiteflag said:
And you are saying that if people feel they need a crutch even if they don't really, then you won't be the one to tell them they can't have it
U2girl said:
No, i meant law is the additional protection against immoral deals (with the morals), and a powerful tool to help prevent (or repair at the least) various injustices. It also stops people from "taking justice in their own hands" (ok, most of them).
Of course, there will always be people going against morality - but that doesn't mean that others (and humans in general) shouldn't strive for goodness, moral life.
As for telling people out of Western Civilization to apply to our morality - do we have a right to tell others how to live their lives? Do we have a right to claim that our Civilization and our morals are right because we use them? Other people could use the same argument against us.
I don't know ... i guess i'd take a lot of education to prevent for example the way women are treated in certain areas of the world. How do you break the tradition that has been going on for hundreds of years?
Because i choose to be.