Why Be Interested In Other Religions?

[goodlife]

Regardless of where you live, you have no doubt seen for yourself how religion affects the lives of millions of people.

[naomi24]

You aren't interested in other religions, Catholics aren't interested in other religions, Muslims aren't interested in other religions, and so on and so on. You're all the same.

[goodlife]

Yes Naomi,the tears of those being oppressed” have become a torrent. They are shed by victims of countless “acts of oppression” all over the world, and you don,t cares about them.—Ecclesiastes 4:1.

[naomi24]

I don't? What makes you think that?

[MallyJ]

I am interested in all religions. I have studied many of the major and minor ones. It would seem that Bhuddism is the only peaceful one and not one that attempts to tell others that their religion is wrong. Some people need to have the carrot of eternal life and paradise dangled in front of them in order to behave reasonably well .. other believers use their religion to abuse others by distorting their beliefs to their own ends. Surely by understanding what others believe and their similarities and interconnections people can people settle down to co existence....

[Baldric]

Ah, the peaceful Buddhist

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22356306

[atalanta]

I am "interested" in religions ( not "other" religions, but the major religions) because I can then understand some of the motivations of their adherents. I say "understand", not "accept" or "sympathise". If enough people understand some religions, maybe we/they can see where education can contribute to toning down the most destructive aspects of some of the more fanatical asepcts. If only politicians would grasp the nettle and insist on having teaching in schools to promote tolerance, logic, reasoning and maybe even pacifism. If only . . . . . .

[Cloverjo]

If I had to choose a religion, I'd be a Quaker.

[goodlife]

Naomi@ I am interested in all religions. I feel for them because many of them have been misled, somuchso that they now feel that God does not care about them. For this the religious leaders have much to answer for. They teach doctrines of men rather than the Bible.

MallyJ@ Is Buddhism peaceful? I very much doubt it. Like Judaism and professed Christianity, Buddhism has not limited itself to religious activities but has helped mold political thought and behavior as well.

Not unlike Christendom with its thousands of confusing sects and subdivisions, the Buddha, figuratively speaking, wears many faces.

[cupid04]

That would be fine clover jo if atheists were silent too ;-))

[goodlife]

cloverjo@ //If I had to choose a religion, I'd be a Quaker. //

Interesting. Note the similarities.

1. Quakers believed in justice, uncompromising honesty, a simple lifestyle, and nonviolence. They also held that all Christians, including women, should share in the ministry.

2. Regardless of where we live, we conscientiously obey the law. Yet we endeavor to remain politically neutral. This is because we observe Jesus’ direction for Christians to be “no part of the world.” Thus we do not take part in political issues and activities or support warfare. (John 15:19; 17:16) In fact, during World War II, Jehovah’s Witnesses were imprisoned, tortured, and even worse because they would not compromise their neutrality. All JWs participate in the ministry - including women.

.

[MallyJ]

I sit here corrected ..... essentially then all religions have violent parts.... perhaps time to get rid of them all.

[goodlife]

But what does this great worldwide variety of religious devotion indicate?

That for thousands of years mankind has had a spiritual need and yearning. Man has lived with his trials and burdens, his doubts and questions, including the enigma of death. Religious feelings have been expressed in many different ways as people have turned to God or their gods, seeking blessings and solace. Religion also tries to address the great questions: Why are we here? How should we live? What does the future hold for mankind?

[beso]

Religion does a very poor job of answering any questions.

Science has explained why we are here and why we die.

[beso]

goodlife plagiarises: But what does this great worldwide variety of religious devotion indicate?

It indicates that none of them have a clue.

[Khandro]

baldric; //Ah, the peaceful Buddhists//
In the case of Sri Lanka, the case isn't as simple as you may think; defending the dharma has also always been a possibility, that's what the malevolent deities are doing in Buddhist iconography, see;
http://blogs.dickinson.edu/buddhistethics/files/2010/04/vroom-review.pdf

[goodlife]

The arguments seem sound enough, at least in theory. What about in practice? Are cases of fraud really such rare exceptions as the scientists claim? Are the ones who have been caught mental deviants or schizophrenics? Is there something we, the laymen, can learn from the phenomenon of fraud in science?


Yes,Falsified research, plagiarism, forgery and a congressional investigation of fraud in science.

[Mamyalynne]

I am interested in other religions , though to my shame am nowhere near enough educated and well read in the ways they work, just learn bits as I have gone through life and met people from all differing faiths.


The atheists on here are impressive in their knowledge and reading of many more texts than I have had time to peruse along the way.

[atalanta]

There are bad apples in every barrel. There doesn't seem to be anything special about fraud in science, compared with fraud in banking, clairvoyance, product claims or anything else. Just a few people trying to make an undeserved gain of some sort - money, fame, or just plain points-scoring.

[birdie1971]

"Why Be Interested In Other Religions?"

I'm interested in all religions because I am fascinated by the psychology of delusions; how they are created, how they manifest themselves and how they can and do compel people to say and do the most extraordinary things - even kill themselves.

It's a topic of study that never ceases to amaze and repulse me in equal measure.

[Hypognosis]

I think I'd like to plagiarise Birdie, at this point! :)

I am unable to believe in things: I just haven't got the knack. So I'm fascinated in how other people manage it, how and why we lie to our own children about 'magical' creatures, how we hoodwink each other over little things and major things and how we extend this to sharing communal lies. It serves somebody's purposes and I pursue the never-ending search for who this might be,

The article Gromit linked to said it well: a religion which preaches and practices non-violence leaves its adherents physically vulnerable to attacks and needs the likes of kings or governments to protect them. But this apparent dependency can get twisted into a controlling influence:-

"The result can seem ironic. If you have a strong sense of the overriding moral superiority of your worldview, then the need to protect and advance it can seem the most important duty of all.
Christian crusaders, Islamist militants, or the leaders of "freedom-loving nations", all justify what they see as necessary violence in the name of a higher good. Buddhist rulers and monks have been no exception."

So, the only universal human condition I can identify, across all faiths, is self-rightiousness. I'm sure that's a pre-requisite for the eternal spit-roast routine.

If you believe in that sort of thing…