(name removed) writes:
"A good person 'high' on religion can, with a good heart, kill others for the greater Glory of God and his own salvation."
V writes:
I wouldn't go so far as say good heart, sure people kill in the name of religion. But since it is the basis of most religions rules that killing is bad, the zealot is working under there own delusional interpretation.
Socrates tells us that zeal can work in both ways in Crito.
"My friend Crito, your zeal is invaluable, if a right one; but if wrong, the greater the zeal the greater the evil..."
(name removed) writes:
"And if it's Hell I'm going to then at least I shall be in good company!"
V writes:
Socrates again tells us in the Apology
"Wherefore, O judges, be of good cheer about death, and know this of a truth - that no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death"
Your hidden fears of hell stem from hearing 'man' talk as God. If God exists and God would send you to hell for having a good heart, seeking truth in a muddled up mess of historical documents, then what justice would there be in such a God / god? If God is not peace, then God must be the opposite of peace...turmoil and unrest. I prefer to believe God is peace and God is the authority on the subject of peace. The difference between an authority and an authoritarian is this. An authority speaks from a place of truth and such speaks as an authority. Whereas an authoritarian rules by fear and not by truth. For the truth stands on it own and the authoritarian stands on their ego. Do we worship a higher power or God out of fear - for if we do not worship this higher power we will be killed? Sounds like the aliens in an old "Superman" movies that came to earth to tell us to bow down to them or else?
When I read in the scriptures how God requires man to bow down and worship God, it somehow smacks of the human touch. Whenever we require anything outside of ourselves it will work to destroy our peace. So it would go for God requiring man to massage his ego is such a way and then not get his demands met. And when man failed to bow down ... pain and punishment must be inflicted. All peace destroying actions and not those associated with a perfect God. (at least in my interpretation)
Some Christians and Buddhist have told me that they are not interested in 'my interpretations' but they seem to forget that all religion is based on 'mans interpretation' of the divine and is subject to human prejudices, likes and dislikes as well as fears. My interpretations are just as good as his or theirs...none of us are gods. In fact, I sometimes chuckle at the official interpretations such as the Nicene creed where man has taken on the role of knowing the unknown and voting on the acceptance of their interpretation of what can never be known...ego based religion. I guess a member of an atheist list said it best ... if you do not know an answer to something then just say so.
Yes, most religions are driven by fear. Take away the fear of pain of karma or hell and you have a different person? A truly virtuous life remains the same irrespective of such fears and is not based on them. So, I would tell you or any other interested parties, to forget any such fears of hell as Socrates had done and instead concentrate you thoughts on the development of a good heart, pure motives as well as the truth and you can dismiss such concerns. Base your authentic nature not on fear but on inner peace and the promotion of peace within others. For if such a God does exist and that God sends 'good hearted' people to hell for eternal suffering and pain for not being able to find the truth in the scriptures riddled with lies and ambiguities, then it would not be much of a God in the first place.
V
"A good person 'high' on religion can, with a good heart, kill others for the greater Glory of God and his own salvation."
V writes:
I wouldn't go so far as say good heart, sure people kill in the name of religion. But since it is the basis of most religions rules that killing is bad, the zealot is working under there own delusional interpretation.
Socrates tells us that zeal can work in both ways in Crito.
"My friend Crito, your zeal is invaluable, if a right one; but if wrong, the greater the zeal the greater the evil..."
(name removed) writes:
"And if it's Hell I'm going to then at least I shall be in good company!"
V writes:
Socrates again tells us in the Apology
"Wherefore, O judges, be of good cheer about death, and know this of a truth - that no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death"
Your hidden fears of hell stem from hearing 'man' talk as God. If God exists and God would send you to hell for having a good heart, seeking truth in a muddled up mess of historical documents, then what justice would there be in such a God / god? If God is not peace, then God must be the opposite of peace...turmoil and unrest. I prefer to believe God is peace and God is the authority on the subject of peace. The difference between an authority and an authoritarian is this. An authority speaks from a place of truth and such speaks as an authority. Whereas an authoritarian rules by fear and not by truth. For the truth stands on it own and the authoritarian stands on their ego. Do we worship a higher power or God out of fear - for if we do not worship this higher power we will be killed? Sounds like the aliens in an old "Superman" movies that came to earth to tell us to bow down to them or else?
When I read in the scriptures how God requires man to bow down and worship God, it somehow smacks of the human touch. Whenever we require anything outside of ourselves it will work to destroy our peace. So it would go for God requiring man to massage his ego is such a way and then not get his demands met. And when man failed to bow down ... pain and punishment must be inflicted. All peace destroying actions and not those associated with a perfect God. (at least in my interpretation)
Some Christians and Buddhist have told me that they are not interested in 'my interpretations' but they seem to forget that all religion is based on 'mans interpretation' of the divine and is subject to human prejudices, likes and dislikes as well as fears. My interpretations are just as good as his or theirs...none of us are gods. In fact, I sometimes chuckle at the official interpretations such as the Nicene creed where man has taken on the role of knowing the unknown and voting on the acceptance of their interpretation of what can never be known...ego based religion. I guess a member of an atheist list said it best ... if you do not know an answer to something then just say so.
Yes, most religions are driven by fear. Take away the fear of pain of karma or hell and you have a different person? A truly virtuous life remains the same irrespective of such fears and is not based on them. So, I would tell you or any other interested parties, to forget any such fears of hell as Socrates had done and instead concentrate you thoughts on the development of a good heart, pure motives as well as the truth and you can dismiss such concerns. Base your authentic nature not on fear but on inner peace and the promotion of peace within others. For if such a God does exist and that God sends 'good hearted' people to hell for eternal suffering and pain for not being able to find the truth in the scriptures riddled with lies and ambiguities, then it would not be much of a God in the first place.
V
