Does Religion Suck?

[Rothen]

Most things that happen in our lives recieve influence or opposition from some religion in the world. “Do this, do that, avoid this, never do that!”

Well, having long been exposed to different kinds of religions and the warnings that each one carries, maybe we need to look at the different things in religions that do not make any sense. From illogical claims to hypocritical behavior, almost every religion in this world has some kind of an evil manipulation or plan going on that makes many people ignore the entire idea of religions.

The best thing to do when figuring out why religions can be the way they are is to ignore the people who may support such religions, and instead focus on the religious ideas themselves. Because in the end, it is the ideas and concepts that should be analyzed more than human beings when it comes to evil things. Who agrees?

 

[Rothen]

Bump

 

[Received]

Evil ideas are extensions of evil human beings. Psychology precedes ideology. Study the humans first, the ideas second.

 

[freezerman2000]

When "Religion" tries to control the flock through fear,and their own interpretations of Scriptures, yes it does.

 

[Paradoxum]

I'm not sure if I read the first post properly, but study psychology/ sociology and the ideas.

 

[MorkandMindy]

...

The best thing to do when figuring out why religions can be the way they are is to ignore the people who may support such religions, and instead focus on the religious ideas themselves. Because in the end, it is the ideas and concepts that should be analyzed more than human beings when it comes to evil things. Who agrees?

I would approach it firstly as you suggest, taking a religion as a set of connected ideas and then as a second stage include a religions interaction with human instincts and emotions.



As a set of interconnected ideas

Meme theory might be a good way of looking at it. Meme Theory has its critics as well as it's proponents, but in support of it I would comment that no understanding is ever totally correct, but nonetheless we need ways of analysing things because the human brain just doesn't have the capacity to handle all aspects of reality in one go.

And it is evident that of the thoughts in a person, a set of religious values, do and don't do rules, are instead of being independently assessed each on it's own merits,

are instead cast as a single large block of values, all to be followed.



Rather than carefully assessing pros and cons, a whole set of values get taken on board from a religion and all followed because they are in the block: 'the Bible says'.


And so on the basis of obedience, religious people are prone to making a lot of very unwise decisions.


(I know, I wrecked my life by following the Bible)

 

[WonderBeat]

Religion is an outward expression of an inward condition... just like secular humanism is. And both are, happily, incorrect.

 

[Paradoxum]

Religion is an outward expression of an inward condition... just like secular humanism is. And both are, happily, incorrect.

What is correct then?

 

[WonderBeat]

What is correct then?

Nothing is correct. Or put in plainer words, there are no "shoulds" in life. It is all one, so how can oneness go astray? There is only the Self, and anything else is merely an addition, an interpretation of that one truth. I say that both philosophies are incorrect, not because they are wrong, but because they are beside the point. Do not look for conditions which mirror themselves in external fact; look for the CONDITION-LESS, and see what comes through that - Love.