Why I prefer to think that monotheistic religions are less "evolved" religions.

[raffster]

The top ten reasons why I think that the monotheistic religions are not as evolved as the other religions that do not put much emphasis on a creator God are these:

1. The religions are too restrictive. Too many rules to follow and comply with.
2. Too much authority has been given to certain individuals. It is very difficult to pursue Truth as one traverses the spiritual path because there is limited room to modify or change.
3. Majority of its members are too quick to judge. The slightest error could get you a harsh: "Oh my God he back slided or something" or "He committed a mortal sin and needs to confess."
4. Due to the nature of the teachings of monotheistic religions, fundamentalists have to struggle with not becoming extremists, which unfortunately, is very difficult most of the time. One of the monotheistic religions justifies killing under specific circumstances.
5. Monotheistic religion followers have a normal inclination to believe that theirs is the only way, everybody else is doomed.
6. A lot of these monotheistic religions do not encourage exploring other beliefs. Some groups of these religions are short of tagging almost anything that doesn't resemble them as either pagan or Satanic.
7. The believers of most monotheistic religions are often times blinded by specific promises they read from their "Holy Book". Unfortunately, while there is great possibility to misinterpret what is written on their Holy Book, they are discouraged to question the teaching, often times leading to blind faith.
8. A lot of believers of monotheistic religions become mere "subscribers" to that religion. They attend their "holy day" of the week and because of that consider themselves "believers of that religion."
9. Monotheistic religions often teach their members not to associate with believers of another faith/creed saying that it's bad to "get equally yoked" whether in that context or not. Very discriminatory, in my opinion.
10. Most followers of monotheistic religions do not even know that they are on a spiritual journey. Their belief has turned into a lifeless following a ritual or reading off pages a book and "believing" the passage for the day.

Comments, reactions, observations?

 

[Arthra]

My initial reaction "raffster" is that your ten reasons are far too broad and generalized without specifics... They may be your conclusions and how you feel about it but I'm afraid you've given us little or no evidence to support your reasoning...

Each of the great religions including those who are monotheistic have a wide variety of views and responses to human situations so simply to generalize about them isn't saying a lot in my view...

So that's my comment and reaction.

- Art

 

[raffster]

Hi Art,

Thanks for your comment. I appreciate it.

I'll add specifics when I get more responses. I am also looking to see if there are others who share my perspective, even though they are in very general "sense".

--Raffster

 

[TooCurious]

I don't know that "less evolved" is really the most accurate description of them. It seems to me that earlier religions and beliefs held divine entities to be more humanlike, less abstract, and allowed for multiple interpretations of the divine and the world. When the Greeks encountered the Egyptians, for instance, they didn't think that the Egyptian pantheon was wrong or false; they simply viewed it as another set of gods. I think that polytheistic religions are more accepting of other ideas and tend toward syncretism. Monotheism, though, I think develops later, as dogma becomes more codified and an entire populace comes to identify with the religion. Then it becomes an engine for divisiveness, a rallying point for the "us versus them" mentality. "We" are right and "they" are wrong, all concerning an increasingly abstract concept. So I think it's a later stage in development or evolution, but the question remains whether it's development in a positive direction or not. These, at least, are the general trends I notice historically; your mileage may vary.

 

[Gardenia]

Well, I agree in the sense that all of those things are the possible downfalls of monotheistic religion (although some, like 10, could be applied to any religion honestly). However, none of them are necessarily 100% always true, either.

 

[Ryal Kane]

What you seem to be meaning is 'worse' rather than 'less evolved'

Following from what TooCurious noted, I believe quite the opposite, that monotheistic religions are more 'evolved', the logical conclusion of religious development.

Original gods were little more than big powerful humans. they were flawed and often mortal. But over time, and cultural exchanges, their power grew. It became a case of 'my god is bigger than your god'. Eventually this leads do a doing away of flawed deities and pantheons and finally to a super deity who is all powerful and all knowing, beyond time and space and understanding.

I'm not saying that this religion is right mind you. Just that it's what you'd expect from social development.

 

[czach8]

The top ten reasons why I think that the monotheistic religions are not as evolved as the other religions that do not put much emphasis on a creator God are these:

1. The religions are too restrictive. Too many rules to follow and comply with.
2. Too much authority has been given to certain individuals. It is very difficult to pursue Truth as one traverses the spiritual path because there is limited room to modify or change.
3. Majority of its members are too quick to judge. The slightest error could get you a harsh: "Oh my God he back slided or something" or "He committed a mortal sin and needs to confess."
4. Due to the nature of the teachings of monotheistic religions, fundamentalists have to struggle with not becoming extremists, which unfortunately, is very difficult most of the time. One of the monotheistic religions justifies killing under specific circumstances.
5. Monotheistic religion followers have a normal inclination to believe that theirs is the only way, everybody else is doomed.
6. A lot of these monotheistic religions do not encourage exploring other beliefs. Some groups of these religions are short of tagging almost anything that doesn't resemble them as either pagan or Satanic.
7. The believers of most monotheistic religions are often times blinded by specific promises they read from their "Holy Book". Unfortunately, while there is great possibility to misinterpret what is written on their Holy Book, they are discouraged to question the teaching, often times leading to blind faith.
8. A lot of believers of monotheistic religions become mere "subscribers" to that religion. They attend their "holy day" of the week and because of that consider themselves "believers of that religion."
9. Monotheistic religions often teach their members not to associate with believers of another faith/creed saying that it's bad to "get equally yoked" whether in that context or not. Very discriminatory, in my opinion.
10. Most followers of monotheistic religions do not even know that they are on a spiritual journey. Their belief has turned into a lifeless following a ritual or reading off pages a book and "believing" the passage for the day.

Comments, reactions, observations?

Are you complaining about monotheism or the followers of these religions? Because remember, there is a major difference between what followers do and what God really wants his followers to do. Monotheistic religions do actually tolerate other beliefs, and subliminally wrote messages concerning other faiths and that salvation is for everyone who has a good heart. The bible does not just concentrate on Jews and Christians. For instance:

Psalm 19:1-4 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. [a]Their voice [b] goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun”.

Psalm 46:9 says, “He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields [a] with fire.

Psalm 22:27 says, “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him.

Psalm 98:3 says, “He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Psalm 147:15 says, “He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.

Malachi 1:5 says, "You will see it with your own eyes and say, 'Great is the LORD -even beyond the borders of Israel!'"

I think this is enough to say that all religions point to the same God.

Peace bro.

 

[mnbvcxz87]

Religion that doesn't unequivocally stand for pacificm, compassion, justice and equality are utterly worthless. Not one of the religions discussed on this message board has any moral or philosophical worth, but carry on nonetheless. Discuss your prophets and afterlifes, and ignore the real issues.

 

[Abdurrahim]

Why I prefer to think that monotheistic religions are less "evolved" religions.

What do you mean by 'evolved' ?

If you believe there is a creator , I believe there is , there is basically one religion.
The religion does not evolve but the rules given has slightly changed in time according to needs and knowledge of mankind.

The top ten reasons why I think that the monotheistic religions are not as evolved as the other religions that do not put much emphasis on a creator God are these:

1. The religions are too restrictive. Too many rules to follow and comply with.

The aim of the religion is to obey and fulfil G-d's will. So G-d does state the laws. Yes from time to time some rules are misunderstood or corrupted in the past.

2. Too much authority has been given to certain individuals. It is very difficult to pursue Truth as one traverses the spiritual path because there is limited room to modify or change.

There is no unlimited authority in religions.
Prophets had the highest authority but their duty was basically to convey the message of G-d.

3. Majority of its members are too quick to judge. The slightest error could get you a harsh: "Oh my God he back slided or something" or "He committed a mortal sin and needs to confess."

Yes this can be a real problem but we are taught in islam Allah Allmighty is the most merciful and may forget every sin.

4. Due to the nature of the teachings of monotheistic religions, fundamentalists have to struggle with not becoming extremists, which unfortunately, is very difficult most of the time. One of the monotheistic religions justifies killing under specific circumstances.

Killing is not allowed except time of war.

Prophet stated "Peace is best".

5. Monotheistic religion followers have a normal inclination to believe that theirs is the only way, everybody else is doomed.


6. A lot of these monotheistic religions do not encourage exploring other beliefs. Some groups of these religions are short of tagging almost anything that doesn't resemble them as either pagan or Satanic.

Still there are converts and islam is the fastest growing religion.

7. The believers of most monotheistic religions are often times blinded by specific promises they read from their "Holy Book". Unfortunately, while there is great possibility to misinterpret what is written on their Holy Book, they are discouraged to question the teaching, often times leading to blind faith.

Holy Quran does always recommend thinking and observing and many proofs are shown to mankind. There is no blind faith which contradicts human knowledge.

8. A lot of believers of monotheistic religions become mere "subscribers" to that religion. They attend their "holy day" of the week and because of that consider themselves "believers of that religion."

This is normal

9. Monotheistic religions often teach their members not to associate with believers of another faith/creed saying that it's bad to "get equally yoked" whether in that context or not. Very discriminatory, in my opinion.



10. Most followers of monotheistic religions do not even know that they are on a spiritual journey. Their belief has turned into a lifeless following a ritual or reading off pages a book and "believing" the passage for the day.

Comments, reactions, observations?

In short abrahamic religions are stating there is one and only G-d ,who is the source of all the power (trinity of some christians is a different doctrine) .

So either this is true or not.

If there would be more than one creator there would be a chaos in the universe.

Why would a god use the rules of another god ?

From the smallest atomic part to the galaxies we can see this unity of One and only G-d and we can see his power.



Peace

 

[Abbadon]

1. The religions are too restrictive. Too many rules to follow and comply with.

No, that's a problem for all religions, it's either a sign that the religion is particularly small or particularly large.

2. Too much authority has been given to certain individuals. It is very difficult to pursue Truth as one traverses the spiritual path because there is limited room to modify or change.

Again, a problem for all religions.

4. Due to the nature of the teachings of monotheistic religions, fundamentalists have to struggle with not becoming extremists, which unfortunately, is very difficult most of the time.

Actually, a problem with any religion, philosophy, or any belief is that keeping the people that think "good us vs evil them" from using the belief to further thier own causes.

5. Monotheistic religion followers have a normal inclination to believe that theirs is the only way, everybody else is doomed.

That's certainly not the case for Zoroastrians, and many Jews.

6. A lot of these monotheistic religions do not encourage exploring other beliefs. Some groups of these religions are short of tagging almost anything that doesn't resemble them as either pagan or Satanic.

See #4.

7. The believers of most monotheistic religions are often times blinded by specific promises they read from their "Holy Book". Unfortunately, while there is great possibility to misinterpret what is written on their Holy Book, they are discouraged to question the teaching, often times leading to blind faith.

That's a problem with all religions.

8. A lot of believers of monotheistic religions become mere "subscribers" to that religion. They attend their "holy day" of the week and because of that consider themselves "believers of that religion."

That's a problem with all religions. Most of the Buddhists I've met face to face didn't even know who Siddhartha Gautama was.

10. Most followers of monotheistic religions do not even know that they are on a spiritual journey. Their belief has turned into a lifeless following a ritual or reading off pages a book and "believing" the passage for the day.

For most of the Buddhists, Hindus, and neo-pagans I've met offline, what makes them Buddhist is keeping a Hotei statue in thier house, Hindu by keeping a Vishnu or Ganesha statue and not eating steak (though they'll eat McDonald's...), or neo-pagan by just saying "I believe in the rede, which is 'an if it harm none, do what you wanna!'"

EVERY religion has these problems, it's not just the monostheistic ones.

I think that polytheistic religions are more accepting of other ideas and tend toward syncretism. Monotheism, though, I think develops later, as dogma becomes more codified and an entire populace comes to identify with the religion.

And the syncretism sometimes facilitates in the push towards monotheism.

Though monotheism can lead to polytheism, as angels or aspects of the central deity become full on gods in the minds of the average worshipper.