Freewill is not free + the cards r stacked against us by Yahweh; Mayb u don't logically believe..like not being in love, u were raised Buddist, u were never told of any God OR u die b4 u get "reborn". The typical Xtian answer is that u can choose once u die OR when tribulation happens. This is ambiguous, at best! So god creates what he supposedly loves and puts them in a sys. of reward/punishment while proclaiming freewill?
god knows what our actions will be, but it is still our choice. he doesn't create our choice he just knows what it will be, and since he doesn't influence them it is still free will. For him to influence them he would break his own law of free will and become unholy. he cannot violate his own laws or he becomes fallable.
This is similar to blaming the characters in a novel for behaving the way the novelist decided for them to be. One possible outcome with no chance of something different. You describe a future is as fixed as the past. A choice has been made, though not by the characters, but the author in both cases.
only when you limet yourself to finite thinking. If you put your hand on a lit stove it will burn, I know it will burn you, and if I choose not to tell you this and you burn yourself I did not make your choice I mearly knew the outcome
You are describing present...you were WATCHING him place his hand on the stove and he is currently burning himself, you knew the outcome to that specific thing. But that is only a very short "future" god knows the beginning and the end which means he knows every choice you will ever make, even if he doesn't tell you that you will make it, you will make those moves because god has seen that, and if you did otherwise god would be wrong. Explain a longer future...
any human can "guess" to the short future, but no one knows for certain, What if the stove was electric and barely hot. You are the one with the finite thinking...If god knows for certain then we will never be able to change the path that he knows we will be on.
AS we grow up our Mom&Dad's will teach us right from wrong Good from bad(don't put your hand in the fire, you'll get burned)so you'll know it might not be a GOOD thing to do.The path is narrow,ie.simple!
Yes, location influences and binds ethics, law and religion. There are no laws or traditions about ice in the jungle...
Existance of Free Will Choices?
Are you sure you can touch such a basic and deep philosopical question on youtube.
Scientists are pretty sure that the universe is not deterministic, it is very random in detail but looks sorted if you look on large scale statistics that form "larger bodies".
For some reason, I can't help think of nationality too - the amount of power that we lend to our national flags etc. I understand that to be an 'American' and the associative flag holds great power. (As a Brit, I love our union flag). Yet how can this be, when it is just an accident as to where in the world we are born? [Apologies for lack of thread between these two points, but brain hurts and couldn't achieve it]
Conditioning. Through logic, emotion, argument and preaching a mindset is created, and belief in that doctrine is achieved. Once people 'find' belief/faith, why would they go out looking for the same thing somewhere else? From safe, familiar, comforting and with community to an unknown? There are people who consider religion to the point of abandoning their taught beliefs, but I think you can see why this is not the norm.
Obviously if you've never heard of Islam you're not gonna be a Muslim. I think the message (and acts) is the most important thing, otherwise why would people be dissatisfied with the religion?
But how do we explain cults like Scientology? There isn't really any logical, emotional, or geographical appeal. Scientology started in the midst of strongly biased and stubborn, although eccentric, people group. I really don't know what influences the growth of cults, other than an exploited vague agnosticism.
The numbers in those organizations are very small compartively. Even Scientology is far less than 100,000 people world wide. That's ~0.03% of the US population. In other words, groups of those types are statistically insignificant compared to the major religious populations that surround them.
with regards to religions, ppl can believe the propaganda they hear or they can research for themselves. its this researching that makes Islam the fastest Growing Religion with regards to reverts especially since 9/11 and all the hype bout islam.
I'm a Catholic, and although I don't necessarily agree with everything the Church proclaims, I will most likely be a Catholic all my life. I believe this has to do with the simple fact of comfort. I'm comfortable in going to Mass and participating in the various rituals and traditions of the Catholic Church because that's what I'm familiar with. I also
happen to agree with the major teachings and practices of the Church. Therefore, I don't see why I should search for a faith that completely...
A big factor is doubt. While we may grow up in one religion, the investigation of it's validity lasts our whole lives. If we come to believe that some other religion might actually be the true one, we want to be certain of our correctness on the matter before we switch stands. Since that investigation takes so long to be sure of, we may never get around to taking the step from one to the other, and content ourselves with justifying what we believed from the start.
Well, I don't really believe in a true, ultimate religion, despite the fact that mine is an absolutist religion. I think there are many paths to 'salvation' or whatever you seek, and I've chosen mine. Perhaps that sounds ridiculously simple in the whole complexity that is religion, but it's the truth.
What then is your definition of "Salvation"? If it is the redemption from sin, then you are agreeing to the existence of sin, which in turn necessitates an over-arching law. In law, for the sake of justice, there can only be one "right", and, therefore, an absolute. The many may tend to follow the same sort of law, but for law to have validity there can only be one lawgiver. Must we not define our relation to that lawgiver, ultimately to avoid profanities (in the original sense of the word)?
If you think that "Salvation" is simply an elevation of the mind, or a deepened humanity, you are still using a natural hierarchy as a rule for comparison. How can you define "elevation" without an absolute, or even some relative rights and wrongs which would have to stem from some absolute? Moreover, what could influence our humanity to make it greater, deeper, and more worthy? I am curious to know how you justify the absence of absolutes in your agnosticism.
I'm not agnostic. Just a very open Catholic. Heh, I probably should be excommunicated. But, I believe there are many paths of right, some working better than others for different types of people. If someone is a traditionalist and rather conservative in their views, obviously the best route to salvation would be an older religion that holds those same values. For me, Catholicism happens to meet my religious needs relatively well, and I'm content at the moment.
As for my definition of salvation, it's saving humanity from the trials and suffering they face here on earth. So yes, I suppose a redemption of sin. There are rights and there are wrongs, but usually there are more than two options. Life more often than not, even in religion, is not white and black. There is a lovely mirage of gray.
I have been alittle odd religiously for as long as I can remember.
Essentially what you are saying is location exposes a kid to language early, that is essentially more of an influence than the writings of that religion itself. Obviously so otherwise we wouldnt need missionaries. But I do believe it has more to do with how the person is. Everyone has a path but it isnt as cut and dry as listening to so and so ect...
I disagree with the premise that if you're born in region x and raised as a xian, then you will likely stay an xian. It's not quite that simple. It has more to do with education and one's exposure to other ideas. The more one is educated the less likely they are to remain religious. That is not to say that there aren't religious scientists, there are. I know some. But statistically speaking, the more educated you are, the less likey you are to remain religious or evein theist.
This is a hard matter to correlate because it seems that the type of person that becomes a scientist is naturally less likely to be religious, whether he is educated or not, and the lack of religion in the scientific communities may not be related to the absolute science itself. Additionally, many unreligious people look to science in the desperate hope that it will abet their lifestyles by "disproving" God.
This is a hard matter to correlate because it seems that the type of person that becomes a scientist is naturally less likely to be religious, whether he is educated or not, and the lack of religion in the scientific communities may not be related to the absolute science itself. Additionally, many unreligious people look to science in the desperate hope that it will abet their lifestyles by "disproving" God.
If it were true, that geographic location alone determined religion, there would be but one religion. There is in history necessarily one original religion, and its geographic dominance would disallow the existence of all consequent beliefs. Christianity grew from the geographic heart of Judaism, and Buddhism from the heart of Hinduism—if choice of religion were completely influenced by locale and not merit, these secondary religions would not exist. I too may make this into a video response.
And what about local tribal beliefs in New Guinea, the Amazon, Congo?
Basically all monotheist religions owe something to Zoroastrianism, actually. The question is, how far can a denomination or religion branch out before it's completely separate -- and thus its adherents wouldn't be going to the same heaven? At what point are they different religions?
plato wrote about people being raised in a cave, and all they could see was a wall. on the wall shadows of people of the outside world were projected, and this is all they knew, so this was the universe to them (to us that sounds silly, 'cause we know better; we're in the outside world). then they were released, and saw the world, and they were shocked.
they were raised to believe one thing, even though there was more out there. where you grow up influences what you believe reality is ('where' in this sentence means what culture harbours your parents' believes; what ideas surrounded and inspired your parents when raising you).
Validity here is insignificant because can believe in anything not CLEARLY (Stress that word!) false if taught from childhood. Many NKs view their dictator as a god which is invalid to us but works for them. So, Religion is a product of culture. The east values groups, which is why religions like Shinto are popular. The west values individuality: Christianity is popular. Religions exist for many reasons, but the existance of a particular religion in a particular place has to do with culture.
The three major monotheistic religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) are pretty damn similar to each other, and their message is more or less supposed to be "love", yet in the name of those three religions many people are being killed each day and have been killed in the past. They've killed whole civilizations. That, to me, is another reason for believing that the message does not count AT ALL. Or maybe if the message is rather "death" than "love".
yes many of the things done in the name of God (whoever's God that is) have been horrible things but does that negate the intended message of the creator if you believe in one and believe that message is one of love not death. I attribute the similarities in all major religions as affermation of real truth. And at the heart of all those religions is a call to respect their fellow humans.
I think those who interpret their religions belief's as a call to disrespect or kill are grossly misinterrepting their scriptures. True scholars of the major world religions will all agree that their faiths do not endorse this behavior. As usual it is distortion by those seeking worldly power. My thoughts anyway.
People kill people, it's that simple. I think that we have to look at the actions of religious groups once universal behavior is taken away. Sure, "Christians" have killed hundreds of thousands, but so has the rest of the world in the name of thousands of other religions. Does this mean that Christianity preaches murder? No. It means that man is sinful, and that Christians are fallible too, are redeemed only by the grace of God.
I agree with you, it doesn't really matter what the message of a religion is, the only thing that matters is the surroundings that you grow up in, specifically your family, your parents. But what is the message of, say, Christianity?
I have since moved from the country, so it might've changed. I would say that where you grow up and who you are surrounded by has a greater impact on your religious beliefs than the religion's believability. Thanks Castaa, Kate
In the town where I lived there were only christian schools. So, you were almost forced to be like everyone else if you wanted to be there. I attended a Christian school there and my second grade teacher told me that I wasn't a good enough Christian because both of my parents were theater teachers. She tried to make me like the rest of my class. Cont...
Well it all depends, if you're born in an Islamic dictatorship, then you're pretty much forced to be Islam. Really it all depends on the situation and the individual to seek the truth, and maybe some divine interevention along the way.
Okay, you believe in Love. But what is love to you, how does it answer Castaa's question and how do you balance love and justice? That is, can an all loving God also be an all just God?
While religious belief is clearly influenced and often shaped by ethnicity, locality, cultural and economic climate, a more fundamental question would be: how many of those that do adhere to a certain religion have actually made any attempt to interpret and evaluate the religious "message"; its origins and from a practical perspective its consequences. Certainly difficult to ascertain.
Religions are ideas that spread by word of mouth and also the holy texts. A child gets most of his ideas from his parents, so of course he picks up the same religion. Parents also usually punish their kids if they stray from belief or ask too many questions. It is only through education that people will start to doubt their religion.
The believability of the message is important only to the extent that it allows you to get into the mindset of the religion. Many religions use fear to maintain the belief, so that most people stick to the religion they were born with out of fear, and will not usually switch religions.
To a certain point this parental discouragement of dissent is a good thing. Psychologically speaking, the frontal cortex of our brains, the area that controls our decision making and reasoning abilitiesm, is not fully developed until our early twenties. There is your scientific pitch for children obeying their parents. But this is only an excuse to a certain point--parents DO need to promote inquiry, DO need to need to satisfy it to the best of their ability, otherwise something is wrong.
Also many religions are interpreted in terms of their denotation instead of the connotation. Two different may use different terminology, but point to the same message. For example: both Catholics and the Ainu (and others) have the concept of Eucharist in their religion, killing and eating the God, but exclusivity separates them, while acceptance can unite them.
Maybe it's more how a person was raised, than where.
Several points of note:
1) No matter how different the religious traditions are, they are in accord in that they all call us to a deeper awareness of the very act of life itself.
2) There are basic fundamental forms, elementary ideas, which appear in most religions everywhere.
3) The exclusivity of one's tradition can separate one from another's religion even though most of the beliefs are compatible.
Religion, while it does regulate our beliefs, does have limitations of its powers in the culture of the greater society. People often use religion when they are not sure what to think of things, but when the alternative theory is well explained and understood, we usually accept it, especially if we are comfortable with allowing contradictions.
Religions that isolate their members, (cults) do so in order to retain their integrity, Otherwise the religions become jeopardized.
I think your suroundings affect what you believe, If you were raised to believe one thing, you aren't going to easily open your mind to something else. Thats why Christianity has thousands of missionaries around the world, and i've heard of many stories of conversions when the Christian message is brought to countries such as china, so I think the message has a great value to it, but that is only there if the people open up from what they've been brough up from listen.
It did make sense. But it is a very hard thing to be sure enough of the missionaries to convert, because abandoning one's natal beliefs has the definite result of being either the absolute worst or best decision one will make in a lifetime. There is no more important decision that one that can potentially affect you for eternity, and, therefore, natal beliefs act as a safety net until a decision has been made.
Freewill is not free + the cards r stacked against us by Yahweh; Mayb u don't logically believe..like not being in love, u were raised Buddist, u were never told of any God OR u die b4 u get "reborn". The typical Xtian answer is that u can choose once u die OR when tribulation happens. This is ambiguous, at best! So god creates what he supposedly loves and puts them in a sys. of reward/punishment while proclaiming freewill?
julzabro 3 years ago
Don't fall for it, people.
God is a myth. Just like Zeus, Appolo, Mars and the rest of them.
judoyodan 3 years ago
god knows what our actions will be, but it is still our choice. he doesn't create our choice he just knows what it will be, and since he doesn't influence them it is still free will. For him to influence them he would break his own law of free will and become unholy. he cannot violate his own laws or he becomes fallable.
GayKoda 3 years ago
This is similar to blaming the characters in a novel for behaving the way the novelist decided for them to be. One possible outcome with no chance of something different. You describe a future is as fixed as the past. A choice has been made, though not by the characters, but the author in both cases.
Castaa 3 years ago
only when you limet yourself to finite thinking. If you put your hand on a lit stove it will burn, I know it will burn you, and if I choose not to tell you this and you burn yourself I did not make your choice I mearly knew the outcome
GayKoda 3 years ago
You are describing present...you were WATCHING him place his hand on the stove and he is currently burning himself, you knew the outcome to that specific thing. But that is only a very short "future" god knows the beginning and the end which means he knows every choice you will ever make, even if he doesn't tell you that you will make it, you will make those moves because god has seen that, and if you did otherwise god would be wrong. Explain a longer future...
krum1987 3 years ago
any human can "guess" to the short future, but no one knows for certain, What if the stove was electric and barely hot. You are the one with the finite thinking...If god knows for certain then we will never be able to change the path that he knows we will be on.
krum1987 3 years ago
the world it self sustains
GENIUSBOYBOY 4 years ago
watch matrix trilogy
GENIUSBOYBOY 4 years ago
i think u r a normal person.
u think u r right about your stand?
i still think that you have are talking nonsense
you know why ? because you don't even see God
How do you know God knows everything ..and why r u still making trouble in God knows everything..
But Most of us are still believe that God is unique.
wisallion 4 years ago
AS we grow up our Mom&Dad's will teach us right from wrong Good from bad(don't put your hand in the fire, you'll get burned)so you'll know it might not be a GOOD thing to do.The path is narrow,ie.simple!
charleszoe 4 years ago
omg how many epsiodes r there!
JinxG3 5 years ago
Eleven episodes and counting as of right now. Pace yourself! ;-)
Castaa 5 years ago
Yes, location influences and binds ethics, law and religion. There are no laws or traditions about ice in the jungle...
Existance of Free Will Choices?
Are you sure you can touch such a basic and deep philosopical question on youtube.
Scientists are pretty sure that the universe is not deterministic, it is very random in detail but looks sorted if you look on large scale statistics that form "larger bodies".
olllj 5 years ago
For some reason, I can't help think of nationality too - the amount of power that we lend to our national flags etc. I understand that to be an 'American' and the associative flag holds great power. (As a Brit, I love our union flag). Yet how can this be, when it is just an accident as to where in the world we are born? [Apologies for lack of thread between these two points, but brain hurts and couldn't achieve it]
choc83 5 years ago
Conditioning. Through logic, emotion, argument and preaching a mindset is created, and belief in that doctrine is achieved. Once people 'find' belief/faith, why would they go out looking for the same thing somewhere else? From safe, familiar, comforting and with community to an unknown? There are people who consider religion to the point of abandoning their taught beliefs, but I think you can see why this is not the norm.
choc83 5 years ago
Obviously if you've never heard of Islam you're not gonna be a Muslim. I think the message (and acts) is the most important thing, otherwise why would people be dissatisfied with the religion?
zxg 5 years ago
But how do we explain cults like Scientology? There isn't really any logical, emotional, or geographical appeal. Scientology started in the midst of strongly biased and stubborn, although eccentric, people group. I really don't know what influences the growth of cults, other than an exploited vague agnosticism.
0Phosphoros0 5 years ago
The numbers in those organizations are very small compartively. Even Scientology is far less than 100,000 people world wide. That's ~0.03% of the US population. In other words, groups of those types are statistically insignificant compared to the major religious populations that surround them.
Castaa 5 years ago
The word 'cult' is relative. Christianity was once a cult in the eyes of Romans etc. (then they later embraced it as their own religion)
choc83 5 years ago
with regards to religions, ppl can believe the propaganda they hear or they can research for themselves. its this researching that makes Islam the fastest Growing Religion with regards to reverts especially since 9/11 and all the hype bout islam.
keysa101 5 years ago
fits my own personal beliefs, when I already have a religion that fits most of them and I feel comfortable with.
thethiefess 5 years ago
I'm a Catholic, and although I don't necessarily agree with everything the Church proclaims, I will most likely be a Catholic all my life. I believe this has to do with the simple fact of comfort. I'm comfortable in going to Mass and participating in the various rituals and traditions of the Catholic Church because that's what I'm familiar with. I also
happen to agree with the major teachings and practices of the Church. Therefore, I don't see why I should search for a faith that completely...
thethiefess 5 years ago
A big factor is doubt. While we may grow up in one religion, the investigation of it's validity lasts our whole lives. If we come to believe that some other religion might actually be the true one, we want to be certain of our correctness on the matter before we switch stands. Since that investigation takes so long to be sure of, we may never get around to taking the step from one to the other, and content ourselves with justifying what we believed from the start.
0Phosphoros0 5 years ago
Well, I don't really believe in a true, ultimate religion, despite the fact that mine is an absolutist religion. I think there are many paths to 'salvation' or whatever you seek, and I've chosen mine. Perhaps that sounds ridiculously simple in the whole complexity that is religion, but it's the truth.
thethiefess 5 years ago
What then is your definition of "Salvation"? If it is the redemption from sin, then you are agreeing to the existence of sin, which in turn necessitates an over-arching law. In law, for the sake of justice, there can only be one "right", and, therefore, an absolute. The many may tend to follow the same sort of law, but for law to have validity there can only be one lawgiver. Must we not define our relation to that lawgiver, ultimately to avoid profanities (in the original sense of the word)?
0Phosphoros0 5 years ago
If you think that "Salvation" is simply an elevation of the mind, or a deepened humanity, you are still using a natural hierarchy as a rule for comparison. How can you define "elevation" without an absolute, or even some relative rights and wrongs which would have to stem from some absolute? Moreover, what could influence our humanity to make it greater, deeper, and more worthy? I am curious to know how you justify the absence of absolutes in your agnosticism.
0Phosphoros0 5 years ago
I'm not agnostic. Just a very open Catholic. Heh, I probably should be excommunicated. But, I believe there are many paths of right, some working better than others for different types of people. If someone is a traditionalist and rather conservative in their views, obviously the best route to salvation would be an older religion that holds those same values. For me, Catholicism happens to meet my religious needs relatively well, and I'm content at the moment.
thethiefess 5 years ago
As for my definition of salvation, it's saving humanity from the trials and suffering they face here on earth. So yes, I suppose a redemption of sin. There are rights and there are wrongs, but usually there are more than two options. Life more often than not, even in religion, is not white and black. There is a lovely mirage of gray.
thethiefess 5 years ago
I have been alittle odd religiously for as long as I can remember.
Essentially what you are saying is location exposes a kid to language early, that is essentially more of an influence than the writings of that religion itself. Obviously so otherwise we wouldnt need missionaries. But I do believe it has more to do with how the person is. Everyone has a path but it isnt as cut and dry as listening to so and so ect...
well that was slightly cryptic
TheRictus 5 years ago
I disagree with the premise that if you're born in region x and raised as a xian, then you will likely stay an xian. It's not quite that simple. It has more to do with education and one's exposure to other ideas. The more one is educated the less likely they are to remain religious. That is not to say that there aren't religious scientists, there are. I know some. But statistically speaking, the more educated you are, the less likey you are to remain religious or evein theist.
AburKadabur 5 years ago
This is a hard matter to correlate because it seems that the type of person that becomes a scientist is naturally less likely to be religious, whether he is educated or not, and the lack of religion in the scientific communities may not be related to the absolute science itself. Additionally, many unreligious people look to science in the desperate hope that it will abet their lifestyles by "disproving" God.
0Phosphoros0 5 years ago
This is a hard matter to correlate because it seems that the type of person that becomes a scientist is naturally less likely to be religious, whether he is educated or not, and the lack of religion in the scientific communities may not be related to the absolute science itself. Additionally, many unreligious people look to science in the desperate hope that it will abet their lifestyles by "disproving" God.
0Phosphoros0 5 years ago
If it were true, that geographic location alone determined religion, there would be but one religion. There is in history necessarily one original religion, and its geographic dominance would disallow the existence of all consequent beliefs. Christianity grew from the geographic heart of Judaism, and Buddhism from the heart of Hinduism—if choice of religion were completely influenced by locale and not merit, these secondary religions would not exist. I too may make this into a video response.
0Phosphoros0 5 years ago
And what about local tribal beliefs in New Guinea, the Amazon, Congo?
Basically all monotheist religions owe something to Zoroastrianism, actually. The question is, how far can a denomination or religion branch out before it's completely separate -- and thus its adherents wouldn't be going to the same heaven? At what point are they different religions?
TheAbsurdTruth 5 years ago
Damn ... I started typing and thinking at the same time, and my comment ended up around 700 words long. Yikes.
I'm making a video response now! I swear.
TheAbsurdTruth 5 years ago
Can't wait to view it. It'll be a first for the show.
Castaa 5 years ago
Really? Wow.
Yeah this video will be a bit on the long side too. I get carried away easily.
TheAbsurdTruth 5 years ago
plato wrote about people being raised in a cave, and all they could see was a wall. on the wall shadows of people of the outside world were projected, and this is all they knew, so this was the universe to them (to us that sounds silly, 'cause we know better; we're in the outside world). then they were released, and saw the world, and they were shocked.
joopjoperson 5 years ago
they were raised to believe one thing, even though there was more out there. where you grow up influences what you believe reality is ('where' in this sentence means what culture harbours your parents' believes; what ideas surrounded and inspired your parents when raising you).
joopjoperson 5 years ago
Validity here is insignificant because can believe in anything not CLEARLY (Stress that word!) false if taught from childhood. Many NKs view their dictator as a god which is invalid to us but works for them. So, Religion is a product of culture. The east values groups, which is why religions like Shinto are popular. The west values individuality: Christianity is popular. Religions exist for many reasons, but the existance of a particular religion in a particular place has to do with culture.
Jeremymia 5 years ago
The three major monotheistic religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) are pretty damn similar to each other, and their message is more or less supposed to be "love", yet in the name of those three religions many people are being killed each day and have been killed in the past. They've killed whole civilizations. That, to me, is another reason for believing that the message does not count AT ALL. Or maybe if the message is rather "death" than "love".
EviTheFreak 5 years ago
yes many of the things done in the name of God (whoever's God that is) have been horrible things but does that negate the intended message of the creator if you believe in one and believe that message is one of love not death. I attribute the similarities in all major religions as affermation of real truth. And at the heart of all those religions is a call to respect their fellow humans.
lestyoubejudged 5 years ago
Just as much as there is a call to disrespect and even kill non-believers. How would you explain that?
EviTheFreak 5 years ago
I think those who interpret their religions belief's as a call to disrespect or kill are grossly misinterrepting their scriptures. True scholars of the major world religions will all agree that their faiths do not endorse this behavior. As usual it is distortion by those seeking worldly power. My thoughts anyway.
lestyoubejudged 5 years ago
People kill people, it's that simple. I think that we have to look at the actions of religious groups once universal behavior is taken away. Sure, "Christians" have killed hundreds of thousands, but so has the rest of the world in the name of thousands of other religions. Does this mean that Christianity preaches murder? No. It means that man is sinful, and that Christians are fallible too, are redeemed only by the grace of God.
0Phosphoros0 5 years ago
I agree with you, it doesn't really matter what the message of a religion is, the only thing that matters is the surroundings that you grow up in, specifically your family, your parents. But what is the message of, say, Christianity?
EviTheFreak 5 years ago
I have since moved from the country, so it might've changed. I would say that where you grow up and who you are surrounded by has a greater impact on your religious beliefs than the religion's believability. Thanks Castaa, Kate
SoOpahStarr 5 years ago
In the town where I lived there were only christian schools. So, you were almost forced to be like everyone else if you wanted to be there. I attended a Christian school there and my second grade teacher told me that I wasn't a good enough Christian because both of my parents were theater teachers. She tried to make me like the rest of my class. Cont...
SoOpahStarr 5 years ago
Well it all depends, if you're born in an Islamic dictatorship, then you're pretty much forced to be Islam. Really it all depends on the situation and the individual to seek the truth, and maybe some divine interevention along the way.
CP07 5 years ago
I believe in LOVE!!
hohuimei 5 years ago
Okay, you believe in Love. But what is love to you, how does it answer Castaa's question and how do you balance love and justice? That is, can an all loving God also be an all just God?
pointsoforigin 5 years ago
That reminds me of a question I asked my co-worker: Why do most African-Americans listen to rap, hip-hop and r&b?
I guess they have a common answer.
Arcual 5 years ago
While religious belief is clearly influenced and often shaped by ethnicity, locality, cultural and economic climate, a more fundamental question would be: how many of those that do adhere to a certain religion have actually made any attempt to interpret and evaluate the religious "message"; its origins and from a practical perspective its consequences. Certainly difficult to ascertain.
theokalamatianos 5 years ago
Religions are ideas that spread by word of mouth and also the holy texts. A child gets most of his ideas from his parents, so of course he picks up the same religion. Parents also usually punish their kids if they stray from belief or ask too many questions. It is only through education that people will start to doubt their religion.
dukiebanderjee 5 years ago
The believability of the message is important only to the extent that it allows you to get into the mindset of the religion. Many religions use fear to maintain the belief, so that most people stick to the religion they were born with out of fear, and will not usually switch religions.
dukiebanderjee 5 years ago
To a certain point this parental discouragement of dissent is a good thing. Psychologically speaking, the frontal cortex of our brains, the area that controls our decision making and reasoning abilitiesm, is not fully developed until our early twenties. There is your scientific pitch for children obeying their parents. But this is only an excuse to a certain point--parents DO need to promote inquiry, DO need to need to satisfy it to the best of their ability, otherwise something is wrong.
0Phosphoros0 5 years ago
Also many religions are interpreted in terms of their denotation instead of the connotation. Two different may use different terminology, but point to the same message. For example: both Catholics and the Ainu (and others) have the concept of Eucharist in their religion, killing and eating the God, but exclusivity separates them, while acceptance can unite them.
pointsoforigin 5 years ago
Maybe it's more how a person was raised, than where.
Several points of note:
1) No matter how different the religious traditions are, they are in accord in that they all call us to a deeper awareness of the very act of life itself.
2) There are basic fundamental forms, elementary ideas, which appear in most religions everywhere.
3) The exclusivity of one's tradition can separate one from another's religion even though most of the beliefs are compatible.
pointsoforigin 5 years ago
Religion, while it does regulate our beliefs, does have limitations of its powers in the culture of the greater society. People often use religion when they are not sure what to think of things, but when the alternative theory is well explained and understood, we usually accept it, especially if we are comfortable with allowing contradictions.
Religions that isolate their members, (cults) do so in order to retain their integrity, Otherwise the religions become jeopardized.
yetanothergenericnam 5 years ago
>but when the alternative theory is well explained and >understood, we usually accept it...
And that's why The USA as a whole is having a hard time accepting evolution.
ophios 5 years ago
I think your suroundings affect what you believe, If you were raised to believe one thing, you aren't going to easily open your mind to something else. Thats why Christianity has thousands of missionaries around the world, and i've heard of many stories of conversions when the Christian message is brought to countries such as china, so I think the message has a great value to it, but that is only there if the people open up from what they've been brough up from listen.
phyrax 5 years ago
sorry my english really sucked then, I hope it made sense anyway :P
phyrax 5 years ago
It did make sense. But it is a very hard thing to be sure enough of the missionaries to convert, because abandoning one's natal beliefs has the definite result of being either the absolute worst or best decision one will make in a lifetime. There is no more important decision that one that can potentially affect you for eternity, and, therefore, natal beliefs act as a safety net until a decision has been made.
0Phosphoros0 5 years ago