Is religion worth our time? If so, which one and why?
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Permalink Reply by Billy Howell-Sinnard on -
I don't think it's a matter of which one. It's a matter of recognizing the unity of them all. Truth is one. The most important thing is for us not to think we're right and everybody else wrong, depending on which religion or non-religion we adhere to. I believe religion, as well as everything else, is subject to change. In a sense, we have created a God, religion, of our understanding, and that understanding has evolved. The essence of all the religions and traditions (secular humanism too) is basically the same. The fundamentals, devoid of ritual and dogma and cultural influences, are about love, justice, and inner healing (mysticism). We cannot ignore the foundational factor in all of civilization spawned by the Teachings of the great Avatars and Messengers in history. They educated the peoples and great civilizations flourished.
There may be a time soon, when the world will look at our problems and decide that religion is the major contributor to those problems, and rightly so. The world will want to be rid of religion, but they will find that we need religion. They will look to these fundamentals and seek a religion that ties all the religions together in an organic evolution. A religion in harmony with science, rid of dogma, ritual, and exclusivity. Ceremony and reverence, yes. A religion that exalts the connectedness of all creation, the unity of humankind, and justice. A religion that takes us to the new stage of humanity, a planetary civilization, one earth, in peace and justice, on a new plane of thought, consciousness, in science, arts, all aspects of life. A civilization where service is the highest calling and deepest desire, not fame and fortune.
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Permalink Reply by Amaterasu Solar on -
I like Your basic statement here, but I would change one thing. You say, "The fundamentals, devoid of ritual and dogma and cultural influences, are about love, justice, and inner healing (mysticism)." I propose that should read, "The fundamentals, devoid of ritual and dogma and cultural influences, are about love, justice, and inner growth (mysticism)." I don't presume All need healing, but I do presume All need growth.
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Permalink Reply by Amaterasu Solar on
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As I believe religion is a personal choice, it would depend on the Individual and what that Individual gets out of it. I have no religious dogma, but am highly spiritual, Myself. I see Consciousness as "God," co-creating the Now, with everything composed of Consciousness at some level of development.
In this, religious dogma serves its purpose, but the end goal is for as much of Consciousness to be as comfortable as possible, with a Betterment Ethic as principle.
So... It religion worth Our time? Depends on the results it creates. Which one? Any and all that contribute to Betterment - of Self and/or surroundings.
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Permalink Reply by Karla Sachi on
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Religion needs to be addressed, because religion and politics are and have been the cause of so much violence and conflict between people throughout the world since recorded history. I believe what is needed is to form a sort of United Nations of Religion, and begin to discuss what we all have in common, foremost, that if God, if truly Infinite, no matter whose religious definition, Infinite Power is the ALL, meaning human beings are not capable of conceiving what that might represent--our brains are just not that evolved. The concept of ALL, is sadly beyond the scope of human understanding or comprehension, and that with Infinite Power and Possibility, anything is possible with whatever may be God, no matter by what title or name It may be called; Which must include the agreement by all religions that what is truly Infinite may be beyond our understanding, comprehension or ability or right as individuals or groups to define, or label for the rest, especially since there have been so many differing characteristics,definitions and labels stuck upon God by different religious sects.
People have believed in numerous ideas of God, some see a masculine God in favor of war, some believe that's not true, that God is only in favor of peace and that killing is a sin. Some believe a Warrior God is making God in the image of male men, which is ludicrous since all life on earth begins as female zygotes. Since we cannot agree on the many different opinions held by so many old and new and emerging religions, we should at least agree that what ever power it is that's responsible for the creation of all life on this earth , as well as our viewed physical Universe seen through the senses of our physical bodies, that this might be far too large a concept for us to yet conceive, and that ANY human definition pinned upon God would be rather puny in comparison to what may actually be "Infinite "....We could start there.
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Permalink Reply by Amaterasu Solar on
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The reason religion has caused so much strife has mostly to do with the power that ensnares the world. War profiteering gives strong motive to incite conflict - and any conflict that can be incited is looked upon as "good" by the small and evil men who control this power structure. Throughout history there are plenty of examples of belief systems coexisting. But They have built into many the idea that there is only ONE true spiritual perspective.
This was done quite deliberately so that it can be used.
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This morning, a Sunday, I was thinking...how oppressive it must be to be herded around by religious fanaticism, with their strict rules, punishable by their forcable methods of, with guns, demanding people worship god..with bullets--that's a direct link for sure straight to god...killing brothers and sister to force them to God. Not just terrorists, but ancient religions, New versions of old religions, sects of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, ancient Rome when the new "book of the people", was forced on the population, the Bible hundreds of years after Christ, used to burn heretics, when he spoke of peace, love, healing. Finding one's way to God can't be done by force, by crazy men will try, when given power==and we do give them our power...We we will God, either eventually at death, which we all face alone, as we came into this world birthed as a creature, animal of earth. Or seek knowing creation, hoping to find that connection to that which watches over as observer that has everything jam packed inside it-- but it's also only yours, like the drops of ocean in the sea, and infinite universes in raindrops. This path to God isn't something you can or want to be forced into at gunpoint --but having a gut feeling that there may just really be a 'something' that isn't so mundane, so blahhhhhhh, rather perhaps a secure connection, like a placenta, to hold...and hand, a trustworthy rope connected to something beyond this illusion of reality, this dense, gravity slamming physical realm, to something that's US, beyond the heavens, that like an electron that can be everywhere at once, is also inside us...something, that if tested will give validation, if you ask, offer proof of it's existance. And it doesn't have to be all....suffering. Maybe some tears, awakenings, letting go, sorrows, apologies, but there isn't a whisper of FORCE or RULES associated with one seeker on their individual path to God...it's freedom and a choice, no matter what characteristics are displayed upon the path that one chooses to take, how can we judge?
But I cannot tolerate injustice--that I have issues with. We are not cattle to be herded into churches, forced
to find God at gunpoint. That's not religion, that's monkeyminded power and control -- "see god through my intrepretation, dammit, or I'll shoot you". That's insanity. Not much God there. Maybe Earth God of death, returning us back to dirt so the trees get dinner.........but not much else.
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Permalink Reply by Amaterasu Solar on
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Here I have to agree 100%. Personally, I see "God" as Consciousness co-creating the Now. And I believe each facet of Consciousness makes His/Her own path. For though two people may believe in the same set of teachings, the "God" Each sees will differ. If there was one truth...We would all know it easily upon hearing it.
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Permalink Reply by Billy Howell-Sinnard on
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All the people have formed a god in the world of thought, and that form of their own imagination they worship; when the fact is that the imagined form is finite and the human mind is infinite. Surely the infinite is greater than the finite, for imagination is accidental (or non-essential) while the mind is essential; surely the essential is greater than the accidental.
Therefore consider: All the sects and peoples worship their own thought; they create a god in their own minds and acknowledge him to be the creator of all things, when that form is superstition—thus people adore and worship imagination (or illusion).
That Essence of the Divine Entity and the Unseen of the unseen is holy above imagination and is beyond thought. Consciousness doth not reach It. Within the capacity of comprehension of a produced (or created) reality that Ancient Reality cannot be contained. It is a different world; from it there is no information; arrival thereat is impossible; attainment thereto is prohibited and inaccessible. This much is known: It exists and Its existence is certain and proven—but the condition is unknown.
--'Abdu'l-Bahá
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Permalink Reply by Amaterasu Solar on
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I have been All and infinite; now, I am a piece, remembering only darkly that glory I AM. We are all one cocreating this now, experiencing LIFE and striving for bliss. Those that have not the experience in memory to draw in, look outside Themselves. I see inward and know that I AM God; Thou ART God.
Regardless of what 'Abdu'l-Bahá has to say on the matter.
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Permalink Reply by Billy Howell-Sinnard on
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I think the greatest thing about being human and many of the greatest thinkers have posited the same belief and that is that "I don't know". And I will die knowing that I don't know, just as many before me. If I were God, I would know. Yes, I believe I am God in the sense that I am a creation of God, Consciousness, whatever you may call That for the benefit of Karla's explanation of the left brain. And look at you and others as God's creation and to be loved as I am loved. The interconnectedness of all things.
The greatest minds in the past have confessed and in the future will confess to their inablility to grasp the mystery which lies within them.
The confession of helplessness which mature contemplation must eventually impel every mind to make is in itself the acme of human understanding and marks the culmination of humankind's development.
The heart has a knowing that cannot be put into words. Try, and then read Wittgenstein
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Permalink Reply by Amaterasu Solar on
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Hmmm. It is through My heart I see this, and the experience of being All and infinite was several years ago. [shrug] How can You know that I cannot know?
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Permalink Reply by Billy Howell-Sinnard on
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I would never presume to say you don't know, or anyone else doesn't know. I'm only suggesting that there is always more to know in my experience, and the moment I say "I know" is the end of learning and being open.
© 2012 Created by David Woolfson.
