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What is religion really all about, besides making money for preaching the word of their religious le

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posted on Apr, 12 2014 @ 11:39 AM
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Acousticsasylum
Not all religion is for profit and not all preachs. You sound uneducated and ignorant.


Is Religion a subject that cannot be discussed without opposing views being subject to personal and insulting attacks on ATS anymore?

Perhaps a distinction between Belief and Religion will make it easier for some to analize without feeling the need to lash out. Organized religion, the "bureaucracy of faith" has nothing to do with "God" or personal spirituality.

Regardless, insults don't add anything to the discussion.



posted on Apr, 12 2014 @ 12:38 PM
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reply to post by Acousticsasylum
 




"Not all religion is for profit and not all preachs. You sound uneducated and ignorant." - See more at: www.abovetopsecret.com...

You may want to edit the spelling in your sentence to be taken seriously.



posted on Apr, 12 2014 @ 01:14 PM
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Religion tries to be many, or explain many things. The main purpose ideally I guess, would be trying to set a way of life, or meaning. Then it get used for a crowd control somewhat, or could be used to boost morale in War. Look at Muslum extremists, they don't even fear death due to such believes, and mind sets.

It just really seems to be science, art, and philosophies most, primitive form, due to it attempt at explaining the forces of nature and heaven, but instead of boring long number or equations, it super heroes and villains. Since it seems that most religions wanna cling like leech, on to sciences....Patient ways.
Mainly it just about sayings, and one liner punch lines.

An eye for an eye...Makes everyone go blind. Or he is without sin, throw the first stone.
edit on 12-4-2014 by Specimen because: (no reason given)



posted on Apr, 12 2014 @ 02:44 PM
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MOMof3
reply to post by Acousticsasylum
 




"Not all religion is for profit and not all preachs. You sound uneducated and ignorant." - See more at: www.abovetopsecret.com...

You may want to edit the spelling in your sentence to be taken seriously.


Not everyone on ATS speaks English as a first language, either.

Religion is a roadmap for rising above your base self. It provides the answers to why you should behave in certain ways when your physical instincts tell you "If it feels good, do it." It helps you learn self-discipline and consideration for others and can teach you how to place them before yourself.

What most people don't like are the ones who never see the road I'm talking about, and they are the many and it doesn't matter what religion we are talking about here.



posted on Apr, 12 2014 @ 03:02 PM
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reply to post by musicismagic
 


Religion, at its core, is a set of doctrines, rituals, and philosophies meant to cohesively explain a particular culture, or individual's, worldview. Religion is the solidification of diverse spiritual themes and theories into an organized whole; a method of bridging the gap between existent beliefs, and emerging ones. At least pure religion is meant to be nothing more than mundane explanations for the sacred. When the institutionalized religions began to gain authority over the governments of the people, as early as the New Kingdom priests of Amun in ancient Egypt, then religion became more about selling salvation for sins that weren't really ever committed. The purity was lost, and instead of helping you understand your own beliefs, religions became a way of selling you theirs. Religion, at its heart, is not evil. The people who twist religion into a crusade or an infomercial, are evil.


~ Wandering Scribe



posted on Apr, 12 2014 @ 04:56 PM
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If you know someone's worldview you can manipulate them, so if you create their worlview, then it is easier to manipulate them when the time comes.

Just look at how the conservatives have turned christians in this country from believers in peace to war and torture mongers within just a few decades.



posted on Apr, 12 2014 @ 07:14 PM
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Wandering Scribe
reply to post by musicismagic
 


Religion, at its core, is a set of doctrines, rituals, and philosophies meant to cohesively explain a particular culture, or individual's, worldview. Religion is the solidification of diverse spiritual themes and theories into an organized whole; a method of bridging the gap between existent beliefs, and emerging ones. At least pure religion is meant to be nothing more than mundane explanations for the sacred. When the institutionalized religions began to gain authority over the governments of the people, as early as the New Kingdom priests of Amun in ancient Egypt, then religion became more about selling salvation for sins that weren't really ever committed.


~ Wandering Scribe



You really nailed it here and I believe this is why I started the thread. " The purity was lost, and instead of helping you understand your own beliefs, religions became a way of selling you theirs. Religion, at its heart, is not evil. The people who twist religion into a crusade or an infomercial, are evil".

My question now for you is this. Are dominant religions trying to conquer "village" type religions to where it now becomes the dominant religion is evil. I remember going to church and people would say that the other church doesn't preach the word of God. I always felt that saying that was wrong. Here we have the Mormon kids roam the countryside trying to get us to join their church in town. I make friends with them and we invite them over for pizza and tacos, they really enjoy the American home feel. We casually chat about the Mormon faith and its Church. I often get ask by them, do I feel the Mormon church is the "true church of Christ". I say to myself, these kids are still kids, one day, they may understand what I still may not understand and that is "the brainwashing of the souls" that do attend church. All other churches are not good for you, but the church you are in right now.



posted on Apr, 12 2014 @ 08:04 PM
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reply to post by musicismagic
 


My question now for you is this. Are dominant religions trying to conquer "village" type religions to where it now becomes the dominant religion is evil.


I think the answer to this question is open-ended, to be honest. Smaller religions, like Wicca or any number of pagan reconstruction religions, will always be seen as "inferior" to those who think that monotheism is "the one true path". I don't think that either type, mainstream or cultic/pagan, could really be classified as "evil" though.

The doctrines of Christianity aren't evil, because the doctrines of Christianity are merely expansions on the doctrines of Judaism. Judaism, too, is pieced together from beliefs found in ancient Egyptian, Sumerian, Babylonian, Canaanite, and Phoenician religions. If one is evil, then all of them must be evil. I think that is the wrong approach to take.

To me, it is more correct to say that a follower of a religion, say, the late Fred Phelps, Joseph Smith, or the still-living Pat Robertson, are misguided, not the faith itself. "Christianity" is just a way that a billion people on Earth cope with their personal issues; some of them do so peacefully, quietly, without judgment; others need to belittle those who disagree with them. At the end of the day though it is the individual, not the religion, which is at fault.

At least, that is my opinion.


~ Wandering Scribe



posted on Apr, 12 2014 @ 08:14 PM
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reply to post by musicismagic
 


Really, it's the people who bring the most evil particularly where the religion, itself, doesn't actually have practices in it that would necessarily be considered evil.

I'm thinking of competition between sects where the so-called evil that one sect condemns the practitioners of the other sect for is simply a minor point of difference in doctrine. Any perceived evil there comes on the part of the human element.



posted on Apr, 12 2014 @ 10:21 PM
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Religion is control. Think of the teachings of islam, anyone who doesn't accept allah needs to be executed, it is okay to lie to a non muslim person for they are below you, rape of a non muslim is not a sin.

Now the UK has a separate sharia (islamic) law system that can give corporal punishment for normal western things like drinking alcohol, intercourse outside of marriage and for viewing pornography. Australia has a largely secret separate sharia banking system in all of the major banks that offers muslims interest-free loans and must make donations to overseas islamic 'charities' often run by the muslim brotherhood.

It's control. It's divide and conquer. It's an archaic belief system to control. It's a dinosaur in the age of mammals.



posted on Apr, 13 2014 @ 02:48 AM
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Kalixi
Religion is control. Think of the teachings of islam, anyone who doesn't accept allah needs to be executed, it is okay to lie to a non muslim person for they are below you, rape of a non muslim is not a sin.

Now the UK has a separate sharia (islamic) law system that can give corporal punishment for normal western things like drinking alcohol, intercourse outside of marriage and for viewing pornography. Australia has a largely secret separate sharia banking system in all of the major banks that offers muslims interest-free loans and must make donations to overseas islamic 'charities' often run by the muslim brotherhood.

It's control. It's divide and conquer. It's an archaic belief system to control. It's a dinosaur in the age of mammals.



Although I used the word "evil", I probably should have came up with a word that meant it at a softer tone. I absolutely agree with you on that religious leadership or religion in itself is about control, now whether it is a "good" control environment or a "slave" type environment is still a thought to ponder on.



posted on Apr, 13 2014 @ 05:54 AM
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Religion is basically one mans answer er to explainhis viewof the world to another. An indirect way of explaining existence and how he goes about it. This has since its pure and innocent beginnings institutionalized and transformed to tool for control and been abused horribly, but not always.

In essence religion is superfluous as it's just a story, which cannot possibly describe all details of any man or womans actions, thoughts and beliefs. Nothing can replace the result of direct experience and it should be kept undiluted by symbolism as much as possible.



posted on Apr, 13 2014 @ 06:13 AM
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Konoyaro
Religion is basically one mans answer er to explainhis viewof the world to another. An indirect way of explaining existence and how he goes about it. This has since its pure and innocent beginnings institutionalized and transformed to tool for control and been abused horribly, but not always.

In essence religion is superfluous as it's just a story, which cannot possibly describe all details of any man or womans actions, thoughts and beliefs. Nothing can replace the result of direct experience and it should be kept undiluted by symbolism as much as possible.


Well said. I agree.

このやろ さん 日本人でか



posted on Apr, 13 2014 @ 03:13 PM
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reply to post by musicismagic
 

I just offer, that try to study divine books in their original languages directly. however it is itself a big deal ! neither Jesus nor Moses was not speaking in English.
translations contain the views of translators.



posted on Apr, 13 2014 @ 07:51 PM
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musicismagic
I often wonder about this subject because I never knew that there were other religions around this planet earth. I grew up with the thought that Christianity was it, never knew about the others that existed, till my grandmother died and the Catholic church didn't want the funeral there because (well as I understood it, she didn't donate enough to the church later in her life). I was raised as a Baptist as a child, but now longer have a thought of a religion that is right or wrong for me.


Don't let negative posts about religion stop you from looking for God. If you make up your mind to find Him, He will find you. I know that sounds a bit strange, but that's the way it worked for me. I found that going to church was like being a puppet with my strings being pulled by whoever was conducting the service, with no sign of the presence of God.

Well, I had a bigger idea of what I expected from worshipping God, so I knew I wouldn't find Him in church. I wasn't sure at all about where to look next! But I determined to try at least. God's knows that you're looking for Him, so you'll find Him because He will make Himself known to you.

There's a saying in the Bible about 'not leaning on your own understanding [your own intelligence/interpretation of what is right or wrong], but trust in the LORD'. Just keep that thought in mind, and pray always to God the Father.

Prayers don't have to be formal... make it a conversation. He knows the truth and also what's in your heart; so you can be honest and frank with Him too, because He's big enough to take it.



posted on Apr, 14 2014 @ 09:51 AM
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reply to post by Maigret
 


Playing around in "the bliss"?

edit on 14-4-2014 by LittleByLittle because: (no reason given)



posted on Apr, 14 2014 @ 10:06 AM
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reply to post by musicismagic
 


It provides an outlet for social enthusiasm. Even in small tribal religions, they all get together, clap their hands, and move about in something like a dance.



posted on Apr, 16 2014 @ 11:41 AM
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LesMisanthrope
reply to post by musicismagic
 


It provides an outlet for social enthusiasm. Even in small tribal religions, they all get together, clap their hands, and move about in something like a dance.


You just described a night club.

My thought on an earlier question about what what religion's purpose was before it was a money maker...It was used to explain what at the time as unexplainable. "I can't explain it so it had to be a supreme being."



posted on Apr, 16 2014 @ 04:41 PM
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LittleByLittle
reply to post by Maigret
 


Playing around in "the bliss"?

edit on 14-4-2014 by LittleByLittle because: (no reason given)


That's a very good description of what it is like actually! I guess my main basic point is, you can communicate directly with our Creator. So look to do just that!



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