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

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.

I think that more than anything, religion is a fear-based crutch for people. If you look at the average person, they're barely cognizant. Never mind thinking critically and using logic or reason!

So some egomaniacal person comes along and starts spouting sermons and such, and claims to know 'God's laws'. The average dummy thinks "That guy sounds like he knows what he's talking about. Let's sign-up."

Control frightened people and lonely people to join religious war also.

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.

no offense but how did you not know there were other religions in the world? My 5 yr old niece is born and raised catholic and she knows about other religions in the world....

Also, if religions only purpose is to make money for big people, what was its purpose long before there was an established modern base for it to make so much money? IE the celts, pagans, Roman God worship, etc etc.....

Whats its purpose for those NOT making money.......

Sorry I dont feel like this was a very thought out thread....

Lots of people have different faiths......many of them, like budhism have nothing to do with money.

I have the sneaking feeling this thread was made to instigate an attack on religion

It's not about religion.

It's about love.

ColeYounger
I think that more than anything, religion is a fear-based crutch for people. If you look at the average person, they're barely cognizant. Never mind thinking critically and using logic or reason!

So some egomaniacal person comes along and starts spouting sermons and such, and claims to know 'God's laws'. The average dummy thinks "That guy sounds like he knows what he's talking about. Let's sign-up."

This cliche as it gets.......

This assumption that religion is only for stupid frightened people doesnt hold water.....many of the greatest, smartest people this world has ever known were religious in some form...

I bet youll find the Dalai Lama isnt afraid of much....and he seems fairly intelligent to me

If you want to debate the merits of religion itself thats one thing

But making blanket statements like this only proves your own ignorance

Depends on what you want it to be about.

If you want to examine the powers of consciousness then you might use it as a map to understand intent->manifestation tools like Reiki (faith changing physical reality). You can make an effort to open your crown chakra and third eye that will make you more able to be less blind to the unknown.

A seeker who seeks truth above conditioning will find something. The journey might be short or long depending on the seeker. The seeker need to be able to receive. Know thyself.

I was taken to church every sunday through my young life until the age of 14 when my mother gave me the choice to keep going or leave.

I left.

I think religion is generally good for most people, and please no body take specific offense to this next comment, but i believe now that it was a device to control the masses in a way that was civil, fair and just.

Priests and holy men are basically "peace keepers" and for that, they get to live pretty much for free and basically have immunity in *most* wars and conflicts, when they pop up.

When i was 15 i learned about the other religions, and the huge similarity's, for me at least, cemented by belief of the mass control idea. Not to control them like zombies of course, just to teach a friendly, decent peaceful way of life for all.

I chose to turn agnostic and cease church because i know the law and im a reasonable person, i do not need an all seeing, omnipotent deity to scare me to do the right thing - i simply respect my fellow man.

Now the reason i chose to be agnostic is simply, i reserve my right to change my mind when presented with new compelling evidence to the contrary of my current belief.

I do not think *most* holy men are in it for the money. Now some abuse their power, sure, they are only men when it comes down to it. I dont blame the religion for the mistakes of the few.

ManBehindTheMask

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.

no offense but how did you not know there were other religions in the world? My 5 yr old niece is born and raised catholic and she knows about other religions in the world....

Also, if religions only purpose is to make money for big people, what was its purpose long before there was an established modern base for it to make so much money? IE the celts, pagans, Roman God worship, etc etc.....

Whats its purpose for those NOT making money.......

Sorry I dont feel like this was a very thought out thread....

Lots of people have different faiths......many of them, like budhism have nothing to do with money.

I have the sneaking feeling this thread was made to instigate an attack on religion

My view is as pure as a child being preached to of the only religion of his age, so please forgive me. I truly didn't know of any other religion at the time till my grandmothers death. Which is Catholic, something I never heard of.
As for money, well I have a story to tell you. I came home for Christmas during leave during the Vietnam War and I went to my girlfriends church. I really didn't have money at the time, but I wanted to give a bit, not $20 though. The preacher took me downstairs and said I'll make you change. Into 2 10 dollars bills. Hey, I'm sorry I said, do you mind if I give you a few dollars and this was at Christmas and I was making a military salary, sorry, but this preacher taught me one thing, you come to my church, I expect you to give in a guilty conscious if you think you are giving not enough. I never went back to that church again while on leave.

Just keep in mind while everybody is dissecting others beliefs that not all of those who believe in God are anchored to one or another traditional and established 'Religion" which include all forms of ancient or even fairy modern dogma. One can be of faith and have a very spiritual program and understanding of themselves and the world/universe around us without having to rely on antiquated limitation of what is or isn't acceptable based on false paradigms of who or what God truly is.

Religion actually started out as a good thing. Most religions were like this. It appears they started religions to get people to work together with a common cause. Sort of like a colony of bees working together so they could survive in nature.

Religion originally was designed like socialism, helping those who were needy and creating stores of food for people of their kind. They then needed to create armies to protect the interests of their members from the ones who wanted to steal it. It went astray.

Now, Belief in a supreme being is separate from religion. I believe in God, but see too much problems with organized religion. It seems it became something it was not intended to be most times. Now we have governments and governments take up a lot of the jobs that religion once did, but many are plagued with deceit and the food stores for emergencies are no longer there or rotated like they used to be. Commodities for the poor used to come from this rotation, also the same with other low income food supplies like vinnies and food pantries. Right now the combined stores of these programs on a local basis is dangerously low in this country and the government is not doing a good job of stocking foods because they feel the world is now a market. What happens if there is a whole world collapse and our money is no good.

At least the Mormons have their own rotating supplies, "For the good of the people" should not be used to take them away if something happens. Conservative people should not suffer because liberal people screwed up.

reply to post by rickymouse


I agree.

Isnt it insane in history how each religion, teaching essentially the same thing to their own, can butt heads so much?

Its like someone should shout "chill out you are all actually peaceful, so what if Joe believes in one god and you believe in another, you BOTH teach your own peace and unity, yet when faced with someone with the exact same ideas, yet is "assigned" to a different book (all of which are written by men, many years after all events btw) you think hes the enemy?"

suddenly logic has gone out the window.


EDIT: okay thats strange when i type window it comes out as a _

Biigs
reply to post by rickymouse

 

I agree.

Isnt it insane in history how each religion, teaching essentially the same thing to their own, can butt heads so much?

Its like someone should shout "chill out you are all actually peaceful, so what if Joe believes in one god and you believe in another, you BOTH teach your own peace and unity, yet when faced with someone with the exact same ideas, yet is "assigned" to a different book (all of which are written by men, many years after all events btw) you think hes the enemy?

suddenly logic has gone out the window.

In this country where I live, religion practice is like on New Years Eve and upon the death of a love one. Yet, it is so peaceful that I even venture to 7-11 at 2 am in the morning . Just don't get religion brings peace thing.

Religion is about the human need for a refuge to be there at death. We view the world as physical place that we will no longer be a part of.... Religion says, not to worry, there is someplace yet higher to ascend to. Of course, religions have all sorts of funny ways to entice us to follow in their unique and precise ways to attain that place. We must place faith in one of those cults to obtain the ticket for passage. And thus, we pay and pray as proscribed.

Again, there is a drawing together of quantum science that seeks to understand the Universe as a consciousness, and the indefinite worlds that religions and spiritual mysticism seem to share. On the surface of it, a religious person these days could surmise that a conscious Universe is the very essence of God and thus, validates most religions as being fundamentally correct.

Regardless, there seems to be a "hereafter" but hardly in the way we envision with our winged angels or 27 virgins waiting for us. Can/should one prepare for it with thought and even action? Certainly, after all, leaving the physical world is the only escape.

Religion is about control.

And once the bureaucrats got their feet under the table, it became about Power - and keeping it.

Power and control.

Leonidas
Religion is about control.

And once the bureaucrats got their feet under the table, it became about Power - and keeping it.

Power and control.

They let you feel nice, then must be something you have to pay back.There's no love without reason.

Not all religion is for profit and not all preachs. You sound uneducated and ignorant.

reply to post by Acousticsasylum


Religion can be what you want it too, specify next time. Don't group together, and assume.

My parents listen to preaching pretty often on TV and I can hear TPTB "between the lines". Televangelists especially work state propaganda into their stuff.

I have found that if something seems confusing, one general rule of thumb seems to apply. Especially when it comes to anything you see on TV. It doesn't make it onto TV unless TPTB WANT it there. If they don't approve, you'll never see it.

reply to post by musicismagic


Religion is great if you want to give up independent thought. Spirituality is separate from any man made up institution. Now I look at the Bible and all the ancient books as historical with myth mixed in, not divine. It is for me to discern, not some so called leader who thinks they have the whole truth.