posted on Jun, 1 2015 @ 05:10 AM
originally posted by: leopayaso1987
Why does God(general term) so very often has to be accompanied by various rituals,incantations, whatever you prefer calling it across such a vast
array of religions?
Why do people perpetuate the traditions of the culture they belong to?
Why do some Spanish unleash a horde of bulls in the streets and flee from them or throw a bunch of tomatos at each others?
If you can answer that you can answer your own question.
originally posted by: leopayaso1987
Why in so many religions there is the ideea of a reward or punishment in the after life
Because as you probably figured it out yourself already, religions, like philosophies, are social cultural frameworks teaching the basis of moral
behaviors.
Like cultures are diverse, religions and philosophies are also diverse.
Why do some religion teach about punishment for the evil ones and reward for the nice ones? Because it is a desirable trait in society that people
should be nice and helpful to each others, and not commit crimes. Whether you enforce this by superstition or by law, the need and results are the
same.
Regarding the current position of the Church regarding hell, it is the following (which I share): hell is not a place. Hell is a state of mind of
voluntary separation from the divine. So it's not a judgement from god, it's a judgement from one-self. What we can refer to as shame or
regrets.
When you do something immoral and don't seek and get forgiveness for it, you risk to dwell in shame and regrets (as well as the hostility of society)
which is very much what one could call "hell".
Sometimes it's good to remember that many (if not all) of the teachings of religions are allegorical and about the psyche/soul and not literal
things.
edit on 1-6-2015 by JUhrman because: (no reason given)