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Originally posted by ShortMemory
Because religion in a sense materialises spirituality in a different way.. We already have it and personally I think it accounts for a lot of human psychology such as things like inspiration, the need to advance and possibly evolve etc.. A lot of people probably don’t see it until religions show them. But instead of helping them develop or use it I see religion as immobilizing it and obviously capitalizing on it. There is a fine line between sitting on pews and mass suicides even tho people won’t admit it.
Originally posted by getreadyalready
reply to post by ShortMemory
I think I agree with that, but how do the folks that claim to have no spirituality or no religion whatsoever function in our society?
I believe they do indeed have religion, but they don't realize it.
no one has religion. Religion has them.
Originally posted by ShortMemory
There is a lot of evidence that society and religion have in fact ruined what your talking about..
I mean look at other animals, do you see monkeys waging war?
There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness.
Dalai Lama
...I believe people who choose to act in a civilized manner must have some sort of religion, whether they know it or not.
All Morals in modern society are rooted in some religious belief, and without morals, aka religion, a person cannot be civilized or trustworthy.
My opinion, supported by eastern philosophies (like buddhism, taoism, part of hinduism and so on) is that in fact our true nature is good, compassionate and joyful. At our core we are good beings.
If a person just looks at the scientific facts, and sees no god in them they could be trusted most likely, as some scientist are today. Although they might have no belief in a god, they do behave in a socialy accepted manner.
On the contrary. I believe it is nationalized and institutionalized religion that is the destroyer of civilizations, the thief of human souls, and the oppressor of the human spirit. And that it is only the evil among us who could have devised such a cunning and depraved system to enslave and oppress the masses.
All religious and spiritual people are civilized and trustworthy ( NOT!)....all non religious and non spiritual people are not civilized or trustworthy. (NOT!)
You can't make that generalization and neither can I.
I have morals because it's the right thing to do, not because I fear something or because I want a prize.
I think morality comes from the social contract that people made to live in groups which facilitated survival.
As far as morals go, it is perfectly normal for a 6 or any other number on that scale to have morals and to have or not have religion. Some religious people even have morals that directly conflict with those that their religious texts lay down.
Morality does not come from religion. I do my best to be a good person because I enjoy it, I like helping others, I like doing right, I despise cheaters, I despise liars. And I don't do it for want of heaven or fear of hell!
Originally posted by getreadyalready
Can you justify something like charity on a purely logical basis?
I believe we are all spiritually connected and a piece of me resides in all of you and vice versa. I believe there is a universal bank of knowledge or energy. I believe when we die or we are born, we leave and rejoin that bank.
Originally posted by getreadyalready
For all humans to have a similar innate longing for a connection and an explanation and a purpose, doesn't it indicate something beyond our physical realm? So, to fill that longing, we create religions and morals and cultural norms, and we strive to do the things that give us inner rewards. We do the things that feed our innate hunger to feel connected and "good."
So, admitting to that feeling, and that shared longing is essentially admitting to something beyond the physical realm, something spiritual, something religious.
Originally posted by getreadyalready
By the Way,
Thank you to everyone for way better responses than what I expected!!! ATS is the most intelligent community on the net! I have been to Mensa meetings, FreeThinker meetings, Florida Bar meetings, and more, and ATS rivals them all!!
Originally posted by getreadyalready
reply to post by darkendmetal
To you, I would say your morals are your religion. If not, then where do they spring from? I agree that every major organized religion has extreme flaws. I don't agree with any of them, and yet I am still a very spiritual person. I know there is more than a physical realm of existence. I suppose I would be a 1 on your scale, but my god doesn't fit any religion that you can name... or ... maybe it fits them all? I believe it is beyond a human comprehension, and this lifetime should be spent polishing one's spirituality, so hopefully you can comprehend it by the end of this lifetime.
But from a Stephen Hawking point of view, or a 6-7 on your scale, why would someone believe in a notion of right and wrong without believing in a spiritual connection to their fellow man? If we are all independent physical beings with limited time, how can one logically justify voluntarily giving away resources or time? No reward, no karma, no benefit to one's self in any way, so why do it?