A question for religious people...

[MiniN]

Do you have any other beliefs/views that contradict that of your religion?

How do you settle these things if your own thoughts contradict thoes of the religious teachings you believe in?

[Octavius]

Strict adherence brings ridicule and bending the rules attracts claims of hypocrisy. I will however make a few points of my own which are not strictly in accordance with conservative Catholicism.

> I believe that people should be free, willing, able and encouraged to use contraception
> Marriage should not be a prerequisite for living together and starting a family
> Homosexuality is not �an abomination�.

There are others of course, but they are the basic ones.

[MiniN]

thanks Oct for your answer. i often wish I had faith in religion but I feel that I question too much.

do you ever doubt some of the storys/teachings in the bible?

[Octavius]

Not so much 'doubt' as to look for the true meaning within them.

To question your own beliefs and those of someone else or 'others' is healthy and enlightening, so why not do it?

[MiniN]

i'm not part of any religion and don't know anyone religious so I wouldn't know where to begin?

but if you think something is a load of ol' balls, how can you believe the rest of it?

[Nosha123]

I personally think that religion is just a way of controlling the masses.... people will behave according to their religion if they fear the wrath of God and the possiblilty of burning in hell!
If true - it's actually a brilliant invention!!!

[Octavius]

The simple answer is that you don't have to believe it. Each to their own and all that.

I think you may find exploring it and trying to understand it might help, but you are not required to accept it and believe it, its a subjective reality.

[MiniN]

nosha - i agree with you, that religion is away of controlling or guiding the masses. thats my problem. some would call me a cynic but i wish i could believe.

I think I think there is a God. but as for religion....

[MiniN]

lol @ noknowledge

[Clanad]

I'm sincerely curious about the oft repeated phrase that "religion" controls the masses.
It seems to me that, while perhaps, in the history of religion (not just Christianity) there have been periods when the authoritarian nature of the dominate belief system may have had that opportunity, the over-all effect has not been very successful.
Here in the west (I live in the U.S.) to include almost all of Europe and certainly the U.K. and the U.S., religion can and does have a proper place. It has largely been supplanted by secular humanism in most of Europe with only historical remnants remaining. Here in the U.S. the majority of citizens profess Christianity, but since 1964, the practise of the faith has been eliminated from many public places, such as schools. I would hasten to add that, at least with Christianity, the influence and impact of the faith still produces positive effects where it's practiced in accordance within the teachings of Yeshua..
I think, not unlike other areas of science and philosophy, that a worldview is often judged by the behavior of tits adherents, rather than the underpinnings of it's Teacher.

One has to look no farther than the largest populated country on earth; China, to see that the biggest, by far, population of Bhuddists resides there, yet those "controlling the masses" do so with a government based on Marx, no on the Bhudda..

As to your question; one is constantly "juggling" the teachings of any philosophy with the realities of a changing world, no? I mean, if you have the opportunity to cheat on your taxes, as an example, knowing full well that you're not carrying your appointed part of the social burden, you'll do so (as long as there's a reasonable chance of success) won't you? Same holds with religion or any other morally based philosophy... somewhat as Octavius has expressed. Sometimes one does better with it than other times, no?

[keyplus90]

I am a Muslim by Faith and my answer to your question is that yes there are things which you sometime think could have been better had these been this way or that way, but that is the beauty of Faith. If you believe in what you believe in then you must believe in fully. I have looked into lots of things against Islam but never found anything wrong when you look into that. People come up with misconception, out of context things or the actions of the followers and start blaming religion. Islam really mean total submission to the will of God so pick and choose is not there. Islam�s teachings are 100% practical and they work having applied fully. People may not understand until they see the consequences of going astray.

I have not come across any questions in my life so far where I did not get the answer in my religion. So my religion does not contradict with any of my thoughts.

In the end if everything would be clear in front of your eyes then who would refuse, and what would be the need of faith? By the way ever want to know true and unbiased Islam and answers to any question about it, then you may watch channel 820 on SKY called peace TV. It is a free channel.

[oldgrape]

christianity adam and eve have 2 sons cain and abel and they get married where did these woman come from or did adam anmd eve have 2 daughters.

Sunday is the day for rest and worship yet you have to get up early get dressed up plan for the sermon and walk, drive, cycle etc to the church which is work on it's own

[Whickerman]

Think this sums it up better than anything i could type here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDNvLiKcZN0

[Octavius]

I can�t open the link, but the general assumption is that you are primarily referring to the Abrahamic religions.

I note nobody here pokes much fun at other religious movements like Hare Krishna, Buddhism, Taoism or Ratsafarianism, so perhaps one of those may be more to your tastes?!

[keyplus90]

Oldgrape � I believe Adam & Eve had twins twice. A son and a daughter and then again a son and a daughter. They were supposed to marry each other but not to the one they were born with so first pair were supposed to marry the second pair. But then one of the brothers killed the other one over it. And that is considered the first murder on earth.

[Nosha123]

Despite all the postings here - still not convinced... Firstly -where is the proof that God, Heaven and Hell exist? and secondly - I do think that religion is to adults what Father Xmas is to children.. be a good little girl and you will get some lovely pressies - be naughty and Santa will bring you nothing!

And when I mean God - I also refer to Allah and all the other numerous Gods up there in Heaven or whatever its called.

On the other hand!!! I do believe in the spirit.. and spirituality.. which is a completely different thing - and there is proof out there that it exists and I have heard it for myself! Life after death does exist - but unlike religion - no-one forces it down the non-believers throats!

ANyone see that awful religious nutter in the US (isn't that were they all are!) who marched outside soldiers funerals saying they are going to hell for fighting in Iraq and that all gays are going to burn in hell and that if you do anything that God doesn't want you to do you'll burn in hell!
Think she needs to be sectioned! Loopy Loo!!

[Octavius]

Buddhism doesn't involve a supreme God.

Can you prove to me that spirits exist and that you have heard them?

[Octavius]

Also, where was the requirement to be 'convinced'?

The Q refers to religious people not obeying the strict teachings of it's order. Not a soap box for conversion.