My Opinion of Religion

[The Trendy Wolf]

Religion, in and of itself, is a philosophy.

It is an explanation of life and what goes on around us. Religion is to me, however, such a medieval and renaissance way of thinking. Back then, people were desperate for answers about life to get rid of their confusion.

Now that we know so much more and have decent explanations about our existence, and it is still so popular today, it is clear that people in that era were so dependent on religion.

However, despite that I am not religious myself, I don't believe that religion serves no purpose in today's society. In most instances, it's purpose is to guide us towards the right direction in life, and have us become successful. I believe that taking the overarching morals of certain religions is how to have the right view of life, and how to travel the right path to success. One example being the Buddhist belief that "The origin of suffering is desire."

The problem with this is at some people don't seem to understand that religion is also a responsibility. People often try too hard to apply the writings of their religion (and I don't mean any specific religion) to today's society. This often leads to conflict and disagreement among religions.

To those people and everyone I say,
"Realize that this sacred text was comprised thousands of years ago, and things have changed. Instead of focusing on these old and often outdated teachings, try to create your own explanation of what YOU truly think." (Yes, I am quoting myself)


Finally, in the words of the renowned philosopher Voltaire, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

[britishboy]

I completely agree, good points and well written and structured:)

[conniption]

My hats off to you, sir.

[Lovelife090994]

For one so young, your words have more wisdom than those triple your age. Well though out on each point, and I'm glad you don't see religion as a whole as pure evil, obliterate it, the practicioners are delusional, thanks. Good woods, great points, almost like an editorial yet not biased in my opinion.

[Cygnus]

I think religion serves to give you some basic principles, outside of that it becomes bad, very very bad.

[The Trendy Wolf]

For one so young, your words have more wisdom than those triple your age. Well though out on each point, and I'm glad you don't see religion as a whole as pure evil, obliterate it, the practicioners are delusional, thanks. Good woods, great points, almost like an editorial yet not biased in my opinion.

Do not judge me based on the number of years I've been on this Earth. Judge me based on what I have accomplished in those years.

[darthearth]

Religion, in and of itself, is a philosophy.

It is an explanation of life and what goes on around us. Religion is to me, however, such a medieval and renaissance way of thinking. Back then, people were desperate for answers about life to get rid of their confusion.

Now that we know so much more and have decent explanations about our existence, and it is still so popular today, it is clear that people in that era were so dependent on religion.

However, despite that I am not religious myself, I don't believe that religion serves no purpose in today's society. In most instances, it's purpose is to guide us towards the right direction in life, and have us become successful.

The problem with this is at some people don't seem to understand that religion is also a responsibility. People often try too hard to apply the writings of their religion (and I don't mean any specific religion) to today's society. This often leads to conflict and disagreement among religions.

To those people and everyone I say,
"Realize that this sacred text was comprised thousands of years ago, and things have changed. Instead of focusing on these old and often outdated teachings, try to create your own explanation of what YOU truly think." (Yes, I am quoting myself)


Finally, in the words of the renowned philosopher Voltaire, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."



I would say "decent descriptions of our Universe" rather than "decent explanations about our existence", and religion doesn't have to be stuck in a medieval way of thinking, it can be a very modern way of thinking, which is what progressive and liberal Christianity are (I don't think belief in the central tenant of the resurrection can be characterized as "modern" or "not modern", it is unrelated to the terms). However I don't think we have definitively established what "modern thinking" is anyway. I've taken online philosophical quizzes and am usually characterized as "post-modern" actually. I just thought I would use myself as an example as I am very religious (in the same way you stated in the second to last paragraph of the OP). Also, recall that there were a lot of atheists in ancient times (many philosophers regarded all gods as equally false, I would say many were agnostic), I'm not really sure how much scientific ignorance really contributed to religious belief. Horrors made many atheists then as they do now.

But I generally agree with your comment.

[Mushin]

I agree with most of what you're saying, but some of it really seems to have a singular perspective. You talk about religion as a generalization, as if all religious values are portrayed in a repeated fashion, regardless of what the inner teachings actually are.

Some religions aren't philosophies, simply because their values are misguided in the same instance that they are of one perspective. They are simply a set of rules abided by the perspective of a singular thought process, and therefore not a philosophy. Philosophical religions don't detail a set of rules, but rather, why there are rules in the first place, and how those rules may affect all perspectives of religion as a whole.

"Realize that this sacred text was comprised thousands of years ago, and things have changed. Instead of focusing on these old and often outdated teachings, try to create your own explanation of what YOU truly think."

Things have changed, but is that change not intrinsic to the texts in the first place? Our world may be very different than what it once was during the times most religions originated in, but that shouldn't affect the core teachings of many religions. The values earned by religion are isolated to the inner self of an individual, and so they should not be affected with the changes of that individual's surroundings.

I do agree, however, that people are too fast to apply their religious values to society. This I believe is only a problem because they do not treat logic as an equal. They don't think to realize that religion is different to every person, and therefore assume themselves as the thought process of everyone.

Overall great thoughts, religion is one of my favorite things to discuss. Also props on the Voltaire quote, I love him. :)

[The Trendy Wolf]

I agree with most of what you're saying, but some of it really seems to have a singular perspective. You talk about religion as a generalization, as if all religious values are portrayed in a repeated fashion, regardless of what the inner teachings actually are.

Some religions aren't philosophies, simply because their values are misguided in the same instance that they are of one perspective. They are simply a set of rules abided by the perspective of a singular thought process, and therefore not a philosophy. Philosophical religions don't detail a set of rules, but rather, why there are rules in the first place, and how those rules may affect all perspectives of religion as a whole.



Things have changed, but is that change not intrinsic to the texts in the first place? Our world may be very different than what it once was during the times most religions originated in, but that shouldn't affect the core teachings of many religions. The values earned by religion are isolated to the inner self of an individual, and so they should not be affected with the changes of that individual's surroundings.

I do agree, however, that people are too fast to apply their religious values to society. This I believe is only a problem because they do not treat logic as an equal. They don't think to realize that religion is different to every person, and therefore assume themselves as the thought process of everyone.

Overall great thoughts, religion is one of my favorite things to discuss. Also props on the Voltaire quote, I love him. :)

I, too, agree with the fact that the core values are what are truly meant to be taken away from a religion, and I did at times disagree with myself upon posting about that topic.

Thank you :)

[Rascaldog24]

Don't get me wrong I love Jesus and god, it's some of their followers I don't care for

[Luminous]

This is wonderful. I completely agree in every way.

[TheBigUnit]

Religion, in and of itself, is a philosophy.

It is an explanation of life and what goes on around us. Religion is to me, however, such a medieval and renaissance way of thinking. Back then, people were desperate for answers about life to get rid of their confusion.

Now that we know so much more and have decent explanations about our existence, and it is still so popular today, it is clear that people in that era were so dependent on religion.

However, despite that I am not religious myself, I don't believe that religion serves no purpose in today's society. In most instances, it's purpose is to guide us towards the right direction in life, and have us become successful. I believe that taking the overarching morals of certain religions is how to have the right view of life, and how to travel the right path to success. One example being the Buddhist belief that "The origin of suffering is desire."

The problem with this is at some people don't seem to understand that religion is also a responsibility. People often try too hard to apply the writings of their religion (and I don't mean any specific religion) to today's society. This often leads to conflict and disagreement among religions.

To those people and everyone I say,
"Realize that this sacred text was comprised thousands of years ago, and things have changed. Instead of focusing on these old and often outdated teachings, try to create your own explanation of what YOU truly think." (Yes, I am quoting myself)


Finally, in the words of the renowned philosopher Voltaire, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

Beautiful well written

[The Trendy Wolf]

Thank you all for your encouraging comments and also your diverse opinions on such a controversial and often argument-provoking topic.