Debate: Religious Question

[Raeghin]

Originally posted by Sier
I would go with A. There are a good many biblical examples that people had good intentions, but did not do things according to God's exact specifications and got outright killed for it (2 Samuel 6:6 when Uzzah was killed for touching the ark of the covenant). It's important for people to take orders and law seriously, and to at least put an honest effort into it (albeit noone is perfect).

Unfortunately, like any written word, the bible is open to interpretation. This means that what has been scribed as 'God's' exact specifications are different from one sect to another. There are a few things that are pretty cut and dry (i.e. the Commandments) but for the most part, much of what is written can be interpreted in many different ways. Religion shouldn’t be about ‘orders and law’ (or at least, my idea is that it shouldn’t be), regardless of the “Commandments.”* These are just a good way to live, that respects each other and “God”. Shouldn’t it be about celebrating a higher power, and living to honor that? That could just be me, though.

So, B. I think that many monotheist religions covers the basics, and that having a spiritual side or a greater power is better than having none at all. Most organized religions preach, at base, the same things (be good to each other, don’t lie, respect life etc). Isn’t that better to have some inspiration, or belief in something bigger than one’s self than none at all? Consider other non-Christian religions too, like Buddhists, or Hindu or even Scientology. While you may not believe all of what they teach, they still have positive lessons both morally and ethically, and display positive inspirations for those that follow them.

“God does not approve of fence-straddling! He knows we are imperfect and that we make mistakes. Finding the perfect, flawless religion isn’t the point”

Is there a flawless religion really? Only God knows, anyway.


* I got a giggle when I was rereading this. I saw ‘Commandments’ and thought to myself, “Well they are really just guidelines anyway” from Pirates of the Caribbean. Then I realized that –yes-, even THEY are open to interpretation too.

[Grantref]

Originally posted by Rosuav

1) Seek God. Be absolutely wholehearted in your devotion to Him, and make sure you're correct, because God does not accept those who do not follow Him in His way.

Why would anyone WANT to follow a god like that, except out of selfish desire to get into heaven?

[Katidyd]

Originally posted by Grantref
Why would anyone WANT to follow a god like that, except out of selfish desire to get into heaven?

Isn't this the way most religions has been preached throughout the ages? (Be good and Santa will reward you with presents) (Be good or the Boogieman will come get you) etc.

Between the two, I would go with B. If God is the one god, then all those other gods are really just that one god. I would prefer to live a good life, now and then stray as anyone would than live as an enslavement to laws.

Of course these laws have loop holes too, a vile person could seek absolution and be let into heaven where all the good law abiding followers get to go.

Laws can be dumb, people know what's right and wrong, most of the time they choose right.

[Gromgor]

Finding loopholes to your faith is tragic.

[Lokrian]

I'm voting A. The search first and foremost ought to be for truth, and I do not find that religion in and of itself tends to bring one closer to truth.

On the other hand, I have never shared the opinion apparently shared by most here that all religions are roughly equal. I have read the Bible, am reading the Qu' ran, have read the Dao D'Ching, and have tried to listen and learn as much as I can about things like Buddhism, Shintoism, various Pagan religions of Europe, New Age philisophies, and on and on. They are different as night and day on some very fundamental points.

Someone mentioned above that the Bible, due to being a written document, is open to various interpretations. The same Bible acknowledges this fact in its text and lays out a process whereby the church can continue to function in spite of it.

I had a Vietnamese teacher for circuits in tech shool, and he liked to use the phrase, "You refuse to think." It was memorable to me because of his accent and the mischief in his eyes when he said it. He was a character, a good teacher and an interesting person. He used the phrase on me more than once! What he was getting at is simply that when confronted with a hard problem with many different choices many people just stop cold and, well, refuse to think. It happens in math, science, politics, blue collar work... thinking is HARD. But just because there are a lot of choices doesn't mean there is not one out there that is correct.

It's one of those things in life that you have to pick a side almost by default. You believe in a particular religion, an amalgum of various ones you've heard of, or none at all. You make your choice and you take your chances.