ConCen

Living in the US, religion is usually all around me in some form or another. I'm fairly familiar with how most American's (or different 'demographic' subgroups rather, for lack of a better term) veiw religion. But I'm curious what people think on a larger scale. That doesn't mean American's aren't welcome to participate in this thread, by all means, go ahead. Being limited to single poll question, here's some additional questions you can answer to flesh out your response and make your participation more meanigful. Do you think:[list=1]
[*]religion is an outdated archaic system unfit for modern man's / woman's 'spiritual' needs? Is an ethical system derivative of religious teachings (or morality) completely bankrupt? Or are there only certain principles or aspects of it that are problematic?<>
[*]religion necessarily detract from an individuals intellectual faculties? Would an individual necessarily be more intellectualy developed in the absense of religion?<>
[*]religious doctrines are inherintly violent or barbaric in their teachings?<>
[*]many or most of the problems today exist because of religion, or religion at least complicates matters? How much do you think religion contributes to make matters worse? Would the world would be [as close as possible to] ideal if everyone was an atheist?<>
[*]religion is devoid of any positive aspects or and is entirely negative? Has religion made any positive contributions to humaninty?<>
[*]there is any distinction between the teachings or philosophy of religious texts and the actions of it's self-proclaimed followers?<>
[*]religion is by it's very nature a system of control? Or is it simply more susceptible to abuse? Is religion is the only doctrinal system of control known to humankind? Would you consider any secular doctrines [weather economic, philosophical, or political] to be abusable as means of control?<>
[*]these question are too broad to be meanigful in the absense of being specific to a a particular religion?<>
[*]the occult [and escoteric arts or practices] are fundamentally similar to religion or identical in nature?<>
[st]
EDIT: Mods, could you add a poll to the topic? I meant to put one in there but forgot.

Poll Question: Would the world be better off with out religion?

Option 1: Yes.
Option 2: No.
Option 3: Unsure.

The ultimate goal of most religions is to attain a higher plain of thought and existence, to aid in a coming after-life in some way, it's the cocksuckers upstairs who ruined that, don't take your anger out on individuals who genuinely believe in more... "interesting" ideas, whatever they may be.

P.S. It's my personal assumption that we're here to create perfect minds and bodies to obtain higher-plain-existence, living in the stone-age won't cut it

If I could start a new religion/or non religion, I would call it Open Flow. What you would do would be quite simple, be open to the flow of possibility in each moment. Develop the ability to concentrate. Develop the ability to love those you do not naturally love, just because love is best when it is unconditional.

Flow with yourself and flow with others but respect that everybody is vastly different in their belief systems and that is okay, but for each moment each of us is alive that is what we all share. Being alive, being part of the flow from moment to moment. Just stay focused in the moment and that is where the miracles of healing and love begin. Love is letting go of fear.

I think organized religion has brought forward more misery and suffering than wellbeing and happiness so I guess that would make it a yes yeah....

I'd further venture to say that the evil of religion lies in its function of manipulative control over the minds of its adherents. True freedom of mind and being and at the same time true intellectual independence and adulthood responsibility can never be attained if its subservient to socalled vicars of God or Christ or Krishna or what have you.

Religion is used to control the masses.You can use religion to stir up hatred or galvanise votes.

With or without religion, there will always be trouble. I believe people are using religion as an excuse to go to war, which is wrong. Also, believing in the new religions or subsects of a religion are ways that the Illuminati are using to control people. I try to stick with the books teachings instead of listening to someone elses misinterpretation of it.

Quote:True freedom of mind and being and at the same time true intellectual independence and adulthood responsibility can never be attained if its subservient to socalled vicars of God or Christ or Krishna or what have you.

That is exactly the type of statement that needs to be abandoned for a live and let live scenario. Whatever, someone holds as their opinion is their choice and should be respected -- as long as it is not a sociopolitical agenda OR a CRIMINAL activity. If there were not so many change agents trying to impose change where it was not accepted, needed, or wanted there would be much less hatred and strife in the world.

Essentially, religious and/or spiritual beliefs are a personal FREEDOM. If someone has a problem with that, automatically, one should have a problem with anybody attempting to strip someone of their freedom and suspect that person of an agenda that is most likely highly financed by those that may not have the best interest of anybody in mind.

Quote:[*]the occult [and escoteric arts or practices] are fundamentally similar to religion or identical in nature?

No. Occultism is secretive, as most (false versions of) mainstream religions are foreced on people.

It always seems absurd to me, that people are arguing about things they cannot see, prove or don't have a clue about. I think it's better to an agnostic or atheist than have a blind faith towards some doctrine.

My 2 cents.

I did unsure, because I know that I'm better off without it, but I've met some real stupid people in my time.

I can't say whether or not we would be better off, or the world would be in a state of absolute chaos. If there weren't stupid people on this planet then my answer would have definitely been yes.

Oh yeah, can a moderator move this to the appropriate section?

So then who has the right to decide what is and isn't a "religion" that leads to "brainwashing"?

Christianity?
Islam?
Buddhism?
Tantrism?
How about good old rock and roll?

Nothing will come from this discussion

Quote:So then who has the right to decide what is and isn't a "religion" that leads to "brainwashing"?

Christianity?
Islam?
Buddhism?
Tantrism?
How about good old rock and roll?

Nothing will come from this discussion

Well, some people here think they're entitled to make that call... or at least strongly believe in it. The reason I made the thread was to find out what people think as opposed to speculating.

Although personally I am against all religions, I believe that anybody should be allowed to practice any form of it, as long as they don't break the common law.

I voted yes! :biggrin: But, I want to qualify that. Religion is fine until it has two or more people that believe it, then it becomes a scourge.

how do you define religion?

if religion is reason, then we all have religion whether we name as such or not.

science, money, politics... all become religion. religion, in its broadest sense, relates to our perceptions of right and wrong, what we define as truth - the structure upon which we build our lives.

if you'd asked, "Would the world be better off without structured religion?" to my mind the answer would be yes, but unfortunately, as things stand, it's a pointless debate because even if you did expose these hierarchical structures as fundamentally corrupt and divisive, people in their ignorance and fear will cluster around any potential prophet to absolve responsibility for their own lives... "follow the shoe!... no follow the gourd!..."(... follow the quark)