Religions/Beliefs/Perceptions (209)
equiya: Thank you for such useful info.
Equiya is right Dan, it is and my thanks too 
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LeeCharming: I'm not a religious person...I see religion as a form of control...getting people to think a certain way...restrict their thoughts and action...but also cults are built off of mass belief systems...it's too easy to manipulate people...with religious books and change them anytime...that they want too
Being a good person does not require religion...It requires understanding...compassion...kindness...honesty and it does have a good amount to do with upbringing.
I understand a good number of people practice religion...but it don't mean they are good people...just cause they may say a Pryor and worship a god...being a good person takes far more than worship and it's more about being a good person...in your heart and mind...a good human on this earth and I think you can be all good...or bad without or without religion
Some very bad people have preached religion and have been bad to the core...so nothing can guide the human condition...except the individual person and if they are bad...then nothing will change that...accept them...they decide if they are good or bad...moral or amoral
I agree with you 110 %.Being a good person does not require religion...It requires understanding...compassion...kindness...honesty and it does have a good amount to do with upbringing.
I understand a good number of people practice religion...but it don't mean they are good people...just cause they may say a Pryor and worship a god...being a good person takes far more than worship and it's more about being a good person...in your heart and mind...a good human on this earth and I think you can be all good...or bad without or without religion
Some very bad people have preached religion and have been bad to the core...so nothing can guide the human condition...except the individual person and if they are bad...then nothing will change that...accept them...they decide if they are good or bad...moral or amoral
\Where was God when those terrorists dropped planes on the twin towers in NYC on 911?
Why didn't God stop those murderers from killing innocent people in mass shootings?
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equiya: Thank you for such useful info.
Thanks but, as you must realise, I had to summarize it all as I couldn´t fit it all in one page. 
Besides, I didn´t really want to bore people with so much text to read.
Anyway, this was only an overview of the 5 main religions but, of course, there are many more, that I know of, who also have their own beliefs.
The main point of this thread (and my blog) was the questions I asked? WHY???
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blathin: Equiya is right Dan, it is and my thanks too
And thanks to you too, lady, for reading and participating. 
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Dan_777: Thanks but, as you must realise, I had to summarize it all as I couldn´t fit it all in one page.
Besides, I didn´t really want to bore people with so much text to read.
Anyway, this was only an overview of the 5 main religions but, of course, there are many more, that I know of, who also have their own beliefs.
The main point of this thread (and my blog) was the questions I asked? WHY???
Oh of course Dan, .... It's just a conversation ( and waht's worse a written one lol..) and you can't write every last detail...Besides, I didn´t really want to bore people with so much text to read.
Anyway, this was only an overview of the 5 main religions but, of course, there are many more, that I know of, who also have their own beliefs.
The main point of this thread (and my blog) was the questions I asked? WHY???
Why? Because people need to believe there's some reason for the bad stuff that happens in their lives, they "need" someone or something else to blame so as to absolve themselves of all responsibility.
Lets not forget that religion isn't a modern day phenomenom, it's 1000's of years old. Life was very different and far far far more fragile back then. It was unpredictable, disease was rife and given their reliance on the weather and each other, all sorts of bad things happened to people that was no fault of their own, but they couldn't explain it...so they came up with "Gods"...that needed to be appeased..or thanked....
Then others come along, saw that need ,that vulnerability and took advantage of it....by setting up a "religion".
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Dan_777: And thanks to you too, lady, for reading and participating.
You're heartily welcome Dan...it's a pleasure 
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blathin: Oh of course Dan, .... It's just a conversation ( and waht's worse a written one lol..) and you can't write every last detail...
Why? Because people need to believe there's some reason for the bad stuff that happens in their lives, they "need" someone or something else to blame so as to absolve themselves of all responsibility.
Lets not forget that religion isn't a modern day phenomenom, it's 1000's of years old. Life was very different and far far far more fragile back then. It was unpredictable, disease was rife and given their reliance on the weather and each other, all sorts of bad things happened to people that was no fault of their own, but they couldn't explain it...so they came up with "Gods"...that needed to be appeased..or thanked....
Then others come along, saw that need ,that vulnerability and took advantage of it....by setting up a "religion".
Thanks for your reply. Why? Because people need to believe there's some reason for the bad stuff that happens in their lives, they "need" someone or something else to blame so as to absolve themselves of all responsibility.
Lets not forget that religion isn't a modern day phenomenom, it's 1000's of years old. Life was very different and far far far more fragile back then. It was unpredictable, disease was rife and given their reliance on the weather and each other, all sorts of bad things happened to people that was no fault of their own, but they couldn't explain it...so they came up with "Gods"...that needed to be appeased..or thanked....
Then others come along, saw that need ,that vulnerability and took advantage of it....by setting up a "religion".
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bodleing2: Its a battle as old as religion itself. I like the way James Hollis sums it up in his book, Mythologems, Incarnations of the Invisible World....
"When we take the gods as facts, rather than metaphors , we get lost in debating the merits of the facts rather than apprehending their meaning.
The fundamentalist ties his or her beliefs to the facts and narrows the spiritual vitality by fighting rear-guard actions against disputation. On the other hand, the atheist disputes the evidence, gets confused by the institutional forms to which he or she has been exposed, and misses the possible deepening which occurs whenever one confronts the meaning of divinity.
When institutions prevail over private experience, the oppression will manifest as depression and reification, precursors to the horrors of pogroms and crusades. This is the meaning behind the critiques of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche in the nineteenth century and the so-called “death of God” theologians in the twentieth. Each had observed that the imago Dei ossified and ceased to move its communicants to awe. In time, the momentum and self-interest of the institution can even serve to prevent people from primal, religious encounter which could actually threaten its stability and the social vision it guards.
As Jung said, the gods had become diseases. The names they once rendered luminous had become husks. As I have previously noted, the oldest of religious sins is to worship the husk after the energy has departed. It is called idolatry, and we have raised up many false gods in our time. Consider our contemporary Pantheon: plenipotentiary Progress, massive Materialism; heroic Health; normative Narcissism, nasty Nationalism; sophistic Scientism, and many others. None saves, none connects, none abides, and we all damn well know it."
In many ways he's pointing out that you don't need a religion to connect to a higher power, or higher level of consciousness. In fact he's suggesting religion can be a barrier to divine awakening. That's possibly why I'm often pulled towards Buddhist teachings, it's debatable as to whether Buddhism is a religion anyway, especially in the Western idea of religion."When we take the gods as facts, rather than metaphors , we get lost in debating the merits of the facts rather than apprehending their meaning.
The fundamentalist ties his or her beliefs to the facts and narrows the spiritual vitality by fighting rear-guard actions against disputation. On the other hand, the atheist disputes the evidence, gets confused by the institutional forms to which he or she has been exposed, and misses the possible deepening which occurs whenever one confronts the meaning of divinity.
When institutions prevail over private experience, the oppression will manifest as depression and reification, precursors to the horrors of pogroms and crusades. This is the meaning behind the critiques of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche in the nineteenth century and the so-called “death of God” theologians in the twentieth. Each had observed that the imago Dei ossified and ceased to move its communicants to awe. In time, the momentum and self-interest of the institution can even serve to prevent people from primal, religious encounter which could actually threaten its stability and the social vision it guards.
As Jung said, the gods had become diseases. The names they once rendered luminous had become husks. As I have previously noted, the oldest of religious sins is to worship the husk after the energy has departed. It is called idolatry, and we have raised up many false gods in our time. Consider our contemporary Pantheon: plenipotentiary Progress, massive Materialism; heroic Health; normative Narcissism, nasty Nationalism; sophistic Scientism, and many others. None saves, none connects, none abides, and we all damn well know it."
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bodleing2: In many ways he's pointing out that you don't need a religion to connect to a higher power, or higher level of consciousness. In fact he's suggesting religion can be a barrier to divine awakening. That's possibly why I'm often pulled towards Buddhist teachings, it's debatable as to whether Buddhism is a religion anyway, especially in the Western idea of religion.
That's a good point and given what I've seen of religion I'd agree, it does seem to shutter people's minds and stunt their emotional growth..If I had no choice but be religious I'd probably choose Bhuddism out of all of them But that's based on scant knowledge of it though..
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bodleing2: In many ways he's pointing out that you don't need a religion to connect to a higher power, or higher level of consciousness. In fact he's suggesting religion can be a barrier to divine awakening. That's possibly why I'm often pulled towards Buddhist teachings, it's debatable as to whether Buddhism is a religion anyway, especially in the Western idea of religion.
You're right Bod, Buddhism is a philosophy and way of life, rather than a religion.I also agree that one can connect to a higher power/level of consciousness without being religious and believing in a god.
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Dan_777: You're right Bod, Buddhism is a philosophy and way of life, rather than a religion.
I also agree that one can connect to a higher power/level of consciousness without being religious and believing in a god.
What do you mean by "a higher level of consciousness" Dan?I also agree that one can connect to a higher power/level of consciousness without being religious and believing in a god.
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blathin: What do you mean by "a higher level of consciousness" Dan?
Very good question Blathin!Ok...from my own experience, rather than making it a generality...
When you raise your frequency, having done a considerable amount of work on yourself, it brings many changes.
It has for me anyway!
Eg..you start looking at the world differently..
You experience a shift in your spiritual belief system, and later the core beliefs.
Suddenly noise and crowds start bothering you...
You let go of aggression and anger...
You take responsibility for your own life...
You live in the PRESENT and have dealt with the past..
You FORGIVE...
You change your lifestyle and unhealthy habits..
Etc..etc..
Then you might suddenly get a spiritual awakening and have more awareness.
Then comes a point when you don't need rituals/prayers or whatever...as you can create your own life and manifest with intent and thoughts.
At this point your questions are answered from your own source self connection.
Thoughts and ideas suddenly come to your mind...through meditation and also without.
Maybe through music or artwork?
All this has happened to me over a period of 15 years.
Friends who appealed to me before are now out of my life. We're just not on the same frequency or vibes.
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blathin: Oh of course Dan, .... It's just a conversation ( and waht's worse a written one lol..) and you can't write every last detail...
Why? Because people need to believe there's some reason for the bad stuff that happens in their lives, they "need" someone or something else to blame so as to absolve themselves of all responsibility.
Lets not forget that religion isn't a modern day phenomenom, it's 1000's of years old. Life was very different and far far far more fragile back then. It was unpredictable, disease was rife and given their reliance on the weather and each other, all sorts of bad things happened to people that was no fault of their own, but they couldn't explain it...so they came up with "Gods"...that needed to be appeased..or thanked....
Then others come along, saw that need ,that vulnerability and took advantage of it....by setting up a "religion".
True human beings have advanced technologically, but seem to have stood still morally.Why? Because people need to believe there's some reason for the bad stuff that happens in their lives, they "need" someone or something else to blame so as to absolve themselves of all responsibility.
Lets not forget that religion isn't a modern day phenomenom, it's 1000's of years old. Life was very different and far far far more fragile back then. It was unpredictable, disease was rife and given their reliance on the weather and each other, all sorts of bad things happened to people that was no fault of their own, but they couldn't explain it...so they came up with "Gods"...that needed to be appeased..or thanked....
Then others come along, saw that need ,that vulnerability and took advantage of it....by setting up a "religion".
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The mystery of faith.
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pedro27: The mystery of faith.
You've either got it or you ain't
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tomcatty: You've either got it or you ain't
IMO its a mystery for humankind because no knows the full truth because its still unknown------ This thread is Archived ------
pedro27: IMO its a mystery for humankind because no knows the full truth because its still unknown
I got a bone to pick with God when we meet
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tomcatty: I got a bone to pick with God when we meet
God left it a unknown to everyone because he wanted too------ This thread is Archived ------
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CHRISTIANITY
Christianity is the largest religion in the world, with more than 2 billion believers worldwide. Followers believe and worship only one God.
• Christian teachings are grounded in the Old and the New Testament that, together, form the Bible. There are several versions of the Bible and not all denominations use the same version.
• Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, sent to earth as a man and a messiah to save people from their sins.
• A central focus is the belief that Jesus´crucification lead to the forgiveness of mankind’s sins.
• Christians have faith that there will be a second coming in which Jesus will return to Earth and take Christian believers back to heaven with him.
• The Ten Commandments play an important role in Christian teachings.
ISLAM
Islam is the second largest religion in the world, with an estimated 1.8 billion followers – and expanding. Muslims believe in Allah as the one true God.
• Those who follow Islam commit to living life in submission to the will of Allah.
• The Islamic faith teaches that Jesus was a prophet, and the prophet Muhammad is Allah’s final messenger who continued to receive messages from Allah to share with the people.
• The Quran is the holy book of Islam.
HINDUISM
About 94% of those who follow the Hindu faith live in India. It is the third largest religion in the world.. As with all religions, there are multiple sects of Hinduism, each with some variations in their practices.
• Hinduism teaches that God’s presence exists in all of creation and the divine essence (atman) dwells within each person..
• Brahman is the recognized supreme deity (God) responsible for creating everything in the universe.
• There are many other deities according to various sects
• Hindus believe in reincarnation, with a constant cycle of being born, living and dying on the path to enlightenment.
• A person’s karma, which refers to the net of their good and bad deeds in the last life, determines the level into which they’ll be reborn.
• Rather than a single religious book, Hinduism has a number of sacred texts,
BUDDHISM
After giving up an extravagant life of excess, the man who came to be known as the Buddha discovered enlightenment through giving up his wealth and position to live a simple life as a monk. His efforts to teach others how to do the same became the foundation of the Buddhism fundamental beliefs.
• The primary focus of Buddhism is to seek enlightenment.
• The Buddha is not worshiped as a god. He was a man and is recognized by Buddhists as such.
• Consistent with philosophy’s principles and truths, Buddhists follow a path of moral living, thinking and behaviour, as well as seeking wisdom.
• Karma is an important factor in Buddhism, focusing on each individual’s responsibility and accountability for their own actions.
• Buddhists believe in reincarnation and rebirth. In the Buddhist tradition, being reincarnated means coming back as yourself multiple times, while rebirth involves returning as an entirely different entity.
• The Buddhist religion includes a number of sacred writings, in the form of scriptures and texts, that share the Buddha’s philosophy and teachings.
JUDAISM
The smallest of the top five religions - approximately 14 million. There are multiple denominations of Judaism, and their Core teachings are:
• Followers recognizing and worshiping only one true God.
• The Ten Commandments play an important role in Judaism. They do not recognise Jesus and are still waiting for the first coming
• Even beyond God’s law outlined in the Ten Commandments, righteousness and justice are central to the teachings.
• The Hebrew Bible, (Torah) is the primary holy text of the Jewish faith. It includes the same books as the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.
The Talmud is another holy text