Any religion that says it's is the only way can only divide people and create coflict

[Az_]

Preach love and peace and it becomes meaningless as soon as you add the word "but". Love and peace but only through Jesus. Love and peace but only through Allah. Love and peace is truly the way. And that is it. But introduces conflict, disagreement, disenfranchisement, hatred, oppression, war, and everything nasty that plagues this planet.

Either love people for who they are or you are sewing the seeds of hate. Love them. Not some imagined idea of their soul or what it should or could be. Love who they are. Feel compassion for who they are. Not what you want them to be.

This is the problem that dogmatic religions face. They use great and positive ideas such as love, peace, and compassion. But then they yoke them to their own dogma in such a way that they tear apart the very thing they use to draw believers in. The very thing that draws on your compassion and love for your fellow human beings is the thing dogma uses to turn you against each other.

Let go of the dogma. Embrace the ideas of your religions. The teachings that bring people together without conflict of dogmatic belief. Let Christian love Atheist for who they are. Let Jew love Muslim for the person that they really are. Get to know who that Pagan really is and set aside the fact that you do not see the world in the same way as they do. We each have our own view of the world. And we either live together in compassion with one another despite our differences or we shall tear each other apart attempting to assert each of our dogmas upon each other.

[phee]

good topic

[Msterbeau]

good topic

Flame war in 3.... 2..... 1....

[pomba gira]

Well said... it's true, the original, base idea of most religions is just "be good to each other". All the other stuff gets added in along the way. Christianity is the perfect example... the actual teachings of Christ are wondrous and the world would be a much better place if everyone lived by them. But then you get into the overlay added by people like St. Paul and St. Augustine, who had their own specific agendas... and the original message of love and compassion is corrupted and twisted into classic repressive religious dogma. And that's why I don't do organized religion.

[Scary Guy]

"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful." - Seneca

[Troy Spiral (13)]

It can get confusing due to a lack of agreement on terms, but I avoid the word playing and attach traditional meanings to words like "god" and "religion". If we mean something else than the traditional idea of a word, explain it, rather than confuse the issue or hide unpopular opinions behind such words, which when later called on we say "well I didn't really mean religion that 99% of humanity has understood such a term for the last 30+ centuries."

I'd agree with the general sentiment. But I'd caution against confusing the "effect" of something morally/socially/politically (that is, ethical claims) as giving any weight to its TRUTH. They are separate, sometimes linked, but separate.

If a claim is made that one system of belief is the only correct system, but it seems harmful to society, does not mean that that claim is untrue. I personally don't actually believe in any objective ethical truth... that is ethical truths are all subjective, but, its unfair to say because something is harmful or uncomfortable that it is not true.

The fact that believing in fairies at the bottom of the well might make me feel better or feel worse In no way gives credibility to them actually existing or not.

If that makes any sense.

More specifically about "dogmatic" religious (actually supernatural, not secular or atheist beliefs masquerading as religion) beliefs vs "fluid" religious beliefs, more talking about Christianity and Islam specifically here. Just personally i have more respect for "truths" that a claimed to come from an ascendant god for instance, that don't change. If they change, that leads me to believe the "truth" was bullshit to begin with and the current belief might be equally bullshit. Sort of a begrudging respect for the more fundamentalist minded types, believe it or not. At least they have courage behind their conviction that the truth via faith was actually revealed to them. Not some wishy-washy ever changing ideas that eventually change due to overwhelming evidence via reason (as opposed to faith) forced the religion to change its ways to survive in modernity. If that's the case (religious beliefs revealed by god to be incorrect at some point.) just declare that reason and science are the best systems to find truth and abandon "religious faith" (traditionally understood not some new age definition of the terms) as a bankrupt epistemological system.

[st_masey]

I am wondering how someone can be in religion and not be dogmatic. It's either the word of God and your command or it isn't. If you are simply picking and choosing your beliefs for the sake of being peaceable; is it really your faith? Wouldn't it be obvious to you that you are creating your own god?

[Scary Guy]

The fact that believing in fairies at the bottom of the well might make me feel better or feel worse In no way gives credibility to them actually existing or not.

If that makes any sense.

This brings to mind another quote

"Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?" - Douglas Adams

I am wondering how someone can be in religion and not be dogmatic. It's either the word of God and your command or it isn't. If you are simply picking and choosing your beliefs for the sake of being peaceable; is it really your faith? Wouldn't it be obvious to you that you are creating your own god?

Religion might have been a poor choice of words. I think spirituality is what he was aiming for. I have no problem with spirituality or unorganized religion (as long as the unorganized people don't go around killing people who disagree with them). The only religion I can really think of that is absolutely harmless is Buddhism, and maybe Taoism. However I don't know enough about either to say that statement for sure.

I think we should study all religion, taking all the good parts and discarding the bad. The ideas being good and the idols being bad. Jesus probably wouldn't give a shit if you didn't worship him or even know who he was as long as you were following his teachings. Unfortunately it seems as if it's the exact opposite which is probably where the saying "Jesus protect me from your followers" came from.

[Saint Germain]

"Religion is the opium of the people" Karl Marx

[Scary Guy]

"Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned." - Anonymous

and another favorite of mine

"We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children are smart." - Henry Mencken

[Mizuna]

I am wondering how someone can be in religion and not be dogmatic.

I agree with that statement. If you don't follow your religion to the last word and all the time it isn't really a religion is it? Its more a hobby.

Keep in mind though, (general statement but don't care) no religion will be the same as it was when it was first created. Religion is made by people for people, if no one wants it anymore, it should change to meet its customer base.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

"Religion is the opium of the people" Karl Marx

You forgot parts of that qoute. Here is the full text. The meaning changes somewhat when you have it in context.

Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions.

It is the opium of the people.

[Scary Guy]

"Any religion that says it's is the only way can only divide people and create conflict"

Until they kill everyone else that thinks differently off that is.

You forgot parts of that qoute. Here is the full text. The meaning changes somewhat when you have it in context.

Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions.

It is the opium of the people.

See the part in my first quote about rulers.

[Homicidalheathen]

I wish my brother understood this. It divides families too.

[Az_]

I am wondering how someone can be in religion and not be dogmatic. It's either the word of God and your command or it isn't. If you are simply picking and choosing your beliefs for the sake of being peaceable; is it really your faith? Wouldn't it be obvious to you that you are creating your own god?

Not all religions involve gods or doctrines or dogmas. A religion at its base is just the binding together of people. Dogmatic religions such as Christianity have attempted to take over the term but they do not own the word.

Consider Unitarian Universalist Churches. They have no dogma, creed, or doctrine. All they have are people who share in the journey of life. Each with their own perspectives and beliefs. It is their desire to share their journey with each other that binds them together. Their ability to discuss common topics from different perspectives is their tie to one another.