My ideas on religion?

Question

This is not a question. It's more of an idea of mine which I would like some feedback on

I was raised a Baptist. My parents taught me to believe in the "Almighty Lord" and I went to a Christian school for most of my life. But around 13 I started to question my teachings. As I learned more and more about the world around me, I started to base my beliefs on logic and reason more than anything else. This was the basis of my battle with religion. I thought for many years of the how to justify one side or the other and my decision, though not perfect, has made it evident to me that "God" and other "supreme beings" do not exist. From the beginning of time, the Jews in Israel, the Romans and Italy, the Incas, Aztecs, and Mayans of South America, have all assigned gods to explain the natural phenomenon around them. The Greeks created Zeus for lightning, Poseidon for waves and earthquakes, and many other gods to explain everything else they had no explanation for. In today’s society however, we have found those answers through science and we no longer need “gods” to explain the things we don’t understand. Religious fanatics would argue, “The Bible and the ten commandments are perfect, there laws are what everyone should live by. Therefore our gods must exist.” This is true in some respects. I agree that the ten commandments and most of the statements in the Bible are true and the world would be a much better place if we all lived by them, but these are simply wise sayings written down by wise men. The Bible, and other religious texts, though wise, do not in anyway justify “supreme deities”. And with that I conclude, religion is simply highly respected lie.

Answer 1

Gee, and nothing about The Goddess. What are you scared to give her a chance, scared that she might prove you wrong, that she is real unlike this god who can't and won't. I bet you can't say you love her, go ahead I dare you to challenge her to love you.

Answer 2

Well, everyone is entitled to their own perspective on the subject.

I'd like to say that there is a great difference between "GOD" the Divine Presence and "gods" which are images in the mind.

There is a very fine point here and not all are ready or willing to grasp it. You say God is not real. Why do you state that? To follow it up, I can ask you "What is Reality?"

The weakness in your thought is that you need to, ought to, explain "What is God" before you come to any conclusive decision.

Granted, religion may be based on many false assumptions yet the fact is, the universe that we find ourselves in is a very well ordered universe and there is a presence or "consciousness" prevalent in all form (what makes a seed germinate after being dormant for years, even centuries? for example).

The Greek mythologies and their gods served their purpose for that time and age. We can scarcely imagine ourselves to be thinking as they did in those early eras. So Life progresses and continues to do so. What was suited for them is hardly acceptable to us now because we have more knowledge of the world around us. That's great. But to dismiss everything else because of the false imagery of the past is not justified. Since you now live in the modern world you can make better decisions. It also means you are capable of grasping some of the marvellous facts of our existence within time and space.

You cannot live forever in the illusion of physical limitations. We say this table is real, but is it? Taken to its atomic state there are simply swirls of atoms and electrons plus all sorts of other things which make up the basis of "matter" and it points to something greater than our physical senses. Why should the physical senses be the ultimate judge of Reality?

Well, enough for now. I'd say in conclusion that religions are based on universal truths but have been altered to suit the times and beliefs of the people. An adaptation neither right nor wrong but suitable for the people of that age.

Answer 3

Religion means to reunite.  This is a prevailing effort for mankind because the bond we had with our gods was severed when they receded into the heavens.  Man formerly walked with god each and everyday.

Religion is the quest for the revival of a dead way which never return for our kind.

Answer 4

Good. We all have no problem accepting your view point on God and religion. But YOU seem to have some problems accepting them. No one can help you. Only you can .

If you are convinced that God does not exist  and the religious leaders are exploiting the masses in the name of God, then , by all means, stick to those beliefs . No problem. No human or no God is going to punish you. You donot need any prop in life to hang on to. You are at peace with yourself.

but for many millions this is not the case. They want to hang on to some faith, some belief, some super power to bail them out of miseries of life , pain , sufferengs , untimely deaths , seperations .... calamities. If they get peace by adhering to some beliefs let them. For heaven sake donot put across your dogmas on to them . do not thrust your views on them. if you do so you are nodifferent from the religious people.

Answer 5

It's cool.  You're providing balance to the ideas of others who don't yet experience the whole truth about God, whose ideas about God need negation in order to grow toward the truth.  You are helping in the dialectic.  And someday you'll experience for yourself that there's more to religion and to what people call God than what you are now experiencing.

Answer 6

I would agree with Karl Marx quotation - religion as opium of the people.

It is my personal opinion that religions have become like Corporate America, very materialistic, and the saving of our divine spirit is just a facade.

For people who are supposed to give up the material world, they sure do covet a lot of it!

There is only one God, The Creator of the universe, and the journey to Him is within, self-realization.  Now the true purpose of religion is to help us to achieve that goal.  However, if we all succeeded they would be out of business.  

I have reasoned that there must be a point where the true believer has to go it alone to self-realise.  That the religion should show the Way/Path, however, the rest is up to the individual, to build the bridge and make the direct connection.  

My question, to all the religions is, why is it that only a few ever self-realize, and they are usually persecuted and put to death, or of latter years declared insane.

I personally believe in God but not the religions.

The Ten Commandments are spot on.  However, just two Commandments would work nearly as well....

Do not lie

Keep your promises.

Finally, I do not like the way religions discriminate against women.  

Why can't a woman become a priest?  If they were allowed to be ordained women would certainly get a must better slice of the cake!

Excellent question.  Thank you.