What is the purpose of religion...?

[Bullypulpit]

Years ago, I explored the various schools of Christian though, and found them lacking. I explored Hinduism, Judaism, Islam...even sevearl pagan belief systems and I found them all wanting.

Then I came to Buddhism. The meditation practices of shinay and shamatha allowed me to quiet myself and watch the play of the mind. As each thought arose, I watched it and followed it until it faded away. It allowed me to understand what the Buddha meant when he pointed around him said, "<i>All this is empty...</i>". This understanding of the impermanence of all objects, entities and phenomena lead to the understanding that it is our reactions to these things that shpe the world around us. As a result, we can never be absulute certain of anything. We can be reasonably certain, but not absolutely certain. It is the quest for absolute certainty that leads us to seek out an immortal, unchanging, omnipotent, omnisicent being. We crave this certainty like a hungry child craves its mother's breast. But sooner or later we must all grow up...Weaning is never easy.

But that's just my opinion...I may be right or wrong. If I'm wrong, that's alright, I will have learned something. If I'm right, that's alright, I will have learned something.

 

[MJDuncan1982]

I agree with you that religion is man's attempt to find the absolute when it is realized that there is no absolute in our existence.

 

[dilloduck]

I think it depends on the religion and the times. When man was able to assume the he was separate form the whole he was frightened and needed a way to explain the things that we not of him. This enabled man to begin to identify or label himself. The next dilemma after identication (and survival) was to determine his meaning and purpose. Seeing himself as being apart from the whole required a method to return to the whole. Religion and philosophy are methods or guidelines that provide a man, who still assumes that he is not one with the universe, various methods of doing this.

Oddly enough--people disagree on the methods.

 

[MJDuncan1982]

Well put about identification and the inherit problems man faced with that realization. We would probably be better off had we never been able to ask how we need to live in order to be happy.

 

[dilloduck]

Well put about identification and the inherit problems man faced with that realization. We would probably be better off had we never been able to ask how we need to live in order to be happy.

I think that's why some religions promise us "a better place" if we act right while we are alive. I like existing-the known and the unknown are a great mystery which really doesn't need solving--just enjoyed.

 

[HGROKIT]

... "<i>All this is empty...</i>". This understanding of the impermanence of all objects, entities and phenomena lead to the understanding that it is our reactions to these things that shpe the world around us. As a result, we can never be absulute certain of anything. We can be reasonably certain, but not absolutely certain...

Whatever belief system brings you peace and serenity is the one that matters.

However, if you examint the teachings of Jesus, as expressed in the Bible, you will note He represents the same thoughts you express above. It is the "cult" teachings the churches use to pervert the meaning and advance their own agendas tha muddy the waters.

His teachings are not found in the cannons of organized religion, they are found in the scriptures.

 

[Bullypulpit]

Whatever belief system brings you peace and serenity is the one that matters.

However, if you examint the teachings of Jesus, as expressed in the Bible, you will note He represents the same thoughts you express above. It is the "cult" teachings the churches use to pervert the meaning and advance their own agendas tha muddy the waters.

His teachings are not found in the cannons of organized religion, they are found in the scriptures.

If you go back some 500 years earlier, these ideas were expressed by the Buddha. Ultimately, it's all about different paths to the same goal.

 

[5stringJeff]

Then I came to Buddhism. The meditation practices of shinay and shamatha allowed me to quiet myself and watch the play of the mind. As each thought arose, I watched it and followed it until it faded away. It allowed me to understand what the Buddha meant when he pointed around him said, "<i>All this is empty...</i>". This understanding of the impermanence of all objects, entities and phenomena lead to the understanding that it is our reactions to these things that shpe the world around us. As a result, we can never be absulute certain of anything. We can be reasonably certain, but not absolutely certain. It is the quest for absolute certainty that leads us to seek out an immortal, unchanging, omnipotent, omnisicent being. We crave this certainty like a hungry child craves its mother's breast. But sooner or later we must all grow up...Weaning is never easy.

But that's just my opinion...I may be right or wrong. If I'm wrong, that's alright, I will have learned something. If I'm right, that's alright, I will have learned something.

While I respect your right to form opinions, I do have a couple of points:

First, the impermanence of objects, thoughts, etc. does not negate the reality of their existence, nor does it allow for someone to simply wish it away.

Second, the lack of acknowledgement of absolute truth does not make it so. There are absolute truths in this universe, whether you want to admit it or not. In fact, the statement "we can never be absulute(sic) certain of anything" is a self-defeating proposition; it cannot be true.

Third, (ok, three points) your last paragraph isn't quite the whole story. If you're wrong about your religion, and someone else is right, then you will obviously suffer the consequences of disbelieving in the right religion.

 

[dilloduck]

While I respect your right to form opinions, I do have a couple of points:

First, the impermanence of objects, thoughts, etc. does not negate the reality of their existence, nor does it allow for someone to simply wish it away.

Second, the lack of acknowledgement of absolute truth does not make it so. There are absolute truths in this universe, whether you want to admit it or not. In fact, the statement "we can never be absulute(sic) certain of anything" is a self-defeating proposition; it cannot be true.

Third, (ok, three points) your last paragraph isn't quite the whole story. If you're wrong about your religion, and someone else is right, then you will obviously suffer the consequences of disbelieving in the right religion.

Assuming there IS a right religion of course.

 

[deaddude]

While I respect your right to form opinions, I do have a couple of points:

First, the impermanence of objects, thoughts, etc. does not negate the reality of their existence, nor does it allow for someone to simply wish it away.

Second, the lack of acknowledgement of absolute truth does not make it so. There are absolute truths in this universe, whether you want to admit it or not. In fact, the statement "we can never be absulute(sic) certain of anything" is a self-defeating proposition; it cannot be true.

Third, (ok, three points) your last paragraph isn't quite the whole story. If you're wrong about your religion, and someone else is right, then you will obviously suffer the consequences of disbelieving in the right religion.

First impermanence does negate the reality of anything as such in any time reference other than the Absolute Present and the Deffinite Past.

Second give me an example of an absolute truth. "We can never be absolutely certain of anything" is paradoxical because it uses two mutualy exclucive absolutes paradoxical. Omnipotent entities like the Chistian God are paradoxical be cause unlimited power cannot surpass its self and is therefore limited, so if paradoxical situations cannot be true, as you stipulate in your second point, than the existence of and omnipotent being cannot be true.

Third the probability of any one religion being absolutely correct is infintessimal.

 

[HGROKIT]

None of this is answering the original question of "What is the Purpose of Religion".

However, as all of you seem fixated on a premise that it IS about religion, then because there are probably more religions or variations therof than I could number, I imagine, we would probably get the same number of answers to the purpose.

 

[dilloduck]

None of this is answering the original question of "What is the Purpose of Religion".

However, as all of you seem fixated on a premise that it IS about religion, then because there are probably more religions or variations therof than I could number, I imagine, we would probably get the same number of answers to the purpose.

Thought I answered that----to explain the unexplainable, calm fear and give purpose. (also helps ya to eventually think for yourself)

 

[HGROKIT]

Thought I answered that----to explain the unexplainable, calm fear and give purpose. (also helps ya to eventually think for yourself)

My bad dillo - wan't really directed at you. Was more rhetorical as no one is really addressing it as I imagine the answers will vary with each individual and their perspective.

 

[dilloduck]

no problem--I agree with ya--not much room for objectivity.

 

[deaddude]

the purpose of religion is to provide mystical or divine explanations for the unknown, where does lightning come from? Zeus, Thor, Dhamballah, ect

Where do we go when we die? Heaven, Hell, the Bardo, to Papa Ghede to Limbo, to Purgatory.

 

[Bullypulpit]

While I respect your right to form opinions, I do have a couple of points:

First, the impermanence of objects, thoughts, etc. does not negate the reality of their existence, nor does it allow for someone to simply wish it away.

Second, the lack of acknowledgement of absolute truth does not make it so. There are absolute truths in this universe, whether you want to admit it or not. In fact, the statement "we can never be absulute(sic) certain of anything" is a self-defeating proposition; it cannot be true.

Third, (ok, three points) your last paragraph isn't quite the whole story. If you're wrong about your religion, and someone else is right, then you will obviously suffer the consequences of disbelieving in the right religion.

First, No argument there, although the Buddha's statement , "All this is empty..." is often miscronstrued to mean such.

Second, to state a thing with absolute certainty implies omniscience...something, I think I can say with reasonable certainty, none of us is possessed of.

Third, If one's favorite deity is that petty, is he/she/it truly worthy of adoration? Sounds far too human to be divine.

 

[musicman]

One needn't claim omniscience in order to acknowledge it's existence.

 

[MJDuncan1982]

Well musicman...knowledge in the strictest sense of the word does seem to require omniscience.

 

[rtwngAvngr]

All this "nothing is real" crap only gives people an excuse to ignore aspects of reality they find uncomfortable. Extending this paradigm, society would devolve into a bunch of children, responding only to their emotions, and feeling justified in ignoring whatever they want. Ultimately, this is an attack on rationality itself. Attacking rationality is a prime directive of new age/socialist movement.

 

[musicman]

Well musicman...knowledge in the strictest sense of the word does seem to require omniscience.

Well, then - I guess we're f***ed.