Do not question religion?

[sheogorath]

Yesterday, In the adult Sunday school class, they talked about how you shouldn't question god's word... I was amazed when I was trying to have a conversation with my father about religion stuff (trying to kind of give a hint that I was atheist) and he flat out told me that I was the exact type of person that they had talked about in Sunday school. He said the " people of real intelligence would trust god and not question him" wait, what? How do you all feel about this kind of behavior? Have you ever encountered this kind of behavior? (a few seconds ago) Actually they asked me if I was an atheist. I of course Said I wasn't (I am). I cant tell them that I am, but I cant stand them thinking that I am Christian. They said that people like me who always want an answer tend to fall into atheism. Sigh.

[LRT]

I'm religious, but I do not believe in the assumed infallibility of religion. If there is something that seems patently ridiculous and you have no reason to believe it isn't, it probably is.

[cygnus]

a religion's control over its followers wouldn't work too well if they were encouraged to question it. if a person is a member of such a community i could definitely see them being manipulated in that way. but thankfully there are some people with religious influence out there (uh, i suppose) who tolerate an individual's desire to have independent thought. having not been raised in a religious environment i have not encountered this directly, but it's easy to infer. and having an interest in buddhism it's interesting that practicing buddhists are pretty much the opposite.

[Alric]

I hear it a lot on the boards like this, from people talking about sterotypical christians. However, I have never actually met a person like that before. Most people who are religious are happy to talk about their religious, most are happy to debate others about it. If you are really passionate the debate turn more into an arguement, but people are still open to talking about. Most are always questioning it, and that is the reason they talk about it. Perhaps I am lucky but all religious people I have ever met either don't care what religion you are, try to convert you in a polite manner, praise their own religion but doesn't bash others, or enjoy talking about religion in general. To be fair, if you are unable to tell your parents how you really feel about it, perhaps you are still to young to really make up your mind. Until you are adult enough to talk to them about it as an adult, they probably will continue treating you like a child.

[exdreamer]

I was brought up Catholic, but I'm an Atheist (or more accurately, I'm an 'I don't really give a crap' kind of person.) My experience with religion growing up was pretty different. Questioning and interpreting was encouraged. Anyway, I think that people who are blind followers of any religion are the type of people who can't accept that there may be no answers or that the answers could be something other than what they choose to believe, so they close their minds off to other possibilities. Basically, I think, they crave the peace of mind that their chosen belief is right because they are, deep down, afraid.

[MementoMori]

sheogorath I know exactly what you're talking about. It's the same here, the preachers blatantly tell the people that questioning god is a sin in and of itself, and indeed that only Satan questions him so to do so is to emulate Satan himself. We have pastors that will come to your home to see how your doing (supposedly) and to make sure your reading and INTERPRETING THE BIBLE PROPERLY... Religion is a form of mind control dipped in a small bit of wisdom and sprinkled lightly with a few truths about life and then served in a self-fulfilling prophetic napkin (imo)

[Zhaylin]

If a religion tells you that, run the other way. "Blind Faith" is not Biblical and is a typical tool in cults ("Trust me... let me think for you... don't question the preacher/God") "Definition: “Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld.” (Heb. 11:1) True faith is not credulity, that is, a readiness to believe something without sound evidence or just because a person wants it to be so. Genuine faith requires basic or fundamental knowledge, acquaintance with evidence, as well as heartfelt appreciation of what that evidence indicates. Thus, although it is impossible to have real faith without accurate knowledge, the Bible says that it is “with the heart” that one exercises faith.—Rom. 10:10." "How can a person acquire faith? Rom. 10:17: “Faith follows the thing heard.” (Compare Acts 17:11,*12; John 4:39-42; 2*Chronicles 9:5-8. A person must first find out what the Bible says, and he will strengthen his conviction if he examines it carefully so as to be convinced of its reliability.) Rom. 10:10: “With the heart one exercises faith.” (By meditating on godly things to build up appreciation for them, a person impresses them on his figurative heart.) Faith is strengthened when a person acts on God’s promises and then sees the evidence of God’s blessing on what he has done.—See Psalm 106:9-12. Illustration: Perhaps you have a friend of whom you would say: ‘I trust that man. I can count on him to keep his word; and I know that if I have a problem, he will come to my help.’ It is not likely that you would be saying that about anyone you met for the first time yesterday, is it? He would have to be someone with whom you had long association, someone who had proved his dependability time and again. It is similar with religious faith. To have faith, you need to take time to get to know Jehovah and his way of doing things." I can't find the reference to save my life, but one scripture talks about making sure what you learn is true.

[hgld1234]

Put it this way: Blind faith does not get anyone anywhere. That's because of the word ‘blind’. Faith without question will not get anyone anywhere as question is what brings someone forward. Also unquestinol faith bores the religious ‘nuts’. They are not further from finding anything, for they are so wrapped up in their faith. Beware of the nut, for they will try to bind you to their religion!

[Super FZL]

I became an atheist by asking questions. Atheism is considered the worst possible outcome of a person's life (at least in my church). Therefore, they tell you not to question "the truth" so you won't become a "heathen." It's all tripe.

[Invader]

Eight more years of stem cell research went undone because of a bunch of influential (in the Bush administration) evangelists thought it was against the will of their god. Cool, my sister gets to stay paralyzed, along with everyone else suffering from spinal chord injuries. Fanatics stall human progress thanks to their own insecurities about death. Gee, should we pander to their fear and get the short end of the stick as a result? Why are real people suffering for this? Religion is not a necessity. The amount of hate that comes with mainstream religion is REMARKABLE. It's ironic, too, that so many atheists are created because of fanatic thinkers. Zhaylin's right anyways, real faith should come from the heart, even if that phrase also comes out of the bible. But we don't need a book to tell us that. We also don't need a book that tells us to seek out and murder non-believers. That's disgusting and traitorous. We don't need religion to tell us to love on another. People have been saying that for ages, and it isn't some remarkable revelation that needed to be sent down by any deity (it only gets interpreted as "love your fellow believers"). TL;DR Religion as an actual practice should be cast into the metaphorical fire. Those who wish to do it of their own free will should still be able to, if they want to.

[Supernova]

"people of real intelligence would trust god and not question him" Response: people of real intelligence think for themselves instead of being led around blindly like sheep. Actually they asked me if I was an atheist. I of course Said I wasn't (I am). I cant tell them that I am, but I cant stand them thinking that I am Christian. They said that people like me who always want an answer tend to fall into atheism. Sigh. I would say, yeah, I'm an atheist, and if you don't like it, you can suck my balls. Haha, no, only kidding, I would not say that. I would tell them that I was an atheist, though. Try to have a mature conversation with them about it, then see who is "intelligent". I hate that kind of thinking. The only way in which radical Christianity is better than radical Islam is that radical Christians don't kill people. Oh, wait, abortion clinics, shit... Really, my own view on religion and spirituality is that, anyone can believe anything they want, that's fine, it's also more than fine to discuss other ideas, in any area it's how a person broadens their horizons on a subject. However, trying to force your beliefs on others I have a BIG problem with. disclaimer: I am in no way suggesting that radical Christians are worse than or as bad as Radical Islamics. Let's just not forget that violence in the name of religion has been dealt from both sides. Let's not forget about the crusades.

[hgld1234]

Really, my own view on religion and spirituality is that, anyone can believe anything they want, that's fine, it's also more than fine to discuss other ideas, in any area it's how a person broadens their horizons on a subject. However, trying to force your beliefs on others I have a BIG problem with. Same.

[ninja9578]

They tell you not to question god because if you question god, you'll come to the logical conclusion that it's all just a bunch of bullshit with the goal of ultimately controlling you.

[IndigoGhost]

(a few seconds ago) Actually they asked me if I was an atheist. I of course Said I wasn't (I am). I cant tell them that I am, but I cant stand them thinking that I am Christian. They said that people like me who always want an answer tend to fall into atheism. Sigh. Just tell them you a Jewish Muslim Buddhist, surely this will get you much props with the G~Man upstairs. I'm a Taoist, my parents are Christian, they are cool with it because they don't understand it, people have to learn that because we have the Internet we can look up information never available to are parents. Thus a 13 year old boy can become more intelligent then a 40 year old man working in a 100K a year job I personally eclipsed my parents at age 11

[spockman]

This is an entirely non-Christain perspective. "Have a reason for all you believe" and "Seek out your own faith with fear and trembling" come to mind immediately...

[Replicon]

I'm working out my salvation with joy and peacefulness, not fear and trembling, so there.

[spockman]

I'm working out my salvation with joy and peacefulness, not fear and trembling, so there. I think the point is more, take it seriously and consider that your faith is something to be respected greatly.

[Xei]

I don't think people act like this out of malice; just stupidity.

[MementoMori]

a lot of stupid people in the world.... but hey, life is about contrast right Personally i feel like religion is the very last block any group of people have on free thought and the true human experience. Religion to me is the last stretch of communism and dictatorship, it's the last breath of a matriarchal society where there's a single voice that commands and governs all, it is the final beat of the heart at the center of the human failure. The human failure is that we as a race have yet to realize, i use this because we already know it we are just distracted by so much (arms race, war, monetary debt and gain, materialistic social manipulation, herding of peoples across the globe), that we will only be be able to achieve a state of peace and harmony once the peoples of the world unite under a single idea, and that's the continuation of the human experience. I don't mean nations becoming a one world order, because the human condition is still control and order, not focused on prosperity and happiness for all. To achieve world peace, the world must think and act together. We must relinquish our ideals that control equals prosperity and see that control only breeds hate and animosity towards the controller. It's wisdom and guidance that we should be offering, a helping hand to one another. This is something unimaginably possible in this world because of the standards, stigma, stereotypes, and dogma present in the current human condition. To gain such a way of life is to give up the current one, which is a long, hard, sad, bloody, hurting, road. Control and greed is rooted deeply at the center of the human condition, but any garden can be rooted up and replanted, though those with deep roots take immense time and dedication. Religion is a last attempt at control and greed. Uproot the garden and begin a new season in the human condition. We've had dark ages before, and i'm very much ready to experience another golden age.

[Saturos]

I definetly think that religion, as long with pretty much everything else in existence, should be questioned. It keeps people frm becoming mindless robots.

[SaMaster14]

Thats one of the things I really like about Judaism... even though I am only 17 (still in high school) whenever I go to religious school or to temple, my rabbi encourages me to question God and to keep questioning. (though I am a Conservative Jew, not Orthodox). And honestly because of that, I keep going back and having conversations with my Rabbi where I learn more and more... I've almost taken a Kierkegaardian stance towards God, where the fact is that we can't really understand God for what "it" is, and we have to just have faith, but not only rely on miracles. Live in the present and make your own decisions. I believe that God has more of a presence in the physical realm and/or that God relates more to the physcial than what Kierkegaard believed ... but still, it always goes back to: "how can God create a rock that cannot be broken?" ... I believe its possible, the answer is just something our brains can't understand.

[hgld1234]

Religion is a last attempt at control and greed. Uproot the garden and begin a new season in the human condition. So how come, in the Midfle Ages, religion had so much control? And I don't think religion is the last attempt at uprooting the garden. Because to get world peace, every country needs to realize that control is not the way, but to cooperate with all the other countries.

[Zhaylin]

In order for there to be world peace, the people would have to be UNIFIED in all beliefs (especially religion). And then the people would have to consistently practice what they believe in. Never going to happen, on a world-wide level- in this system of things.

[hgld1234]

It is perfectly possible to have different religions, yet have peace together. Provided none of the religions are ‘Follow me, totally follow me, and do nothing but follow me, or <Insert horrible fate here> for the rest of eterteny’, and the follower is imposing this on others.

[Zhaylin]

But wherever there are differences there will be sects and extremists.