The purposes and potential benefits of religious practice?
I've been thinking from an objective viewpoint on the purpose of religion. I personally disagree with atheists who feel that religion is based on fear, ignorance and superstition.
A friend of mind is an observant Orthodox Jewish Tallit and carries Kipper. When I asked about the importance of talking about what a reminder of the Jews with God coventant leading in all areas of your life. Even the 613 Mitzvot (commandments) that the Jewish people is to try to maintain an extension of that. The commandments of any religion can not be seen as a way to control people, but to help them become aware of their actions in all areas of life and fight for a better and more complete experiance of life and the universe.
I'm not even really talking about a "relationship" with God, but here more about the potential positive aspects of living a religious life, for example, the Catholic practice of confession in May to become a device for controlling some but maybe it's a very good incentive for a person to deal with things that can cause pain or do things they know they are wrong and that in turn leads to unhappiness. The fact that they have to face the issue during the confession and think that may be useful for their development as a person. This does not mean we will never commit another sin, but makes them aware of the fact that they have acted in a certain way.
I think the realization that religion can develop in individuals is something positive. This does not mean that those who do not practice the faith can not be aware that often, but our Western culture encourages us to give our fugitive base instincts and desires are often the loss of our staff and helps to have something offsetting that to be a philosophy or faith.
Anyway I'm thinking about this and have not reached any conclusions about this definative but it would be interesting to hear their views.
- What is the word / name for the Catholic practice of asking favors Ghost?
- Are celibate Catholic priests or anyone for religious purposes that they feel has enriched their celibacy?
- Talking about "Mary-worship": the differences of religious or political issue, what do you think?
- When religious experiences collide?
- Religious issues - Lots! - Question - How do you feel about?
Some of the benefits of religious practice of the Catholic Church has led the world are:
+ Relief barbarian invasions of the early Middle Ages
+ Rescued Christian and pre-Christian literature
+ Extend agricultural and livestock knowledge
Home + universities and protected
+ Sponsored and supported science and medicine
Created & International Law Theory
+ Developed and sponsored by the modern economic theory
+ Invented charity as we know it
+ Codified, expansion and improvement of Western Law
Moral + Western
+ Created the theory of just war
+ Sponsored and influenced art and architecture
I suggest you read the book "How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization" by Thomas E. Woods, Jr. http://www.catholiceducation.org/article …
With love in Christ.
Ritual and religious practice could serve as a precondition before becoming a true seeker of God, but to find God, every religion must be abandoned.
The thing w / some religions that make religion in life and life 2 separate things
but in reality, life should be a great religious practice b / c the point of religion should be a guide, a way of life, right?
if you can not use their religion to their lives, why continue?
For example, in Islam … there are still people who separate religion and "life", but all aspects of Islam cover how to live your life the best for the sake of entering into heaven by God's will.
we have religion and culture in a B / C is not only Islam is guidance with regard to prayer, but also eating, dressing, win, etc.
and all aspects have to be effective much of the Muslim life.
so the point of religious practice is to proceed with life as best you can, the benefit is a full life, and finally the sky
peace
:
:. . . .
Religion can be potentially more harmful than helpful. As you said, there are some positive things, but there are some bad things about religions such as Judaism and Islam, which involve sexually maul baby boys.
Here is the problem with religion. For every belief that someone has, there is some reason for it. It may be a rational reason, or it may be an irrational grounds. In principle, if you know the cause of the belief of someone you can reason with them.
By bringing religion into the game, everything changes. You can not reason with a Muslim or a Jew that circumcision has no medical purpose, and reduces sexual pleasure and thus a violation of human rights. Not without addressing the fact that its rediculus Allah or Yahweh commanded a. (Bastards.)
Can not argue with a creationist about how the earth is actually billions of years, and all the evidence shows conclusively that they share a common ancestor with chimpanzees. Not without addressing the accuracy of the spelling, or their interpretation of Scripture.
The inability to make decisions based on evidence alone, or in reason alone is why religion is poison for the mind. If the brain is a computer, religion is like a virus.