Re: The Ranting/Debate Thread
Obviously.. religion is a big question. A lot of people would say it's THE big question. For the rest of us, we also have politics, and art. Supposedly the three big no-nos we want to avoid, if we want to agree with each other all the time.
Now, this is of course because everyone has a different view of religion. Both their own, and that of other people. I think we can very quickly see that in this thread. It fills a lot of different roles, and provides a lot of different things for people.
That brings us onto the first point I wanted to make. Religion as an excuse. Either for a certain set of views, or, for actions. Historical examples include the Crusades, the completely-unexpected Spanish Inquistion (yes, you can laugh here). Another common modern one is using a religion to condemn homosexuality. Or anal sex. Or eating particular kinds of foods. Or women going around in public without every inch of skin covered.
I think this is an intellectual cop-out. If a person had a divine vision, or one he/she believed was divine, telling him or her.. that they couldn't eat pork. I'd be okay with that. That applies to an individual, and more, it doesn't affect others. However, when it comes to large bodies of people following the same dogma - this just seems fundamentally wrong to me. Especially when this dogma is contained in a religious text written down hundreds, if not thousands, of years before.
This is because the nature of what is right and wrong shifts dramatically. Perhaps, in tougher times for the human race, when survival was a more important priority, homosexuality would be a seriously bad idea - survival of the species is more important than individual preference, and, in honesty, what would a physically weak woman do to support a family? Or maybe there was a plague in the pigs of the time, making them dangerous to eat? We can see all sorts of perfectly reasonable explanations for why the precepts were sensible at the time.
But that's me wandering off my original thread of argument. The problem with using religion to justify things is often that people get their priorities wrong. I'll take Christianity as an example. In this religion, "Love thy neighbour" is actually more important, and more relevant to the modern Christian than any "Smite the infidel" or similarly, anything pertaining to homosexuality. Because this takes precedence, Christians should aim to love homosexuals equally. And, in fact, it goes even further.
If someone is -not- a practicing Christian - say they've never even heard of Christ, but they -are- a homosexual... then a lot of people who hold Burrito's views here would say these people are pretty screwed. Actually, though - they can still live by the most important part of Christianity - charity and love. By generally being kind to those around them, improving the lives of others, helping people (Something quite a lot of people do, or at least, try to) - they can be a "Good Christian". I.E, they can be a Christian, without being Christian.
I think a person in this situation would still be admitted to whatever Heaven one can say exists. That's the fundamental aspect of it. Sexuality, diet, what you say with your mouth - those are the little things. The trimmings. The really important tenets are the simple ones. Being kind to other people.
Of course, the problem posed is "Is there a Heaven". Using the above idea, one could conceivably live in a way that would qualify one for most of the Heavens promised by existing religions in the world today. I think it doesn't matter. To really follow the "Being good" ideal, one has to ignore the promise of reward. To do an act of goodness in order to be rewarded with Heaven - is not really good at all.
Whether or not Heaven exists, doing good is still crucial, even to Christians. That is to say, even if Jesus wasn't the Son of God, and at death, we all just vanish like guttering candles.. doing good is still the best way to live. I have this.... naive belief, that everything comes full circle in the end. Actions are returned to you. Like karma, almost. Treat people well, and be treated well yourself. If there is a judgement of Christ, it happens in every single moment, with every single action.
I'm aware I've rambled all over the place here, and probably utterly misrepresented myself and my beliefs, so in summation..
- You don't have to be a member of a religion to follow it.
- Following a religion just for the benefits is often contradicting the basic idea behind it.
- When it comes down to it, most religions are very similar.
- Actually, the "fine print" is unimportant.
P
