I hope to learn something here, what you think.
My thought is the purpose of religion is to bring ones own life into harmony with the will of God. Agree or disagree .
Curious what you think , believer and atheist .
What is the purpose of religion
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Re: What is the purpose of religion
Post #11[Replying to ttruscott]
How about Jesus , he wasn't instituted by men. Do you think he was a failure to or really the only begotten son of God.
How about Jesus , he wasn't instituted by men. Do you think he was a failure to or really the only begotten son of God.
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Tcg
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Re: What is the purpose of religion
Post #12Matthew S wrote:
Well religious people also recognize the value in having a just authority mediate our affairs.
I think everyone would value having a just authority mediate our affairs.
The problem of course is finding such an authority. Religion certainly doesn't provide one. Religion provides an authority that favors those who worship the authority religion provides. There is no justice in that. That system is called favoritism.
Tcg
To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
Re: What is the purpose of religion
Post #13[Replying to Tcg]
I'm glad we agree , everyone would value having a just authority mediate our affairs.
I'm glad we agree , everyone would value having a just authority mediate our affairs.
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Tcg
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Re: What is the purpose of religion
Post #14dio9 wrote: [Replying to Tcg]
I'm glad we agree , everyone would value having a just authority mediate our affairs.
If you agree that religion can't provide such an authority, then we truly do agree.
I don't presume to know what another poster agrees with or doesn't agree with unless they state it clearly. If you review my post you'll see I said, "I think everyone would value having a just authority mediate our affairs." This is quite different from your statement. So it very well could be that we don't agree at all.
Tcg
To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
Re: What is the purpose of religion
Post #15[Replying to Tcg]
I agree partially , we need to refer to a just authority. Be it in Law , knowledge , ethics , morality , health , science , the greater good ,
Would you agree there is a greater good than the good we are presently living in? But what is the greater good anyway, a greater expression of humanity perhaps? Jesus comes to mind here with a greater expression of humanity when he touched the leper out of compassion breaking the law of Moses . Perhaps the religious norms today need a breaking through of greater humanity.
Take the celibacy laws of the catholic priesthood , perhaps they need to be broken and priests be free to marry and have families . That would be a step toward a greater expression of humanity in the priesthood perhaps the purpose of religion is to realize a greater expression of humanity.
Isn't that what Jesus was essentially about? The historic Jesus was a greater expression of humanity. that's what its about.
I agree partially , we need to refer to a just authority. Be it in Law , knowledge , ethics , morality , health , science , the greater good ,
Would you agree there is a greater good than the good we are presently living in? But what is the greater good anyway, a greater expression of humanity perhaps? Jesus comes to mind here with a greater expression of humanity when he touched the leper out of compassion breaking the law of Moses . Perhaps the religious norms today need a breaking through of greater humanity.
Take the celibacy laws of the catholic priesthood , perhaps they need to be broken and priests be free to marry and have families . That would be a step toward a greater expression of humanity in the priesthood perhaps the purpose of religion is to realize a greater expression of humanity.
Isn't that what Jesus was essentially about? The historic Jesus was a greater expression of humanity. that's what its about.
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Tcg
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Re: What is the purpose of religion
Post #16Then we don't agree at all. I have found no reason to conclude that such an authority exists.
We may wish such a thing exists, but our desire doesn't create it.
Tcg
To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
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ttruscott
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Re: What is the purpose of religion
Post #17Jesus was not a religion under control of men, He was our Christ and did an amazing job...for the rest of us to mess up. You've been reading me since you started up and you can ask me that?dio9 wrote: [Replying to ttruscott]
How about Jesus , he wasn't instituted by men. Do you think he was a failure to or really the only begotten son of God.
PCE Theology as I see it...
We had an existence with a free will in Sheol before the creation of the physical universe. Here we chose to be able to become holy or to be eternally evil in YHWH's sight. Then the physical universe was created and all sinners were sent to earth.
This theology debunks the need to base Christianity upon the blasphemy of creating us in Adam's sin.
We had an existence with a free will in Sheol before the creation of the physical universe. Here we chose to be able to become holy or to be eternally evil in YHWH's sight. Then the physical universe was created and all sinners were sent to earth.
This theology debunks the need to base Christianity upon the blasphemy of creating us in Adam's sin.
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ttruscott
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Re: What is the purpose of religion
Post #18Tcg wrote:Then we don't agree at all. I have found no reason to conclude that such an authority exists. We may wish such a thing exists, but our desire doesn't create it. Tcg
Amen! My answer:
Prov 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding....of the bible, of the church authority or anything of man. WE must learn to Hear Him and follow the Spirit.
PCE Theology as I see it...
We had an existence with a free will in Sheol before the creation of the physical universe. Here we chose to be able to become holy or to be eternally evil in YHWH's sight. Then the physical universe was created and all sinners were sent to earth.
This theology debunks the need to base Christianity upon the blasphemy of creating us in Adam's sin.
We had an existence with a free will in Sheol before the creation of the physical universe. Here we chose to be able to become holy or to be eternally evil in YHWH's sight. Then the physical universe was created and all sinners were sent to earth.
This theology debunks the need to base Christianity upon the blasphemy of creating us in Adam's sin.
Re: What is the purpose of religion
Post #19[Replying to Tcg]
What about moral authority? would you not agree people need a just moral authority?
What about moral authority? would you not agree people need a just moral authority?
Re: What is the purpose of religion
Post #20I didn't mean to imply Jesus was a religion under control of men only that he broke through above the bonds of the law , not to touch for example, expressing a greater humanity, a step up in humanities moral evolution.ttruscott wrote:Jesus was not a religion under control of men, He was our Christ and did an amazing job...for the rest of us to mess up. You've been reading me since you started up and you can ask me that?dio9 wrote: [Replying to ttruscott]
How about Jesus , he wasn't instituted by men. Do you think he was a failure to or really the only begotten son of God.
And if you believe Jesus was God OK this does not diminish his exemplary humanity.
