What If...

[Wollof]

What If, Part 1

 

 

 

I want you to answer a few questions for me. Ready? Great.

 

 

 

#1: Were you raised to follow one particular religion?

 

#2: Did that religion teach you that the only real religion in existance was, indeed, that religion, and anybody who didn't follow said religion's teachings was immoral? Going down a path of damnation? Just plain wrong?

 

#3: Have you ever questioned your religion, or at least thought about ideas that other religions are based on and agreed with them?

 

 

 

If you answered yes to at least two of these questions, jump in the metaphorical boat with me. Now here's the hard part. If you answered yes to #1, since birth you were probably told heroic stories and mystical tales of the wonders your religion has accomplished. But has anything bad ever happened to you? Did you ever wonder "Why would [insert deity here] let something so terrible happen to me if [insert deity here] loves me?"

 

 

 

It was a simple school project that opened my eyes. We fight over religion. We kill over religion. Some people would argue that it is because of our religions what we do this, while at the same time our religions condemn this. Huh?! But what if we could change this?

 

 

 

Think of your religion as a cupcake. You have several cupcakes on a plate. The plate represents earth. You only want the frosting (good parts of each religion) so you scrape the frosting off of each cupcake onto the plate, and proceed to chuck the nasty, dried up cake. Ahhh, frosting. The good stuff. Each cupcake had something good to bring to the plate. Combined, oh, how sweet it is.

 

 

 

Interested? Stay tuned for part two, coming shortly...

[Da Pirates]

I smell a flame war.

[eggzs]

O jeez, another thread on religion

[The Observer]

I don't know about you, but....

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wish this wasn't so...

[The Dark Lord]

1. Yes, I was raised as a fundamental Christian.

 

2. Yes, they taught that the World was inherently evil and anyone who existed in the realm of the world was outside of Christ and would spend an eternity in hell. They also taught me that God predestines everyone and determines their fate before the foundations of the world were even created. Thus, God makes some people to go to heaven, and some to go to hell. Those who go to hell are throw-aways and they serve only to glorify God by going to hell to spend an eternity in torment.

 

3. Of course. I was born with the ability to have free thought. I would often question the stories that I was taught about Jesus and his disciples and stories about creation and Noah's Ark. I would also wonder if God was just by allowing his followers to take over a land and kill everyone in it. I would also wonder why gay people were considered sinners and why God would say something about hating sinners, yet why my Sunday school teacher always told me God was love and only hated sin, but not the sinners. I would wonder why God in the Old Testament seemed differently than what he was in the New Testament. Why was God more wrathful in the Old Testament, but less strict in the New? Also I do admit I eventually all-out parroted these views. I would push them on people because I honestly believed I could save them from hell. I eventually escaped those views, however. I even changed faiths and identified as Agnostic. My views of God literally went from "a big man on a cloud" to something that manifests itself in nature and all aspects of life.

 

 

 

Today, I'm a Unitarian Universalist. UU is a liberal faith and lacks a formal creed. It promotes religious tolerance and diversity. We believe that every person has worth and dignity and that everyone has some good in them. We affirm homosexuals and transgenders and gladly welcome them into our congregations. We are influenced by many religious traditions, so it's no surprise if someone finds aspects of Buddhism alongside Judaism and Christianity. Everyone is free to believe what they want as we believe in salvation by deeds, not creeds. Some of our members are atheist and believe in no deity, while some are theist or agnostic. Like I said, we respect diversity. We also support Science. If you asked if we believed in God or heaven, our answer would be 'yes' or 'no.' Many of us believe in God, but it's not necessarily the traditional concept of God. Some are polytheistic and some even believe in Goddess. We focus on this life and doing social justice, mostly along the lines of equality. We take a more of a "We'd rather be surprised." attitude as to what happens after death, if anything does happen.

 

 

 

Our religion has made an impact in the area of religious liberalism and during the Civil Rights Era. We are also major voices during the feminist and Gay Rights movements. Our symbol is the flaming chalice with two circles surrounding it. One circle represents Unitarianism and the other represents Universalism, which were liberal movements of the 1700s and 1800s. In 1961, they eventually merged and created the UUA. Six of the first presidents had something to do with our movement, in one way or another. Thomas Jefferson was a Unitarian. We have a very rich and interesting culture of promoting equal rights.

 

 

 

That being said, I wouldn't necessarily say that I'm a 'religious' person, but rather more of a spiritual person. I'm in UUism for the loving community that it provides and the social work that we can do as members. It matches my beliefs like a glove and I enjoy it. =)

 

 

 

By the way, I'm not sure if I misread your post or not, but isn't this something to do with a school project you've had/you're having?

[Zierro]

So you're saying combine the religions? Interesting idea, but remember there are important concepts in each religion that contradict each other. You'd have to choose between wanting to believe heaven/hell or reincarnation. If you ask me, it would make things too sloppy and just cause problems. There will always be disagreements between different religions. Always.

 

 

 

If you want to create a new way of life, why not just start from scratch instead? Inspire yourself with nature, not with other religions. You said it yourself, religion causes big problems, so why make a collage out of religions?

[Ginger_Warrior]

Quote removed ~DarkDude

 

Exactly why true Atheism fails. I cannot stand those people either - such ignorants.

 

 

 

Even as an agnostic (my Dad and brother are both atheists, and my Mum wasn't religious either) I have the common sense to realise there was a man called Jesus and he did attempt to do good in the world. It's the 'Son of God' bit I have difficulty believing in.

[The Observer]

Well, contrary to my other post, I'm going to post what I think...

 

 

 

I personally was NOT born into any religion whatsoever. The only one of my relatives that are closer to me would be my grandmother who is a Jehovah's Witness. Now, I don't follow that path, and instead am a Christian.

 

 

 

However, with that said, I don't like the fact about where every other religion is bad. I choose to not follow that part and respect each and everyone's religion no matter how extreme. I respect homosexuals and transsexuals and bisexuals.. They're still all human and should be treated like you want to be treated, correct?

 

 

 

In addition, I respect atheism as well. As long as they're not being racist jerks and trying to shove their opinions into everyone other's face. The same goes for members of a religion, do not shove your religion in other people's faces!

 

 

 

Now, before I started to follow with this religion, I had no thought about an almighty creator at all. I just cared about life as it is.

[____]

#1: Were you raised to follow one particular religion?

 

I was raised Christian untill about age 6 or 7.

 

 

 

#2: Did that religion teach you that the only real religion in existance was, indeed, that religion, and anybody who didn't follow said religion's teachings was immoral? Going down a path of damnation? Just plain wrong?

 

Don't exactly remember; but I recall knowing there were other religions (this trails into #3) but heard the spool about going to hell or whatever for not believing. Made no sense when my friends back then told me the same thing was told to them about their religion.

 

 

 

#3: Have you ever questioned your religion, or at least thought about ideas that other religions are based on and agreed with them?

 

Because of the above I was just 'you believe what you want, religion makes no sense to me'. A lot of reliigons have similarities between them right down to critical elements such as the following:

 

 

 

Even as an agnostic (my Dad and brother are both atheists, and my Mum wasn't religious either) I have the common sense to realise there was a man called Jesus and he did attempt to do good in the world. It's the 'Son of God' bit I have difficulty believing in.

 

 

 

I consider myself an athiest but there's enough reference to a guy who did amazing things across multiple religions that you can't say he didn't exist. But as Ginger_Warrior says, it's the son of God bit which is the part which takes faith.

[aspokaspofkjsopfkapo]

Personaly, I was raised a christian. I still am. The religion is not forced upon me (unless you count my parents). We are not taught that our religion is the only one, or that all others are wrong, or damned to hell. We are however taught that our religion is the right one.

 

 

Unless you were introduced to other religions(and non religion) by someone without a prejudice towards them then you can't say you had a choice. When a child hears from the most influential people in his/her life that the religion they practice is right other religions are wrong they tend to think that.

[bloodyhatchetbear]

Just out of curiosity, how many people answered "No" to #1?

[speedofsound]

I was raised christian but I was never told that my religion was the only right religion or that other religions are immoral. On the contrary, the church I attend has very liberal views. And sure I've questioned my religion, but I never have really given it up, and I don't think I ever will.

 

If I ever did decide I don't believe in religion, I'd still try and stay in touch with some of it because I feel that even if you don't believe in religion, there are still many good teachings you can benefit from (Love thy neighbor etc.).

 

I believe everyone, no matter who you are, can benefit from the teachings found in religion.

[warren211]

#1: Were you raised to follow one particular religion?

 

I'm a Catholic.

 

 

 

#2: Did that religion teach you that the only real religion in existance was, indeed, that religion, and anybody who didn't follow said religion's teachings was immoral? Going down a path of damnation? Just plain wrong?

 

Nope. I was taught that as long as you lived a moral life, no matter what you called God, as long as you can accept that there may be an all knowing out there and try to be good in your lifetime, you're just as worthy for heaven as any Christian.

 

 

 

#3: Have you ever questioned your religion, or at least thought about ideas that other religions are based on and agreed with them?

 

Unfortunatly, I have questioned my faith before. I'm going to a public high school and took health in summer school to get it out of the way. In a private school it might have taught abstinence only. However, in a public school I had to listen to forms of birth control that I didn't believe were moral, and other issues I don't fully agree with. It gets hard for me, constantly reminding myself to stay true to my faith, when society is saying you can have premarital sex as long as you use proper birth control, etc.

[The Dark Lord]

 

I believe everyone, no matter who you are, can benefit from the teachings found in religion.

 

 

 

That's basically what mine teaches. We believe we can find meaning and truth from all sources, religious or non-religious. We may draw from many sources, such as Hindu scriptures, Buddhist teachings, the Bible, the Torah, the Qu'ran, Chinese philosophy, Greek philosophy, a science textbook, etc. It doesn't mean we believe everything from all the sources, especially if taken literally. We just believe there is some truth found in everything.

 

 

 

For example, we may teach the story of Krishna and Arjuna from Hindu texts, parables that Jesus taught in the New Testament, or just tell stories of actual things that have taken place, such as the story of Stefania. The story of Krishna and Arjuna talk about the morality of war. Parables that Jesus taught in the Bible can serve as common sense type of things or as life lessons. The story of Stefania talks about a girl that moves to a new school. She's Unitarian and at a playground she meets a girl that is alone and doesn't play with the other kids. When she asks why she doesn't play with them, the kids say "Oh she's a Unitarian. We don't play with her kind." Stefania felt sorry for the girl and immediately replied "Well I'm Unitarian also, so I guess you can't play with me either!" and she goes to the lonely girl and they become close friends. They all have very good things to offer. You shouldn't throw away these priceless stories just because you're biased towards a particular religion or lack thereof.

[aspokaspofkjsopfkapo]

#3: Have you ever questioned your religion, or at least thought about ideas that other religions are based on and agreed with them?

 

Unfortunatly, I have questioned my faith before. I'm going to a public high school and took health in summer school to get it out of the way. In a private school it might have taught abstinence only. However, in a public school I had to listen to forms of birth control that I didn't believe were moral, and other issues I don't fully agree with. It gets hard for me, constantly reminding myself to stay true to my faith, when society is saying you can have premarital sex as long as you use proper birth control, etc.

 

Shouldn't you be trying to better and improve your beliefs, not trying with all your might to ignore things that would do that?

 

 

 

I believe everyone, no matter who you are, can benefit from the teachings found in religion.

 

Even with that do the benefits out way to negatives?

 

(sorry to go a little offtopic here)

[warri0r45]

Just out of curiosity, how many people answered "No" to #1?

 

 

 

That'd be me. No religious upbringing. My family are completely neutral to the idea. That is to say that it's not an issue for us any more than Kazakhstani politics are.

 

 

 

Having said all that, I did go to a religious school (Lutheran) and it was a good experience. I just didn't see any sense in the idea of religion/beliving in god. Come to think of it I never seriously thought about religion until after I left school. Obviously, it still means nothing to me.

 

 

 

I can respect the right of others to believe but it simply doesn't resonate with me.

[Nom]

Yes, I was raised as a Christian. I can't say I remember whether the people who educated me on my religion did so in such a way as described by that so obviously biased question. It was probably just due to me being impressionable. Of course I have had doubts about my religion, and I would consider it ignorant not to have. Where I am at right now, not even I am sure.

 

 

 

Getting past that little questionnaire . . .

 

 

 

The cute little cupcake analogy doesn't fly with me. There are no disctinctive 'good parts' of a religion, for one. I might like the belief that I may go to heaven, you may believe in nirvana, Bob down the street may believe in reincarnation. There is no possible way to combine any of these, and you can't try to do so on the principle that they are the good parts of religion, because not everyone will see them so.

 

 

 

Without being able to use any of the distinctive traits of completely different belief systems, you are left with the general moral code that all religions generally try to instill in believers. To take these 'icings' and combine them would be redundant, as they are much the same no matter what dogma they originate from. Indeed, you don't even have to be religious to have a set of morals.

 

 

 

Lastly, what exactly would you accomplish by creating a super-religion?

[Intriguing]

#1 - Yeah, I was raised in a "strong" Christian household. My entire family, with the exception of my grandfather and grandmother are Christians.

 

#2 - Yes.

 

#3 - Well, it's no longer my religion, so obviously. I would like to just mention that my decision to no longer be a Christian was not based on me wanting to rebel against my family, as that assumption has been made about me quite often. It initially stemmed from me not wanting to be a hypocrite, then expanded into other reasons I don't need to go into on this thread.

 

 

 

At the moment all you've written is a really weak argument against religion. But I'll wait until part 2 to condemn you..

[Lenticular_J]

#1: Were you raised to follow one particular religion? Not particularly, though I've been exposed to Christianity.

 

 

 

#2: Did that religion teach you that the only real religion in existance was, indeed, that religion, and anybody who didn't follow said religion's teachings was immoral? Going down a path of damnation? Just plain wrong? No. Although I believe it's good to have morals like those taught in the Bible and Torah, and the ones I've read from the Koran.

 

 

 

#3: Have you ever questioned your religion, or at least thought about ideas that other religions are based on and agreed with them? Yes. I question my religion constantly, but never my faith. I agree with most ideas of Judaism and a good few of Islam. Also much of what I know of Taoism, Hinduism, and Buddhism, I agree with.

 

 

 

If questioning my religion but not my faith sounds hypocritical, I question Christianity, but not my faith in Jesus and God. The teachings of most religions are something not to be ignored. Some people act as though theism of any sort (although their ignorance usually leads them to Christianity) is a scar on the face of humanity, when it has actually created some of the greatest things in recorded history. Also, so many ideas of how to better yourself can be found in both the New and Old Testament, if you're not so shallow you can't find them.

 

 

 

Now, as to your second part. I was never told these heroic stories. I was never told God or Jesus would shield me from harm. I don't even know anyone who's been taught this.

 

 

 

We kill over sports. Your point?

 

 

 

For one thing, that's a big-[wagon] plate. Second, everyone loves the entire cupcake. Silly. And third, that's a lot of cupcakes and frosting. And fourth, that's really a terribly biased metaphor, as the frosting on a cupcake makes up a tiny part of it, whereas the good parts for religion outweigh the bad. I probably just don't understand your metaphor anyways, my mother always told me never to mix cupcakes and religion.

 

 

 

You have some relatively good views, but your "arguments" aren't the strongest, as it seems you're obviously swayed to one side or the other, if a school project destroyed your religion.

[Rebdragon]

I saw the word cupcake and kind of stopped thinking past that. Damned short attention span.

[Princess Viola]

#1: Were you raised to follow one particular religion?Yes, cathlisims (Catholic)

 

#2: Did that religion teach you that the only real religion in existance was, indeed, that religion, and anybody who didn't follow said religion's teachings was immoral? Going down a path of damnation? Just plain wrong? No

 

#3: Have you ever questioned your religion, or at least thought about ideas that other religions are based on and agreed with them?Yes, I'm starting my own religion!

[Kenshinjapan]

#1: Were you raised to follow one particular religion?Yes

 

 

 

#2: Did that religion teach you that the only real religion in existance was, indeed, that religion, and anybody who didn't follow said religion's teachings was immoral? Going down a path of damnation? Just plain wrong? Can't be explained with a yes or no answer.

 

 

 

#3: Have you ever questioned your religion, or at least thought about ideas that other religions are based on and agreed with them? Yes, who hasn't?

 

 

 

In response to #2, I learn that there is one god and that non believers would go to hell. However, nothing is/was ever said about other people be immoral, they just missed the mark on what right was. They did suggest that this religion was the correct one, but because every separate congregation that you go to has slightly different ideas on what is right, we were told to not be labeled by a title, but to decide which place of worship had the best interests in mind.

[Cyco_Reborn]

Religion is for the weak

[The Dark Lord]

Religion is for the weak

 

 

 

Someone lit the spark? Oh no! We're all gonna burn! Someone get the fire extinguisher! Hurry! *clap* *clap* Make it snappy! We NEED to extinguish this flame before it results in a flame war!

 

 

 

Well then that's your opinion.

[Who]

#1:

 

Well when I was born, our family didn't have any particular religion. When we moved to Canada, the closest school to our house was a Catholic school, so my family probably became Catholic for my convenience, not for the actual enlightenment part.

 

 

 

#2:

 

It was more of a choice really. They never taught us at our school that if you aren't catholic, you'll burn in hell or something like that.

 

 

 

#3:

 

Because I became Catholic unwillingly, I always questioned if there actually was a God. I know that religious people always make up some reason for why God doesn't intervene to make the world better, but the more you learn, the less you keep believing. I didn't stay in that Catholic school for long, it was just the first 3 years of elementary, then we moved elsewhere. Currently, I'm an Atheist while the rest of my family is Catholic. My mom always tries to get me to go to church, but its been a futile attempt.

 

 

 

Religion is a personal choice, follow one if you want. I just don't understand why other religions have to bash each other and convert those that choose not to follow any. -.-