Another Sunday morning...

[inochiken]

I always feel posts like these are out of place, because half of you are atheist, and the other half firmly sold on a particular religion. But I also believe most of you are pretty open-minded, so that's why this kind of post continues.

I spent all Saturday reading a translated abridged version of the Ramayana. For those who don't know, it's a

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Wily ol' JRR Tokien...

[inochiken]

I see what you mean.

The problem with religion is that it's a double-edged sword. It's the greatest blessing of mankind in that through religion, people can be more than flesh and bone, cultures can form, people are given identity, hope for the hopeless, and you can be unique without being labeled as insane because of it. Unfortunately, it's also the greatest curse for mankind, for it is the primary blade used to eradicate differing cultures, it can be used to ostracize and demonize (quite literally) others, fuel destructive tendencies, and justify terribly vicious and/or deceptive acts.

The key is how it is deployed. There are plenty of examples of people from all faiths using one of both ways. I for one, am too weak without religion. I don't believe in my faith because I think it's real in a factual, 'G-d literally made the earth in 7 days' way, but rather I believe because I HAVE to for my own physical and mental well-being. It serves an extremely necessary function in keeping me who I am, and providing guidance for future improving. Oral and written traditions such as the Talmud and Torah are a rich cultural and helpful layer of my faith, but they are not something I grip to so hard that I miss the forest for the trees, and turn into something bad.

I must admit, the biggest thing I admire about atheists is their ability to 'go it alone', so-to-speak. I couldn't do that... However, I tend to be seen by fundamentalist religious folks as heretical, no matter what the religion. Probably because I have the outlook that you can learn at least one or two good things from every faith...

I used ta make religion posts

[animate]

No doubt; religion does good. It feeds and clothes people and creates families...along with all that you said.

I can't help but focus on the negative forces it has, though; seeing how people manipulate religion shows one of its greatest faults. That fault being that religion is of man, and has not a thing to do with God (I'm assuming there is one for this purpose).

You say you are too weak without religion--so you realize that it's just a crutch? What if one out-grows religion? What does one do then? And also, why not cut out the middle man? Religion brings nothing but social norms and mores' to the spiritual table, and actually can decrease the value of a spiritual experience. Or create a false one. I think it's possible to have faith without religion, and even have God without religion. But religion is also a hobby for you (same with me) and that's good to see you culturing yourself and learning. Maybe I'll get around to reading some of that interesting work some day.

That "go-it-alone" idea is the greatest philosophy of the atheistic mind. As an atheist, I know that I only have 30,000 days (average/round) to complete what I want to do with my life; no more chances in an afterlife or new incarnation. I think that's an incredibly important statement, and you've probably been told that before. I think atheists are more inclined to deal with the hear and now (helping others) because we know that that is all we have--here and now--whereas the religious (especially those annoying Xtians) see this life as a preparation for the next life; the "perfect" life where everything is OK and filled with Republicans and Bald Eagles. Should they consentrate more on the now, helping others, something like Heaven might dawn...

Just a thought.

...filled with Republicans and Bald Eagles... SCARY!!!

[inochiken]

Ironically, it sounds like Atheists and Jews share a similar outlook. Judaism only vaguely explains a "heaven", but it more like returning to whence they came- G-d, instead of some Pat Robertson led banana republic in the sky. That's why the Jewish focus on "fixing what you have" instead of the Christian "trade it in for something better" idea. That's also reflected in the idea of the Jewish "World to Come" in which a messiah brings peace to and ends suffering on earth, as opposed to the Christian concept, which is let it all burn and take the faithful somewhere else. Of course, like with anything, not all Jews (or even close to it) live up to this philosophy.

Religion for me is not so much as a crutch, as it is something to pace myself by. That's always my biggest problem in life- I have drive, discipline, and endurance, but I never know whether I'm ahead, behind, whatever. I know that those things ultimately aren't important, but it gets discouraging when you realize that you can no longer relate to anything outside your own mind (and a little schizophrenic-like too...) Like with Japanese, I've spent maybe five years seriously studying, and there are areas where I can match up with native speakers in ability, but then others where I embarrass grade-school children. I need to know where I stand, I guess. That's why, in addition to my own personal belief of a spiritual relationship with my conceived maker, I also need man's religion as a launching pad. Give me a basic foundation, and I'll do something crazy over-the-top with it.

Hence the heretic labels...