Is Religion Just A Tool?

[Destined]

Who here thinks that reilgion is just a tool used by corrupt people to expediate their crimes?

[NetxMan]

I think that is the most silly question I may have ever heard in my entire life.

:rofl: :clap: :rofl:

[Destined]

Does this mean that that is all you have to say on the matter?

You have an opinion, but no facts?

Why is this so stupid? The Pope may have more political influence than anybody else.

And religion can and has been used a s a tool. Think about all the countrys in the middle east.

Also, thankyou for following my threads so avidly, you've responded to them all. Does that mean you're intrested in what im saying? or do you just want to get status by putting down the newguy?

[up2date]

Originally posted by Destined
Who here thinks that reilgion is just a tool used by corrupt people to expediate their crimes? I think perhaps a better question is something along the lines of, "Has religion be coopted for corrupt uses?"

[up2date]

Originally posted by Destined
Why is this so stupid? The Pope may have more political influence than anybody else. It is the way you worded your question that might put some people off. Please see my suggestion above.Originally posted by Destined
Also, thankyou for following my threads so avidly, you've responded to them all. Does that mean you're intrested in what im saying? or do you just want to get status by putting down the newguy?. As far as I can tell, there have been two threads, which in my book does not make a pattern. ;)

My guess is you'll get a better response without assuming his motive is to put you down.

[NetxMan]

I would never put down the "new guy" I just like to know the question before I post an answer.

Anyway, I think up2date ask the question the way I would have preferred to hear it.

Yes, people in society use religion as a vice for sometimes corrupt reasons.

The pope has political power because he lives in a religiously run country. Hence, our laws on separation of church and state.

[Lukey The Leper]

I have to agree with up2dates wording, religion may of once meant something but nowadays in such an atheistic society belief in a God of any kind is all but extinguished. In a day and age of technology and science the idea of God seems pretty primitive

[xexon]

Religion is a map.

Most people are asleep, spiritually speaking. They've gone to great lengths to improve mind and body, but neglected the inner thirst that all people have.

Religions are much like a shoe. You have to wear the one that fits the best. In my experience, there is no true religion, because not everyone is at the same level of spiritual maturity.

You cannot give a first grader a book on physics. He 's not prepared for it. True religion is an individual journey, not a group effort.

Just like flowers in a field, not all bloom at the same time.

Each, to their own. Each path is different.

Only that person knows when it's their time to bloom.



x

[Duo_Maxwell]

formal religion is bs. Do you really think whatever upstairs really cares if you go through the formal crap?

As long as you believe and show compassion to others, there isn't much he/she/it can ask for.

[xexon]

Formal religion is indeed a mess now.

But sometimes, it's all people have available to them. The inner thirst seeks relief somehow. Just as you will drink dirty water to save you life in a desert, people sometimes have to put up with bad teachings until they find something else.

I was raised as a southern Baptist. You know, hellfire, damnation, and fried chicken on Sundays. It was a comfortable nest as a child, but once my spiritual instincts got their bearing, I left if far behind.

I do not hold anything against the people who remained. They will move on when its their time. It can't be forced. And it shouldn't be.

A big problem with the major relgions is when they profess that their's, and their's alone, is the true path. It attempts to lock you in and remove the freedom of choice.

To me, that is a sin.



x

[Missouri Mule]

I find religion in general to be largely meaningless in today's times. I have no strong feelings one way or another. I can't see that it really makes any difference in people's lives as they claim it will. I don't know what if anything will replace it if anything. It is used against impressionable people to follow the desires of their leaders as we have seen in the James Jones cult suicide and more recently with David Korisch's cult in Waco, Texas. So it is used as a tool, although not be all religious leaders. Some do. Some don't.

[DRMIZER]

Originally posted by Destined
Who here thinks that reilgion is just a tool used by corrupt people to expediate their crimes?

I'll answer your question. No, I don't believe religion is that cynical. I do believe dogmatic religion has started more wars than any other cause in history. . . . . .

If we could have belief without dogma there would be a lot more people on this earth today with the ability to get along. I do not wish to further religion, no matter the brand name through a "holy war" setting.

[gopman]

The dogma isn't what causes the wars, it just provides an excuse for the individuals who would have started these wars anyway. I don't believe that any dogma could create war, because of Pope John Paul II's philosophy that all religions can ultimately lead to the same God.

[obmar]

Say anything so long as we dont put the blame to God.
His expectation is fixed.
He had a purpose for us.
It is ours that is sometimes screwed up.:(

[DRMIZER]

Originally posted by gopman
The dogma isn't what causes the wars, it just provides an excuse for the individuals who would have started these wars anyway. I don't believe that any dogma could create war, because of Pope John Paul II's philosophy that all religions can ultimately lead to the same God.

Well, I think dogma is a creation of man, therefore if you play with semantics, guess you're right.

[Vic]

as an agnostic (correct me if this is spelled wrong) i think Religion, if not a tool, has always been used as a tool and is still being used as a tool.

[thoss52]

religion is evil its a tool to enslave the masses always has bin ,
more people dyed over religion then politics , land , money , then any other reason ,

it was found that the military could concur land but it tuck religion to hold its power over it .

[Simon666]

Originally posted by Destined
Who here thinks that reilgion is just a tool used by corrupt people to expediate their crimes?
I do. It wasn't designed for it, but it is indeed used as a tool by corrupt people to expediate their crimes.

[Lastkennedy]

Well lets think back to the time religon started and what they used it for, i belive it was somewhere around the time of mesopotamia and Sumer. Religon was dark and gloomy for that bunch, they belived when ever they got a flash flood or no rain that the gods were angry. and guess who started that religon! The king, becuase for him to have total power he needed to state that he had divine authority. So there we have it folks, religon was just a scam :). I belive that religon's sole purpose is to be a thing for people to find comfort and security in. So hey, religon will always corrupt the rich and greedy.

[DRMIZER]

Originally posted by Lastkennedy
Well lets think back to the time religon started and what they used it for, i belive it was somewhere around the time of mesopotamia and Sumer. Religon was dark and gloomy for that bunch, they belived when ever they got a flash flood or no rain that the gods were angry. and guess who started that religon! The king, becuase for him to have total power he needed to state that he had divine authority. So there we have it folks, religon was just a scam :). I belive that religon's sole purpose is to be a thing for people to find comfort and security in. So hey, religon will always corrupt the rich and greedy.

It may be to your advantage to take a course or two (more) in ancient history.;)

[ArabGirl]

I think religion is a MUST in our lives...
everyOne has a religion even those who claim they dont...
in every religion there is a GOd , followers and God's instructions that followers follow....
Reigion is a need...and if u dont have an explicit religion for sure you have an implicit one...
how come??
It's easy ..
the Implicit God can be Person (leader, writer, Artist, someOne you love)...Or can be a principle like communism or capitalism and there are much much exmaples
Very Easy Very simple.... Religion is a NEED ...:)

[mahayana]

I think that, internally, most religions contain a power relationship between leader and follower.

"I know the truth, the way, understand the Book; you don't."

"Give me your donations, tithes, most perfect lambs, etc; I'll tell you how to get saved."

I don't think that religions have caused many wars. Wars tend to be about geography and plunder, and are contrary to moral teachings. As:

"He's a Catholic, an Athiest, a Hindu, a Muslim,
A Buddhist, a Baptist, and a Jew...
He knows that he shouldn't kill
but he knows that he always will
kill you for me, my friend
and me, for you."

[uglybastard]

Obmar had it right...

Why blame God for the sins of man?

People screw up all the time. Why should religious people be any different?

There's a good movie that deals with this subject, 'The Apostle'. Robert Duvall is in it.

[cpwill]

A) yes religion and religious feelings can be coopted by already corrupt individuals. men have a knack for justifying their evil; and this includes religious justification as well.

B) no, religion is not inherently about control of others. if that was so then no religion which does not have control would grow; however we have numerous examples of religions being a powerful force under state repression.

LastKennedy; sumeria is simply the oldest recorded official religions that we have found in the archeological record; it seems that every civilization mankind has ever created has had a religious underpining inherent in it since the beginning.
ArabGirl; you're incredibly right;)