Religious Shopping Cart

[Buttons*]

Lately, doesn't it seem to you that the wealth of information at our fingertips leads us to more or less pick and mix/choose our faiths where we previously wouldn't have? For instance, I can read up on nearly ANY faith and take a little from there and a bit from here, and fold it up into some kind of "new" religion.

Does anyone else wonder why we do this?

Do you think it's a good thing?

Do you think it's a bad thing?

Is there something to be gained from this sort of jumble of facts? Is there something to be gained from following a "family" religion? Are there perks and downsides of both?

At the moment, I'm feeling that there are more downsides than upsides to this virtual shopping cart. On the other hand, I'm happy that we can all learn and understand faiths other than our own without much effort. What say you? Is this helping man become more thoughtful? Is this hindering man because of it's lack of integrity? (Wiki, for instance....)

[bicker]

The reality is that it is nothing but self-serving irrationalism to think that only one set of humans have a lock on spiritual wisdom. Wisdom is universal, and so is error, and so it is reasonable to expect that every source of spiritual context will be a mix of wisdom and error.

There are advantages and disadvantages to everything; that's part of the human experience. However, the disadvantages of blinding one's self, or more broadly, blinding a society, to the wisdom of many perspectives, and/or venerating the error inherent in one favored perspective, far outweigh any possible disadvantages from gleaning wisdom from wherever it may emanate.

[Engyo]

I think that there is also the possibility of missing out on some awakenings, if one picks and chooses only the portions one likes or is attracted to. I know I have found that some things I initially didn't understand or disliked about mny Buddhist practice and doctrine have a very real basis in life and a real utility when understood and lived. I would have completely missed out on this awakening had I rejected them based on my initial impression and dislikes.

[ChristineES]

I think that most religions have done that. There are so many similarities between various faiths, they would almost have had to. It would have taken a great deal longer before there was mass media, however. A visit of a Christian to Asia a few hundred years ago, who later returned to Europe, would have incorporated some of the beliefs he learned while there into his/her own, and would have taught these to his/her family and friends.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by Buttons*

At the moment, I'm feeling that there are more downsides than upsides to this virtual shopping cart.

To shop at Walmart is to get Walmart quality ...

If there is a problem I believe it is to be found in the lack of seriousness by which many select/define their religion. As I've said elsewhere, often it appears that some speculate upon and adopt a faith much as they might choose a removable tattoo.

[bicker]

There are some very nice, high-end malls. I remember when I used to live in White Plains, NY, there was "The Westchester". And here in Boston, you can walk down Newberry Street and pick and choose from a number of stores.

[atotalstranger]

Pick a religion with an arbitrary set of unsubstantiated beliefs, or make up your own religion with an arbitrary set of unsubstantiated beliefs. As long as it works for you, I don't see what difference it really makes.

[Engyo]

Originally Posted by atotalstranger

Pick a religion with an arbitrary set of unsubstantiated beliefs, or make up your own religion with an arbitrary set of unsubstantiated beliefs. As long as it works for you, I don't see what difference it really makes.

Hi, ATS -

Actually the point I was trying to make (in the terms of your statement above) is that the beliefs seemed unsubstantiated from the outside, without having actually practiced them. Experiencing them in practice, contrary to expectation I find that they ARE substantiated, it just wasn't apparent from my previous viewpoint. Anyone else will likely not be able to appreciate the substantiation without putting the teaching into practice either. To examine such things from the outside only does not give one complete information on which to base decisions.

[atotalstranger]

Originally Posted by Engyo

Hi, ATS -

Actually the point I was trying to make (in the terms of your statement above) is that the beliefs seemed unsubstantiated from the outside, without having actually practiced them. Experiencing them in practice, contrary to expectation I find that they ARE substantiated, it just wasn't apparent from my previous viewpoint. Anyone else will likely not be able to appreciate the substantiation without putting the teaching into practice either. To examine such things from the outside only does not give one complete information on which to base decisions.

I get this. I guess my point, minus the sarcasm, is that if you have a need for religion, and find a set of religious practices that works for you, then that's all that matters. Nobody has any reasonable basis for negatively judging your religious choices just because they don't match an arbitrary, pre-defined set of religious practices.

There is no objective basis for deeming one set of religious beliefs/practices as more relevant/truthful than any other set of religious beliefs/practices, so the impact it has on an individual is the only relevant factor.

[autonomous1one1]

Greetings Buttons*. You raise interesting questions. Perhaps one can see positive results if the process of taking from multiple religions is implemented with wisdom. Shopping at Walmarts can yield quality products if only a little wisdom is used; milk at Walmarts is the same as milk elsewhere.

From one perspective, religions could be examined from a solid base of development from one religion such as Christianity and from in depth study in other areas such as science and philosophy. With wisdom one integrates what is acceptable and doesn't end up with a 'jumble of facts.' One might begin with the perennial knowledge within each religion that is the same or similar for all or most religions. For example, the Golden Rule comes to mind as does the importance of love. Also, some conclude that all major religions have the same source and the same goal which is the same as the source! Some, such as Ramakrishna in the 1800's, corroborate for themselves the essential unity of all religious paths by becoming a practitioner of each of the major religions.'-

Regards