Religion and Ethics (Jesus, moral, Epistles, beliefs, soul)

[Dunemeister]

Originally Posted by rheff78

Hey, you should become Catholic, we definately don't have those guidelines.

Nope. Anglican all the way. We even let you drink wine during communion!

[rheff78]

Originally Posted by Dunemeister

Nope. Anglican all the way. We even let you drink wine during communion!

Hey, so do we. Ya'll stole that from us.

[.lava]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

What do you think about religions dictating how people should live their lives?

Most, if not all, religions, large and small include some form of ethical rules or guidelines.
A common one is the prohibition or guideline against its members drinking alcohol. Is this really the best thing a religion should be doing though?
If a person never touches alcohol, they'll never feel any of the negative effects, which while on the surface may seem like a good thing, it also means the person will never actually understand why, perhaps, they shouldn't drink. They never have the experience that would allow them to form their own judgement and create their own sense of what is good and bad for them.
The same goes for vegetarianism, if someone is encouraged (or even forced) into vegetarianism from a young age they'll probably never face the moral dilemma that comes with eating meat, which means their beliefs on that matter don't arise from within themselves, but come from others.

Obviously there are hundreds of ways in which the various world religions guide or form their followers sense of ethics, but do they do this at the expense of personal understanding and growth?

Would the sign of a truly great religion be that it's teachings instill a sense of ethics into its followers without the need to actually control their behaviour with rules and prohibitions?

hi

i think one experience is usually more effective than hundred advices. i also think if your religion tells you you'd get burn if you touched fire, that is a warning. after that warning if you touch fire to see if it is true or not, that would be considered as your faith is not completed. because you do not trust it. imagine one dies cos of it. what's his gain? last act of his would be a sin.

there are many people who spent years away from religion like myself. they committed many sins. there are people i know who are exactly opposite. i think both sides earns. who commits sin has experience so when he gives advices, he knows what's he talking about, he is the example. the other kind who did not commit that sin, he is also lucky because he did not have to lose time on something which is already introduced as a sin. so he kept going further.


imo

[BruceDLimber]

Greetings.

Originally Posted by Halcyon

What do you think about religions dictating how people should live their lives?

Given that religion's purpose is to provide people guidance, it's eminently sensible!

And while YMMV, I see nothing unexpected or unusual in this.

Peace, :-)

Bruce

[.lava]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

What do you think about religions dictating how people should live their lives?

religion is a friendly invitation. it is not religion that dictates people, it is only some greedy religious people who wants to rule the world.


.

[Dunemeister]

Originally Posted by rheff78

Hey, so do we. Ya'll stole that from us.

Ahem! Borrowed, I'd say. Interesting. I thought y'all only let the priest drink the wine. Do the laity drink wine at the Eucharist now?

[tigrers99]

I used to think that the role of Religion was to bring people close to God in worship, not to dictate morality to people. Of course I expected the Saturday/Sunday church goers to be able to keep from stumbling in holding to the morality that was taught in the part of the country where I grew up. If they ever did stumble in this then my family thought they were just hypocrites.

When I grew up and went out into the world, I found out that the world's morality is not as good at meeting the needs of people or a Nation as the New Testament's does. Maybe non-believers fear that if they agree that this ethical system is best, that they would then be obligated to have to worship the being that gave it to us.

[Charity]

I agree in the most part of what Christine said in an earlier post. Unless the person is born into a certain church, which by that I mean that their parents and most of their family have been in a certain church for years....The children receive instruction and classes and grow up in that church, then they know the doctrine of the church and when they get older they have the right to stay there or leave the church. I would personally respect whatever decision they make....

If you are looking for a church then you should know everything there is to know about it....the doctrine, the articles of faith, what they believe about alcohol, tobacco and etc.
If you agree with it then it may be the church for you. If you have any question or doubts as to the fact that you disagree with the doctrine, then I think you should wait or look somewhere else.....If you feel that you can't abide by all the doctrine of the church, why become a member?

It may be like buying a bag of apples, there could be good and bad both in the bag. You won't know unless you examine them closely...
Check out each one, and you will find the apple that is meant just for you.

I don't think any church would hold a gun to your head if you change your mind about how you view that particular religion.....

[Seyorni]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

I don't know about that, look at some Theravadan Buddhist monastic precepts;

Do not eat after midday.
Do not engage in singing, dancing, music or any other kind of entertainment.
Do not use garlands, perfumes or other adornments.
Do not sit on a luxurious seat in sleep in a luxurious bed.
Do not accept or hold money.

Are those Buddhist principles or monastic regulations?

[yearningknight]

I totally agree with this all religions bind you to living your life how they want you too and even if you don't you can repent for it even then if you believe you're saved which I totally disagree with. I think the only religion that doesn't bind you is Atheist, Agnostic, and Satanism. Religions were created to give hope to mankind and to give them a purpose for living, and to control and dictate a country or state. I say you should live life by your own rules not being bound by your religion or parents or society or whatever have you. I think that if religion was forced upon you and you still believe in whatever it is that you were brought up to believe in that you should know why it is that you believe and not answer with because it is or that is what my priest, rabbi, parents taught me.