Holy books (Buddhism, beliefs, theist, dogma, bible)

[shytot]

A holy book is a list of rules designed to keep people in line.
You're now thinking I am being cynical, let's look at the facts, every holy book from every corner of the world is a list of 'do's' and 'dont's', all per ported to be handed down from on high,
they then go on to tell the reader what they will get if they abide by the rules, and what will
happen if they dont, it is made easier to abide by the rules than go against them,
so if everyone around you is following the rules, keep your mouth shut, or they will kick
you out of the group, as a non-believer,
you will then need to set out a list of rules that YOU believe is the right way, this is the way all the different branches of the same religion are formed, every society need's rules to function properly, without rules you have chaos, which is the way we are going now, with everyone doing 'their own thing'.

[Green Gaia]

shytot, have you ever studied Buddhism?

[jewscout]

I'd argue that the Tanach is far more than just a book with rules in it and to say so is to not look at the whole thing and the importance of the Tanach.
Though you may have a point on a very base level i think you are overlooking a large portion, at least in Judaism, of what the Tanach is all about.

[painted wolf]

my religion has no holy books, we do just fine with oral history and personal serching for truth. I do agree that every society has thier own set of rules and that they are nessisary for the society to thrive. But I have to say that I also agree with Jewscout that most religious texts are more than just simple books of rules. They contain the history and the hopes and fears of any given group.

wa:do

[Master Vigil]

Shytot, you have not studied taoism either.

[robtex]

Originally Posted by shytot

A holy book is a list of rules designed to keep people in line.

that is kinda a broad claim. Maybe you could make that point on a book by book basis. If the book is rooted in dogma and is declared infalliable, completely accurate, inerrant, word of God ect it may have the propensity to be used as a tool for control but to say all books in religion are used this way is silly.

There are no buddistTaoist or hindu texts that I know of that dictate behavior..they are used as guidelines for self exploration. UU literature has no set beliefs just ideas to guides ones journey. A lot of religious texts are more philophy based than black and white dogma and I hope you don't excluded them from your philosphy readings (if you read philosphy) because they were written by a theist just as I hope thiests don' exclude writings by an atheits.

[Trinity]

Originally Posted by shytot

A holy book is a list of rules designed to keep people in line.
You're now thinking I am being cynical, let's look at the facts

Be careful not to per port your opion as fact.

every holy book from every corner of the world is a list of 'do's' and 'dont's', all per ported to be handed down from on high,
they then go on to tell the reader what they will get if they abide by the rules, and what will
happen if they dont, it is made easier to abide by the rules than go against them,

Now I can only write from my discipline, however there exist a difference between a simple list of orders created to keep people in line, and the bible that among other things, has instructions on human nature, relationships and behaviors that, if done or ignored will lead one to happiness or misery. This understanding of human nature penetrates the core of our being and is far beyond any human knowledge, so much so, that it can easily be dismissed without further reflection upon the ramifications of specific actions and dispositions.

so if everyone around you is following the rules, keep your mouth shut, or they will kick
you out of the group, as a non-believer,

This may occur due to a misinterpretation of the scripture. The fact is that God is the one who judges, not men, sometimes we mortal forget this. That is when we run into trouble.

you will then need to set out a list of rules that YOU believe is the right way, this is the way all the different branches of the same religion are formed, every society need's rules to function properly, without rules you have chaos, which is the way we are going now, with everyone doing 'their own thing'.

This is a dense paragraph and is right on the money. This is also very calvanistic, and not so much Catholic philosophy (just for your understanding).

[shytot]

Trinity...this what you wrote:

This may occur due to a misinterpretation of the scripture.
The fact is that God is the one who judges, not men, sometimes we mortal forget this.
That is when we run into trouble.

Someone has done a perfect job on you, you are well and truly captured.
I heard a radio talk show guest say that people who commit crimes should not be punished on
earth, because god will be their judge when they die!!!!!
was that you?
I find it all very sad when people put themselves in second place, and just spout what they have been
programmed to say, if I said, the fairies at the bottom of the garden told me that 'this' and 'that' was true, you would laugh out load, well unfortunately that is how you sound to me.

1. misinterpretation of the scripture. This is what causes all the problems in the first place.
2. The fact is that God is the one who judges. The fact is we don't know if there is a God.
3. we mortal forget this. Mortal is the operative word, we will not beleive we are going to die,
so we make up stories and ways to get around it.

[Ronald]

To read my posts, you wouldn't think that I was just like you!!!!!

I could have been your President, Peas in a pod. I could have written your post!

I walked a mile in your shoes, many a mile. Who woulda thunk it? LOL

[Paw]

Well, the basis of the Qur'an is to guide us humans to do the right things. If the Qur'an didn't say how to treat women, they wouldn't be treated equally to men, would they? If the Qur'an didn't say not to, the people would still be worshipping idols. It isn't an order book; it's a choice book. You make the choice whether to follow it or not. And if you saw you follow it, but make exceptions, thinking, "Allah knows I'm a special person. He'll forgive me." Well, He won't be happy, and you'll go to Hell, until the time has come for you to be forgiven. Allah is Merciful and is willing to forgive us. Think of Hell as a purifying station: it gets rid of your sins, and teaches you to fear Allah. But don't think that it's like a summer camp: two months and bye. Oh no, you may stay in Hell for over 100,000 years! And I don't believe people should go unpunished since Allah will punish them. We should be punishing them, teaching them that what they are doing is wrong. If you didn't, you aren't exactly helping everybody, and if he lives a long life, you think people would be waiting patiently?