Can all religions settle their diffrences?

[balloonbasket]

What did a UUA service entail?

 

[balloonbasket]

Yes you do. ^_^

Reading the Wiki article that Storm posted, it seems that the origin of the parable is uncertain.

However, it's likely either Buddhist or Hindu.

What is Shaivism? Why would you convert to this?

 

[Caladan]

I see you live in Israel. Could Jews ever get along with muslims in your opinion?

One on one I can pretty much get along with anyone.

 

[Harmonious]

What did a UUA service entail?

From what I gather, it changes from congregation to congregation. When my mother and I walked in, we were in time to catch a reading of Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree." They sang a couple of songs from their hymnal. The one song I remember was Woody Gutherie's "This Land is Your Land."

It seemed to be a year-end wrap-up of sorts, as there were questions about what type of things the members hoped to see more of in the future. One of the things I heard involved LESS focus on God (!), more focus on interracial diversity (most of the people in this particular congregation were white), and something about more focus on women in the Bible.

There was very little of substance that stayed with me. It occurs to me that each congregation is insanely different, because my sister told me about how the congregation she belongs to in Connecticut has a focus on learning about things in Judaism, and learning about things in Catholicism, and focusing on many of the similarities, and things that were very intellectually stimulating and emotionally engaging.

In the congregation I visited, the service was nothing to write home about. I vaguely remember a speech about unity and love, but there was nothing scriptural, or emotionally moving, or anything specific that stood out as memorable (besides the things I mentioned already).

Maybe things picked up after my mother and I left, but we stayed for two hours before we decided we had enough. We were seated in the aisle, and were unobtrusive as we exited.

 

[MdmSzdWhtGuy]

So why can't people cling to their own religion and let others cling to theirs? I believe most church (etc) goers are not too bothered about arguing or fighting with other religious people. I'm talking your everyday follower. But some religions are pushing thier beliefs on others and then we come into comflict. This has to change.

May parents and most of my extended family are devout Christians who are firmly convinced that I, and any other non-believers are going to Hell. They are convinced, beyond any doubt that all the Jews and Muslims are going to Hell. They are also convinced that it is their duty to go out and recruit (almost by any means necessary) others into their cause. They do not, and will not listen to factual, actual evidence that any of their various positions are incorrect.

I have little doubt that there are many similarly mindset'd Muslims in this world, just as there are tons of Christians who would fall into lockstep with my family (Sarah Palin, anyone? . . . shudder) and there are obviously many who fall into lockstep with the bin Laden's of this world.

As long as people are being told that their position is right, simply and totally because they feel it to be right, and they are convinced that their way is THE way, then religions, specifically monotheistic ones, will not get along. It is inherent in their belief structure. We are right, everyone else is wrong. We are going to Heaven, and those we dislike are going to Hell. We KNOW we are right, NOT based on any facts, or demonstrable evidence, and often times we are willing to harm others that think differently, whether they have any reason to feel the way they do or not.

As long as there are large enough groups of people who fit in with the ideas expressed by the "we" from the previous paragraph, then I fear there is absolutely no hope for religious people to get along. Basically, until people are willing and able to have the courage to admit, that there is no reason for them to believe what they do, other than hope, wish thinking, or the like, and not take it so damned seriously, then there isn't much of a chance.

That being said, if more people were to realize that factually speaking, not all religions of this world can be right . . . but in fact, they all can be wrong. . . and start living accordingly, then I don't hold out much hope for the long term happiness of our species.

B.

 

[BruceDLimber]

Greetings!

In the Baha'i view, ALL the major religions are legitimate and of God, and it's simply a matter of getting folks to realize this!

(As goes the saying, "We're working on it!")

Best,

Bruce

 

[Storm]

What did a UUA service entail?

From what I gather, it changes from congregation to congregation.

It does, wildly.

My old congregation felt more like a college lecture hall than a church. Services consisted of a shortish presentation on a topic like Mythological Themes in the Garden of Eden, followed by group discussion.

Services at my new church have a very traditional format, which I didn't like at all at first. Hymns, pipe organ, sermon, the whole 9 yards. But the sermons include topics like Immigration: The American Dream & Nightmare and The Religious Case Against Belief. And the service that finally clicked with me? The Beatles As Bringers of the Holy Spirit, complete with sing-alongs!

When my mother and I walked in, we were in time to catch a reading of Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree." They sang a couple of songs from their hymnal. The one song I remember was Woody Gutherie's "This Land is Your Land."

It seemed to be a year-end wrap-up of sorts, as there were questions about what type of things the members hoped to see more of in the future. One of the things I heard involved LESS focus on God (!), more focus on interracial diversity (most of the people in this particular congregation were white), and something about more focus on women in the Bible.

There was very little of substance that stayed with me. It occurs to me that each congregation is insanely different, because my sister told me about how the congregation she belongs to in Connecticut has a focus on learning about things in Judaism, and learning about things in Catholicism, and focusing on many of the similarities, and things that were very intellectually stimulating and emotionally engaging.

In the congregation I visited, the service was nothing to write home about. I vaguely remember a speech about unity and love, but there was nothing scriptural, or emotionally moving, or anything specific that stood out as memorable (besides the things I mentioned already).

Maybe things picked up after my mother and I left, but we stayed for two hours before we decided we had enough. We were seated in the aisle, and were unobtrusive as we exited.

I don't know your motives for attending a UU service, but I'll tell you what I tell everyone who thinks about it: go to more than one.

In the Baha'i view, ALL the major religions are legitimate and of God, and it's simply a matter of getting folks to realize this!

I've always wondered which religions get excluded. I thought Hinduism was, but they're a major religion. What about Shinto and neopaganism? How do you judge?

 

[Harmonious]

It does, wildly.

My old congregation felt more like a college lecture hall than a church. Services consisted of a shortish presentation on a topic like Mythological Themes in the Garden of Eden, followed by group discussion.

Services at my new church have a very traditional format, which I didn't like at all at first. Hymns, pipe organ, sermon, the whole 9 yards. But the sermons include topics like Immigration: The American Dream & Nightmare and The Religious Case Against Belief. And the service that finally clicked with me? The Beatles As Bringers of the Holy Spirit, complete with sing-alongs!

Cool.

I don't know your motives for attending a UU service, but I'll tell you what I tell everyone who thinks about it: go to more than one.

Despite my mother's insistence that my sister use a Justice of the Peace, my sister said that she wanted God to be involved. Jewish auspices wouldn't recognize her marriage to a non-Jew, and they discussed raising their children as Jewish, so they didn't undergo Pre-Canna, and the Catholic Church would not recognize their marriage. But the UUA minister would be the person to marry them.

My mother and I wanted to know what type of thing my sister was looking into.

 

[Storm]

Cool.

I think so!

Despite my mother's insistence that my sister use a Justice of the Peace, my sister said that she wanted God to be involved. Jewish auspices wouldn't recognize her marriage to a non-Jew, and they discussed raising their children as Jewish, so they didn't undergo Pre-Canna, and the Catholic Church would not recognize their marriage. But the UUA minister would be the person to marry them.

My mother and I wanted to know what type of thing my sister was looking into.

I see. I'll repeat my recommendation.

You also might browse through the UU DIR here, maybe start a thread if you've got any questions. We've got a pretty good group.

 

[balloonbasket]

From what I gather, it changes from congregation to congregation. When my mother and I walked in, we were in time to catch a reading of Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree." They sang a couple of songs from their hymnal. The one song I remember was Woody Gutherie's "This Land is Your Land."

It seemed to be a year-end wrap-up of sorts, as there were questions about what type of things the members hoped to see more of in the future. One of the things I heard involved LESS focus on God (!), more focus on interracial diversity (most of the people in this particular congregation were white), and something about more focus on women in the Bible.

There was very little of substance that stayed with me. It occurs to me that each congregation is insanely different, because my sister told me about how the congregation she belongs to in Connecticut has a focus on learning about things in Judaism, and learning about things in Catholicism, and focusing on many of the similarities, and things that were very intellectually stimulating and emotionally engaging.

In the congregation I visited, the service was nothing to write home about. I vaguely remember a speech about unity and love, but there was nothing scriptural, or emotionally moving, or anything specific that stood out as memorable (besides the things I mentioned already).

Maybe things picked up after my mother and I left, but we stayed for two hours before we decided we had enough. We were seated in the aisle, and were unobtrusive as we exited.

Thanks for that. Seems that the one you attended was more about political correctness than religion?
What does UUA stand for?

 

[Storm]

What does UUA stand for?

Unitarian Universalist Association.

 

[balloonbasket]

One on one I can pretty much get along with anyone.

Elaborate a bit more. You're in Israel, can you openly be friendly towards a muslim? How would other Jews feel about that?

 

[balloonbasket]

May parents and most of my extended family are devout Christians who are firmly convinced that I, and any other non-believers are going to Hell. They are convinced, beyond any doubt that all the Jews and Muslims are going to Hell. They are also convinced that it is their duty to go out and recruit (almost by any means necessary) others into their cause. They do not, and will not listen to factual, actual evidence that any of their various positions are incorrect.

I have little doubt that there are many similarly mindset'd Muslims in this world, just as there are tons of Christians who would fall into lockstep with my family (Sarah Palin, anyone? . . . shudder) and there are obviously many who fall into lockstep with the bin Laden's of this world.

As long as people are being told that their position is right, simply and totally because they feel it to be right, and they are convinced that their way is THE way, then religions, specifically monotheistic ones, will not get along. It is inherent in their belief structure. We are right, everyone else is wrong. We are going to Heaven, and those we dislike are going to Hell. We KNOW we are right, NOT based on any facts, or demonstrable evidence, and often times we are willing to harm others that think differently, whether they have any reason to feel the way they do or not.

As long as there are large enough groups of people who fit in with the ideas expressed by the "we" from the previous paragraph, then I fear there is absolutely no hope for religious people to get along. Basically, until people are willing and able to have the courage to admit, that there is no reason for them to believe what they do, other than hope, wish thinking, or the like, and not take it so damned seriously, then there isn't much of a chance.

That being said, if more people were to realize that factually speaking, not all religions of this world can be right . . . but in fact, they all can be wrong. . . and start living accordingly, then I don't hold out much hope for the long term happiness of our species.

B.

You're a sceptic, are you a hostile sceptic? If not is that because your family are religious?
Let me ask you this also. You seem pretty convinced that the world would be a better place without religion?, but does it matter what people believe or practice as long as it does not hurt anyone else? In other words religion the way most people practice it.
Thanks for the comments.

 

[balloonbasket]

Greetings!

In the Baha'i view, ALL the major religions are legitimate and of God, and it's simply a matter of getting folks to realize this!

(As goes the saying, "We're working on it!")

Best,

Bruce

Now that's interesting. You have said almost the opposite of the previous poster. You're saying live and let live basically and we can have peace. The previous poster is saying we can only have peace by removing all religion. (If I'm not putting words into his mouth?) Can't you tell us more about Baha? Just the basics?

 

[balloonbasket]

Unitarian Universalist Association.

Thanks, wink. I'll check out your questions about your beliefs and see what you are about.
Ok, i've read some of it. How old is it? Where does it come from? And why have you chosen it?
Why 'Storm' and why are you a fan of male nipples? lol.

 

[Storm]

Thanks, wink. I'll check out your questions about your beliefs and see what you are about.

Cool, though in the interest of honesty, my theology has little to do with my religion.

Why 'Storm'

I love them. I miss them.

and why are you a fan of male nipples? lol.

'Cause they're CUTE!

 

[balloonbasket]

Cool, though in the interest of honesty, my theology has little to do with my religion.


I love them. I miss them.


'Cause they're CUTE!

I edited this post you have responded to. And explain what the diffrence is between your religion and theology? Why are they diffrent? Difficult question, huh? lol.

 

[Storm]

Ok, i've read some of it. How old is it?

Original to me. Many concepts have much older influences, though. Like chi.

Where does it come from? And why have you chosen it?

It's my current best attempt to understand a theophany I had when I was very young. I haven't chosen it so much as puzzled it out.

I edited this post you have responded to.

Thanks for telling me, I missed it.

And explain what the diffrence is between your religion and theology? Why are they diffrent?

My religion is UU, my chosen tradition/ community. It encourages me to figure out theology for myself, which is a major appeal since I was doing that anyway.

Difficult question, huh? lol.

Not really.

 

[balloonbasket]

Original to me. Many concepts have much older influences, though. Like chi.


It's my current best attempt to understand a theophany I had when I was very young. I haven't chosen it so much as puzzled it out.


Thanks for telling me, I missed it.


My religion is UU, my chosen tradition/ community. It encourages me to figure out theology for myself, which is a major appeal since I was doing that anyway.


Not really.

NO, for you they were not difficult. So you have your own beliefs, which is great for you. Do you plan on expanding this into a religion for others or is it just your own personal philosophy?

 

[Storm]

NO, for you they were not difficult. So you have your own beliefs, which is great for you. Do you plan on expanding this into a religion for others or is it just your own personal philosophy?

No, it's just mine.

ETA: I suppose if someone looked into it and decided I was onto something, that would be kinda cool. But I loathe proselytization, so I'm not out for converts.