Why should diversity of religion exist?

[loverofhumanity]

I know of no true source that reveals "religion is meant to create love and unity"
From Genesis...
Religion originated in the garden of Eden, after Adam and Eve sinned, and it is a form of worship different to the worship of the creator.
Hence religion originated with the Devil, not God.
The Devil''s lies were further spread through many forms of worship, after God confused the languages at Babel, and men carried their religion far and wide, eventually developing into different forms.

Religion
Meaning - a form of worship.
Worship of the true God is not a form, but the only right and true way to worship God - acceptable to him.

This explains the reason why religion is divided, and never will unite.
Some will get along, since there are from the same source, but they will always be conflict between the true way, and the false - all the various forms of worship.

I think that the moral teachings of all religions tell us to treat others how we wish to be treated. We all want to be loved and accepted I believe.

 

[loverofhumanity]

Religion generally requires a acceptance of a dogmatic truth. As long as this "truth" is not threatened betwixt folks it's all good.

However sometimes threatening claims of "truth" is a necessity.

I have found through study of the various scriptures and meeting with the followers of many religions that most of them are loving, most kind accepting and it’s only a small handful of fanatics which do the wrong thing and cause problems.

 

[Marcion]

it’s only a small handful of fanatics which do the wrong thing and cause problems.

That sounds awful, who are those fanatics according to you, what are they practising?

 

[loverofhumanity]

Source?

All the scriptures of the major religions teach us to be good.

Examples are:

Zoroastrian Faith teaches - Good thoughts, good words and good deeds
Judaism - teaches peace and that one day there will be no more war and the wolf and lamb will lie down together

Christian Faith. Love one another, love your enemies

Quran - Islam - return good for evil

And so on. These are just a tiny few.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I concur to a point. It's the social aspect of some religions that causes difficulty. The private personal part, at least in dharmic faiths, if done well, will convince the individual to shut the heck up about it. That's part of the learning process. So you can wear it privately, just not out in public. But we're talking two very different paradigms here.

But yes, when the central core is to tell everyone all about it, Houston, we have a problem.

And when the "private personal part" includes a belief that people who don't convert to your religion will suffer in Hell, if the person has compassion for others, then it's almost a given that they'll be motivated to tell people about it.

The only way I see to dial that back is to get them to take the personal aspect of the religion less seriously.

 

[Vinayaka]

And when the "private personal part" includes a belief that people who don't convert to your religion will suffer in Hell, if the person has compassion for others, then it's almost a given that they'll be motivated to tell people about it.

The only way I see to dial that back is to get them to take the personal aspect of the religion less seriously.

That's true, and you see the results here.

Can't argue with that. Fortunately, not all faiths include such a ridiculous selfish immature belief.

 

[loverofhumanity]

That kind of supports what I'm saying... that there is a very good chance people made up their own ideas and beliefs about God. Here, they all had a piece of a broken mirror and looked at it and concluded what they saw was the truth.

But, here's a good a place as any to mention that I do see people from different backgrounds coming together... but it leaves religion out of it. At the athletic club, my friends and I get together and play sports, mostly tennis. There are Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Indian, Iranian, Lebanese, Saudi, Mexican, Colombian, Guatemalan and all the Americans whose ancestors from European countries. No one talks about religions. They only one that I know which religion he belongs to is a Sikh... and that is because his beard and he wears a turban. But he doesn't talk about his religion. He doesn't try and convert anybody. Religion is way, way in the background, so much that nobody knows or cares what religions they are... if any.

And that's the other thing. People are leaving the religions of their parents behind. Why? Could it be that it is no longer relevant to modern times? That the old beliefs don't fit with what modern science is saying? Isn't that very much what Baha'is are telling people about their old religious beliefs?

Then comes the young people. Young people are uniting. They are looking beyond the differences. And they have found something that brings them together... rap and hip hop. Black, Brown and White, all getting along just fine. They drink a little. Smoke a little. They have special handshakes and their own way of talking. They're getting down with the music. As far as I can tell... zero religion.

So can people unite and come together? Yes, but sometimes it means leaving the old religions behind. Now the question for Baha'is, does that mean leaving even the new religions behind? 'Cause these kids don't seem to want too many moral rules.

Hi CG. Yes the young generation seem to be rejecting the traditions and customs which have divided us for so long and just want to be happy and get along with each other which gives humanity great hope for a much better future.

Religion does not necessarily mean that one advocates being religious for a truly religious person will be known by his deeds not words. So a person who is a professed Baha’i may be ‘irreligious’ by his behaviour and a person who has never heard of Baha’u’llah may reflect the behaviour of a Baha’i. You probably know this quote but I’ll mention it because I believe it gets to the nitty gritty of what religion really means in my opinion.

It makes no difference whether you have ever heard of Bahá’u’lláh or not,” was the answer, “the man who lives the life according to the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh is already a Bahá’í. On the other hand a man may call himself a Bahá’í for fifty years and if he does not live the life he is not a Bahá’í. An ugly man may call himself handsome, but he deceives no one, and a black man may call himself white yet he deceives no one: not even himself!” Abdul-Baha

PS: Yikes!! I’m 45 years a Baha’i approaching 50. So my friend you may be the real Baha’i not me! Lol.

 

[Audie]

I think that the moral teachings of all religions tell us to treat others how we wish to be treated. We all want to be loved and accepted I believe.

Maybe not quite all, but lets not quibble. This is a good aspect
of religions.
AND, the people who claim that such morality was unique
to the teachings of Jesus are not really doing a good job
of following their leader. imo.

 

[loverofhumanity]

Like I said, if Baha'i stay with Liberal Christians, they will be fine. It is probably the Baha'i that will have stronger doctrinal views then them.

Every person has the right to believe whatever they choose and we must accept and respect that and love them as an equal human being.

 

[loverofhumanity]

God is not as unknowable as you might think.

By unknowable I mean His Essence but we can and do know many of His Attributes such as love, mercy, compassion justice and so on.

 

[Audie]

Every person has the right to believe whatever they choose and we must accept and respect that and love them as an equal human being.

In theory, yes, but also in theory, no.

Because a belief is nothing if not put into action.
And then the benefits or trouble starts.

 

[Audie]

By unknowable I mean His Essence but we can and do know many of His Attributes such as love, mercy, compassion justice and so on.

Oh? How do you know those?
(the "record" in the bible tends to show the opposite)

 

[loverofhumanity]

Is that really against the teachings of any faith?

I can't count the number of times I've heard a Christian talk about how they shouldn't be "unequally yoked" by marrying a non-Christian, or that they "are not of this world" to excuse distance they place between themselves and larger society.

I think that it depends a lot on the individual. I have wonderful Christian friends who visit my home and are most welcoming.

 

[loverofhumanity]

That sounds awful, who are those fanatics according to you, what are they practising?

Im only speaking about people like terrorists.

 

[loverofhumanity]

Maybe not quite all, but lets not quibble. This is a good aspect
of religions.
AND, the people who claim that such morality was unique
to the teachings of Jesus are not really doing a good job
of following their leader. imo.

All the major Faiths teach this even those that came long before Jesus.

 

[loverofhumanity]

In theory, yes, but also in theory, no.

Because a belief is nothing if not put into action.
And then the benefits or trouble starts.

Yes I agree. What really defines us is our deeds not beliefs.

 

[loverofhumanity]

Oh? How do you know those?
(the "record" in the bible tends to show the opposite)

In the Bible and other religions Holy books God’s attributes are described in many ways. He can be a God of love or a God of Justice and so on.

 

[Audie]

In the Bible and other religions Holy books God’s attributes are described in many ways. He can be a God of love or a God of Justice and so on.

Yes, that is what I am saying. He is described in contradictory ways.
In general the difference seems to be between the description
and the reported behaviour.

 

[Vinayaka]

In theory, yes, but also in theory, no.

Because a belief is nothing if not put into action.
And then the benefits or trouble starts.

True. Some folks will claim that as well, but then if you ask them why they can't just give up said belief (in a prophet, for example) it's a strong 'Whoa!" So talk is cheap.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I think that it depends a lot on the individual. I have wonderful Christian friends who visit my home and are most welcoming.

Christianity is a diverse religion. Some forms of it are inclusive and tolerant; some forms of it are exclusionary and tribalistic.