When and How to Make Changes in Religious Groups

In another thread the question was asked:

Is it bad or good or neither to be proud of one's own religion?

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One of the replies was:

If you're not proud of your religion... you have three choices. The worst is to do nothing about it. The second is to push yourself to the front and see if you can make changes that satisfy you. The third is to leave and make another plan.

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Focusing on the second option:

When is the right time to push to the front? How forcefully and at what rate should the the attempted changes be made?

I was very much bothered by the ending of the sentence "see if you can make changes that satisfy you." The point in religion is not to satisfy oneself. If someone would tell me they have found a fitting religion, but need some changes to be made to the religion - I would think they aren't fit perhaps to any religion until they grow a bit.

When it comes to changes made in large communities the first thing to think about is the community not the self. If the self is satisfied and the community ruined the self will have little to stand on.

dybmh said:

In another thread the question was asked:

One of the replies was:

Focusing on the second option:

When is the right time to push to the front? How forcefully and at what rate should the the attempted changes be made?

Click to expand...

I would say never. An exception might be if the entire group asked you to step up.

Do not change the teaching in a religion to fit you, make the change to your self to fit the religion

dybmh said:

When is the right time to push to the front?

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When you feel you have consensus enough to bring it to the powers that be. If you've done your homework well you are prepared to counter the objections.

dybmh said:

How forcefully and at what rate should the the attempted changes be made?

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The art of persuasion trumps any signs of force. There was a time in the Catholic church when only boys were allowed the role of altar servers. The initial question arose in a 6th grade catechism class by a girl student. From there it followed through the channels and finally became a reality. Pretty much the same with other changes, communion in the hand, and at least for a time, no first penance before first communion.

dybmh said:

In another thread the question was asked:

One of the replies was:

Focusing on the second option:

When is the right time to push to the front? How forcefully and at what rate should the the attempted changes be made?

Click to expand...

It depends on your relationship with the religion you follow. Is it stunting your spiritual growth or is it challenging you to come from your comfort zone into a new or different way of thinking and believing?

I wouldn't push to the front unless you feel it challenges you rather than you forcing to believe X when you don't.

dybmh said:

In another thread the question was asked:

One of the replies was:

Focusing on the second option:

When is the right time to push to the front? How forcefully and at what rate should the the attempted changes be made?

Click to expand...

I don't think one should be using force in religion. Best IMO to just go about your religion as you see fit. If it works for you, if others see you as successful, your views will naturally catch on with others.

IMO, you have to be the example, the carrot not the stick.

Actually, I believe the best option is to just leave. Suppose the religion is killing ppl or terrorist, or just being really creepy. In all likelihood, the group has problems like this also has a sense of entitlement or that their book is infallible.

Trying to change them won't work because they have such sense of arrogance and pride that they never admit they are at fault. If 5/6 of all members leave however, they suddenly have to (1) admit there IS a problem, (2) cease to exist, (3) try to coerce ppl to join, in which case they get arrested for assault.