For Religious Folks: What Do You Think of This Quote?

[JustGeorge]

Reading this article the other day(We Attain Bhagavan Following One Path Or Another – No Need To Quarrel | Hindu Blog), this quote stuck out to me:

"No religion teaches us to live according to our whims and fancies; no religion asks us to acquire wealth and property for our personal needs alone. "

For the religious(of any religion), what do you think of it? True, false, and to what degree?

 

[Ella S.]

Don't LaVeyan Satanism and a few other Left-Hand Path religions teach that?

 

[JustGeorge]

Don't LaVeyan Satanism and a few other Left-Hand Path religions teach that?

I don't know.

I was hoping to hear what others thought.

 

[The Hammer]

Don't LaVeyan Satanism and a few other Left-Hand Path religions teach that?

The LHP asks you to control your whims and fancies and not be a Slave to them, imo.

 

[Ella S.]

The LHP asks you to control your whims and fancies and not be a Slave to them, imo.

I suppose it depends on what you mean by "whims and fancies."

Per the Church of Satan website, they teach "indulgence instead of abstinence" and "all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification."

That sounds like being a slave to one's whims and fancies to me, imo, especially as an ascetic.

 

[mangalavara]

"No religion teaches us to live according to our whims and fancies; no religion asks us to acquire wealth and property for our personal needs alone. "

For the religious(of any religion), what do you think of it? True, false, and to what degree?

Interesting quotation! I think every traditional religion teaches ethics and ideals that do not align with the statement, ‘I just want to act according to my whims and fancies.’ Additionally, I think all traditional religions have teachings about wealth that an extremely selfish person would not receive well. As a Hindu, I have to live in accordance with dharma rather than my own whims and fancies, and that includes giving some of my wealth to others as charity.

 

[The Hammer]

I suppose it depends on what you mean by "whims and fancies."

Per the Church of Satan website, they teach "indulgence instead of abstinence" and "all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification."

That sounds like being a slave to one's whims and fancies to me, imo, especially as an ascetic.

While they say to engage in what one desires, they also preach a self-restraint and moderation, as well.

 

[Ella S.]

While they say to engage in what one desires, they also preach a self-restraint and moderation, as well.

Only so that they can better selfishly pursue their carnal desires, at least from what I can gather from the Satanic Bible.

Even then, the entire idea behind Satanic rituals is to let those emotions out rather than moderate or restrain them, and this seems to take a much higher priority.

I'm not really sure that we can call such things "moderation."

 

[The Hammer]

Only so that they can better selfishly pursue their carnal desires, at least from what I can gather from the Satanic Bible.

Even then, the entire idea behind Satanic rituals is to let those emotions out rather than moderate or restrain them, and this seems to take a much higher priority.

I'm not really sure that we can call such things "moderation."

This is from their FAQ

"Doesn’t the Church of Satan endorse all kinds of hedonism, including drug use?

No. The Church of Satan’s philosophy is Epicurean, not hedonistic. For us a balanced and controlled seeking of pleasures is our goal—indulgence, not compulsion, as would be the case under hedonism."

F.A.Q. Drug Abuse - Church of Satan

 

[Ella S.]

This is from their FAQ

"Doesn’t the Church of Satan endorse all kinds of hedonism, including drug use?

No. The Church of Satan’s philosophy is Epicurean, not hedonistic. For us a balanced and controlled seeking of pleasures is our goal—indulgence, not compulsion, as would be the case under hedonism."

Okay?

What is the relevance of this?

Do you believe that this somehow transforms LaVeyan Satanism into a selfless and ascetic religion?

 

[SomeRandom]

Reading this article the other day(We Attain Bhagavan Following One Path Or Another – No Need To Quarrel | Hindu Blog), this quote stuck out to me:

"No religion teaches us to live according to our whims and fancies; no religion asks us to acquire wealth and property for our personal needs alone. "

For the religious(of any religion), what do you think of it? True, false, and to what degree?

From a religious perspective I actually do mostly agree with this sentiment. Most religions do warn against greed, over accumulation of wealth etc
Though I recognise that all religions can be used as tools in order to accomplish just that, even as they preach the evils of such lusts to their followers

In saying that a lot of “unconventional” paths do encourage one to embrace whims and desires. Usually as a way to sate desires so they do not overwhelm a person and then they can focus on spirituality. Though your mileage will obviously vary.
And there are legitimate “hedonistic” movements that are tied to some religious thoughts/movements. So it’s not like this is a truth set in stone

 

[JustGeorge]

In saying that a lot of “unconventional” paths do encourage one to embrace whims and desires. Usually as a way to sate desires so they do not overwhelm a person and then they can focus on spirituality. Though your mileage will obviously vary.
And there are legitimate “hedonistic” movements that are tied to some religious thoughts/movements. So it’s not like this is a truth set in stone

Do you think this somewhat boils down to a left hand/right hand path kind of thing? Or is it more complex than that?

 

[SomeRandom]

Do you think this somewhat boils down to a left hand/right hand path kind of thing? Or is it more complex than that?

Both maybe?
The right hand is typically more traditional and both East and West (at least from what I know) does veer away from vice purposefully.
Left hand paths do encourage the opposite, typically.
But as with everything society, history and culture will play a part in shaping such viewpoints to begin with

 

[Secret Chief]

Reading this article the other day(We Attain Bhagavan Following One Path Or Another – No Need To Quarrel | Hindu Blog), this quote stuck out to me:

"No religion teaches us to live according to our whims and fancies; no religion asks us to acquire wealth and property for our personal needs alone. "

For the religious(of any religion), what do you think of it? True, false, and to what degree?

True for Buddhism I would say; couldn't say for other religions.

 

[Rival]

It's true.

 

[stvdv]

From a religious perspective I actually do mostly agree with this sentiment. Most religions do warn against greed, over accumulation of wealth etc
Though I recognise that all religions can be used as tools in order to accomplish just that, even as they preach the evils of such lusts to their followers

In saying that a lot of “unconventional” paths do encourage one to embrace whims and desires. Usually as a way to sate desires so they do not overwhelm a person and then they can focus on spirituality. Though your mileage will obviously vary.
And there are legitimate “hedonistic” movements that are tied to some religious thoughts/movements. So it’s not like this is a truth set in stone

I read an interesting quote of Sai Baba about this:

Sai Baba told a female student to get married. Then she asked Him "You always tell your students to not marry, that it's wiser to skip that stage and go immediately to the next stage. Why do you tell to me, now, that I should marry?"

Sai Baba replied "IF there is a desire it must be fulfilled"

This is a remarkable and valuable quote...giving lots of insights about why all things happen in the world the way they do

 

[SalixIncendium]

Reading this article the other day(We Attain Bhagavan Following One Path Or Another – No Need To Quarrel | Hindu Blog), this quote stuck out to me:

"No religion teaches us to live according to our whims and fancies; no religion asks us to acquire wealth and property for our personal needs alone. "

For the religious(of any religion), what do you think of it? True, false, and to what degree?

I tend to question any statement that deals in absolutes.

Probably true for the majority of religions, but without knowing everything about what all of them teach, I'm not going to say that no religion teaches or asks these.

I don't think whoever wrote the quote or anyone here knows what every religion listed here teaches...

List of religions and spiritual traditions - Wikipedia

 

[Ella S.]

I tend to question any statement that deals in absolutes.

Probably true for the majority of religions, but without knowing everything about what all of them teach, I'm not going to say that no religion teaches or asks these.

I don't think whoever wrote the quote or anyone here knows what every religion listed here teaches...

List of religions and spiritual traditions - Wikipedia

What's more remarkable is that there are a lot of religions that are not listed on that page, and adherents of some of those unlisted religions even show up on this forum from time to time.

 

[osgart]

I believe I have a moral obligation to other people. Not to mention that it is better for everybody to serve others to a degree that isn't an expense to one's own livelihood.

There can be an excess, or deficit to anything one does or doesn't do.

Sadly many people feel no moral obligation to others. Pure selfishness undermines good things in life.

I don't believe in giving blindly, or to no good effect. I give where I can and am able.

 

[Estro Felino]

I think all religions speak of the importance of inner strength.
Let's not forget all the positive influence Hindu philodophy had on Schopenhauer.
About willpower, about the difference between voluntas and noluntas.