is your faith an acceptance thing?

[kloth]

all from my experience...

seems like some people who convert, do it to join a social group (i.e. to make friends), so they join a church or some form of religious group. because they seem to be the most accepting and inexpensive type groups, even if not perfect all the time.

or if they don't join and/or don't want a social life at all, then it seems like they lean towards following a deity for the sake of having someone who is proud of them, admires their ways, etc. someone that keeps them striving and living up to someone else's expectations. kind of like an invisible friend for adults, rather than being completely alone all the time.

I wonder if these two aspects are a bad idea for followers.

 

[nazz]

your experience sounds very limited

 

[Jainarayan]

I wonder if these two aspects are a bad idea for followers.

Yes, I think they're certainly not the best ideas. One can lead to insincerity in belief, the other can lead to disappointment when expecting too much, if anything, from the deity. The Kingdom of God, Brahman, the Pure Land of Amitabha, or whatever you want to call it, is inside you, not somewhere else.

 

[Vinayaka]

all from my experience...

seems like some people who convert, do it to join a social group (i.e. to make friends), so they join a church or some form of religious group. because they seem to be the most accepting and inexpensive type groups, even if not perfect all the time.

or if they don't join and/or don't want a social life at all, then it seems like they lean towards following a deity for the sake of having someone who is proud of them, admires their ways, etc. someone that keeps them striving and living up to someone else's expectations. kind of like an invisible friend for adults, rather than being completely alone all the time.

I wonder if these two aspects are a bad idea for followers.

I agree with your observations, but I do think it's not necessarily the best way. At some point your beliefs, once you discover them, will catch up to you. Then where are you? With people you disagree with?

 

[ametist]

all from my experience...

seems like some people who convert, do it to join a social group (i.e. to make friends), so they join a church or some form of religious group. because they seem to be the most accepting and inexpensive type groups, even if not perfect all the time.

or if they don't join and/or don't want a social life at all, then it seems like they lean towards following a deity for the sake of having someone who is proud of them, admires their ways, etc. someone that keeps them striving and living up to someone else's expectations. kind of like an invisible friend for adults, rather than being completely alone all the time.

I wonder if these two aspects are a bad idea for followers.

Not at all. Actually, this is the only reason to convert. To make friends.
Because without friends you can not learn to love them. The larger the group of your friends, the larger the possibility you will exercise your limits to the love of friends. a tough thing but should be tried in case this might be your last chance. The fact that most people choose to belong to 'small' groups like christianity or islam is a blessing for the individual though since there are pretty bizzare religious groups fewer in number and greater in spiritual desire as well.

 

[1137]

all from my experience...

seems like some people who convert, do it to join a social group (i.e. to make friends), so they join a church or some form of religious group. because they seem to be the most accepting and inexpensive type groups, even if not perfect all the time.

or if they don't join and/or don't want a social life at all, then it seems like they lean towards following a deity for the sake of having someone who is proud of them, admires their ways, etc. someone that keeps them striving and living up to someone else's expectations. kind of like an invisible friend for adults, rather than being completely alone all the time.

I wonder if these two aspects are a bad idea for followers.

I agree for the most part which is one of many reasons modern popular religions can be pretty unhealthy from a psychological perspective.

 

[Sunstone]

seems like some people who convert, do it to join a social group (i.e. to make friends), so they join a church or some form of religious group. because they seem to be the most accepting and inexpensive type groups, even if not perfect all the time.

or if they don't join and/or don't want a social life at all, then it seems like they lean towards following a deity for the sake of having someone who is proud of them, admires their ways, etc. someone that keeps them striving and living up to someone else's expectations. kind of like an invisible friend for adults, rather than being completely alone all the time.

I have long suspected that community is one of the predominant reasons that many people have for belonging to a religion. However, I also think that a significant number of people -- albeit likely a minority -- are more interested in the religion itself -- specifically, its ideas -- than they are in any community they gain from it.

 

[kloth]

your experience sounds very limited

how would you know if yours is limited? not saying it is, but...

Yes, I think they're certainly not the best ideas. One can lead to insincerity in belief, the other can lead to disappointment when expecting too much, if anything, from the deity. The Kingdom of God, Brahman, the Pure Land of Amitabha, or whatever you want to call it, is inside you, not somewhere else.

I often wonder how many people took it out on the religion or god, when the social expectation of church failed their expectations.

I agree with your observations, but I do think it's not necessarily the best way. At some point your beliefs, once you discover them, will catch up to you. Then where are you? With people you disagree with?

what I said to Jainarayan

Not at all. Actually, this is the only reason to convert. To make friends.
Because without friends you can not learn to love them. The larger the group of your friends, the larger the possibility you will exercise your limits to the love of friends. a tough thing but should be tried in case this might be your last chance. The fact that most people choose to belong to 'small' groups like christianity or islam is a blessing for the individual though since there are pretty bizzare religious groups fewer in number and greater in spiritual desire as well.

I thought the reason was to get closer or find god?

I agree for the most part which is one of many reasons modern popular religions can be pretty unhealthy from a psychological perspective.

Jim Morrison once said, and I quote.....well I forget what he said. but thanks for the reply either way.

I have long suspected that community is one of the predominant reasons that many people have for belonging to a religion. However, I also think that a significant number of people -- albeit likely a minority -- are more interested in the religion itself -- specifically, its ideas -- than they are in any community they gain from it.

may depend on where you live on this planet.

 

[Tumah]

is your faith an acceptance thing?

Really. In the future, try to think how someone who isn't socially inept might phrase the title of your thread and then try to phrase it accordingly.
Really.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

all from my experience...

seems like some people who convert, do it to join a social group (i.e. to make friends), so they join a church or some form of religious group. because they seem to be the most accepting and inexpensive type groups, even if not perfect all the time.

or if they don't join and/or don't want a social life at all, then it seems like they lean towards following a deity for the sake of having someone who is proud of them, admires their ways, etc. someone that keeps them striving and living up to someone else's expectations. kind of like an invisible friend for adults, rather than being completely alone all the time.

I wonder if these two aspects are a bad idea for followers.

Neither of them are bad reasons to convert as long as they turn out useful to the converter.

 

[Breathe]

seems like some people who convert, do it to join a social group (i.e. to make friends), so they join a church or some form of religious group. because they seem to be the most accepting and inexpensive type groups, even if not perfect all the time.

Sometimes, yes. Often no.

or if they don't join and/or don't want a social life at all, then it seems like they lean towards following a deity for the sake of having someone who is proud of them, admires their ways, etc. someone that keeps them striving and living up to someone else's expectations. kind of like an invisible friend for adults, rather than being completely alone all the time.

No.

 

[Quintessence]

I didn't "convert" to my religion for either of these reasons (and I have a list of reasons; neither of those is on my list), but I would definitely not consider it to be "bad" for those that do. Humans are social animals. Near as I can see it, those to reasons are just an extension of that.

 

[Jainarayan]

I often wonder how many people took it out on the religion or god, when the social expectation of church failed their expectations.

*raises hand* Several times in my life I was angry with God and the gods for that very reason. I think it's very common, jmo.

 

[George-ananda]

your experience sounds very limited

my sentiments exactly.....

I just want to believe the truth to the best that I can understand it.....What happens to me personally does not change truth.

 

[Vinayaka]

I often wonder how many people took it out on the religion or god, when the social expectation of church failed their expectations.

That would seem rather immature, in my opinion, but I've never walked in those shoes, nor seen people who've done that. It could well be that quite a few did that.

 

[kloth]

That would seem rather immature, in my opinion, but I've never walked in those shoes, nor seen people who've done that. It could well be that quite a few did that.

it does seem immature, I guess that's why most adults I assume do it for those reasons.

*raises hand* Several times in my life I was angry with God and the gods for that very reason. I think it's very common, jmo.

I assume it's common, even if other people have never seen this, or noticed it.

Really. In the future, try to think how someone who isn't socially inept might phrase the title of your thread and then try to phrase it accordingly.
Really.

I don't understand what you are saying. but thanks anyway.

Neither of them are bad reasons to convert as long as they turn out useful to the converter.

doesn't it seem like blind faith in a way though.

 

[Sir Doom]

Neither of them are bad reasons to convert as long as they turn out useful to the converter.

I agree with this. Although I think you meant the convertED.