Go to Religion is a Sham
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- Go to Religion is a sham because . . . . .
GeorgGrey
i think you will find a few relapsed catholics on blogit who have experienced that "prayer".
I will allow that it works for some and not for others.
but these relapsed? -- they have been there -- done that -- expurgated it.
religion is a complicated thing. in the same church, the same pew, you can find a half dozen different takes on what is happening, and from those of supposedly similar beliefs -- some hold it as a valuable thing, some hold it as useless. I say to those to whom it is valuable, don't let go of what you value. to those who hold it as useless, find that which holds value to you and don't let go.
posted by
Xeno-x
on August 20, 2006 at 8:04 AM
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GeorgGrey
Using the same reasoning I could not write about the dangers of sky diving without having done it. I do not argue that religion is not a real part of many lives. That in itself is not pertinent since the affects are individual and not universal.
I have gon to religious services, with friends, weddings, funerals, etc. and have been present during some very emotional rituals. But that's all they were, rituals to help focus the mind and for that there need not be a god.
posted by
archiew
on August 17, 2006 at 3:44 AM
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Bhaskar.ing
Religion is basically an emotional and mental crutch and as such is helpful and useful to some.
posted by
archiew
on August 17, 2006 at 3:41 AM
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Artificial Trappings
I don't believe that you have ever practiced any of what you call 'artificial trappings', because otherwise you wouldn't be talking/writing like that. Once you have experienced what prayer, for example the 'Rosary' can do to you, you change. And, while talking about the Rosary (which, I guess you agree, is part of the Roman Catholic religion), it doesn't have anything to do with the Virgin Mary. I don't believe in her as a physical entity, which didn't stop me praying to her. In the end you can explain the effect it has on you by the fact that it slows down the frequency of your brainwaves through repetition of words, or by simply helping you to relax, it doesn't matter. It's one of the many helpful tools organized religion provides.
posted by
GeorgGrey
on August 16, 2006 at 2:11 PM
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Archiew
Any outright criticism means you sre writing about something useless . And if it is useless, then why write at all? Religion comes from the word relegere which means 'to hold'. Your, mine everyone's sustenance is because of the unknown that we don't understand and thus reject as bogus. But that is exactly what it is not.
posted by
Bhaskar.ing
on August 16, 2006 at 1:31 PM
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It is easy
Once one takes away all the artificial trappings religion provides.
posted by
archiew
on August 15, 2006 at 8:38 PM
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"You and your God"
You make it sound so easy, 'You and your God'. People have been racking their brains over the millenia, have tried all kinds of spirituell exercises, have gone to any length through fasting and suffering, in order to find their God. It' such a difficult task, I'd say almost impossible, to find Him/Her. What organized religion does is try to show a path. The principle is simple: If I found something worthwhile in my lifetime, I pass it on to the next generation, in the hope that they build on it. I'm against dogmatism, but if I find, in any religion, a tool that might possibly help me in my search, you bet I try it out.
posted by
GeorgGrey
on August 15, 2006 at 12:47 PM
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Those you mention positively exist, GeorgGrey
But in my opinion and from what Ihave read and seen are in the minority. In my piece, the one I linked to, I did say that religion could be good, but that it is an individual thing and leadership is more often a hindrance. Faith needs no other than you and your God.
Thanks for reading and expecially thanks for commenting,
posted by
archiew
on August 13, 2006 at 9:05 AM
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Ordinary folk
With all respect, you are forgetting that a lot of these 'ordinary folks' live a life of sacrifice. Before they turned into priests, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church, they were ordinary people. But they decided to make a difference, at an extremely high cost, mainly loneliness.
It's easy to condem religion per se because of a few bad leaders, abuse within the system through pederasts, etc. It's easy to condem any political party or any human organization for that matter by focusing on the bad guys. They are everywhere.
Organized religion gives hope to millions of people, and it provides them with guidance. They are not pretentious enough to be 'spiritual', for which you need a certain level of education. Their main characteristic is humility.
posted by
GeorgGrey
on August 13, 2006 at 9:00 AM
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Interesting poing, cantey_1975
I'm going to consider that and possibly write a blog about it! Thanks, !
posted by
archiew
on August 13, 2006 at 8:54 AM
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religion
is OCD.
posted by
calmcantey75
on August 13, 2006 at 8:48 AM
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