Go to The Reverend Kooka Speaks About Religious Bulls#!t
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roofpig
I've talked about them in the past, as well as the KKK. Both have very strong religious reasoning behind their actions. Following religion blindly has lead to the creation of more hate than love it seems, if you look back through history.
posted by
kooka_lives
on June 29, 2004 at 3:46 PM
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You know who else followed what they believed in blindly without asking questions? The Nazi party.
posted by
roofpig
on June 29, 2004 at 11:23 AM
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What Catholic chruch do you go to then?
One of my best friends is Catholic, and he has told me that he has been taught to not question a thing the church says. This was taught by his mother, his church and the Catholic school he went to for a few years. Talking to him about religion he has stated that he tries not to question because it has been taught to him that such ideas are bad and that he should just sit back and accept it all as the church tells him. And his story is not unique. I have talked to many, many catholics and it seems to be the rule that you are taught to not question. In fact just the fact that a few years ago the Vatican claimed that they were the only ones who could truthfully interpret the Bible just backs up this claim. If the Pope and those high up in the Catholic church are the only ones who can tell you what a verse means, then they are telling you not to think and to be mindless sheep for them.
The list for the controlling churches that do not allow questioning would be too long to list here. But the Catholics are on it as well as just about all of the other well know Christian churches.
posted by
kooka_lives
on June 29, 2004 at 11:03 AM
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don't allow questioning? come on, kooka!
you make an excellent point is saying beliefs should be questioned. But to say old, established churches are the ones that don't allow questioning is goofy. Which churches are you referring to? Not mine. The Catholic Church encourages it's members to seek understanding of truth. Unfortunately, these days it's hard to find a parish where there's actually teaching going on.
You seem to have a problem distinguishing what people understand about their faith and what the tenets of that faith are. Because some believers are not good ambassadors of their faith doesn't mean they're mindless robots with their pastors controlling. I can't think of one religion that forbids questioning what the tenets of that faith are. So, enough with generalities. Who, exactly are you talking about?
posted by
AnCatubh
on June 29, 2004 at 2:55 AM
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If the Apostle Paul says it, it must be true.
He admonishes his audience to
"Prove all things."
He doesn't say to accept as gospel everything that comes your way.
you must use the scientific method.
A statement is made.
question it.
test it.
pass it through the fire.
the chaff and stubble will burn up to ashes and blow away.
that which is solid and of value (gold, silver, iron, stone) will remain and will remain as valid truth.
too few follow Paul's admonition.
too many swallow their beliefs hook, line and sinker.
posted by
Xeno-x
on June 15, 2004 at 6:34 PM
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b-mannomore
I never said that does not happen. I said 'Most', not 'all'.
More of the new age ideas do allow for questioning, but it is the old, established churches that have the control and power and are the ones who do not allow questioning. The new ages churhces, who have the more open minds, make us less than five percent of what is out there. If they make up even 1 percent.
posted by
kooka_lives
on June 15, 2004 at 10:44 AM
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b-man
i'm pleased with your pastor.
don't know him but that's the way!
posted by
Xeno-x
on June 15, 2004 at 7:51 AM
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Oh, please!
My pastor encourages us to question him on what he presents. It keeps him honest he says. I will not follow someone who cannot tolerate having his beliefs questioned. That implies insecurity, not a good leadership quality.
posted by
Budmannomore
on June 15, 2004 at 4:36 AM
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inkwell
Please do not tell me you are that naive.
Most people I have known who have been active with a church have told me, more or less, that they are taught to not question any thing the church says. I have had friends who were afraid for their souls because they had doubts about their beliefs, but they were also afraid to say anything to the church because they had been told that doubts were wrong. After all doubting means you might not really believe in God and that would mean you go to hell. Another friend told me about how when he was a child he got yelled out by a priest for asking too many questions.
The number 1 purpose of any church is control. And you do not get control by allowing people to question things.
Now no church will ever admit to it, but that is what it is all about.
You have once more proven yourself to be very blind. You only wish to see what you want to see.
The truth is that the majority of the popular religions do not want their followers asking question. This is fact.
posted by
kooka_lives
on June 14, 2004 at 10:36 AM
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inkwell
actually, it's pretty much of a given.
personally, I haven't encountered too many religious leaders, whether of worldwide religions, or even local church leaders (pastors, etc.) who do question or encourage questioning.
Quite a few priests accept what has been handed down to them and expect their flock likewise so to do.
I mean, this is just personal experience.
Tell you what, Inkwell, why don't you give some examples of those who do encourage questioning of their religion.
This is Westwend, not Kooka, ok?
posted by
Xeno-x
on June 14, 2004 at 9:29 AM
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You've actually spoken with every religious leader worldwide and none of them wants their "flock" to question their beliefs? Wow, such breadth of knowledge Kooka, you must have a really big head.
posted by
cmoe
on June 14, 2004 at 7:42 AM
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It's one thing to question a person's beliefs, but we must do so politely.
To pretend to be an authority, saying that a person has false beliefs, is called bullying. It's always good to make our world a place where we are comfortable to speak our minds. That's the important thing.
posted by
TARZANA
on June 14, 2004 at 7:36 AM
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The great Christian apologist C.S. Lewis said...
"Spend more time questioning answers than you spend answering questions."
posted by
Fat_Guy
on June 13, 2004 at 3:28 PM
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Not questioning your beliefs. . .
means you do not understand your beliefs, which means you have no beliefs at all.
posted by
Budmannomore
on June 13, 2004 at 1:22 PM
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questioning has led to the great advances in all fields -- particularly religion.
we've got to prove all things and then keep grounded in those that pass the test -- that's gospel.
posted by
Xeno-x
on June 13, 2004 at 12:17 PM
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Sheesh, you really have a lot of answers and you send the message clearly. Keep teaching, maybe someone will learn.
posted by
michellerenee143
on June 13, 2004 at 10:07 AM
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Kooka
I agree that one should question and analyze, as opposed to blindly following any established doctrine. Failure to do so would prevent inner justification of the religious endeavor.
posted by
telemachus
on June 13, 2004 at 4:29 AM
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kooka
right on. I had to reject the Catholic church because i was a questioner and they had no answers i could accept. I support too many beliefs that the church is opposed to. I also like your point that it can strengthen one's beliefs if one questions. Thomas (my other namesake besides Mr. Marx) is actually a very devout apostle; his desire to see the wounds is a sign of his faith, not his doubt, hard as it is to fathom. One can see this so often in organizational culture -- as one friend put it, when they say "Think outside the box " the mean. "think
inside Our Box!" tg
posted by
tbgroucho
on June 12, 2004 at 8:42 PM
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