Why do religions do this?

1. 79

   jlparkposted 11 years ago

   Why do religions do this?
   
   I've just watched a program where it was explained that a practice of an indigenous tribe was banned by missionaries as it was deemed not what civilised people would do. This practice was a lavish celebration of ones guests thought to bring honour. This is a more civilised practice than many I know.
   
   What I don't get, and why I asked the question, is why do religions (yes, religions in general - several are more prone, but all have done) feel they can, and/or must do this? What gives them the right?
   Oh...and no arguing!

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2. 77

   ii3rittlesposted 11 years ago

   To me, religion is a tool made by man to control people and situations. It helps to control money and keep power in order. I wrote a hub about it. many like to argue that my beliefs are of "religion" when they are not and quite the opposite.
   Many religions in the U.S. will not let gays/lesbians into churches. Some will go as far as having a dress code yet God said, come as you are. I question many things but like I said... It is just a tool. Guilt turns into power for others and money in their pockets. I have actually read that religious churches rake in some of the biggest prophets each year... Why? Because they guilt trip people into thinking they need to pay off their sins. Have you ever seen a poor pastor or priest? Chances are, you never have. I honestly have not. And what gives them the right?... People do. People who are brainwashed. People who think judging and condemning is love. If a person truly understands love... They would not want to be part of any cult. That is just my opinion though.

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      Austinstarposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      LOL "prophets" versus "profits". Especially in regards to religion :-)

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      lone77starposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Beautiful. And a person of love would recognize the difference between the selfish fruit of ego, and the generous fruit of humility.
      
      All institutions of man become corrupted by ego. Just look at America, Constitution in tatters.

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3. 65

   Tusitala Tomposted 11 years ago

   I think the previous writer, ii3rittles has got it pretty right.  Though religions rake in profits not prophets.   Prophets generally get ostracised or worse, crucified.    It was the 'religionists' who had Jesus done away with.  Of course, they had to go to the Roman authorities to get permission, but they were - if we can believe what we read - looking after their own vested interests.   Jesus had done more than upset the carts in the temple in Jerusalem, he'd upset the whole 'apple cart' of religionists making money.   He had to go...
   
   Of course, when the Romans saw the 'writing on the wall' so to speak, and decided to make Christianity something they could use themselves, it became The Church of Rome.   Lot's of power in running the biggest game in town.  Even kings and emperors paid homage to the Pope and his cardinals, hence the Crusades.   They couldn't let them damn non-believers such as non-Christians have any authority, might undermine their own power.
   
   Even those who didn't go along with a religion's rigid interpretations of right and wrong got the chop - in some religions they still do.   Thousands of witches burnt at the stake.  Hundreds of thousands forced to changed their 'beliefs' on pain of death.   It took a long, long time before the organized churches began to lose their power.
   
   This is not to say that a lot of good work is not undertaken by people working inside, i.e. under the auspices of religious organizations.  There are many.   The Salvation Army is an excellent example.   So is the Red Cross and the Red Crescent.   But it is the goodness of the indivisuals hearts who work within who do this good work, not the churches heirarchy as a rule.
   
   Don't expect organized religions to welcome and embrace change.  Generally, they fight it all the way.   Thank God - whether it be a He, She or It, that they're gradually losing their influence in the world today.

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   1. 72

      lone77starposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Organizations can become corrupted by ego. Christianity received a double whammy with Constantine and then Justinian. They politicized and de-spiritualized the religion.
      
      It's sad that only one pope ever walked on water -- Peter.

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4. 69

   SwordofManticorEposted 11 years ago

   There is always enough religions for us to want to hate and kill one another, but never enough for us to want to love one another. I have to agree with the first post.

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      CrescentSkiesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      If there weren't any religions we'd still kill each other.

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5. 70

   connorjposted 11 years ago

   
   
   Yes it is true that a "religion" can be a tool so a few can control many or keep control of many (I also believe this is exactly what a lack or banning of religion manifests, not unlike Russian communism). Thus, I would suggest that this is not a reason to avoid religion completely but perhaps an invitation to find the one true religion or become a member of the one that does indeed have the most potential to offer you a most wonderful eternity. Do not give up hope and abandon all religion because of some nuance that doesn't appear to be correct. Never forget God did not create our present religions; they are for the most part a product of man's misinterpretation or relativism applied so that religion fits us rather than us fitting the religion (i.e. King Henry the 8th).  I certainly do not mean any disrespect; I simply find no point in abandoning religion because of "man's" misinterpretations. Be the few that succeed in finding the truth and be amazed.

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      connorjposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      This is not what I submitted. For the record, my first sentence should read, Yes it is true that a "religion" can be a tool so a few can control many or keep control of many (I also believe that this is exactly what a banning on religion manifests...

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   2. 79

      jlparkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm not saying abandon religion - I'm saying "what right does any religion have to ban cultural customs, and/or religions, because they don't like them/they don't fit with theirs.". I'm also sure it's not a 'nuance' to those who's customs were ban'd

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6. 84

   Austinstarposted 11 years ago

   If you want to belong to a certain "club" (ie: religion), then they must establish the club rules. Anything that is outside their rules is forbidden or, at best, frowned upon.
   People feel special when they belong to a religions club. I think this is the reason churches were built in the first place. If you are accepted into a certain club, then you can claim dominance over the other clubs. It's a survival thing.
   I don't understand why religions preach one thing and do another. Hypocrisy is rampant. One would think that just being a human being is enough. What do rituals, rules and showy pageants have to do with anything?

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   1. 79

      jlparkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Unfortunately in this case, it appears to be the ol' "we've come to your country to change your ways." rather than the "Please, feel free to join us as you wish.". Number 2, I don't mind so much. Number 1 is just...rude, to put it mildly

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   2. 72

      lone77starposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Very logically put, but what you're really talking about is ego, and ego corrupts governments, military, science and many other institutions just as easily as it does religion.
      
      Ego had NIST lie about 7WTC free fall, and Clovis first ridicule.

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7. 81

   Wesman Todd Shawposted 11 years ago

   I hate to tell you this, but religions don't do anything.  People do things, and other people sometimes prefer to blame a religion, rather than the persons involved...it shows a clear bias on the accuser's part, and a lack of holding people accountable, which is the problem.

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   1. 79

      jlparkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You have a point.

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      lone77starposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Outstanding! Short, sweet and to the point.
      
      Individual responsibility is key second only to unconditional love.
      
      And with 100% responsibility one can no longer be a victim.

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      Larry Wallposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      An excellent comment.

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8. 80

   peachpurpleposted 11 years ago

   The law and rules of each religions are made by men. Men made them and follow them . Who knows whether GOD really list those rules down or not. People are the one who claimed the rules were set by GOD but where are the evidence?

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   1. 72

      lone77starposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      We, as individuals, need to follow our own quiet, inner voice of conscience. We need to discern whether or not the actions of others are selfish and deceitful, or loving and generous.

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9. 0

   Educateurselfposted 11 years ago

   haah i believed this looks good only when you quote that religion is a tool made by man. I think it is a big game to tell the innocent peoples that religion is bad it only use the humanity for his profits and there are some humans who claim we are the prophets of God, this is all rubbish i don't believe on this type of hypocrite sayings. The sign of true religions is that they wil provide their followers an constitution of life and the true religions will only want you to become more and more powerful and not to used by any other.

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10. 69

    RBJ33posted 11 years ago

    Religious folks are primarily superstitious, easily lead and influenced, so they ban those things that do not fit snuggly into the superstitious way of thinking and accepting.

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    1. 72

       lone77starposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I've known some religion folks who fit this description, but such a generality is not entirely true. The real culprit behind all evil is ego, and there is a corporate elite in America who are playing our egos like a symphony.

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    2. 0

       Larry Wallposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I am a practicing Catholic. Some wear medals or carry a rosary with them all the time. I and most other Catholics do not. I am not a superstitious person. Any one who knows me will tell you I am not easily lead and influenced. I am a believer.

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11. 72

    lone77starposted 11 years ago

    Perhaps it's a matter of not seeing the forest for the trees!
    
    Religions do not do this!
    
    Individuals do! Individuals driven by their own selfish egos. They may do it in the "name" of religion, but that is a cover -- a lie -- used to bolster ego, and to embolden the self. You've heard similar in secular arenas -- like attacking Libya to "protect America's interests." Evil knows how to say sweet things that our ears like to hear.
    
    If you really study the great religions and their teachings, they warn against ego, but so many people are ensnared by ego's seduction.
    
    Some people feel that religion was merely a tool made to control people. That's truly sad, for they miss the spiritual answer that remains hidden there.
    
    A lot of problems seem to come from religion. To believe some skeptics, "all" problems stem from religion. But they forget secular problems such as theft, murder, drugs, government corruption and more. And yet, there is a common denominator behind all of these evils -- ego!
    
    Ego is the heart of selfishness. Ego is the antithesis of love. Ego likes to judge others and to control them. Ego likes to be seen as right or good, but only for "self's" sake.
    
    There have been many individuals who have corrupted the teachings and institutions of the churches. In Christianity, this has been going on for nearly 2000 years. In some other religions, even longer. Ego is an ever-present, equal opportunity destroyer.
    
    Without ego, religion wouldn't be needed, because we would naturally waken from our long, spiritual sleep. But religion is needed, because we tend to cling to ego -- a false self which pretends to be the real us. Try to get rid of ego, and it feels as though we are dying. But we need to let it die so that the true self may live once again. That was the lesson Yehoshua tried to teach us -- to give up ego so that we may have everlasting life of the immortal soul (true self).
    
    Individuals with egos do bad things for self's sake, including pervert the teachings of religion. But look beyond their religious facade and you will see the ugly veneer of ego leering back at you.

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    1. 79

       jlparkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Very true - but it is done in the NAME of religion.  What gives anyone the right to say "mine is true, yours is false, because I personally do not believe in it".
       Perhaps my question should have been "why do we do this in the name of religion?"

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