Why do most western religions use gloom and doom?

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   mischeviousmeposted 13 years ago

   Why do most western religions use gloom and doom to gain followers? On the other hand... Why do most western religions have a reward system? Isn't it enough to suffer through life only to be given hope in a handbascket or, can one not go through life without fearing hell?

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      Prascinaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      If the essence is honey good and comforting.. you need not worry about the followers..like the greatest of all religions is the divinity of love ..unconditional... so no expectations of rewards attached. Let us become aware that life is not all about sufferings and there is no fear of hell nor the pleasure of heaven.. life is pure in its own..here and now.

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      girlgonestrongposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      You CAN go through life without a fear of hell....but if hell is real place and the things you do (or don't do) can get you a one-way ticket there then that's a very bad way to live.  Happy-go-lucky in the fact of eternal torment is a very foolish risk unless there is no reason to believe that this place exists.
      
      Also, why do you call these things "Western" religions?  Christianity and Islam are the two major faiths which have a "hell doctrine" and neither of them originated in the West and are not confined to the West today.
      
      Case in point...there are more Christians living in China today who attend church each week at someone's home in secret than there are "Christians" in America.  And to that end, most of the "Christians" in America would never call themselves Christians if faced with the persecution that is in China....so they're Christians-in-name-only....so you gotta wonder how much this "Western" religion really does belong to the West.

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         mischeviousmeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Their called western religions. Look it up if you don't believe me. I think of western religion to be based on a reward punishment system, much like that in a pre-school or kindergarten. I don't care about heaven or hell as religious tennets, I see them everyday here on earth.

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         paarsurreyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         A good point. Now East and West have converged, in my opinion.

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      paarsurreyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Religion give hope.

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      Eaglekiwiposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Gloom and doom equals control. Run as fast as you can ,lol.
      
      What drew me to Christ that I saw in some Christians was joy ,peace and non-judgemental love. That is what draws people-love
      
      Jesus said: I came that they may have and enjoy LIFE, and have it in abundance, to the full, till it overflows.   John 10:10
      
      Here is Jesus' own teaching about many of our most important needs, including a new start, healing, peace of mind, happiness, spiritual growth, wisdom and most of all how to live an abundant life.
      
      To me that means now in this life,not later on,or when we have achieved some status ,but right now!  til it overflows
      
      Im liking that....alot

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   jonnycomelatelyposted 13 years ago

   Good question.
   
   Sin, evil, being naughty, a God that is all-seeing, omnipotent, loving yet commanding and demanding......like you want a father to be, really....  is there some kind of orgasmic urge to be punished?  and then to be taken up in his loving arms and be forgiven? 
   
   If this is a natural thing for us to do, are these tendencies taken up by those who would have power over us?  "Control the masses, easily, fear and retribution will coax them into doing what we want them to do."
   
   But, to take up your question, why in the "western" religions particularly?

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      mischeviousmeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hell exists in the eastern religions, but they are places that are not permanent. They are places where the ego is stripped away.

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         Jonathan Jancoposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Having my ego stripped away sounds like heaven, actually.

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         paarsurreyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         You are very close to the truthful concept.

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      paarsurreyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      
      
      Atheists object to the punishment in religion; yet they could not evolve any seculars system which does not include punishment; criminal or civil.
      
      They tend to behave like a toddler; if they don't mind. It is just me

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   calpol25posted 13 years ago

   
   
   Its not all doom and gloom is it

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   jonnycomelatelyposted 13 years ago

   I see these terms like heaven, hell, etc., as metaphors applicable to our current lives.  The parables were all metaphor.  Apply the meanings to "my" individual life, the sorrows, the pain, the joys, the challenges and the goals. 
   
   When, through ignorance and by being led by others with ulterior motives, you try to make those metaphors literally true, then you confuse the issues for yourself and for others.
   
   The metaphors found in the bible have all been misinterpreted and used for hateful purposes in the control of others.
   
   Agreed, our two major religions are christianity and islam.  Full of control and ulterior motives.  Yet they are grounded in the "East," where so much understanding of the inner self-conflict has been full understood.  We can do ourselves a favour by looking to the East for example and teachings.

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      paarsurreyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      No harm; everyting should be looked into without prejudice.

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         jonnycomelatelyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         paarsurrey, I hope you remember this reply of yours - "without prejudice," especially when the subject of athesist, or homosexual person, or any other point of view is put here on the Hub Pages.
         
         The "without prejudice" must apply equally, across the board if you are to affirm it.

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   Insane Mundaneposted 13 years ago

   I've never understood "Hell" concepts, as how can you have eternal punishment for a temporary life?  The religions that push the eternal blow torch, are typically the ones that cause the most conflict.  Western religions?  I have no sense of direction when it comes to religion, especially since this globe is permeated with it from all angles.
   East or West, North or South, no man truly knows the absolute answer, but can only hope to at least figure out their own individual path, like star dust collecting its particles in the wind to reform, once again.

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      mischeviousmeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I see us as a function of the universe, we're part of universal nature. Everything is moving in time, at the same time. We're here because we are, If there is an intelligent designer or not, doesn't matter. Until we can truly say we absolutely know there's a God, all we have is this moment.

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         Insane Mundaneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Contrast:  "Until you can truly say that we know we are alive, all we have is death." ---Insane Mundane

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            mischeviousmeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Absolutely... It's the life we have that we should enjoy, every moment of it. Suffering is unavoidable, as it is usually the result of one's own doings. When one can let go of the self, then religion doesn't matter, beliefs become meaningless and the now becomes aparent. What's real is right this instant.

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               Insane Mundaneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               I hope the present time is real, as I do not see traveling into the past as a possibility due to the obvious paradox that would take place, even though traveling into the future is at least plausible in its own right, but either way, when you say "What's real is right this instant," is something that I'd hope nobody would argue with, as this is 'present time', no doubt.  LOL!

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                  mischeviousmeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  It ceased to be real and is being created all of the time. Every moment is an entire creation of this very instant. It all happens in the blink of an eye and it changes that fast. We are seeing fractions of time and yet all we see is what's put in front of us. Letting go requires much patience and the more we try to let go, the harder it is.

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                     Insane Mundaneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     Not trying to change the subject, but this reminds me of the saying:  "yesterday was a lie, today is the truth, and tomorrow is a promise."  Whatever...

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                        somethgblueposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                        Insane in the Membrain,
                        
                        I went to read and possible comment on one of your hubs and not surprising I found that you actually lack the brain capacity to write one. LMAO
                        
                        Got a question for you what is beyond stupid?
                        
                        One kind of idiot joins Hub Pages simple to comment on others people hubs but lacks the intelligence, imagination and simple mental dexterity to write their own, would that be beyond stupid?
                        
                        You claim to need proof, perhaps you can prove that you have a brain by writing an article, I have the perfect title for you already you could call it . . Beyond Stupid, Proof I have a Brain!
                        
                        Looooser!

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                           Insane Mundaneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                           Ahh, are you still mad that I didn't believe in your Planet X / Nibiru belief?
                           I've got about 400 articles spread out over 6 websites, and if you ever land in one of my comment fields spouting that nonsense, I'll treat you accordingly, depending on whether or not you have developed a brain by then.
                           I may eventually do some hubs on here, but I mainly come on here to get new ideas for other projects, and to drop down on occasions to comment and answer questions.
                           
                           By the way, you're in the wrong forum...  Now, go get your telescope and find Planet Nibiru that you believe in so much, and tell the hordes of barbarians from Planet X to have mercy on Earth.  LOL!

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