The logic of religion
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I have done some superficial research into the major religions of the world, and I'd like to share my views here.
WHY?
It is clear that from ancient times, Man has always tended to believe in the supernatural as an attempt to explain occurrences that they could not comprehend. Early on, before the great religions of modern times like Islam, Christianity and Buddhism, people would create their own Gods. Frequently they were made out of pieces of wood or stone. Thunder and lightning which frightened many were attributed to various thunder and lightning gods. As society evolved, these primitive religions lost their acceptance as people began to question the logic behind them. It was explained how rain fell and thunder was made scientifically, and with that came the end of the reign of the gods of lightning. A major reason for the prevalence of today's religions is that people have yet to explain away the claims made by them. The downfall of the gods of lightning was simply because people who once attributed them to the lightning gods realized that they were wrong. The survival of Christianity and Islam is based on the claim that the world was made by a God/Allah. Up till today, there has yet to be anyone who can convincingly disprove this. As for Buddhism, it does not attempt to explain the creation of the world, instead expounding something else instead---a way of life.
ANALYSIS
Suffice to say that, Islam and Christianity are 2 sides of the same coin. They have similar themes, that of a central God/Allah who is all-encompassing. They also have a holy book as the earthly reference of the teachings of their creator, the Quran/Bible.
Buddhism instead offer a route to people to follow Buddha's path to enlightenment and happiness--they do not answer questions on Creation, and they have no answer on it in any case.
LOGIC
Islam/Christianity require faith to believe in them. You have to have faith to take that first step. From a logical viewpoint, they do not hold out convincingly---just take a look the killings and massacres of today's world---with a benevolent God, this should not happen. Since it is happening, either 1)the God in question isn't benevolent or 2)the God in question isn't all-powerful. That is after assuming the existence of such a God in the first place.
CREATION VS EVOLUTION and about FAITH
Clearly, the likelihood of spontaneous evolution as put forward by scientists is based on the probability that everything turned out right, and that probability is so small it could be termed negligible. So, we are left with the only remaining postulation---creation. This is completely unacceptable to some, which is why they go back to evolution. My stand here is: I don't even try to understand it. It is beyond my ability.
Many religions mention faith, and most people would agree that faith is a cornerstone of religions. However, to believe in evolution requires perhaps even more faith. Mathematically, there is next-to-nothing chance of evolution ending up in a world like ours. It would actually be more plausible to have a creator.
Simply speaking, between evolution and creation, I'd take creation any day. However, between creation, evolution, and leaving the answer blank, I'd leave the answer blank!
CONCLUSION
I end with this: Logic cannot be used to explain our existence. It would be better to ignore it... -
Hey Chokky, if you are interested in discoursing on age-old topic of religions vs atheism, suggest you hope over to http://communities.msn.com.sg/koffeekorner/general.msnw.
The religion thread "Do you believe in him?" runs up to nearly 1500 postings! Some of the postings are quite good.
The message board is currently bombarded with threads relating to the WTC tragedy and the "fight against terrorism" war though. So, the religion thread is kind of sidelined.
Check it out anyway. -
hmm..dun wish to talk abt ANY religion cos i think it's too far a sensitive topic.. i hope such topics will not be posted also.. like other forums, religions posts cos alot of unhappiness...
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religion is more a tool for controlling the masses.
what better way to control ppl than to have them believe there's a stone that contains magical powers and you can control it?
individuals are smart, but people as a whole are dumb.
you wanna discuss religion, here's a good site for you. http://www.slownewsday.net/forums/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=samizdata
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vroom...tingtingtingtingti...vroom~ -
Chohky>
Out of Topic in AA..? -
Just my opinon. Religion is crap. If done moderately, it's ok and good for the mind. If overdone, it terrible tool for creating enemeies and war.
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OHH MY GOD! ! ! ! WE HAF A WINNER!!!Originally posted by lanxx:Just my opinon. Religion is crap. If done moderately, it's ok and good for the mind. If overdone, it terrible tool for creating enemeies and war.
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Just stating the factOriginally posted by ^TzM 53^:OHH MY GOD! ! ! ! WE HAF A WINNER!!! -
I suppose there is neither good nor bad in religion. Nobody forces you to be faithful to any single religion, if you choose to trust a certain religion, you will definitely have your reasons for doing so, and if you don't, there is nothing so wrong about it either.
There isn't much point discussing about it, much less debating if it is good or bad. It is not a must to follow a certain religion, nobody is forcing anybody, but if others have chosen a religion, we should just respect them, it is after all, their choice
Regarding the war, it is not of any religions' fault, much of the fault goes to the "man" who is using his religion as an excuse to make war :p
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"You have trodden upon the outlandish loquacious asinine blue patata!
I have not lost my mind - it's backed up on disk somewhere."
Welcome to the world where Cats Rule & Dogs Drool~ MeoOOOOoooOwYooOooOo!!! -
I agree with you on the logic part but everything else is personal. It's between you and your God... that's enough, before devil kokz my head.Originally posted by chokky:CONCLUSION
I end with this: Logic cannot be used to explain our existence. It would be better to ignore it... -
But WHY would I wanna do that..??Originally posted by Klactovak:I agree with you on the logic part but everything else is personal. It's between you and your God... that's enough, before devil kokz my head. -
i guess i agree
logic cannot define religion
but one thing i can deciminate man's usefulness in this world
and that man's minds unguided by God leads only to death
i gently submit.daily failure of plans
be it shedules goal-setting plans new-yr resolutions err...maybe titanic...and less well documented disasters...
maybe this don't sound convincing but i dont wanna waste too much time on it...it's only a submission to thought...
anohter thing...well i dont nuts 'bout islam
true islam and christianity are related
but to say it's on a coin...there's no basis
the things you see on the outside are the book the singing and well get my flow?
but truly...go deeper...
the ppl who run around(osama) proclaiming jihad...and even ppl who seem to carry the name JEsus christ...the media is our eye...
yet the media does not do indept backgrounds on the ppl themselves...one by one individual background...and what they truly believe in...therefore it's a big problem to try to reason with things...firstly...you dont have solid ground on... -
need to add something...
err open the bible to the book of psalms...
you will see the psalmist proclaiming the joys of the Lord
meaning...the Joy the Lord gives him...
err...
and come to the new testament scriptures
the Apostle paul widely declares that God(the one you refer to as creator) is now a daddy to the believer...
you know what's a daddy right? the one who isn't ur mom...and loves to buy you prezzies and care for you...supply orientated...
so...i've just given you slightly more glimpses of christianity...
He ain't just God the Maker
He's God the everlasting loving Daddy to us believers
^_^
*did you know He's also called Hero?*
El-Gibbur -
god can call him watever he wants...in the old testament hes likened to a butcher...killing entire races..."dash their little young upon the rocks...bla bla bla" ...but in the new testament hes likened to a daddy...loving n kind n teaching humanity that u muz forgive 70x7 times...meaning forever but if u dun love me back or believe in me...i'm gonna fry ur ass for all times in hell...he can say watever he wants about himself....it will not remove the stain of him being a butcher...and the idea of worshipping a celestial tyrant is not in my list
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Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;and Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;and Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;and Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: and after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;and Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; and Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; and Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
And God said "STOP FUCKING AROUND!" -
got so many characters, no wonder he started de King Of Fighters tournament...
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Originally posted by Psycho V:got so many characters, no wonder he started de King Of Fighters tournament...
