cj, where is your sense of humour? I was just teasing you. After taking to hundreds of people of all faiths, I can pretty much guess what your responses will be. BTW, you left out the idolators angle.
Na! He's an easterner and its past his bedtime.
Why are many Christians so intolerant of other religions and spiritual paths?
- Thread starter Cliffy
- Start date
That was my first impression but he did say his time zone wasn't compatible with Canada's time zones. So he was bullsh*ttin'.-
There is a man in Saskatoon who keeps filing complaints with the Human Rights Commission because he is offended by the word Christmas, public prayers, and on and on. We are told at work to say Seasons Greetings so as not to offend anyone. Enough already. One reason people are fed up with this nonsense. Kids are told not to wear costumes at Halloween, it might offend other religions. I repeat, enough already. I don't complain if another religion displays their beliefs to Christians. Enough already
Cliffy,
I'm going to assume you want an actual answer here, and that you're at least willing to hear from someone other than Motar and cj44.
Religions exist to fulfill various emotional needs in people, mostly reassurance from fear. Everybody's exact emotional makeup varies, but people with sufficiently similar emotional makeups can group together without too much friction, satisfying their belonging needs and fear of being alone.
Broadly speaking, people with a great deal of generalised fear of everything will prefer monotheistic religions with big, powerful Daddy gods who love them oh so much and are going to send everybody who scares them off to eternal torture. People with less fear will prefer more intellectualised, philosophical religions. People who view the world as compartmentalised will prefer polytheism with specialist gods. That view is in decline, so is polytheism.
You might expect that this would lead to a nice, smooth spectrum of religions from paranoid ranters with and all-powerful, vengeful god to pretty secure people with a calm, confident view and a Cosmic Muffin sort of generally overseeing the multiverse. But remember, we're dealing with poorly understood and generally unacknowledged fears here, which rarely lead to rational outcomes. Because there is enormous emotional pressure to follow the religion of one's group, few people ever change religions. If they change, they generally change within the umbrella of their community's religion. Hence, Christians have hellfire-and-damnation thunderers, religious imperialists, highly centralised structures, highly decentralised structures, quiet reassuring sects, and pacifist sects. All within the umbrella of Christianity. Muslims have Wahabis, Sufis, Salafis, and dozens of other sects of equally varying outlook.
So once you pick your sect (itself a painful process), you then get into a reinforcing loop. And your sect's philosophy will reflect, and reinforce, your fears. If you have high fear levels and a desperate need to be right, you'll pick a militant, intolerant sect. If your fears don't break that way, you'll be in a quieter, less pushy sect. And wherever you end up, you'll cherry-pick your religious text for bits that reinforce your own sect's outlook. Never hard to do, since the religious texts are an accurate reflection of the unacknowledged fears to which they respond: chaotic, internally inconsistent, and lacking in a clear and coherent message.
Politics is similar, because it's driven by the same factors. You pick your party based on what soothes your fears most effectively, then the branch of your party based on the contours of your particular outlook. Then you filter incoming information to find that which reinforces your choice.
I'm going to assume you want an actual answer here, and that you're at least willing to hear from someone other than Motar and cj44.
Religions exist to fulfill various emotional needs in people, mostly reassurance from fear. Everybody's exact emotional makeup varies, but people with sufficiently similar emotional makeups can group together without too much friction, satisfying their belonging needs and fear of being alone.
Broadly speaking, people with a great deal of generalised fear of everything will prefer monotheistic religions with big, powerful Daddy gods who love them oh so much and are going to send everybody who scares them off to eternal torture. People with less fear will prefer more intellectualised, philosophical religions. People who view the world as compartmentalised will prefer polytheism with specialist gods. That view is in decline, so is polytheism.
You might expect that this would lead to a nice, smooth spectrum of religions from paranoid ranters with and all-powerful, vengeful god to pretty secure people with a calm, confident view and a Cosmic Muffin sort of generally overseeing the multiverse. But remember, we're dealing with poorly understood and generally unacknowledged fears here, which rarely lead to rational outcomes. Because there is enormous emotional pressure to follow the religion of one's group, few people ever change religions. If they change, they generally change within the umbrella of their community's religion. Hence, Christians have hellfire-and-damnation thunderers, religious imperialists, highly centralised structures, highly decentralised structures, quiet reassuring sects, and pacifist sects. All within the umbrella of Christianity. Muslims have Wahabis, Sufis, Salafis, and dozens of other sects of equally varying outlook.
So once you pick your sect (itself a painful process), you then get into a reinforcing loop. And your sect's philosophy will reflect, and reinforce, your fears. If you have high fear levels and a desperate need to be right, you'll pick a militant, intolerant sect. If your fears don't break that way, you'll be in a quieter, less pushy sect. And wherever you end up, you'll cherry-pick your religious text for bits that reinforce your own sect's outlook. Never hard to do, since the religious texts are an accurate reflection of the unacknowledged fears to which they respond: chaotic, internally inconsistent, and lacking in a clear and coherent message.
Politics is similar, because it's driven by the same factors. You pick your party based on what soothes your fears most effectively, then the branch of your party based on the contours of your particular outlook. Then you filter incoming information to find that which reinforces your choice.
What attracts you to this Christian Discussion page, TBones - is it fear, the need to be right or both?
Well, I certainly fear Christians. But it's mostly that I enjoy talking with Cliffy. He's a mite lefty for my tastes, but pretty rational. Seems like most of the time he's here to discuss stuff, not just to bray his prejudices.
As for Christian discussion, or any religious discussion, I find religion an interesting phenomenon.
How 'bout you?
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Mark Messier said that?
His numbers were 11:11.
Anyway, I don't keep up with all this sports and internet stuff ya know.
For the most part, one of the most accurate assessment I have run across in a long time. Although I don't personally fear religions or the religious, I do think religions are dangerous, as they promote exclusivity and an us against them attitude that too often results in war and blood shed. This is why I am an anarchist both spiritually and politically; too much partisanship only leads to discord and nothing constructive can come from it. Fear has always been used by religion and politics as a great controlling device and I have come to the conclusion that most people need both or there would be total chaos and bloodshed in the streets. As much as I dislike both religion and politics (they serve the same purpose) I also see that sheeple want and need to be controlled.
I believe we're discussing motives now, TBones:
"All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord." (Proverbs 16:2 NIV)
"Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God." (1 Corinthians 4:5 NIV)
"But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice..." (Philippians 1:18 NIV)
Are we? Well, I guess we are, at least in the sense that you're asking me a question and I'm answering it, and I'm asking you a question and you're not answering it. Can't say I think much of that as a mode of discussion.
"One Ring to rule them all
One Ring to find them
One Ring to bring them all
And in the darkness bind them" (Fellowship of the Ring 5)
Tecumseh's got the right idea.
If we can replace the bible with The Silmarillion then the world will be a much better place.
If we can replace the bible with The Silmarillion then the world will be a much better place.
Religion was created out of fear to promote fear. It is quite obvious, that most Christians, particularly the born againers, become religious because they fear their own nature, to exercise their own demons and try to find some inner peace from the constant battle in their hearts and minds. I understand the process and the healing powers religion can bring to the chaos and inner turmoil that the bible can bring to those who have felt lost. But religion, in this case, is not the end all and be all that proponents think it is.
It is just the beginning of the journey. It is an anchor in safe waters. To begin a journey one must hoist the anchor and set sail. This is what Allan Watts meant by belief is holding to a rock and faith is learning how to swim in the stream of life. I see religion as the first port of call on a journey to oneness with all of creation/god/universe/whatever. But first you have to leave port/move beyond belief. Accept who you are (a child of god) warts and all, not as a sinner but a brave explorer on a journey of discovery. The payoff is you finally get to know you without fear.
Yeah. I'm a member of the Church of England. But I don't see what that has got to do with anything.
JLM, Indeed you are correct. Read the following with sinister voice and laughter.That was my first impression but he did say his time zone wasn't compatible with Canada's time zones. So he was bullsh*ttin'.-
For I have been groomed by the Evil Time Merchant for decades to finally arrive at this moment where I willingly and maliciously lead others into the dark confusion of time zones. I taunt without mercy those living in the Pacific Zone leading them to believe I live where I do not. One day I shall succeed and lock them away forevermore in the hourglass of doom.