Interesting Blog Post By Barbara O'Brien

[YankeyMCC]

http://buddhism.about.com/b/2010/09/25/being-good-religiously.htm


(snip)
"If the problem of religion isn't religion itself, then what's the problem with religion? I say it depends not on whether one is religious, but how one is religious."

(snip)

I think that quote gives the crux of her point. I think she describes the issues and problems associated with religiosity pretty well. The only point I think she misses which some of the comments make is the point that it does not take religion to be ethical. In my own experience I will admit that I consider my Zen Buddhist practice to be my 'religion' and it has helped me be better in living an ethical life. But I did the best I could always to be ethical just as anyone else religious or otherwise. I just used a secular view of ethics instead of one based on gods, as I do now. To me religion and theism are different things and in fact you could easily argue Secular Humanism is a religion many freely admit it is. But many people don't even need the community, ritual and other non-theistic aspects of religion to be effective at following their ethics. It is not a requirement merely a helpful tool for some.

Anyway, I thought it was a well written post that might be of interest here and spark some positive discussion among the diverse group of religious, non-religious, theist and atheist people here.

I look forward to comments.

[RandomThoughts]

1. From the perspective of my thoughts.

If they are not against you, they are for you. And not for me to judge.

As far as religion being a tool, you may be separating religion from supernatural power.

[Bitwit1234]

2. Have you ever thought of this about the religious nuts?

And they are nuts. The reason the preachers in most cases rant on is for the money. The reason the people who follow these people is because deep down they are the worst kind of sinners going. They think every one is like them and must be saved. If they were not so afraid of all the stuff they have done wrong in THEIR lives they wouldn't be after other people to turn to religion. See what I mean..look at the pastors and the priests who preach against homosexuality and then are the main offenders. I will say it over and over those that protest the most are the ones who are practicing what the protest over.

[trotsky]

3. Sometimes, however, the religion itself sets it up.

I mean, look at the basic structure of the big three: authoritarian, male-centered, full of judgment and punishment. Is it any wonder we have nuts? It takes sophisticated analysis, a careful discarding of the offensive parts of scripture, and a large helping of enlightened secular reasoning to truly overcome those structural shortcomings. Not many people can do it.

[YankeyMCC]

4. I think you make a good point

The idea that you know with certainly what is right and wrong because some external authority like a god or church hierarchy is a very dangerous idea.

And it does seem that the largest schools of the 3 Abrahamic religions set themselves and their adherents up for this kind of mistake.

Still I think it goes back to "How" there were many early Christians that held doubt as an important part of faith and I think that is still the case with most liberal Christian churches. Judaism definitely has a tradition of doubt and questioning authority. I'm not sure about Islam, I haven't read as much there but given the advances in science and math etc...made by many of that faith I'm guessing there is a strong tradition there as well. I think perhaps the idea of internal jihad might be exactly that sort of thing, keep questioning how you are living and the rules you are using.