USA doesn't follow Christianity, India doesn't follow Hinduism and China doesn't Tao

[raildogg]

influence to the people has very little to do with the communist party.

Are you saying that the Chinese don't want to Westernize and "succeed" economically and in the process, destroy much of their land and traditions? It seems that's what the Chinese people want, not including the Communist party for the time being. Look how many Chinese students are studying in American universities. Learning the Western way.

 

[sdifox]

Different culture, beliefs and moral codes. I wonder when and if people remember these things. Do they follow what they learned at church word by word or do they do things which are convenient for them?

Like for instance, our great politicians. They all talk about unity and the rest of the BS. They all even go to sunday church. Yet, is there any aspect of religion in what they actually do? What about the rest of the population? Is religion more than a few nice words?

Your first mistake is to believe the politicians.

 

[Red Storm]

Different culture, beliefs and moral codes. I wonder when and if people remember these things. Do they follow what they learned at church word by word or do they do things which are convenient for them?

Like for instance, our great politicians. They all talk about unity and the rest of the BS. They all even go to sunday church. Yet, is there any aspect of religion in what they actually do? What about the rest of the population? Is religion more than a few nice words?

Religion is whatever an individual wants it to be for him or herself. You think if those same politicians didn't go to church there'd be any difference in their behavior? I'm betting no. There are good and bad people in all walks of life, simple as that.

 

[IAteYourMother]

Well, I am not a scientist or anything so I can't conjure up a study. I have seen some things around me that I can base my views upon.

Are you saying religion is a good way to keep a population in line? To start trouble every now and then?

What you've observed is that in the presence of religion, yes there is violence and trouble, but I don't think there would be any less violence in the absence of religion.

But yes, you could argue that religion is a good way to keep a population in line.

 

[sdifox]

Are you saying that the Chinese don't want to Westernize and "succeed" economically and in the process, destroy much of their land and traditions? It seems that's what the Chinese people want, not including the Communist party for the time being. Look how many Chinese students are studying in American universities. Learning the Western way.

Chinese people has always been after the buck. This has nothing to do with religion at all.

Only after you are not starving will you start to care about your living conditions.

They are hitting that stage, and we'll see how the CPC handles it.

 

[JM Aggie08]

You're welcome to contribute to it if you wish. I would be very happy to talk about it with you if you wish.

I'm partial to Curel, but have heard great things about Aveno. What are your thoughts?

 

[Pray To Jesus]

I'm partial to Curel, but have heard great things about Aveno. What are your thoughts?

varfiune

 

[Fayd]

china doesn't tao.

wow.

 

[raildogg]

Chinese people has always been after the buck. This has nothing to do with religion at all.

Only after you are not starving will you start to care about your living conditions.

They are hitting that stage, and we'll see how the CPC handles it.

So religion is something separate from how you live? It certainly appears to be. And if so, then it has very little meaning.

 

[raildogg]

Religion is whatever an individual wants it to be for him or herself. You think if those same politicians didn't go to church there'd be any difference in their behavior? I'm betting no. There are good and bad people in all walks of life, simple as that.

In other words, religion or no religion, people will go after their desires and pleasures. So organized religion is just a get-together for a few hours? After that, people do what they want anyway.

 

[Miramonti]

These countries are made up of the people supposedly following these religions. Most Americans are Christians, right? Many claim it was "founded" on these so-called Christian values. Yet, these same Christians have murdered how many people?

If many individuals actually are truly religious in USA, India and China and elsewhere, I seriously doubt the world would be as messed up as it is today.

This can be summed up as, 'People suck.'

Yes, I agree.

 

[sixone]

So religion is something separate from how you live? It certainly appears to be. And if so, then it has very little meaning.

So you're just itching to lump the people who walk the walk with people who don't.

No wonder you can't see that it has meaning. You can't see the trees for the forest.

 

[SlitheryDee]

So then, what's the point of organized religion anymore?

These countries, and many more, are going the opposite ways of their respective religions. USA is a great warring country with the most lethal weapons ever devised, yet they claim to follow "God." India is the most corrupt country with terrible abuses of all kinds. China is destroying their land in order to become an economic powerhouse.

So is religion just a way to spend an hour or two a week to feel good about oneself?

Obviously the point of organized religion is to keep all that stuff from happening. As you said, if everyone actually followed their respective religions everything would be A-OK. USA would be more peaceful if it actually followed christianity, India would be less corrupt if it actually followed Hinduism, and China would be more respectful of the environment if it adhered to Taoism. Apparently the problem isn't the fact that religion isn't relevant, but that it isn't being followed.

Being an atheist, I'm of the mind that we should create a new secular philosophy that accomplishes the same goals. If everyone wanted to simply start practicing what they preached that would be fine by me too, although I can see potential problems arising from following the less admirable aspects of each of those religions. I know with christianity you get a lot of happy peace talk, but you also get slavery, misogyny, child sacrifice, and violence. I assume it would be the same with the other religions as well. Maybe we should be happy with what we have.

 

[raildogg]

So you're just itching to lump the people who walk the walk with people who don't.

No wonder you can't see that it has meaning. You can't see the trees for the forest.

Going with the results of the world, it's difficult to say if anyone is "walking the walk." Maybe 1 out of a hundred? Or even a thousand? Who knows. The thing is, we see the vast majority of the world's population being religious yet every year we see an increase in strange activities taking all over the world. Much of it destructive.

Are there people who follow their religion? Sure. But are there people who live their religion? I have met maybe a handful in my life.

I am no better so please don't take it that I'm claiming to be better in any way or form. I am a part of this world we have created.

 

[sixone]

Going with the results of the world, it's difficult to say if anyone is "walking the walk." Maybe 1 out of a hundred? Or even a thousand? Who knows. The thing is, we see the vast majority of the world's population being religious yet every year we see an increase in strange activities taking all over the world. Much of it destructive.

Are there people who follow their religion? Sure. But are there people who live their religion? I have met maybe a handful in my life.

I am no better so please don't take it that I'm claiming to be better in any way or form. I am a part of this world we have created.

You're confusing your perception with fact. I've never met anyone who robbed a bank. Does that mean that banks never get robbed? Of course not.

 

[sdifox]

So religion is something separate from how you live? It certainly appears to be. And if so, then it has very little meaning.

There are those that follow the religious teachings closely and not all of them are Chinese, Indian nor American.

Thee fail at the art of trolling.

 

[disappoint]

Ah, a religion thread. Time for most of AT to bust out the lotion and vigorously start masturbating.

OH MY GOD! SIR? ARE YOU OK? Are you having a stroke?

 

[shadow9d9]

Religion is about power, control, and money. It has nothing to do with being moral.