North Kai On Religion

[North Kai]

Well like it or not a large part of the western civilization is based on christianity. Not because it is right and not even because it is correct (imo it isnt but that isnt the discussion here) but because we have lived with it for almost 2 thousand years ever since the battle of Frigidus when christianity enveloped one of the birthplaces of the west, the Roman Empire. Since then all professions were affected by christianity. It played large roles in politics and law, even in the polarization of world powers. The entire west today is what it is because of christianity and all our lives happen in this system that was build first on the greco-roman and then a christian world and spread its influence even to the rest of the world.

So weather you are a religious person or an atheist like me it would be tremendously stupid to deny any influence religion had on your life. The most important structures in the western civilizations were build in a time when christianity was one of the great powers of the world (ofc there are other influences but im sticking to the point which is religion), and this structures are with us every day: law, politics (the two most important structures in every country and affect us every day in almost everything we do weather you get it or not), art (some of the most influental literary works for example, philosophy, ...) , architecture (whole cities were built according to religion), ...

But in this context you cant think of christianity as a belief in god, its more than that and god had very little with anything i just wrote, its about the identity of a civilization, about their morals, about their root, about their mythology and history, .... They have changed much since back then but both conservatives and liberals are still affected by our roots, which are in the greco-roman and christian culture

PS: only talking about western culture particularly, but its pretty much the same everywhere, there is no right religion and there is no religion that is right but we need something similar, some people hang to christianity, some to islam, atheists have their own morals which were (in the west) undoubtetly influenced by christianity and in return christianity had its roots in previous religions. its no coincidence that all religions are similar.

to me religion isnt a belief in god which is what it means to most people but the structure of the society, and we dont live in a completely christian world, it is changing constantly and not even christianity isnt completely christian (of you know what i mean).

NEW: Religion was constructed by humans and therefor reflects what people need to exist in a society. We dont need a religion but something similar and religion itself fits that description (so does law to some extent but again, Ill stick on topic). Religion can be something not defined by a believe in god (buddhism) but simply a guideline on how to live with one eachother and with one self.

 

[Maderator]

I appreciate your perspective and while I dont disagree with you directly, i more feel that religion is simply a projection of what we each inherently desire and want. What we all want is not necessarily universal, but we all try and find whatever we can to support what we believe in. Religion is really just an extension of internal belief that provides evidence to support that belief through the divine.

You are very right in highlighting religions role as a vector for societies needs, as one of the greatest functions of group belief is that it provides a structure and framework for people to live by.

While this has its advantages, i would also argue that this is what allows religion to be used to manipulate others, so we need to be conscious of both sides of the argument.

 

[North Kai]

I appreciate your perspective and while I dont disagree with you directly, i more feel that religion is simply a projection of what we each inherently desire and want. What we all want is not necessarily universal, but we all try and find whatever we can to support what we believe in. Religion is really just an extension of internal belief that provides evidence to support that belief through the divine.

You are very right in highlighting religions role as a vector for societies needs, as one of the greatest functions of group belief is that it provides a structure and framework for people to live by.

While this has its advantages, i would also argue that this is what allows religion to be used to manipulate others, so we need to be conscious of both sides of the argument.

Yes i agree that religion is based on what we need rather than any divine or unnatural influence. Come to think of it i should add that up there. And yes I agree religion has been used to manipulate, but than again, what hasnt?

 

[Maderator]

And yes I agree religion has been used to manipulate, but than again, what hasnt?

Thats the truth aint it

Not much really, that in itself is a need to reach our own internal security by controlling others.

I dont think that religion is inherently bad as it is, but i am personally not for it. I understand that if we didnt have that, we would just have something else, so its sorta pointless hating on it, to me at least.

 

[Avani]

OK.. just why we have two threads on exactly the same subject...

 

[Maderator]

OK.. just why we have two threads on exactly the same subject...

No idea. I guess that he wanted to start one from his perspective, rather than someone else's.

 

[Avani]

No idea. I guess that he wanted to start one from his perspective, rather than someone else's.

It defeats the purpose and no proper discussion will take place if everyone makes their own thread to put their perspective up.