Religion where does it belong?

@lokisdad (4226)
United States
January 30, 2016 11:53pm CST
Where does religion belong? Not everyone is religious and yet it seems religion is incorporated in everything. I have my beliefs but that's all they are my views on the subject nothing more. The world is at war right now and in times like these we turn to our faith for comfort strength and guidance. That very same thing that helps us hurts us. Religion has probably been the biggest cause of death in the history of existence. We have killed more people in the name of religion than heart disease,cancer and diabetes combined. Yet we incorporate it into almost everything related to our everyday lives. You go to church you hear religion. You go to the hospitals you get asked about your beliefs. You go to court ,school etc. Why,why can't we separate religion from everything else? Where does it belong? I think it belongs in your church,your home and heart.
4 people like this
7 responses
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
1 Feb 16
A few years back, someone said to me "No atheist has ever killed anyone in the name of God" Another person once said to me "God did not make us -- We made God" I find religion fascinating and I have an interest in learning about most or all religions. It is sort of one of my hobbies. I have a lot of confusion about religion. I consider myself a spiritual person but not necessarily religious. I do not know if there is a God or Gods. I hope that there is something after life -- I hope that this is not all there is. I do not believe that Jesus or The Prophet Mohammed would approve of what is being done in their name or the faith that they preached. That is equally true of all other religions. if there is a God or Supreme Being, how would he or she feel about what is being done by one group to another in their name. I believe that Religion should heal, comfort, and help. it should make people better and stronger and kinder but, unfortunately, it often has just the opposite effects. I have incorporated all religions into my lifestyle trying to live simply and being a better human being but I do not know where it belongs in every day life. If religion would make a the world a better place all the more power to faith but, that's not how it is working sadly.
2 people like this
• United States
3 Feb 16
@lokisdad Religion is a very controversial topic. Even conversations about religion can get intense and explosive. I like to discuss religion but I do not debate the subject. I like learning and not arguing.. When I was on mylot some years back, there were members who were trying to recruit for their faith by beginning a discussion about religion. There were some problems between members when it came to religion (and also to politics).
1 person likes this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
3 Feb 16
@bostonphil Discussing such topics is always difficult because peoples emotions and when deciding how the rules are going to affect people's lives we want what is best for us and we aren't exactly concerned with how it affects others.
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
1 Feb 16
I agree its an interesting thing. I just think it shouldn't be talked about in school. When you go to the hospital you shouldn't be asked. When you go to court the making you swear to tell the truth crap on a bible is stupid and shouldn't even be apart of any legal proceeding if it wasn't a religious incident. Like an atheist would tell the truth after swearing on a book said to contain the teachings and rules one should follow from a deity they don't believe in. It should stay in churches in your home point blank. When I go to work I don't want to hear about nobody's faith god or whatever else its not the place for it and it makes me uncomfortable. I don't go telling people who didn't ask about my beliefs and i don't want to hear what the bible says about how i can blah blah blah anything when i didn't ask. It is like everywhere you go you can't get away from the stuff.I have friends who occasionally bring that stuff up and I don't say a word because if i told them what i really thought id have no friends so i change the subject or leave.
@FourWalls (61328)
• United States
1 Feb 16
I think it's not religion that is the problem, but rather the human ego that perpetuates the problem. Religion is, as you say, personal. It's the ego of man (that means "humanity," but most religions believe that only men are allowed to lead, rule, make decisions, etc.) that makes one think, "My religion is better than everyone else's, so I'm going to mandate that my religion is dominant to the exclusion of all others." That is not exclusive to religion: look at the number of people who've been killed in stampedes at soccer matches worldwide, or the San Francisco Giants fan brutally attacked by L.A. Dodgers fans. A heavy metal guitarist ("Dimebag Darrell") was even gunned down onstage by a fan who blamed the guitarist for the breakup of the former band. The mentality is "my way or the highway," it frequently results in violence...and it's not limited to religion.
2 people like this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
1 Feb 16
you're right i just attribute that to stupidity lol I can't see myself shooting a guitarist over a band break up. The sports fans are another one that i don't get its like seriously nobody should get so mad and attack another person for liking the other team. I could see myself being that angry if i bet and lost huge money and that would be my own fault. I am not the biggest fan of seeing games in stadiums because of that reason fear that some moron will kill innocent people over a sport event.
@Shavkat (136866)
• Philippines
31 Jan 16
I do think that religion is in our heart. I may not be so religious going to the church, but I always believe that God is just here beside me. In terms of religion, some people debate where is the real religion. It is always a never ending story for them. Thus, the religion is only within them.
1 person likes this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
31 Jan 16
I don't go to church it is not for me. I just think that the whole faith thing is out of control. I don't even know what to call it faith /religion its just such a messy thing and we know it and yet it seems that we still keep it and encourage it.
@yalul070 (1713)
• Manila, Philippines
1 Feb 16
I agree that many have been killed in the name of religion. This is why in the Christian tradition, efforts have been made to secularize government institutions, to separate the Church from the State. Unfortunately, while in Christianity, there had been progress in confining religion to the private realm, in other great religions, it is the way of life. The law is the Islamic law. Islam tells its followers how to dress up and raise a family, among others. Generally, we shouldn't have an issue about them, except of course if the Muslims see us as infidels. But the thing is, for the majority of Muslims, this is hardly the case. They actually respect others' beliefs, well as long as they don't cause them trouble. It is the radical few who are using their religion to inflict harm on others. So where does religion belong? It belongs to the follower's belief systems. Whether it encompasses a state or confined in one's personal beliefs, as along as they are not imposed unto others, then we shouldn't have an issue about it and just respect the differences.
1 person likes this
@yalul070 (1713)
• Manila, Philippines
2 Feb 16
@lokisdad right. it is human to resort to sterotypes especially when we are enraged by terrorist acts by lunatics hiding behind their religion. at the end of the day though, when the dust settles, we might be able to see more clearly that many others were also made collateral damage of our blind rage.
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
1 Feb 16
Well some religion is intrusive to others and some is not. I think Christians push their religion the most and that can get really annoying. I have never had a Jew or a Muslim come to my house and try to convert me, nor have I seen their teachings pasted across webpages when I scroll through them. I know it's the predominate religion here in the States, but it's not something I really appreciate being thrown around as much as it is. Pagans and wicca groups are very respective about others and their views on the world. It's nice talking to them because they are so open. Of course, my supernatural experience certainly has more in common with their culture more than one that would want to burn me for mentioning them.
1 person likes this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
1 Feb 16
@OneOfMany its sad really because they don't realize it. In the end its always about power. There is and always will be someone who will seek to have it and they will continue to find ways to have it through things like the good book.
1 person likes this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
1 Feb 16
I think the worst even more than the chrstians are the jehova witnesses like seriously go away if i didn't go to your church don't come to my house. No you may not come in no i don't want to hear anything what i want is to enjoy my peace an quiet without you coming to my damn house making me feel uncomfortable and trying to convert me. My wife has even less tolerance for them than i do. Boundaries people. The bible is the most controversial book ever written if you ask me. Buddhism is probably one of the few religions i'm not bothered by lol they keep it to themselves.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
1 Feb 16
@lokisdad I actually got used to the jehova's witnesses at my former place. They came by all the time and I just talked rings around them. No historical authors that were prominent in the times when Jesus should have been doing his miracles and such wrote anything about it. If he was a superstar back then, someone would have jotted something down. But he doesn't exist to historians at that time. All historic accounts were done by Christian historians after the fact.
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15489)
• United Kingdom
31 Jan 16
Religion...what is it good for?...absolutely nothing Just like the song except you substitute religion for war...quite apt I think
Die Liveaufnahmen und die Fälschungen auf You Tube haben mir nicht so gefallen. Deshalb hier eine Studioaufnahme.
2 people like this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
31 Jan 16
lol yes i feel that way about a lot of it. I haven't heard that son gin a long time it was good to hear it
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8688)
• United States
31 Jan 16
I think one's beliefs are personal. I much prefer thinking in terms of faith rather than religion.
1 person likes this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
31 Jan 16
I understand. It makes me wish sometimes that we had definitive answers to all of the questions.