[aideriimibion]

Some say religion is a model to explain the world. It came up when there wasn't really an alternative model (like science) available.

[EvonsRorgon]

Originally posted by Kontiki
You fancy yourself quite the little philosopher, don't you? Noticed that, did you?

...

aneeshm, the beginnings of religion are lost in the mists of time. I imagine that it started out as vague mysticism to explain the inexplicable, and slowly evolved (heh) from there into something more solid.

I don't think the first mystic sat around trying to come up with a way to fool people so he could be a priest and collect "sacrifices" to teh godz. I do, however, think that there were many such types along the way, along with the honestly deluded

-Arrian

[JesikaFlpk]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
The newer, successful religions (like Christianity) are much much deeper. Their point isn't the explanation of the world. Maybe not exclusively, but wasn't it still part of it? The entire creation thing looks to me like a religious explanation for the world, humans etc....

[Aizutox]

Originally posted by Jon Miller


That mostly just refers to the old religions, like the greek ones.

The newer, successful religions (like Christianity) are much much deeper. Their point isn't the explanation of the world.

Jon Miller
(but it seems that many people don't take the time to study them to discover that) I think the Greek religion was deeper than just that.

[AgJ5mNXM]

Creation is a relatively small part of the Bible. Only a couple chapters. Yes, explanation exists... but it definitely isn't the focus. And I, and others, would argue that even that is sprititual explanation, not scientific explanation.

Even the question of suffereing, while much more important, isn't the majority of what the Bible's point it. I would recommend you guys read it sometime (read it, instead of looking for it's unscientificness).

Jon Miller
(science didn't even exist when it was written, to expect it to be a scientific explanation is entirely misreading it)

[Indoendris]

An imposition? Nice way of thinking of religion.
Although, I suspect that's the true basis for an atheist's views.

[juliannamed]

people created the church, not the other way around

[krek-sikUp]

I am not suggesting that ceremonial law is required, I think that Christ himself said that He had come to fulfill the ceremonial law. It is obvious in the New Testament that we are still suppose to follow God's law. And this included the 10 commandments.

Jon Miller

[VINPELA]

The OP wasn't meant as a criticism, it was meant as a question, as to how we can rescue/renew the monotheist traditions.

[piramirra]

Originally posted by Kidicious

Why would we want to do that?
Because there is a lot in it that is valuable, because it can be fashioned into a great force for the good?

[NewYorkDoctorD]

Originally posted by aneeshm


Because there is a lot in it that is valuable, because it can be fashioned into a great force for the good? judaism and christianity have diversified so extensively I don't doubt there are already versions that meet all of your concerns.

[CarmenSanches]

Hinduism is a product of a lot of alcohol

[Qauunet]

Originally posted by aneeshm
Because there is a lot in it that is valuable, because it can be fashioned into a great force for the good? Why do you need religion to do something good? Why can't you just do good?

[yazetaw]

Originally posted by Heresson
Hinduism is a product of a lot of alcohol Whatever soma was, it was a lot stronger than alcohol.

Aneeshm, these sorts of thoughts are the result of not eating enough meat. Your faith has fallen away from its traditions. Get back to us after sacrificing a horse, Vedic-style. It shouldn't be too hard, you've already told us that:

A. Your town is full of women, and
B. Indian women are inferior and weak.

Now you've got a year to get conquering. Indra says conquer, dammit!

[Celeliamend]

I stopped reading at "the west."

[exeftWabreava]

Enough about The West. It's time to talk about The East. Confucius clearly tells us to honor traditions and not change them; isn't Aneeshm's suggestion a flat contradiction of Eastern Values?

[Gvadelunar]

I'm always amazed, too, by those who explain Jesus' prophecies as lack of science.

What's the formula already that states whether his kingdom is of this world or not ?

[wbeachcomber]

For an exhibit of the cultural illness that Nietzsche describes in his later works like The Antechrist (but has arguably let transpire throughout his life), see :

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthrea...hreadid=165118

[dXI9XFOA]

The key here is mobility.

Nietzsche considered that we lived in a world void of tragedy, where it has been replaced by drama. To this end he quotes a revealing comment he heard after seeing a play by Sophocles - one spectator claimed that the play didn't bother to 'demonstrate' anything. Nietzsche's answer is that things are actually 'demonstrated' in the cultural context of hellenism ; what was unthinkable, and thus 'meaningless' for us, is to conceive that the tragedy strives to dignify the immanent sacrilege of man through cyclical actions.

Despite common opinion, tragic heroes are not really 'oppressed by fate'.

I wish I could have an opinion of my own, but I'm simply overwhelmed by Nietzche's brilliance.

[outdog]

Nope.