₦airaland Forum

Religion has been a mainstay of the world for as long as it began. various religious traditions have played a major role in the evolution of society. This is a look at some of the benefits that the world has received from religion.

Religion has often been viewed as a vehicle for intolerance and fundamentalism; religion has been used as an excuse for persecution and terrorism. But, religion in its purest form has provided many benefits for humanity.

Teachings of goodwill and the golden rule

“We must be bright and cheerful. Long faces do not make religion. Religion should be the most joyful thing in the world, because it is the best.”
– Swami Vivekananda

Within all religions there are teachings of goodwill to humanity. The golden rule of religious teaching is to treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves. At the World Parliament of Religions (1993), a declaration towards a Global Ethic was made. This principle was endorsed by 143 leaders from the major faiths. The simple declaration read:

“We must treat others as we wish others to treat us”
Two passages from Gospels quote Jesus Christ in espousing the Golden Rule.

“Do to others what you want them to do to you. This is the meaning of the law of Moses and the teaching of the prophets.”
– Matthew 7:12

This principle is often neglected by votaries of religion, but without ethical teachings propagated by religions, there would have been even more conflict and division in the world. Religious ethics, such as the Golden Rule do provide a reason and foundation for encouraging better human behaviour.

Role in promoting ethics in political life

It is true many adherents of religion have ignored the salient religious teachings of goodwill, and equality. But, a higher yet deeper message of religion is that man is equal before God. This principle has inspired some religious reformers to campaign against injustice. For example, in the Nineteenth Century, many of the opponents of slavery were motivated by a belief that racism and slavery were incompatible with religious teachings on the inherent divinity of all men. For example, the Quakers, and Christians like William Wilberforce sought to end slavery because they believed slavery was incompatible with Christian charity.

Inner strength

Religious faith has often been a folcrum for courageous action. For example, many who opposed Hitler’s Nazi ideology were motivated by their religious faith; this includes people like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Maximilian Kolbe and Bernhard Lichtenberg. Religious faith can be a motivational force of courage to fight oppression.

The message of forgiveness

Some of the world’s great acts of forgiveness have been driven by a religious ethic and faith in the importance of forgiveness. For example, Martin Luther King, frequently used Christian language to preach a message of peace and forgiveness. Other great leaders inspired by religious teachings on forgiveness include Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and the 14th Dalai Lama.

Man’s Thirst for the Unknowable

The religious desire to discover more about life has never departed from man. From primitive civilisations to the acme of Western civilisation, there have always been people unsatisfied with a purely materialistic interpretation of life. This has encouraged people to give priority to an inner life of prayer and meditation as well as outer achievements. Religion can give an opportunity for man to attain the ‘peace that passeth understanding’. Religion holds the promise of ultimate enlightenment.

Selfless Service

Religious teachings always lay emphasis on the need for serving our fellow man. The loftiest teaching is to do this selfless service without expectation of reward or praise, but to work with a feeling of oneness and identification with others. In its purest form, religion can inspire people to serve the welfare of others, not out of pride, but out of a sense of divine duty. This principle of selfless service is found in all the main religions and has led to the foundation of many charitable works.

Religious Music

Within the context of religion, some of the most profound, moving and sublime music has been created. Even a non-religious person can appreciate the divine sacred music of Beethoven, Bach or Schubert. In other religions there is a similar strand of richly devotional music, that has enriched human culture.

Religious Art

Pieta by Michelangelo
During the Renaissance, it was often organised religion which was the greatest patron of the arts. The Catholic church patronised some of the greatest works of Michelangelo such as the Sistine Chapel and the Pieta. The purest form of religion encourages the highest expression of the Divine through artistic form.

New thought

Religion is often linked with long-standing beliefs, but religious and spiritual movements often start off as dynamic movements, which put in place existing political, cultural and religious norms. Religious teachers, such as Jesus Christ challenged many social norms, such as caste systems and ossified social customs. Religion can become old and ossified itself, but religious leaders and new spiritual movements have the capacity to think outside the box and offer different paths for people to walk.

Conclusion

Within every religion there is outer imperfection. But, there are also teachings and a culture which can help lift up man to live a better, more fulfilling and more selfless life.

It is true that man has often misused the ideals of religion for their own selfish and wicked ends thereby making Religion a source of pride and conflict because man has acted badly in its name but these actions though erroneus do not in any away strip Religion of her true value because in the midst of all the rot there are many saints and religious figures who, inspired by religion have made a significant contribution to the world and still do of which i am one and i am Christian, Born of the Spirit of God and love it!

“Religion, like poetry, is not a mere idea, it is expression. The self-expression of God is in the endless variety of creation; and our attitude toward the Infinite Being must also in its expression have a variety of individuality – ceaseless and unending.”
– Rabindranath Tagore

in Game Of Thrones season 3 Episode 6 (The climb), at the 45th minute mark (elapse) Lord Varys strolled into the throne room and saw Lord Petyr Baelish (Littlefinger) sitting beside the iron throne in admiration

Lord Varys then talked about the history of the throne saying the throne was built by forging swords of defeated enemies over the years, he said there are 1000 different swords used for that throne

Littlefinger cut in saying its NOT up to 1000, he said its infact not even up to 200 and that he's sure cuz he's counted it

they discussed some more and the discussion got very interesting

Lord Varys said he stands for the realm

Littlefinger replies "the realm, do you know what the realm is? its the thousand blades of the enemies, the story we tell each other over and over until we forget that its a lie"

Lord Varys replies "but what do we have left when we abandon the lie? Chaos, a gaping pit waiting to swallow us all"


to be continued....

Well, the pillars are now weak and outdated, and can no longer efficiently carry the weight of the modern day society.

The pillars are also serving as a nest for harboring eggs of ignorance and delusion, which are hatching everyday and proliferating through our society in so many dangerous forms, and this is undermining it's growth and development.

These antiquated pillars of religion now need to be replaced with new pillars of intellectual honesty and open ended discussions about the true nature of reality, and how best to improve our society by encouraging favourable factors that would efficiently promote the proper physical, mental, and psychological development of our species, using the mountain of accumulated knowledge that has been gathered through history.

I have made this point before, and I'll make it again. The benefits derived from something doesn't make that thing credible. Because religion has benefits isn't a valid reason to cling on to it. Religion is a belief system and it's beliefs are rooted in lies, myths and fabrication of ignorant people. Anybody can wake up tomorrow and believe whatever crazy thing they want. Like someone totally unrelated to Mother Theresa could wake up tomorrow with the belief that he is the first son of Mother theresa, and even believe with certainty that whenever he closes his eyes and talks, that he is communicating with Mother Theresa. This belief comes with benefits. He could begin to live a life of selfless service and forgiveness, in the bid to emulate his mother. He could even begin to compose songs and be inspired to make beautiful art. But does these benefits justify his belief that he is the first son of Mother Theresa? Of course not. Anyone who listens to him would know that he is in dire need of mental rehabilitation. But this is the exact picture of religion.

For every advantage of religion you listed, there are equal disadvantages. And you know the funny thing? The advantages of religion can be gotten from other more efficient sources, but the disadvantages and harm it brings, and the degree in which they come, can only be derived from religion.

Pillar? Ex-pillar can be a lil bit appropriate.

raphieMontella:
Pillar?
Ex-pillar can be a lil bit appropriate.

I am not sure you fully grasped the OP

without religion, mankind will Self destruct.

GrizzlyBear:
Well, the pillars are now weak and outdated, and can no longer efficiently carry the weight of the modern day society.

The pillars are also serving as a nest for harboring eggs of ignorance and delusion, which are hatching everyday and proliferating through our society in so many dangerous forms, and this is undermining it's growth and development.

Sorry to disappoint but the Pillars are still there. In man's inmost nature, originally and radically, there are certain principles of religion extremely strong and ineradicable.

That these, without the guidance of revelation and faith, are altogether inadequate as guides in his real relation to God. Man's natural helplessness, and his natural conscience, necessarily imply a capacity for religion and a certain religiousness, appertaining, of necessity, to human nature, and developed, in peculiar strength, even in heathen worship. In the progress of modern civilisation man may emancipate himself from the solemn awe with which the heathen contemplate the powers of nature, but if he rise not to a holy veneration of the one Supreme Author of nature, as a revealed and reconciled God, it is very questionable whether he does not become in some respects a more shallow and trifling being than the worshipper of idols. We might very easily maintain and prove the assertion, that godless men, in the days and in the state of society in which we live, are more thoroughly irreligious than the heathen are : that covetousness, which is idolatry, is more contemptible than the worship of stocks and stones. Two facts conspire to make man naturally and necessarily a religious being.

1. His observation of the powers of nature.

2. His experience of the powers of conscience.

The purpose of the OP is to shed light to these.

peacesamuel94:
without religion, mankind will Self destruct.

There are societies today that prove this argument wrong.

hopefulLandlord:
in Game Of Thrones season 3 Episode (The climb), at the 45th minute mark (elapse) Lord Varys strolled into the throne room and saw Lord Petyr Baelish (Littlefinger) sitting beside the iron throne in admiration

Lord Varys then talked about the history of the throne saying the throne was built by forging swords of defeated enemies over the years, he said there are 1000 different swords used for that throne

Littlefinger cut in saying its NOT up to 1000, he said its infact not even up to 200 and that he's sure cuz he's counted it

they discussed some more and the discussion got very interesting

Lord Varys said he stands for the realm

Littlefinger replies "the realm, do you know what the realm is? its the thousand blades of the enemies, the story we tell each other over and over until we forget that its a lie"

Lord Varys replies "but what do we have left when we abandon the lie? Chaos, a gaping pit waiting to swallow us all"


to be continued....

You do realize that reality and the fantasy of the movies are 2 separate things. Movies are scripted but reality isn't. You can stop now and let us reason based on reality and not the movies.

naijadeyhia:
Sorry to disappoint but the Pillars are still there. In man's inmost nature, originally and radically, there are certain principles of religion extremely strong and ineradicable.

That these, without the guidance of revelation and faith, are altogether inadequate as guides in his real relation to God. Man's natural helplessness, and his natural conscience, necessarily imply a capacity for religion and a certain religiousness, appertaining, of necessity, to human nature, and developed, in peculiar strength, even in heathen worship. In the progress of modern civilisation man may emancipate himself from the solemn awe with which the heathen contemplate the powers of nature, but if he rise not to a holy veneration of the one Supreme Author of nature, as a revealed and reconciled God, it is very questionable whether he does not become in some respects a more shallow and trifling being than the worshipper of idols. We might very easily maintain and prove the assertion, that godless men, in the days and in the state of society in which we live, are more thoroughly irreligious than the heathen are : that covetousness, which is idolatry, is more contemptible than the worship of stocks and stones. Two facts conspire to make man naturally and necessarily a religious being.

1. His observation of the powers of nature.

2. His experience of the powers of conscience.

The purpose of the OP is to shed light to these.

It's funny that you are using human conscience as a proof that man has been naturally endowed with a capacity for religion, as you put it.

Our present moral scruples, or what you call conscience, are a product of our evolutionary history, and not a proof that we have an innate aptitude for religion

And where did you copy your above post from? I hate replying to plagiarized posts. Be original. Learn to think and argue independently. Jeez.

Lennycool:
There are societies today that prove this argument wrong.

Even those societies subscribe to the ideals already laid down by religion. No society grew from Barbarism to self subsistence while skipping Religion. Those who removed Religious ideals like freedom, tolerance, forgiveness, ended badly and we already know some of them.

A lie is a lie

GrizzlyBear:
It's funny that you are using human conscience as a proof that man has been naturally endowed with a capacity for religion, as you put it.

Our present moral scruples, or what you call conscience, are a product of our evolutionary history, and not a proof that we have an innate aptitude for religion

And where did you copy your above post from? I hate replying to plagiarized posts. Be original and argue independently. Jeez.

My Original Post is a mirror to the second. You need to read between the lines to see it and not in its raw form. The essence of the OP is to expose closed minds and educate those who wish to see. You are obviously one of the close minded as you would have known that i do not subscribe to evolution. Thanks for your comment.

naijadeyhia:
You do realize that reality and the fantasy of the movies are 2 separate things. Movies are scripted but reality isn't. You can stop now and let us reason based on reality and not the movies.

your blood is always hot

you've not even seen where I'm going with this

I'm yet to pass my point across and you're already shooting my yet to be made point down

can't you be a bit calm for a moment and let me land?

have you even watched game of thrones?


anyways its your thread enjoy, I'm out

GrizzlyBear:
Well, the pillars are now weak and outdated, and can no longer efficiently carry the weight of the modern day society.

The pillars are also serving as a nest for harboring eggs of ignorance and delusion, which are hatching everyday and proliferating through our society in so many dangerous forms, and this is undermining it's growth and development.

These antiquated pillars of religion now have to be replaced with new pillars of intellectual honesty and open ended discussions about the through nature of reality, and how best to improve our society by providing favourable factors that would efficiently promote the proper physical, mental, and psychological development of our species, using the mountain of accumulated knowledge that has been gathered through history.

I have made this point before, and I'll make it again. The benefits derived from something doesn't make that thing credible. Because religion has benefits isn't a valid reason to cling on to it. Religion is a belief system and it's beliefs are rooted in lies, myths and fabrication of ignorant people. Any body can wake up tomorrow and believe whatever crazy thing they want. Like someone totally unrelated to Mother Theresa could wake up tomorrow with the belief that he is the first son of Mother theresa. And even believe with certainty that whenever he closes his eyes and talks, that he is communicating with Mother Theresa. This belief comes with benefits. He could begin to live a life of selfless service and forgiveness, in the bid to emulate his mother. He could even begin to compose songs and be inspired to make beautiful art. But does these benefits justify his belief that he is the first son of Mother Theresa? Of course not. Anyone who listens to him would know that he is in dire need of mental rehabilitation. But this is the exact picture of religion.

For every advantage of religion you listed, there are equal disadvantages. And you know the funny thing? The advantages of religion can be gotten from other more efficient sources, but the disadvantages and harm it brings, and the degree in which they come, can only be derived from religion.

At the bolded. Can you list out these other "more efficient" sources?

naijadeyhia:
Sorry to disappoint but the Pillars are still there. In man's inmost nature, originally and radically, there are certain principles of religion extremely strong and ineradicable.

That these, without the guidance of revelation and faith, are altogether inadequate as guides in his real relation to God. Man's natural helplessness, and his natural conscience, necessarily imply a capacity for religion and a certain religiousness, appertaining, of necessity, to human nature, and developed, in peculiar strength, even in heathen worship. In the progress of modern civilisation man may emancipate himself from the solemn awe with which the heathen contemplate the powers of nature, but if he rise not to a holy veneration of the one Supreme Author of nature, as a revealed and reconciled God, it is very questionable whether he does not become in some respects a more shallow and trifling being than the worshipper of idols. We might very easily maintain and prove the assertion, that godless men, in the days and in the state of society in which we live, are more thoroughly irreligious than the heathen are : that covetousness, which is idolatry, is more contemptible than the worship of stocks and stones. Two facts conspire to make man naturally and necessarily a religious being.

1. His observation of the powers of nature.

2. His experience of the powers of conscience.

The purpose of the OP is to shed light to these.

Religion might have once played a role in human progress but today it has largely been displaced by science.
The bolded is an indication of the ignorance behind religion. Anything that cannot be explained is chalked up to God. Once it was the Sun's movement and earthquakes and stars and rain and diseases. But today we understand these things and God has been displaced, as science progresses God will have no where to hide, but in the minds of those that conjure him up. One day religion will end, it is a certainty.

Lennycool:
Religion might have once played a role in human progress but today it has largely been displaced by science.
The bolded is an indication of the ignorance behind religion. Anything that cannot be explained is chalked up to God. Once it was the Sun's movement and earthquakes and stars and rain and diseases. But today we understand these things and God has been displaced, as science progresses God will have no where to hide, but in the minds of those that conjure him up. One day religion will end, it is a certainty.

Religion answers many questions we may have, and science does something similar. Science answers how. Religion answers why. In my opinion science and religion go hand in hand. The more science reveals about this world, the more it can strengthen our faith. The problem arises when people like you feel that science answers all of our questions. Like: How we got here. But it does not answer, why we are here, what is the purpose. Religion fills that hole, it explains God's purpose for the world, and why the world is in such a state. Why is the important question. How is interesting, but it's not everything. We need why, and can just add to our amazement. In my opinion Science will never replace religion as long as people are asking why, and religion will never replace science, as long a people ask how. Bottomline there can be no HOW without a WHY and Religion is the WHY!

Lennycool:
Religion might have once played a role in human progress but today it has largely been displaced by science.
The bolded is an indication of the ignorance behind religion. Anything that cannot be explained is chalked up to God. Once it was the Sun's movement and earthquakes and stars and rain and diseases. But today we understand these things and God has been displaced, as science progresses God will have no where to hide, but in the minds of those that conjure him up. One day religion will end, it is a certainty.

Science does not refute God . The existence of the universe/nature serves as evidence for God .

naijadeyhia:
The more science reveals about this world, the more it can strengthen our faith.

Exactly ! For me , artificial intelligence made me appreciate intelligence in Nature more . That's why I asked how in AI nature is emulated and the products of this emulation of Nature are described as intelligent and designed but not nature itself We study nature and try to replicate our findings in AIs , pretty cool .

naijadeyhia:
My Original Post is a mirror to the second. You need to read between the lines to see it and not in its raw form. The essence of the OP is to expose closed minds and educate those who wish to see. You are obviously one of the close minded as you would have known that i do not subscribe to evolution. Thanks for your comment.

Well, always post your sources.
http://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/martin/natural_religion_its_strength_and_weakness.htm

And it's quite funny that you are referring to me as close minded, while you claim to be wearing the garment of open mindedness.

I am close minded, but I decided to painstakingly read the history and origin of your religion, something you haven't done before, and I compared it's history with the history of other religions and belief systems. I am close minded, but I decided to put aside the religious beliefs I was indoctrinated into, and critically examine it's contents. I am close minded but I am always open to ideas that conflict with the ones I hold dear, and I am open to discussing honestly about these ideas, and open to changing my mind if I am persuaded by reason and evidence.

But you claim to be open minded, yet you view your world through the lens of a 4000 year old book, and you zealously oppose any idea that contradicts it's claims. You claim to be open minded but you openly asked every NL Christian to stop replying to my threads or clicking on them. You claim to be open minded but you always evade examining the patent flaws of your religion by making ad-hominem attacks.

You claim to be open minded, but instead of you to try to examine your precious indoctrinated beliefs using your own independent intuitions, you scour the web looking for old articles that support your views, so that you can plagiarize them.

GrizzlyBear:
Well, always post your sources.
http://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/martin/natural_religion_its_strength_and_weakness.htm

And it's quite funny that you are referring to me as close minded, while you claim to be wearing the garment of open-mindedness.

I am close minded, but I decided to painstakingly read the history and origin of your religion, something you haven't done, and I compared it's history with the history of other religions and belief systems. I am close minded, but I decided to put aside the religious beliefs I was indoctrinated into and critically examine it's contents. I am close minded but I am always open to ideas that conflict with the ones I hold dear, and I am open to discussing honestly about these ideas and to change my mind if I am persuaded by reason and evidence.

But you claim to be open-minded, yet you view your world from the lens of a 4000 year old book, and you zealously oppose any idea that contradicts it's claims. You claim to be open minded but you openly asked every NL Christian to stop replying to my threads or clicking on them. You claim to be open minded but you always evade examining the patent flaws of your religion by making ad-hominem attacks.

You claim to be open minded, but instead of you to try to examine your precious indoctrinated beliefs using your own independent intuitions, you scour the web looking for old articles that support your views, so that you can plagiarize them.

Thanks for posting the source of my second post. My First post was put together based on that second post and only a true critical thinker can break down the codes and subtle messages i put into it. You couldnt which was why i called you closeminded.

I do not need to do away with what i believe in via experience. Only people without any personal experiences can put away their beliefs for those things they have not also experienced.

Its like a scientist denying his own experiments which yielded personally positive results and embracing the hear say of another whose experiments he has not personally experienced and approved.

KingEbukasBlog:
Exactly ! For me , artificial intelligence made me appreciate intelligence in Nature more . That's why I asked how in AI nature is emulated and the products of this emulation of Nature are described as intelligent and designed but not nature itself We study nature and try to replicate our findings in AIs , pretty cool .

Very true! AIs are seen as super intelligent and well put together however the same people deny that the source of this inspiration isnt intelligent and well put together but flawed. Something is wrong somewhere.

How can anyone deny the source of his inspiration yet acknowledge that which was copied from it as being of greater value than the blueprint? Are we not missing something?

Lennycool:
There are societies today that prove this argument wrong.

USA , Russia , Germany , Norway , Switzerland , Denmark . In fact the biggest nations in the world are Christian dominated , China would soon join . And in the US alone only 3 percent of its population are atheists so what is this one saying

KingEbukasBlog:
Science does not refute God . The existence of the universe/nature serves as evidence for God .

neither does it accept God

naijadeyhia:
Very true! AIs are seen as super intelligent and well put together however the same people deny that the source of this inspiration isnt intelligent and well put together but flawed. Something is wrong somewhere.

How can anyone deny the source of his inspiration yet acknowledge that which was copied from it as being of greater value than the blueprint? Are we not missing something?

so AIs are perfect?

theoneJabulani:
neither does it accept God

Nature does not "accept" God? Really?

I will not bore you with too much but let me briefly say this;

Psalm 139:13 reads, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Believers gravitate to this profound expression of God’s control with amazement and comfort. At the same time, modern science can describe in increasing detail how the human form arises from the unfolding of specific genes and progresses through stages without "apparent" intervention by God.

These two ideas may seem in conflict. But the fact that a baby’s development can be described by natural mechanisms does not negate that God caused it to happen. They are both true! The essential implication is that God’s sovereign control and natural processes are enacted at the same time, and both are simultaneously true descriptions.

This is the simple HOW and WHY!

theoneJabulani:
neither does it accept God

Science says the universe has a cause and a beginning and you don't see it as an acceptance of a transcendent immaterial realm .

theoneJabulani:
so AIs are perfect?

Where did i indicate that AIs are perfect?

naijadeyhia:
Religion has been a mainstay of the world for as long as it began. various religious traditions have played a major role in the evolution of society. This is a look at some of the benefits that the world has received from religion.

Religion has often been viewed as a vehicle for intolerance and fundamentalism; religion has been used as an excuse for persecution and terrorism. But, religion in its purest form has provided many benefits for humanity.

Teachings of goodwill and the golden rule

“We must be bright and cheerful. Long faces do not make religion. Religion should be the most joyful thing in the world, because it is the best.”
– Swami Vivekananda

Within all religions there are teachings of goodwill to humanity. The golden rule of religious teaching is to treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves. At the World Parliament of Religions (1993), a declaration towards a Global Ethic was made. This principle was endorsed by 143 leaders from the major faiths. The simple declaration read:

“We must treat others as we wish others to treat us”
Two passages from Gospels quote Jesus Christ in espousing the Golden Rule.

“Do to others what you want them to do to you. This is the meaning of the law of Moses and the teaching of the prophets.”
– Matthew 7:12

This principle is often neglected by votaries of religion, but without ethical teachings propagated by religions, there would have been even more conflict and division in the world. Religious ethics, such as the Golden Rule do provide a reason and foundation for encouraging better human behaviour.

Role in promoting ethics in political life

It is true many adherents of religion have ignored the salient religious teachings of goodwill, and equality. But, a higher yet deeper message of religion is that man is equal before God. This principle has inspired some religious reformers to campaign against injustice. For example, in the Nineteenth Century, many of the opponents of slavery were motivated by a belief that racism and slavery were incompatible with religious teachings on the inherent divinity of all men. For example, the Quakers, and Christians like William Wilberforce sought to end slavery because they believed slavery was incompatible with Christian charity.

Inner strength

Religious faith has often been a folcrum for courageous action. For example, many who opposed Hitler’s Nazi ideology were motivated by their religious faith; this includes people like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Maximilian Kolbe and Bernhard Lichtenberg. Religious faith can be a motivational force of courage to fight oppression.

The message of forgiveness

Some of the world’s great acts of forgiveness have been driven by a religious ethic and faith in the importance of forgiveness. For example, Martin Luther King, frequently used Christian language to preach a message of peace and forgiveness. Other great leaders inspired by religious teachings on forgiveness include Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and the 14th Dalai Lama.

Man’s Thirst for the Unknowable

The religious desire to discover more about life has never departed from man. From primitive civilisations to the acme of Western civilisation, there have always been people unsatisfied with a purely materialistic interpretation of life. This has encouraged people to give priority to an inner life of prayer and meditation as well as outer achievements. Religion can give an opportunity for man to attain the ‘peace that passeth understanding’. Religion holds the promise of ultimate enlightenment.

Selfless Service

Religious teachings always lay emphasis on the need for serving our fellow man. The loftiest teaching is to do this selfless service without expectation of reward or praise, but to work with a feeling of oneness and identification with others. In its purest form, religion can inspire people to serve the welfare of others, not out of pride, but out of a sense of divine duty. This principle of selfless service is found in all the main religions and has led to the foundation of many charitable works.

Religious Music

Within the context of religion, some of the most profound, moving and sublime music has been created. Even a non-religious person can appreciate the divine sacred music of Beethoven, Bach or Schubert. In other religions there is a similar strand of richly devotional music, that has enriched human culture.

Religious Art

Pieta by Michelangelo
During the Renaissance, it was often organised religion which was the greatest patron of the arts. The Catholic church patronised some of the greatest works of Michelangelo such as the Sistine Chapel and the Pieta. The purest form of religion encourages the highest expression of the Divine through artistic form.

New thought

Religion is often linked with long-standing beliefs, but religious and spiritual movements often start off as dynamic movements, which put in place existing political, cultural and religious norms. Religious teachers, such as Jesus Christ challenged many social norms, such as caste systems and ossified social customs. Religion can become old and ossified itself, but religious leaders and new spiritual movements have the capacity to think outside the box and offer different paths for people to walk.

Conclusion

Within every religion there is outer imperfection. But, there are also teachings and a culture which can help lift up man to live a better, more fulfilling and more selfless life.

It is true that man has often misused the ideals of religion for their own selfish and wicked ends thereby making Religion a source of pride and conflict because man has acted badly in its name but these actions though erroneus do not in any away strip Religion of her true value because in the midst of all the rot there are many saints and religious figures who, inspired by religion have made a significant contribution to the world and still do of which i am one and i am Christian, Born of the Spirit of God and love it!


“Religion, like poetry, is not a mere idea, it is expression. The self-expression of God is in the endless variety of creation; and our attitude toward the Infinite Being must also in its expression have a variety of individuality – ceaseless and unending.”
– Rabindranath Tagore

Another compilation of crapy and cracked pillars.

Golden rule or filthy rule?

I certainly will not allow myself, to be treated by a schizophrenic folk, who treats himself in schizophrenic realm.

naijadeyhia:
Nature does not "accept" God? Really?

I will not bore you with too much but let me briefly say this;

Psalm 139:13 reads, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Believers gravitate to this profound expression of God’s control with amazement and comfort. At the same time, modern science can describe in increasing detail how the human form arises from the unfolding of specific genes and progresses through stages without "apparent" intervention by God.

These two ideas may seem in conflict. But the fact that a baby’s development can be described by natural mechanisms does not negate that God caused it to happen. They are both true! The essential implication is that God’s sovereign control and natural processes are enacted at the same time, and both are simultaneously true descriptions.

This is the simple HOW and WHY!

seriously? We are talking about science and nature and u refer me to the bible?

Lennycool:
There are societies today that prove this argument wrong.

Secular societies can not be said to be totally free from religion, just that they don't take it seriously.
Most of these so called secular nations formulate constitutions that have traces of religious influence.