Do you think "religion" inhibits us?

If we got past the dogma of strict religion and focused on the remarkable similarities in all the different branches of doctrine that blanket the planet do you think human kind would find a 'higher truth' or evolve spiritually?

I just want to see people's opinions on this.

xox
Sika

Not at all - To me, as Jesus said, He came that we may have Life and have it more abundantly - if we're focused on Him, and not ceremony, rites, and those distractions, we'll be fine...Take care !!

A higher Truth. . . I don't think Human kind as a whole would find a common higher truth if it bite them. . . The only way to do so would be with One universal culture and that would kinda throw free will out the window.

I read about an Eastern mystic, Indian I think, who said he believed that throughout history, Western Christian monks and ascetics had advanced more in spiritual development than his own Eastern brethren. He based this on what he read from their writings about life in solitude and encounters with God. He said he also believed that Eastern monks would really have liked to get to know their Western counterparts.

So to answer your question, yes. Not only would eliminating such doctrine lessen the number of religious wars, it would also allow people like this author, as well as the rest of us, to talk more openly about our religious experiences and come to a greater understanding.

If people focused more on spirituality and not religion, I think things would be much better. I do not consider myself of any certain religion. Many people have tried classifying my views and describe me as a pagan, druid, or a spiritualist, but I don't like to be classified, because I believe what I think is true, not what someone previously laid out for us to believe.

Good question!

I'm not certain if human kind would find a higher truth or evolve more spiritually, but certainly the world would be a more peaceful place. Look at the Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland... they hate each other's guts, just because they are from a different religion, yet Catholicism and Protestantism isn't too dissimilar and they share a lot of the same beliefs. I can only shake my head and ask, 'Why Is It So?'

In Christianity, being a Christian revolves around keeping ones eyes upon Jesus, and by following his example, he has done everything else for us. We need only to learn how to be led by the Spirit of the Living God, and that takes time, and practice and effort on our part, however what ever that is required of us, is nothing compared to the benefits that God gives, both on earth, and then in heaven when we leave here. In no way, do I consider myself 'inhibited', on the other hand, I consider the experience that I have had with the Lord, to be the most important thing in my life, greater even than the wonderful marriage that I have had, for over 33 years, and also, greater than my beautiful children and grandchildren, whom I adore. Jesus is my everything, and I have pity for anyone that stops at rules and regulations, without ever finding the truth behind them, which is him. He is the way, the truth and the life. And if you ever tap into him, you will never, be the same again. He is life, and power, and excitement all wrapped into one. He is love. Forgiveness. Peace. Contentment. Perserverance. Patience. Joy. Comfort. My Teacher. My best friend. My adovcate with the Father. You name it, he is it. And there is no comparison to dead, dry religion. NONE>

Hell, yeah...dogma is 'interpetation'...people have fought over somebody's 'opinion' since the beginning of time...if the bottom line of religions were laid out for all to see, it'd be pretty near impossible not to see the 'thee in me'... just that evening of the religious field, is a higher 'spirtual place.

Did ya know, there was a time in the middle ages, that there were TWO popes...and they excommunicated...EACH OTHER!! Over dogma...nothin' else.

phrannie

No I don't, many new religions would form and we would inevitable just begin the process anew. I think if everyone followed their religions like they're supposed to then there would be peace. Jesus taught acceptance, but most people don't seem to care.

By the way, calothlics and protestants are figting in Ireland because of things the protestants in England did to the catholics in Ireland.

Yes, the Northern Ireland problem is history and politics influencing religion, not religious beliefs in themselves. Still awful, though...

I think religion can inhibit and free. It can be beautiful and terrible. Without religion, I don't think people would find a 'higher truth' because I don't think there is any higher truth to find than what actually exists. I think people would change but they'd probably just find new ways to justify what they do - both good and bad.

I do not like the label that has been placed on religion. I am a follower of Jesus Christ who happens to go to a Baptist church. I don't care if you are catholic, pentacostal, methodist, or jewish, I only want to know what you have done with Jesus Christ. The most important thing is that you have repented of sin and placed your faith in Jesus. When you do that, Jesus takes over, and you have a desire to study his word and obey it.

I'm not talking about Jesus or God at all (or any other deity for that matter or religious text).

I'm talking about spiritual awareness and awakening.
Would Humanity as a whole find a higher truth together if we did away with 'religion'?

I'm talking about that 'feeling' or maybe it's a 7th sense.

xox
Sika

well, prophet, maybe you should leave jewish off your list. lol.

Can I suggest that the American circle square ranches geometric logo can be expressed figuratively as enabling thinking outside the box to promote being a well rounded person tolerant to social acceptance beyond the inhibitions of religion but you have to decide where to draw that circle of a line and at the corners it should intersect with orthodox thinking to prevent personal and social chaos. Just my 2D thinking, extend that to 3D to accomodate life's possible complications that allow civilisation the necessity of educated professional career involvement and the like. For instance of inhibition overcome, long term heterosexual monogamy without children is basically sharing God's gift of sexuality between man and woman, marriage is religiously correct to accomodate the legitimacy of birth for baptismal rights of a child and that thinking is not very divergent at that corner of thinking.