Quote by MnemethWell thats
kinda a misrepresentation seeing as 90+% of deaths attributed to religion can actaully be traced farther back to one of
two main factors: 1. money (equaling land, booty, etc...) and 2. power (self-explanatory). Religion was basically
nothing more than a tool and as such has gotten a pretty poor rap for it.
Not 90+% ^_^'
In accordance with the prophetic vision, Babylon the Great is the great whore that has led nations, peoples, and tribes
into bloody wars, crusades, and vendettas, blessing them with incantations, holy water, prayers, and fiery patriotic
speeches. (Revelation 18:24)
The "holy" Crusades (1096-1270), the Thirty Years' War in Europe (1618-48), two world wars, and the
slaughter of some 200,000 Hindus and Muslims on the partition of India (1947) are just a few examples of religion's
bloodguilt...
False religion continues to contribute to the bloodbath "of all those who have been slaughtered on the
earth."
Quote: Actually I would sum it up much more simply. Can we live together
peacefully accepting that we will disagree at times in our beliefs and actions? After all we are kinda stuck together on
this rock (and will be for the near future).
Sad to say but it's impossible for man to live together peacefully with different religion... but I know we'll
both agree Mnemeth that God soon will destroy false religions & unite all people in one form of worship--in the
coming New World... :)
Quote: As for me being raised as a Methodist and educated (grade school
and high-school) as Catholic, its provided a rather interesting look at the multitude of differences between Protestants
and Catholics, within the different Protestant religions, between Christianity and other religions (mostly Judaism and
Islam although we did touch on other religions (Taoism, Buddhism, Hindu, etc...) and in recent history the multitude of
differences between members of the same base religion (mostly Islam seeing as I had already seen most of the different
groups within Christianity). I find that the funny thing is Christianity, Islam, and Judaism all trace back to the same
roots (i.e. technically the same God, regardless of name) and differ basically on 1 key issue; Whether or not God sent
his son to earth (Christianity = yes Jesus was the son of God, Islam = no but Jesus was in fact a great prophet who
foretold Mohammad (sp?), Judaism = still waiting for the son of God) All the other differences can be directly
associated with when the different religions separated in their history. The Eastern religions seem to be much more
nature based and I only know a small amount about them. I am also unaware of them being used as tools for war although I
know that several of those religions were persecuted for political reasons at various
times.
Yeah, but among all the teachings & books they're using, only the Bible holds the truth & accurateness...
:)
Jehovah God is far more different to allah...
Eastern religion has also a bloodguilt, State Shinto was equipped with its idol as well. "Every morning, I clapped
my hands toward the sun, the symbol of the goddess Amaterasu Omikami, and then faced east toward the Imperial Palace and
worshiped the emperor," recalls Masato, an older Japanese man. The emperor was worshiped as god by his subjects. He
was viewed as supreme politically and religiously by reason of his descent from the sun-goddess. One Japanese professor
stated: "The Emperor is god revealed in men. He is manifest Deity."
As a result, the teaching was developed that "the center of this phenomenal world is the Mikado's
[Emperor's] land. From this center we must expand this Great Spirit throughout the world. . . . The expansion of
Great Japan throughout the world and the elevation of the entire world into the land of the Gods is the urgent business
of the present and, again, it is our eternal and unchanging object." (The Political Philosophy of Modern Shinto, by
D. C. Holtom) There was no separation of Church and State there!
In his book Man's Religions, John B. Noss comments: "The Japanese military were not slow in availing
themselves of this point of view. They made it part of their war talk that conquest was the holy mission of Japan.
Certainly in such words we may see the logical outcome of a nationalism infused with all the values of religion."
What tragedy was sown for the Japanese and for other peoples, based mainly on the Shinto myth of the divinity of the
emperor and the mixing of religion with nationalism! >_>
The Japanese in general did not have any alternative but to worship the emperor under State Shinto and its imperial
system. Norinaga Motoori's teaching of 'Ask nothing, but submit to divine providence' permeated and
controlled Japanese thinking. By 1941 the whole nation was mobilized into the war effort of World War II under the
banner of State Shinto and in dedication to the "living man-god." 'Japan is a divine nation,' the
people thought, 'and the kamikaze, the divine wind, will blow when there is a crisis.' Soldiers and their
families petitioned their guardian gods for success in the war... -_-
When the "divine" nation was defeated in 1945, under the twin blows of the atomic annihilation of Hiroshima
and much of Nagasaki, Shinto faced a severe crisis. Overnight, the supposedly invincible divine ruler Hirohito became
simply the defeated human emperor. Japanese faith was shattered. Kamikaze had failed the nation. States the encyclopedia
Nihon Shukyo Jiten: "One of the reasons was the nation's disappointment at being betrayed. . . . Worse yet,
the Shinto world gave no religiously advanced and appropriate explanation of doubts that resulted from [defeat]. Thus,
the religiously immature reaction of 'There is no god or Buddha' became the general trend."
The course that State Shinto trod highlights the need for each individual to investigate the traditional beliefs to
which he adheres. Shintoists may have sought a way of harmony with their Japanese neighbors when they supported
militarism. That, of course, did not contribute to worldwide harmony, and with their breadwinners and young ones killed
in battle, neither did it bring domestic harmony. Before we dedicate our lives to someone, we must make sure to whom and
to what cause we are offering ourselves. "I entreat you," said a Christian teacher to Romans who had
previously been given to emperor worship, "to present your bodies a sacrifice living, holy, acceptable to God, a
sacred service with your power of reason." Just as the Roman Christians were to use their power of reason to choose
to whom they should dedicate themselves, it is vital to use our power of reason to determine whom we should worship.
(Romans 12:1, 2)
For Shintoists in general, the important factor in their religion was not the specific identification of one god.
"For the common people," says Hidenori Tsuji, an instructor of Japanese religious history, "gods or
Buddhas did not make any difference. Be they gods or Buddhas, as long as they heard supplications for a good crop,
eradication of disease, and family safety, that was sufficient for the people." But did that lead them to the true
God and his blessing? History's answer is clear...
__________________________
Quote by DarkRoseofHellWorld War One and Two has nothing to do with
religion. If they're killing their own kind or believers because of religion, that is hypcrisy. With the World War,
it was partially because the people ordered them to, and partially because of political power and what
not.
Yeah, you're right...they're not killing their own kind or believers because of religion, but did you
understand my point? False religion supports war... Indeed, the clergy of Christendom have been the most prominent
members of Satan's seed...
"Hitler . . . had a Catholic as Vice-Chancellor and from practically the first day of the regime Franz von Papen
became the drummer to attract the Catholic factions to a support of the new Reich. In every part of the Reich von Papen
was to be heard exhorting the faithful to blind obedience to Adolf Hitler."
"In early 1933 the following official announcement was made by the body corporate of Catholic action and thought in
Germany, then led by [Franz] von Papen: 'We German Catholics will stand, with all our soul and our full
convictions, behind Adolf Hitler and his Government. We wonder at his love for fatherland, his energy and his
statesmanly wisdom. . . . German Catholicism . . . must take an active part in the building-up of the Third
Reich.'"
Franz von Papen was instrumental in achieving a concordat between the Nazi government he served in Germany and the
Vatican in Rome. The concordat was signed July 20, 1933. A special communique stated: "Cardinal and Secretary of
State Pacelli [later Pope Pius XII] to-day bestowed on Vice-Chancellor von Papen, the Grand Cross of the Order of Pius .
. . Vice-Chancellor von Papen presented to the Cardinal Secretary of State a Madonna of White Meissen Porcelain as a
gift of the Reichs Government. . . . All gifts bore the dedication: 'A memento of the Reich Concordat
1933.'"--All quotes taken from Franz von Papen--His Life and Times, by
H. W. Blood-Ryan.
Quote: Your summaries are beyond a biased point of view. You've done
is mostly summarize the points of conflict and if not, you also "make" stuff to support your own
ideas.
How I became a biased if I'm only telling the truth?
Quote: Also, you can actually consider confucionism a religion, or belief.
There doesn't have to be a god to be a religion. Confucionism was brough upon by confucious. He taught about stuff
that even a bible has. Morality and knowledge. One quote or proverb or whatever you want to call it. Of three people,
they're all my teachers. Whether they're good or bad, I can learn something from each one of them. If you
don't know what this means, then wow...
Confucianism fails to satisfy one's spiritual needs; nor has it brought lasting peace and happiness. Confucianism
has been labeled as feudalistic, promoting a slave mentality to keep people, especially women, under
subjection...
It had a favorable attitude toward ancestor worship and placed great emphasis on the observance of the rites and
ceremonies relating to the spirits of departed ancestors...
Its role as a religion has been reduced to the status of a national monument. In China at Ch'u-fou, the birthplace
of Confucius, the State maintains the Temple of Confucius and family grounds as tourist attractions. There, according to
the magazine China Reconstructs, performances are put on "reenacting a ritual of worship for Confucius." And
in Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other places in eastern Asia, people still celebrate Confucius'
birthday...
In Confucianism and Taoism, we see how a system based on human wisdom and reasoning, no matter how logical and
well-meaning, ultimately falls short in the search for the true God. Why? Because it
leaves out one essential element, namely, the will and requirements of a personal God. Confucianism turns to
human nature as the motivating force to do good, and Taoism turns to nature itself. But this is misplaced confidence
because it simply amounts to worshiping created things rather than the Creator...
_________________________________
Quote by ProgramZEROWell,
first we would have to establish a purpose for religion so that it can be measured. I think we should ask ourselves what
puspose religion serves in the world before we go about measuring it.
Nice point, we need to know what purposes of each religion so that it can be measured...
Some people think religion's purpose is just to make good men. Their view is: "If one is sincere in his
religion, that is all that is expected of him." Others view religion as a drug for the mentally distressed or a
help to those in trouble. They say: "All these religions fit some people's needs; if they are doing good, that
is fine!" Still others who think just having the name "Christian" is sufficient say: "They are just
different roads, all going to the same place." Hence, it is often proposed that these various roads be fused into a
broad middle way, a uniting of all religions. These are wrong views...
However, true worship and right doctrine are of vital importance...
Some claim to see good in all religions; hence, they feel no real need to seek out the true religion. Such individuals
should heed the warning given by the prophet Isaiah, who wrote: "Woe to those who are saying that good is bad and
bad is good, those who are putting darkness for light and light for darkness, those who are putting bitter for sweet and
sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20) False religion has
produced what is bad for humanity. It has resulted in spiritual darkness and has left a bitter taste in the mouths of
honesthearted people...
______________________________
Quote by GreomerThis is a very
quick summary which shows that maybe you haven't read about this religion much and you have made a really hasty
assumption or that you are confused. I will not say to you which the truth is. If you want, go and find it. I don't
like preaching anyway... :D :D
I'm familiar with those religions... :) and those posts are true and history testifies it... :)
Quote: As for your question...
How religion should be measured....
The answer lies within you. There is no measure. When you feel right and full in yourself, then you have found your
religion. You have found the heavy and true religion. When you don't, you have found the fake and light
religion.
I know the answer, but I want to know other's view... :) As for my religion, yes I've found it, but how about
the others?
God well knew that man would need something to guide him. He knew that there would be many deceptive paths leading in
different directions that would thoroughly confuse people. They would have to have something that would unerringly point
out the right path and would be a dependable light for their feet. He provided it by giving mankind the Bible.
"Your word is a lamp to my foot, and a light to my roadway." (Psalm 119:105)
Proverbs 4:18, 19 says: "The path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and
lighter until the day is firmly established. The way of the wicked ones is like the gloom; they have not known at what
they keep stumbling."
Quote: One tip. Don't try to understand religion because everything
that has to do with it, is out of everyone's knowledge. Try to accept a little more...
:)
The only way a person can stay on the right path is to follow the righteous principles and instructions of God's
Word. He must walk carefully, permitting the Bible to expose false paths and to illuminate the right way. To ignore it
is like stumbling through a swamp in total darkness. Is it any wonder, then, that so many people do not know where they
are actually headed? Jesus truly said: "He that walks in the darkness does not know where he is going." (John
12:35)
No one can be sure he is on the right path by leaning upon his own understanding. What may seem right to him may
actually be wrong, because it is contrary to the laws of the supreme Sovereign. That is why it is written: "There
exists a way that is upright before a man, but the ways of death are the end of it afterward." (Proverbs 14:12) It
is only by using the truths of the Scriptures that a person can be certain what path is right and what is wrong and
deceptive...
______________________________________
Quote by rorenzuthru
influence...
but comparing one religion to another would only lead to arguement and won't even give you clear answers, it would
just lead to your own conclusions....
The true religion can also be identified by the fruitage it bears. Jesus Christ explained that there is one outstanding
feature by which it can be recognized, saying: "By this
all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves." (John 13:35) Does your
religion produce this fruitage of love? Does it inspire its people genuinely to love one another, regardless of the race
or nationality to which they belong? (1 John 4:20)
Is it not obvious that, instead of bearing the fruitage of love, the major religions of the world have condoned and even
encouraged their members to hate and war against persons of another race or nationality? During wartime millions of
persons belonging to the same religion have slaughtered one another on the battlefields, with each side supported by
their respective clergy who are also of the same religion! Religions that produce such unloving fruitage are not
pursuing the way of love and of true religion. By the fruitage they bear you can identify them to be false. (1 John
3:10-12)
Quote: side comment*
but i don't think religion should be measured, after all, your religion won't save you...
because if it would, surely, i would convert myself to the religion that would save me...
Jehovah is the Savior of humans who love him. (Isaiah 43:11) Israel's renowned King David knew this from personal
experience, and he wholeheartedly sang: "Salvation belongs to Jehovah." (Psalm 3:8)
Jehovah God has specific requirements for those seeking salvation. They must acquire accurate knowledge, exercise faith, repent of their sins, be
converted, make a dedication to God, and undergo baptism as believers...
If a religion is not in accord with what the Bible teaches, then it is not in harmony with truth. It is not the true
religion. (Romans 3:4) You have nothing to fear in examining your beliefs by the standard of God's Word, for if you
have the true religion you can only be reassured. And if what you believe is not in keeping with the Bible, then you
should welcome the truth, because it leads to eternal life. (John 17:3)
