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Religion is highly personal.It is not to be institutionalized.
Unfortunately,Islam ,Christianity,Judaism, Paganism had all been institutionalized-Islam got entangled with tribal and clan interests,Christianity with Paganism and Judaism and Judaism with the obsession of ‘Chosen people‘.They believe in number games.
People forget God,if He exists, does not care in numbers, just as Nature does not care about our perceptions of it.People who make a living out of religion do.
Religion is meant to elevate the individual by stimulating the enquiry ‘Who am I?’ and to find out the inner meaning of life.
Recently in US a church has banned the use of Yoga’for it has the potential to wean away the Christian faith‘.Is the faith so fragile that can be weaned away from?If so it is no faith.
Religion is for people and not the other way around.
Instead of enlightening the individual. Religion has become a despicable tool of social control and intolerance.
Hinduism, on the other hand encourages all criticisms, including its own fundamentals , never questions your way of living and does not doom you to hell if you do not believe its Percepts.In fact it does not advocate group praying.
What is the point in making children hate at a very tender age, when they do not know what hate is?
Story:
Raised to Hate: Kids of Westboro Baptist Church
“Religion is highly personal.It is not to be institutionalized.”
– It so happens that publicizing is what Christianity is all about; to share the good news.
“Recently in US a church has banned the use of Yoga’for it has the potential to wean away the Christian faith‘.Is the faith so fragile that can be weaned away from?If so it is no faith.”
– Firstly, that is one church. Just because one single church has a wrong idea doesn’t mean that faith is so fragile. Some people take unnecessary precautions. Yoga can be good for your health. Of course, if they were worshiping Satan and sacrificing dead hamsters while doing Yoga, it may be another story. Maybe you should do some more research on that.
Secondly, responding to “Is the faith so fragile that can be weaned away from?If so it is no faith.”: Some things can wean away your faith. Yoga most likely can’t, but some things can, like the death of a loved one. That’s where fellow believers come in and support each other.
“Religion is for people and not the other way around.”
– I disagree; Most religions require worship of some sort, correct? That’s not about us in any way. But also most religions promise ‘getting saved from Hell’, or something similar to that. That part is for you. So it works both ways. In Christianity, we trust in God, and also reserve time to worship and thank him for what he has done for us (dying). That part is for Him and Him alone. But we get saved. That’s for us.
“Instead of enlightening the individual. Religion has become a despicable tool of social control and intolerance.”
– In some religions and in some ways this statement may hold true, but not always, and it’s certainly not something religion has become as a whole. Maybe in the olden days, but not now. That’s in the definition of America. The picture above does not show anyone controlling anyone with religion. It’s just an idiot with a sign and the wrong idea who needs to rethink her life. Nothing more.
“Hinduism, on the other hand encourages all criticisms, including its own fundamentals , never questions your way of living and does not doom you to hell if you do not believe its Percepts.In fact it does not advocate group praying.”
– You contradict yourself; you say that Hinduism encourages the challenging of it’s own fundamentals, yet you immediately state that it has no fundamentals by saying that it never questions your way of living. Fundamentals by definition are the way you live. You say it doesn’t doom you to hell. Neither does Christianity; God dooms you to hell if you refuse his completely undeserved offer. No religion or human has the power to doom you to anywhere. Only the One who the religion is all about has the power. I believe the God of Christianity does.
“What is the point in making children hate at a very tender age, when they do not know what hate is?”
– It is not brainwashing, as you apply. It is training. If children do not learn to hate, say, hurting other children at a young age, when will they? Teen years? Adulthood? Sorry, too late.
Truth or God does not need the services of a Publicist.It is self evident.
Truth/God reveals itself.
It is not one Church.Remember’ ‘Crusades’ and ‘Bloody Mary’ ,to cite a few.
The concept of Yoga is much misunderstood.It is the practice of cessation of modifications of the mind/Buddhi.In fact, Yoga says you can/should have a personal God, not necessarily from the pantheon of Hindu Gods, but any thing, including Christ.
Again Christianity is about Hell/( among other things) sin and salvation.
Proselytizing has been perfected first by Christianity.
One has faith;he has to choose himself.No sales talk is necessary.It is felt rather than understood.
God can not be known but felt,whatever be your faith,if you are true to your faith.
As for as worship is concerned in Hinduism,it is optional and it belongs to lower level of Enlightenment(please read my blog ‘God has names and Forms?-Yes and No’ filed under religion/Hinduism.)
Hinduism does not contradict nor do I.
Hinduism tells you to find the Truth,offers some choices and declares it is not final and that what has been stated is some of the paths were found to be useful;if some one wants to benefit from it,they can;if not, leave it.
In Bhagavad Gita, LordLkrishna says.’Think about what I have told you,you are free to do as you please’
If the patient decides not to take the medicine, it is not the loss of the Doctor.