Crazy Religions

[Lee]

Not being a religious person myself I have no bones about criticisms made about religion.

But what I do find ridiculous is when religions are borne out of self promotion and the belief that you're the new messiah and then suddenly people flock and pray and you end up with cults with a mad person leading it. Often they promote beliefs that are astounding to think that anyone would take them seriously - take for example the Heavens Gate cult that saw 38 people commit suicide in order to board a UFO that flew behind Haley's Comet.

Then there is the Jedi religion that came about from the star wars films. It seems as though anyone can come up with a religion. But when you look deeply at the more established religions they too have what can be considered over the top claims, burning in hell for sins, going to heaven if you're good and clean, noah and his arc, moses etc etc, none of these things have any concrete evidence to support them, just many believers and lots of faith.

So my questions are, who really is right? Can there be more than one religion or is there only one true religion and people are misguided until they find the right one. Or is there simply nothing and people are wasting their time and should actually get on with being just good people and enjoying life until it's time to go?

Discuss and argue

Lee

[jimbo]

I have never been a religious person.But I do find it amazing how people become so involved with it and depend on it.People will never know if religion is real or which particular one is correct.The only evidence is a few old books..
It may sound strange but they may all be correct?All religions are worshiping some sort of 'GOD' and it could well the be same one,just with different ways of being worshipped.All these religions could be his plan.To try and cater for everyone.=s who knows?

Now these crazy cults?I dont think this is religion.Obviously one nutter ...or a few,rounding up people who are vulnerable and taking them under their wing.Forcing them to believe they are some sort of messenger or they know the secrets of the future of the planet.Then making them commit suicide because of some crazy story they have made up.I think its more psychological.But thats my opinion.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by jimbo

The only evidence is a few old books.

The thing with evidence, it has to be conclusive to be called that and no amount of books comes close to proving religion or any kind of god for that matter.

Their similarities in sharing a deity who 'polices' mankind is the only thing that makes the concept of the bible and such books interesting. Other wise it just falls down to the simple fact that all of these books were written by a man who claimed he was guided by his chosen god.

[Baruc]

I think that people believe what they want to believe really and no body is going to convince them otherwise.

Upon reflection, this could reflect people and the paranormal in general really.

Kind Regards
Baruc.

[chipstar]

I was always sceptical about religion until recently. I believe Jesus was on earth and that God created the world. Several things have been proof enough for me, the Ark of the Covenant, Shroud of Turin etc and I know a lot of people will say they are fakes but that hasn't been proven yet.

For a lot of people, it's about faith. Think of it in the same way as other paranormal things. If some people believe in fairies, ghosts, UFOs etc then why not God? Have we really any substantial proof that these things exist?

[Rawhead & Bloodybones]

Originally Posted by Lee

Often they promote beliefs that are astounding to think that anyone would take them seriously - take for example the Heavens Gate cult that saw 38 people commit suicide in order to board a UFO that flew behind Haley's Comet.

But do we know that they didn't get their UFO trip ?

Perhaps if belief is strong enough - and it must be pretty strong if you're willing to commit suicide for it - perhaps they believed their UFO into existence ?

Perhaps even now their spirit UFO is carrying them to whatever they believed they were going to