Very well said.... Thank you for this. I left the Mormon religion decades ago for these very reasons. So often religion is about control and shame. Love your dancing
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Where do you draw your premise from that religions were originally intended to provide inner peace and comfort? If your premise is true, perhaps your argument stands, but I don’t see a reason why this premise would be true. There are so many alternative ideas of what intention originally gave rise to religions, many of which are less ego-centric. Considering the collectivist cultures most were born into, I find it hard to believe the motivation of religion was historically ever fundamentally personal. Thanks for considering. I certainly do not disagree with the sentiments you feel of wanting more love than hate and being frustrated by institutional religions. I hope that’s evident. Just want to help consider the starting point.
Thank you! In the US toxic Christian nationalism is increasingly dangerous to our deliberately secular government. Theocracies are rarely good places to be a woman or minority, and we are on the edge of tipping into theocracy.
There’s Jesus who is all the wonderful things you mention in your article! I love your video! I often heard bagpipes being played when I was a sea cadet in my early teens. Thank you for your article!
I agree that it is better to cooperate, love others, and be kind. One of the rewards of kindness and generosity is inner peace. I'm not so sure, however, that religion was designed to provide inner peace and comfort. FYI, an organization to which I belong, Freedom From Religion Foundation, keeps track of terrible things, small and large, done by people in the name of religion.
I love this issue of your magazine! It totally coincides with the teachings of the Baha'i Faith:
Religion is not intended to arouse enmity and hatred nor to become the source of tyranny and injustice. Should it prove to be the cause of hostility, discord and the alienation of mankind, assuredly the absence of religion would be preferable. Religious teachings are like a course of treatment having for its purpose the cure and healing of mankind. If the only outcome of a course of treatment should be mere diagnosis and fruitless discussion of symptoms, it would be better to abandon and abolish it. In this sense the absence of religion would be at least some progress toward unity. (From the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha - Baha'i Faith)
It is sad that so many religions encourage intolerance and hate and I have to wonder why people follow such "teachings". As an example, I know that Jesus teaches love and peace - why do so many of his followers fail to see this is the main message he shares?
My beliefs have evolved over the last 30 years and, today, love, joy and peace are my core tenets. If only the rest of the world would see this is the way.
Thank you for sharing this wisdom. I wish more people could and would put this into practice. Whatever religion one is born into, it is imperative that we all take stock of our own beliefs and how we are applying them in our daily lives.
Very wise words Gurdeep. Personally I have given up on religion AND at the same time I am embracing my spirituality. Kindness and compassion for others in each moment is key. Thank you for your thoughts.
I so agree with your thoughts. Why do humans feel that if you’re not with me, you’re against me? You would think that we’d celebrate our uniqueness, our differences.
Very well said.... Thank you for this. I left the Mormon religion decades ago for these very reasons. So often religion is about control and shame. Love your dancing
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Where do you draw your premise from that religions were originally intended to provide inner peace and comfort? If your premise is true, perhaps your argument stands, but I don’t see a reason why this premise would be true. There are so many alternative ideas of what intention originally gave rise to religions, many of which are less ego-centric. Considering the collectivist cultures most were born into, I find it hard to believe the motivation of religion was historically ever fundamentally personal. Thanks for considering. I certainly do not disagree with the sentiments you feel of wanting more love than hate and being frustrated by institutional religions. I hope that’s evident. Just want to help consider the starting point.
Thank you for raising this issue.
Thank you! In the US toxic Christian nationalism is increasingly dangerous to our deliberately secular government. Theocracies are rarely good places to be a woman or minority, and we are on the edge of tipping into theocracy.
There’s Jesus who is all the wonderful things you mention in your article! I love your video! I often heard bagpipes being played when I was a sea cadet in my early teens. Thank you for your article!
Thank you for your wise and compassionate words.
I agree that it is better to cooperate, love others, and be kind. One of the rewards of kindness and generosity is inner peace. I'm not so sure, however, that religion was designed to provide inner peace and comfort. FYI, an organization to which I belong, Freedom From Religion Foundation, keeps track of terrible things, small and large, done by people in the name of religion.
I love this issue of your magazine! It totally coincides with the teachings of the Baha'i Faith:
Religion is not intended to arouse enmity and hatred nor to become the source of tyranny and injustice. Should it prove to be the cause of hostility, discord and the alienation of mankind, assuredly the absence of religion would be preferable. Religious teachings are like a course of treatment having for its purpose the cure and healing of mankind. If the only outcome of a course of treatment should be mere diagnosis and fruitless discussion of symptoms, it would be better to abandon and abolish it. In this sense the absence of religion would be at least some progress toward unity. (From the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha - Baha'i Faith)
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Well said Gurdeep. Our world is regressing yet again and I am sad to bear witness
It is sad that so many religions encourage intolerance and hate and I have to wonder why people follow such "teachings". As an example, I know that Jesus teaches love and peace - why do so many of his followers fail to see this is the main message he shares?
My beliefs have evolved over the last 30 years and, today, love, joy and peace are my core tenets. If only the rest of the world would see this is the way.
Thank you for sharing this wisdom. I wish more people could and would put this into practice. Whatever religion one is born into, it is imperative that we all take stock of our own beliefs and how we are applying them in our daily lives.
Very wise words Gurdeep. Personally I have given up on religion AND at the same time I am embracing my spirituality. Kindness and compassion for others in each moment is key. Thank you for your thoughts.
I so agree with your thoughts. Why do humans feel that if you’re not with me, you’re against me? You would think that we’d celebrate our uniqueness, our differences.