Written by Mathew Naismith
This post was inspired by a bloke called Sal C; the
following was a reply I received from him. I have a feeling this is an important
topic to bring forth, is religion questionable and the answer would be for
sure, however, instead of looking at the negative effects of religion how about
we look at the positives of religion for once keeping in mind I’m not religious
myself; actually I don’t follow any ism period however I do try to be aware of
the positive and negative effects of isms mainly because they have a direct
and/or indirect impact on us all. It’s a
bit silly sticking our heads in the sand when these isms impact on our lives so
much.
Hey Matt, I want to
know your opinion on religion. We hear so much on how it can be limiting to
your growth and unscientific. I feel it can be very beneficial, even life
saving, providing you don't get so entrenched in the beliefs as to disregard
reason and logic all together. I feel if people look to a higher aspect of
life, seeing God as life or consciousness itself, loving yourself and others
and getting a good sense of community, then it is wonderful. I would like to
hear your opinion. Your friend Sal
A very good point Sal C; being entrenched or fixated to any
ism to the point of irrationalism isn’t going to be good to anyone, this is one
of the reasons religion itself has a bad name, what is happening presently
quite clearly shows this. Any kind of irrational thinking could indeed make a
sound religion seem totally irrational and ending up as extremism. The point is, is it the religion or the people
who are being irrational? It’s of course
the people of a religion who are being irrational not the religion itself. We could
say certain religious doctrines are totally irrational therefore it’s the religion
itself that is irrational making the people of that religion irrational and sometimes
leading to an extremist mentality.
Doesn’t scientism (science) follow certain science principles
and guidelines and at times irrationally disregarding anything beyond these principles
and guidelines? To me this is where science
is falling short, it’s not looking beyond these doctrines (principles and
guidelines) however not all scientists irrationally follow such strict doctrines
as we are finding out.
So what this seems to be saying is it’s the doctrines (principles
and guidelines) that are making us irrational, however, the scientists who are
going beyond these doctrines show us quit clearly it’s the people who are irrational not the ism
itself.
To me it would certainly seem doctrines are referring to principles
and guidelines. What seems to be happening is people within any ism takes these principles
and guidelines as the be and end all, it’s the people who are being irrational
in religion not the religion itself. Religion to me gives us certain guidelines
to live by, they should never be the be and end all as I feel Sal C is pointing
out, especially to the point of being irrational and even extremist within our
thinking.
I find that any ism, including scientism, can become irrational
and extremists within it’s doctrines, religion itself certainly hasn’t got this
on it’s own. To me it is clear it’s not
the doctrines (principles and guidelines) of any ism that is the irrational; it’s
the people who are irrational. Doctrines are only principles and guidelines
that we can follow with any ism but within a rational sense not in an irrational
sense.
If you think on this, religion itself has always looked
beyond human set boundaries; it looks at a God, super consciousness, energy
source etc. by allowing us to perceive something that is in us that is beyond normal
human perception and understanding. Religion
has always done this right throughout human history; I think it’s quite amazing
actually.
So does this mean we should all turn religious? Not on your
nelly, this would be like saying we should all become atheistic or political,
it’s each to their own space and their own path. What we need to be aware of is our judgement especially
negative judgment of someone else’s space.
How many of us say we don’t judge and then we say religion
or some other ism is this that or the other? Be aware of this because it’s this judgment that
can make us irrational and possibly extreme within our thinking which again can possibly
lead to extremism. What is happening in present times is a good indication of
how judgment can fundamentally influence good people to become extremists, it
really all comes down to people becoming aware.
I thought I would end off by adding a couple of links looking
at the good side of religion.
Religious impact on the arts and human creative development.
Looking at religion philosophically.
I’m not religious myself but I don’t judge religion itself as being irrational or extreme within it’s doctrines and beliefs, once people
start judging, anything can happen and it most often does, irrational thinking and
extremism is but two of these effects.
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