People say all religions are based on "wishful thinking". Do you agree?
487541
No, I do not agree with this totally.  There may be SOME elements of religious belief based on wishful thinking, such as the ideas of eternal life in a blissful realm.  However, that is most certainly not what religion is all about.  There were many early religions that did not even believe in an afterlife.  For example, early Israelite religion, Greco-Roman Pagan religions, etc.  And in early Egyptian religion, it was only the Pharaohs that had an afterlife.  I think "wishful thinking" may indeed have played a role in changing the Egyptian belief to include all people in the belief about an afterlife.\n\nReligion is defined by many many things.  It includes beliefs about the supernatural, but also it includes aspects such as community, rituals, philosophy, attitudes about life, etc.  \n\nWhen a Hindu meditates on the good qualities of the God Rama, and contemplates his equanimity in all circumstances, his truthfulness, compassion, selflessness, etc, the person is trying to incorporate those ideas into his own self.  I guess you could say it is "wishful thinking" in the sense that the person wishes to be like this wonderful being.  But it can be very effective.  \n\nWhen a Christian asks, "What would Jesus do?" he is doing a similar thing.  He or she stops himself from doing that which his first inclination might lead him to do, and instead he chooses the good action.\n\nWhen a shaman sees that a particular plant heals a sick person, he is not "wishful thinking."  He is simply observing that the plant was effective.  He does not know all that scientists know about botany, and the structure and chemicals of the plant and why it is effective.  He just ASSUMES it has some supernatural power.  It is the natural thing to think when you are not familiar with other causes, as the scientific world is.  So it is just assumption.  However, this is not bad.  The mind is recognized to be a HUGE part in healing.  This is why the placebo effect can work.  If a patient thinks that the plant will only help because of its chemical make-up, he may only have so much faith in it.  But if he believes that within it is a spirit waiting to heal him, then his mind may effect healing much better.  This IS a sort of wishful thinking.  But it turns out to be a blessing to the believer.
668717
I have.  And it looks good to me.  No religion is perfect I must confess, but there are certain beliefs that are needed.  I found my faith that is the best beliefs.  I had analyzed many others, but all weren't biblical.  I don't need a priest, I just need me and God.  And the beliefs that God gave us.  Like eating healthy, following His law for our own benefit out of obedience, the Sabbath, etc.  If we all looked at our beliefs and religion, we would be a perfect religion.  But again, there are different beliefs and people would still disagree.
221034
I agree with you. It's sad that people think that they need religion to be a good person.  Why can't people be nice without wanting something in return.  That's really what religious people seem to want.  It seems like most think that they need to earn their place in heaven.  I honestly think that religion is the root of all evil and it is what turns most people against each other.  It only seems to seperate people into groups.  Everyone thinks that their religion is right and that people from their religion are better than others.  My question is...Who is right?  What makes one person think that they are right over another when they have no proven fact to base their opinions on in the first place?\n   So, I have to agree...different religions only cause seperation and problems!
165748
I think all religions are fundamentally the same.  All religions arose out of trying to explain the unexplainable.
183320
You are not wrong. But understand that Christianity is a religion based on fear.  Follow me or burn in hell for all eternity!  Believe or be damned!  It is been my experience that many Christian believers will not even listen to another religion's argument or concepts with anything other that complete disregard.  Brainwashing at birth.  Ask the majority of people why they follow there particular religion, the answer will most likely be that it is the only thing that they have ever known.  I only speak English because it is the only language my parents and peers ever spoke to me.  Most major religions believe in the same basic principles.  Be good and the end result will be good or better for you.  Don't let someone bully you into thinking their way.  Explore all religions and find the one that speaks to you.  There are millions of good people out there who do not believe in Jesus Christ - I find it hard to believe that they will feel the wrath of God because they have not accepted Jesus into their hearts.
1151320
A good point. Religions are supposedly faith-based, but then tack on requirements to keep that particular label. Even an agnostic has to meet the requirement of believing there is no God, so I guess the answer is no religion meets the parameter of not requiring anything to be a part of it.
433770
Nope; it follows one of the fallacies of logic.  It is called a "loaded question".\nAs with religion, as much as I feel Christianity is correct, I also believe we are made and given the freedom to choose.  It doesn't get much worse than a false Christian who chooses it due to pressure/obligation; it is best done on free will.
722668
It's not so much the religions as it is the politics of the religion. Having faith is just having a belief - it's the religious DOGMA (telling you how to live, etc.) thay causes the problems. Why everyone wants to think that everyone else should believe in their particular brand of faith is beyond me. Why can't we all just get along. Different strokes for different folks, is what I say.
666271
Yes of course. You should think whatever feels best to you. I do believe God is happy that everyone is worshiping Him no matter which religion they choose. I personally like to take a little taste from everything available at the religion buffet.
862401
Yes, I have adopted other religions's beliefs as my own...\n\n"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it"\n- Buddha -\n\n“The individual who prosecutes a man, his brother, because he is not of the same opinion, is a monster”\n- Voltaire -
1140637
NO! every religion has thoughts about afterlife or re-incarnation or somewhere they will go after they die. vikings had valhala, eskimo's sent thier dead out on burning kayaks. even ancient egyptians used to put thier most prescious belongings in tombs to be enjoyed in the afterlife. just because ideas differ it does not mean that the philosophy is restricted to christians.
1109483
There is no logical or perfect religion.\n\nThey are almost all based on the idea that people need the approval of supernatural beings. This idea, in and of itself, is illogical as there are no such things as supernatural entities, much less ones that care about whether you work on Sunday or use the F-word.
944001
Well I've always believed that every religion out there has truth to it to one degree or another. I think I've felt the urge to find out more of the true principles that are in other belief systems, and so far I've been pleasantly surprised to see how much different religions have in common, they just call these principles by different names. \n\nThanks
549568
You know, I don't even really mind that some religions think others are wrong.  That's to be expected.  What bugs me is that most religions feel the need to convert people who don't wish to be converted.  By their very nature, a person's religious beliefs exclude all OTHER religious beliefs.\n\nThe REAL issue at stake, I think, is how we deal with that.  You and I don't have the same beliefs.  I think yours are wrong (not morally wrong, merely incorrect), and you think mine are wrong.\n\nSo what?  So we don't agree.  Big deal.  Doesn't bother me a bit.  I am perfectly okay knowing that there are other systems of belief out there that do not match my own.\n\nBut there are FAR TOO MANY people in the world that simply cannot abide that someone else out there would DARE believe something different.  And even more frightening is the number of people who would take some kind of action against "the faithless" or "the infidels" or "the unbelievers," or whatever they are calling us this week.
499634
If only. Wars used to be fought because someone didn't worship someone else's god. Then the Crusades started the trend of fighting wars because someone didn't worship God in what seemed to be to someone else the right way. Chirstians, Catholics, Muslims, these and many other religions don't worship a different God, they all worship the same God, the only difference being that they just worship God in different ways. So who's way of worshiping God is the right way to worship God? Who's to say. Each religion claims that they are right. Atheists claim that everyone is wrong. Who's to say? I personally am supposed to be a Presbiterian, but I haven't been in a church, let alone a Prebiterian one, for quite a while. I'm more spiritual than religious nowadays. I see inconsistantsees and problems with many religions, so I do what I think most people should do. I worship God not in a way told to me by man, but rather, in my own way. My God is a manifestation of my beliefs, as opposed to most people who believe, for the most part, in a God of someone else's beliefs. I too ask myself, "why can't we all have a common God?" And I am answered with, "because of our differences that, though for the better and making us all unique, is what ultimately keeps us apart." Yes, it WOULD pave the way for mankind if we all beleived in a common God, but as I stated with my very first sentence, if only. Do we need a religion for worshipping God? Some do. Most do in fact. But I don't.
392252
Yes, I believe that afterlife and religion both are relative to what a person believes, so in a sense we create how things will be for us based on what we believe.
1156962
I have to agree with you. I have argued with my mother in law on countless occasions about this. Everyone believes in something. I do believe there is a superior existence , I do not, however follow any specific religion. In any religion there is always some kind higher existence. There is no TRUE fact proven (in any religion) on what and or who is right. I find people tend to quote things from the bible but don't actually know what they're talking about. And to those who believe that everyone should have a faith, I do. I believe there is something, or someone who will show us our true religion, everyone, as a whole. I apologize if I have offended anyone. That was not my intention.