why do organized religions believe that seperation and exclusivity is a good thing?
476721
Well hon, it depends on the religion. Unfortunately, I grew up in a VERY strict Christian evangelical faith which pronounced all other religions "evil" and from "Satan" and the followers of them either "decieved" or deliberately wicked. They even believed Christian sects outside THEIR particular sect were also from the devil and you either convert or condemn them. They were very anti-Roman Catholic (which is so silly because Roman Catholicism GAVE all of Christianity the bible as we know it today. It was the early RC church that sat down and decided which bible books will make up the canon. It was the early RC church that structured Christianity as we know it or else we'd be following the gospels of Phillip, Judas etc. which were left out of the bible) \n\n\nFortunately for me, I was a bright, independent thinking person even as a child and I lived in a part of the world where it was IMPOSSIBLE not to interact with people of all different faiths- Jews, muslims, hindus even different Christian sects. Going to school I made friends (against my parent's wishes) with others of a different faith. I discovered they were not evil but kind, loving, intelligent well adjusted with good families and in so many ways HAPPIER than I. In fact, my life was a mess (even as a "saved" Christian) compared to some of my friends. I suffered from depression, I was molested by a church member etc. My non-church member friends even treated me BETTER than people I knew in my church. When I began to question my religion and condemn some of what I saw and refuse to participate any more my parents kicked me out. Guess who opened their homes and hearts to me? Yes my non-evangelical Christian friends and they did so UNCONDITIONALLY. NEVER was I asked to join their religion! NEVER was kindness used by my non-Christian friends as a means to get me to convert. Because I used this tactic (as I was taught in church, we used to "Lovebomb" unbelievers until you break their defences and then begin slowly indoctrinating them.) to win unblievers over, I expected at any moment for my non-evangelical Christian friends to shove a Bhagvand Gita in my face or invite me to their Sunday Mass or try to start some kind of bible study with me. It NEVER came. There was NO AGENDA, just concern and compassion for me as a person FIRST. I cannot tell you how REFERESHING that is!\n\nIt got me to thinking: "Is God such a vengeful, unloving being that he will forver torment these wonderful people in some firey afterlife just because they are not Chrsitians or intereprest the bible EXACTLY like they do in MY church?" I could not believe in a God like that and I STILL don't. I believe it is WE humans who are hung up on the technicalities and colours of how we approach God but God is not limited to OUR perceptions or OUR precepts. \n\nI commend faiths that are very welcoming and respectful of other faiths. For example they support Interfaith fellowship like, Jewish/Christian meetings etc. I also find Hinduism to be a very open religion and I have enjoyed speaking with pundits and attending the puja's (prayers) of my Hindu friends. I enjoy being able to learn and experience the teachings of different religions and it has made my life AND my relationship with God and my fellowman a far richer experience. I am more HUMBLE now because I am realising I DO NOT KNOW EVERYTHING! Not even after studying the bible and reading it more than 100 times. I am MUCH happier without the "Holier Than Thou" Christian attitude because it is just a fake ego builder when the truth is your life is just as screwed up (sometimes more so) as anyone else Christian or not, and you are not excused from having to work to improve yourself everyday. It is LIBERATING not to feel obligated to either convert or condemn others all the time but to look at their hearts and their actions, treating them as you would like to be treated.
217653
There is no more destructive philosophy then punitive exclusivity. This is the backbone of organized religion and the bane of humanity. \n\nEverywhere there is suffering in the world there is punitive exclusivity. Every war between nations, and nearly every war of words on any religious forum, has this main element. Is this what Jesus came to establish? Did He come to establish a group of people to overtake another, or threaten them with mortal and spiritual destruction? Did He come to condemn the world or save the world? Did He teach His followers to suspiciously despise or mistreat their neighbors in Samaria? Who are your neighbors?\n\nLook at the strife in Bosnia, Ireland, Sudan, Ethiopia, India, and everywhere there is death and suffering. Each one of them is a prime example of punitive exclusivity, whether it is Christian against Christian or Hindu verses Muslim, or Muslim verses Christian, or what have you. If you are not in “the group,” you are fair game. \n\nAt the heart there is a mindset that non-conformity means license to harm. It is sick, and twisted. It is the motto of the Talaban, and the theme song of the radical fundamentalist fringe. This will destroy the world, if allowed to run its course. Do we need another 9/11? Do we need another crusade? Is there a more excellent way?\n\nThis travesty is that Christians use it, and when they do it is encouraged and praised. militant gracers attack militant legalists, and if you don’t believe exactly as they do then you are a belief piñata: the striking object for the candy of their peer’s esteem. They swing away, blindly. If you dance in their way, the blows will eventually land, and cut you through. I have been on the receiving end, and regretfully on the sending end as well. Lets repent from punitive exclusivity! \n\nJesus taught the more excellent way. We can have oneness apart from sameness; unity without uniformity. We can reach out to our neighbor in love. And when we have done this to the least of them, we have done it unto Him. How can we say that when we hurt our neighbors that we are not also doing it to Him as well?\n\nSide note: If you want to know who is unrepentantly “God’s hand of judgment on the infidels,” just look at who respond to this post with disrespect and wrath.
774367
Religions, like adverts, work only because someone is interested. There was a particularly good episode of The Simpsons, about it, one of the Treehouse of Terror ones. The moment the last person who worships a god dies, or gives up religion, religion will banish in the air.
1094767
Most religions want you to spread that religion.  Some religious interpretations of certain religions even allows the spread of religion to be violent (i.e. kill all the infidels).\n\nSo why do you think my religion is crap?  What a hyprocritical question you got!
782102
You make good points. My problem with organized religion is that it has WAY too strong a grasp on some people. A lot of times I see questions here that ask, "What do you guys think about (insert any topic related to spirituality)?" -- and all too often, the answers you get are this: "Nope, I don't like it, because it's not in the Bible."\n\nThat's the mindset that people have. If it's not in the Bible, it has no value whatsoever. The truth is limited to that ONE holy book and all other holy books which may have different interpretations are totally worthless. -- I just don't think that's a healthy mindset to have. There's a lot of great stuff out there and people are missing it when they just delve right into one religion and never bother to look anywhere else. A lot of those Eastern religions and belief systems have some really valuable teachings, but nope... if it's not in the Bible, forget it. I just wish some people opened up a bit more.
62446
I agree with your premise and conclusion. I would add that the quality that is the most important in seperating us from the animals is faith. The ability to choose to believe or not believe. To search and want to know your Creator. Even those who reject God, do so with high thought process and passion.
190482
Nah.  I tend to question any links between God and any religious organization that relies heavily on violent means to an end.  To me, if the basis for any religion is not the promotion of world peace, harmonious existence, and peace with nature, the religion is not a true reflection of God's will.
441360
everyone believes they are right, and also feel that others should believe the same. the problem isn't that there is no tolerance. Take Christianity for example, if you believe and I don't, you go to heaven and I go to hell. on the other hand, for fundamentalist denominations of Islam (some of them) feel that if you believe and I don't, then I will go to hell, but YOU will go to hell if you don't convert me. so that certain aspect doesn't help things....
738255
Well, I suppose, until people started splitting up into sects and then  here we go again.  Besides, religion is a question of faith and not just something you can throw away even if it is in the name of world peace.  I couldn't.
1126716
Nah. The single rule to be good to others isn't specific enough because one person might consider something to be good while another doesn't, such as abortion. Even if everyone had the same understanding of what is good and what isn't, it still makes more sense to assume god doesn't exist.
327126
They just come together to love Jesus and not demean each other with irrelevant disputes over who right or wrong what they feel the Bible says. They ALL agree that Jesus is what it all about, the other stuff is secondary and not need to cause dissension.
453836
Jews and Catholics do not favor this because they know the other party may influence the one they care about. No one who believes their religion is correct wants to lose someone they care about. Also many find out as I did that this can lead to much hardship later in the relationship. Think about your future -church?, kids? family get together, or you may fall deeply in love only to lose out to these differences.
341238
As it is in life, different religions cannot live in harmony. I personally belong to no religion, and find it easy to tollerate and co-exist with people of other religions. Maybe this is a lesson the children of the future need to be taught.
94229
Well first we have to realise that there is no real seperation of church and State,  Read the real Constitutin, it only says that there will not be an official state religion and that the state can not pass any laws restricting religion.  It never says a world that the state is seperate from the Church, only the state can not interfere with a Church by passing laws effecting it.  ( and they look at all the church zoning laws, tax laws, minister requirements to do weddings and tell me they keep thier end of the deal)\n\nBut the idea of seperation of Church and State has been created from a speach made by Thomas Jeffereson to a religioius group and he was still refering to thier protection and rights.\n\nThe lie taught today is done to try and destroy the Christian teachings and Chrsitian hisotry of our nation.\nThat is the purpose of the teaching of seperation.
485378
The fact that most churches are divided has nothing to do with God it is us as individuals, we know what God require of us and yet still we don't put into practice what we know and believe God is not the problem we are.see god doesn't want religion either what he wants us to have is a relationship with him see if we get caught up in religion we'll be constantly questioning which is the right one when we have a relationship with God we begin to know and understand
993369
It dosen't matter so much WHAT they're thinking about it, as much as it matters that they ARE thinking about it.  Organized religion has always been & still is very corrupt.  They make up their own doctrines, misinterpret the Bible, or re-write it altoghether.  Because of a number of factors, I believe we need to interpret the Bible subjectively & remember the context (or discount it altogether).  It is a fact that The Bible reflects the political, societal & cultural ideals of that time. Not only that, but it was put together by Church officials who used their own beliefs & desires for total control to decide what got in & what got thrown out.  At least these issues have been brought to the forefront.  Question everything!!!
1168922
All religions are good. There is no religion in this world that tells you anything different from the ten commandments. Only the people with these various religions are bad.