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Sorry, but i really wanted to talk about this topic... (I know some people might not be too happy about this aha..ha)
And for context for the following blog, I am agnostic, which means I don't follow any religion but I kinda believe in the existence of a god of sorts (not exactly but those are the basics)
Religion Rant
First of all, this is more targeted towards the Christian belief and it's similar, given they are the ones who shaped most of ... everything! since millennium.
From the start of time, human beings wanted to understand their surroundings, and so they came up with fictional figures, in most cases holders of great power, to explain anything from the biggest more inexplicable things, like the sky, to the most miniscule things, simple as a little spider; and all of this is totally understandable, humans by nature are scared of the unknown, giving that unknown a fabricated explanation cease our fear.
Of course nothing of the previously mentioned is inherently bad, but we have seen the result of it, positives and negatives.
We have a rich story, and with religion we can comprehend how people in the past figure out things, of course not only with religion but you get the idea.
Now, we cannot deny the elephant in the room, religion is built around misinformation and, as previously mentioned, fear; those who know how to use these, can end up leading and scaring the population to their advantage, and so they did in the past, making themselves the chosen ones, leading above others.
I truly try to keep myself in the middle ground when it comes to religion, but in specific cases I can't help but think how if religion wasn't a thing, a lot of people wouldn't feel guilty for who they are or what they feel.
A few days ago, I remember seeing a blog from someone, on this website, where they claimed to stop loving someone because of their beliefs (in their case, an unspecified religion). It aches my heart to know people suppress their own feelings for something or someone's validation. Of course this is not always the case, I am happy to say that I have seen an increase in more "open minded" religious beliefs!
In conclusion, do we really need religion? For what it was its original purpose, explain how we came to existence and everything around us, not really, since we have some solid answers; but from the most spiritual perspective? Of course! each their own, they can choose whichever religion makes themselves more happier!
Hope you liked... liked?, any type of criticism is more than welcome, be as harsh as you can or be nice, but criticism nonetheless! (Talking about religion itself, about my blog or my way of writing, any of these)
Comments
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m0rf13n
Hi I totally agree with you. Religion is a man made construct ultimately based on control (I'm more so Christianity bc I'm not too knowledgeable on any others). People tend to turn to religion to explain something or to place their fate in something that is perceived to be higher than them. I've heard all too many times people say "God got me through this" "Through god this was possible" etc. when in reality YOU did that, YOU accomplished that goal but bc the ideology that you need to depend on this higher power for guidance, strength, integrity and often time morals you discredit your own achievements. A lot of terrible people turn to religion to be "saved" and maybe it does help (maybe?) but I see Christianity crawling with hypocrites and scumbags doing hateful, ignorant or downright terrible things. Mb for ranting I could go on forever but you nailed it.
No, please, rant as much as possible, I would love to hear more about it!
I might aswell be a broken disk by how many times I repeat myself, but although I always try to be tolerant or accepting towards the Christian beliefs, I just can not look back and see all the atrocities that came with it, lets forget all faith and external things, people were killed, judged wrong by its beliefs (the murderer of witches, the crusades, etc.) And to this day, I won't say all, but most Christians are judgy...
by Mushi; ; Report
Here goes nothing, as you said I have also tried taking a stance of tolerance toward Christians but honestly they disgust me. Truth of the matter is I was raised in a Christian household where it was expected of me to conform to their beliefs. I always like to tell people "Reading the bible is the quickest way to turn atheist!". Some of the things the bible says is acceptable is concerning and the problem is most Christians either can't or willingly choose not to read it critically, they don't read it at all, or they are just blind conformist too afraid of eternal doom. How can you wholeheartedly believe in something that isn't tangible on any level? I don't mean to stereotype them or lump them all in a group but for the most part Christians aren't the sharpest tools in the shed if you catch my drift. They try and logic with you by saying "If I die and there's no god, I will be fine, but if you die and there is god you will burn in hell for eternity regretting your foolish decision". Nothing like good old fearmongering. (Don't quote me on this) The bible says something along the lines of if you don't truly believe and are just afraid to go to hell I won't allow you into my kingdom (some shit like that). If that is true unsurprisingly a minute fraction of Christians are ever seeing those "pearly gates". Then there's the whole idea that to be Christian you are expected to be a conservative, IF Jesus was real he would despise all of those clowns. Jesus gave to the poor, healed people without expecting anything in return, worked for the common good of peasant and royalty alike. Clearly contrary to what values these Christians now uphold. Some even claim they are oppressed, quite comical if you ask me, their definition of "oppression" is not being able to be an outright bigot to anyone that doesn't hold their hivemind ideology. You see priests driving fancy cars and owning private jets, what about the rest of us? They leave us to fend for ourselves in a world they constructed to rule us. Christianity was in Africa before it infected Europe like the plague. All of a sudden everyone was now a pitiful purist, thoughts restricted to serve a false god and exact nationalism. They infected the world with their disease conquering anyone who opposed them forcing to assimilate, murder and brainwashing now seen as "Spreading the word" and "Saving people from damnation". There is no damnation. Damnation has already fallen upon us, as we work effortlessly to break the chains. Anyways thanks 4 letting me ramble on!
by m0rf13n; ; Report
Oh my! An amazing read for sure, thanks!
I would say I always try to be neutral since I have never been or know anyone in the Christian Church, my only knowledge are the bible itself and the internet as a whole, so I am always afraid to be seen as "an outsider who doesn't know anything"
Now, to see actually someone who can claim to once being or at least coming from a family with christian beliefs, is nice to see we have a similar view... my tolerance goes out the table when it comes to a common thought... aha... but thanks for your thoughts, I wouldn't have told it better myself, genuinely.
by Mushi; ; Report
;)
unfortunately, we all grew up in the age of faith in materialism —
and because of that, we often underestimate what real faith actually was.
to an ancient person, the idea of god wasn’t abstract — it was obvious.
when a man hits the grass with a stick, the grass bends;
when an animal runs through it, the grass bends;
when the wind moves it — who bends it then?
to them, it had to be a force with will and mind —
something like themselves or an animal,
only far greater, far more powerful.
a human cannot exist without mind. we cannot see or think without it.
yet modern science treats mind as something unnecessary —
it removes consciousness from the system first,
then proudly declares the system complete,
simply because it still “works” on paper.
and yet, without mind there is no observation,
no reasoning, no science at all.
in its struggle against religion, science had to overcome the idea of god —
and to do that, it first had to silence the idea of mind.
and that’s why today we barely understand what faith truly meant long ago.
we were raised in a different kind of belief —
one that is, in a way, unnatural to reason itself.
so maybe it’s worth asking ourselves —
do we really understand everything?
and is it really so different to believe in the fairytales of pop-science
than to believe in the myths of old?
science holds no fewer metaphysical assumptions than religion —
it has its own dogmas, its own blind spots.
every discovery science ever made came through mind,
yet materialism had to declare mind irrelevant,
just to win the argument against god.
and so now we value the instrument more than the master.
we worship the tool, and forget the hand that built it.
it’s also worth remembering that, by modern standards, a person of the 17th century would seem like a cruel, unhinged creature.
for centuries, religion carried the burden of turning the ape into a human — teaching humility, compassion, and restraint.
that social function is now lost in the christian world, and what awaits us is an age of nihilism and decay.
today we read the writings of the victors in the war between science and religion and believe we finally understand everything.
but we don’t.
we see the world through a lens shaped by the birth trauma of science.
and all the sins once blamed on the church have simply migrated —
into science, into politics, into media.
nothing has really changed.
we can spend hours listing corrupt priests and cardinals,
but is it any different now, with corrupt scientists, politicians, and executives?
still, I don’t justify religion —
I just suggest thinking about it a little deeper.
because in the end, the question of good and evil, of truth and falsehood,
goes beyond any system —
and comes down to a simple choice:
either there is a divine foundation behind it all,
or there is no final truth or falsehood at all,
which makes the very ideas of truth and lie meaningless.
and if you are mind, you believe in a higher mind.
if you are only body —
then all that’s left is to believe that today’s “eternal values,”
barely ten years old,
are a kind of divine revelation about good and evil,
about how to live —
until the next ten years come,
and everyone believes, once again, that now we’ve finally got it right.
See... I don't fully agree with this, and that is totally alright.
I am confused by what you interpret as "mind", I was thinking how in the past people separated body and mind, and how I see it, body and everything that comes with the brain, in a more spiritual way this last one.
I don't truly believe that modern science is neglecting about the "mind", it used it to build its foundations in the past, with the first scientist being philosophers themselves, people who only thought of everything surrounding them; but it has for good reason as to why the change, of course we still use it but, there is no need for it when it answers lay upon thing we actually can confirm, maybe the mathematical term on how a star will move in a few years, maybe how many years a creature has lived by only looking at it bones composition, anything in the medical field... etc. hope you get the idea...
Science proves itself by everything we can prove with our 5 senses, of course there will be theories and questions without answers, that is why there are people dedicating their whole lives around one subject, maybe even a single question, it is a never ending loop, if there is the slightest doubt, then there is someone investigating, and the things we don't doubt, there is always public scientific papers.(There will always be biases everywhere we go, so we always must be careful, specially investigating on the internet)
How come not believing in a god would be unnatural? Just curious for this perspective...
"and so now we value the instrument more than the master.
we worship the tool, and forget the hand that built it."- You said, this phrase gave me a hint to creationism, in which if there is something, then someone would have must create it; that is a very human thing to believe, but not everything that apply to us can apply to everything in our universe, the universe itself being one of these things.
By all records, people in the XVII century were in fact not the sweetest people, but of course, standards for good and bad change with time, that doesn't justify how in order to be good they have to believe in an otherworldly being, this can also be applied to some people in today's age.
I do in fact agree with your next point, how all the "sins" migrated to science, politics, media... etc. but this doesn't come from what of the thing, all of these were made with the hopes of something better, but there will always be corruption, doesn't matter where, is something we cannot escape; when in the past people wanted power and money through the church now they find that through any other category... although, now that I think about it, in the past, religion was the set of politics, media and science, all combined, so recently, we just branched out beliefs.
Truth, is one that a person itself chose to believe, the same goes to good and bad, a higher being shouldn't tell us what is good and bad given how different our perspectives are.
And after so much thought, I cannot comprehend the last sentence, is it a claim that values in science are 10 years old? well they go much further back, and if you actually mean religious beliefs, well those were written down already also back in time, nothing is ever truly new, except when it comes to technology.
I might add, thanks for commenting! I really liked reading about your perspective and writing in response. Hope to see you again!
by Mushi; ; Report
Try using "consciousness" instead of «mind».
Let’s model the following:
Imagine a computer.
The operating system and software — that’s the mind.
The central processor — that’s the brain.
The computer case — that’s the body.
People use a computer because of the software — all the cool programs, music, books, videos.
The operating system and software form a separate, self-sufficient and self-valuable entity.
In essence, the processor, the case, and the peripherals are just support staff, necessary only for the operating system to function.
Unlike it, they have no intrinsic value.
A processor is useless to anyone if it can’t perform the functions of the operating system.
This analogy is meant to convey a simple idea:
the body and brain should take their proper place — as service elements,
not as something that claims primacy.
After all, people usually prefer others not to be in a coma, right?
No one keeps a brain at home to chat with in their free time.
If this model makes sense to you — and you don’t immediately want to scream “what heresy! matter comes first!” —
and you can live with that idea for a while,
then we can continue building further on this concept :)
by ;); ; Report
I see, now I believe to understand better, in the sense that I understand the analogy, thanks!
I am not entirely materialistic, but I can't wrap my head around the thought of mind, yes it is there, my peanut brain just cannot truly ever understand it
Just a little heads up... I think that in other for the mind to ever exist we must always have a body of course, we are nothing more that the two put together.
Aha, if you think about it is the whole "are we mind or body?" question that greek philosophers asked themselves millennia ago
(I always like to compare already stated philosophy to today's age, sorry 'bout that..)
by Mushi; ; Report
You’re underestimating just how materialistic you actually are :)
The issue isn’t your "peanut brain", it’s that you don’t notice how deeply you’ve been taught to believe in materialism.
All of science, as a social phenomenon, is built on faith — both in its metaphysical foundations and in the theories (which society treat as truth).
That faith seems logical and absolute to us, and we rarely question it.
I’m quite sure that for a medieval person, faith in God felt just as absolute.
“I think that in order for the mind to ever exist we must always have a body, of course.”
That claim, by the way, is 100% a matter of faith; and once you grasp that, you can, through a hierarchy of concepts, arrive at other possibilities—realizing that faith is steerable, and that science is not absolute but simply the current vehicle for investing one’s faith.
If you’re curious, you can start with the absolutist belief in a world that exists independently of the observer — a world that is objective, tangible, and material. Try to consider that you actually have far stronger grounds to believe in your subjective experiences than in the scientific postulate of an objective world.
All your perception is purely subjective; all your thoughts, feelings, and experiences happen within you.
When you leave this world — it ceases to exist (for now, just add ‘for you’ — or imagine it as a desynchronization with a specific stream of time).
Most of what truly matters to you — love, joy, meaning — are inner experiences, even when they seem tied to an outer picture.
Think of The Matrix: you could be in a coma, an endless dream, an illusion.
Neither you nor anyone else in this "world" has proof that it’s not the case.
People usually avoid this line of thought because there are plenty of conveniently dumb arguments meant to make it look absurd — at best meaningless, at worst antisocial.
But if you actually go down that path, you’ll find it’s a foundation for many other concepts — and there are plenty of roads branching out from there.
That’s it :)
by ;); ; Report
chavi
Yes yes yes yes I completely agree. Also does Agnostic include not believing into god as in what people portray as some father figure but god as in sense of the nature around us like elements water, fire, Earth, air and a higher your own self etcetera. I believe in the nature as the power force and reaching yourself as in the universe which is again a part of nature.
Well, I tell myself a lot of times "Mother Nature" but not technically see it as a deity.
At least, for myself, agnostic in the sense of, there could or could have been/be, something or someone out there, maybe not exactly to create us or even the world we live in, but there could be.
by Mushi; ; Report
I see. I might not be in worshipping and stuff but yup believing but not exactly some super being existing rather the forces that together created this entirety. But I guess your idea is still way way way better than religious beliefs. I find worshipping and those fancy stuff useless.
by chavi; ; Report
And I don't particularly believe that there's any deity. Rather there are just forces.
by chavi; ; Report
Forces is a nice way to call it, it could almost be seen as possibly existing.
The Gods in all religions always sounded to me way too much human, we are too egotistic sometimes, that is why I wouldn't ever find myself believing in anything close to that.
by Mushi; ; Report
Yup I completely agree to you. For some reason if you dive deep into a religion with an open mind you're gonna find it useless BS.
by chavi; ; Report
suki
I think the same thing sometime I really question what even is our purpose as humans, religion really confusing I don't get how god made all angels perfect but at the end some rebel over him but why or how the women was created with the rib of a guy but them women are the one giving birth to another human or if god is good why is he still allowing evil n I can't stand the thought that at then for some religion there believed a after life in paradise where u live forever I just can't see how a human could live forever in perfection I personally like life ending cus it make u gonna live at ur fullest. but this alll my opinion and thoughts!
Yes! Many religions have a lot of contradictions and unanswered question
And anyone is free to believe whichever they see fit, I do also have the believe that when death cones everything just ends!
by Mushi; ; Report
Saul??
Here is the thing with Christianity, faith itself is not enough. There is this thing known as blind faith, basically following God without truly understanding what you are following. This is, bad... you cannot follow something you do not understand. To follow God is to actually understand the reason of God and His work on the Earth. Why did God create us how He did? Why did Eve eat the apple and what is its significance? How did the Pascal Mystery, the birth, life, and death of Jesus grant us salvation? There is so much to Christian faith that when not understood, denies us true faith. As you can probably tell... I am indeed a follower of Christianity, specifically Catholicism. I believe in the one and true God, the Son and the Holy Spirit. I am no Saint though, I am actually a pretty bad person, I've hurt a lot of people in my past, I've sinned constantly, and well I have a pretty big potty mouth. I hope I don't sound preachy, but well I am a little passionate in this, so forgive me. My point is this, though: the church has an answer to all of your questions, and everything that makes you doubt the truth of the Lord does have an answer. Your questions come from a place of an already set rejection of God, you yourself said "Do we really need religion?", but step back and lets put back on the table, "what if religion is truth?". Christianity is not made to be a restriction, is it NOT meant to be a condemnation, it is the complete opposite, it is salvation, it is hope. How amazing is it that in this world full of hate, this world that is plagued of sin, that we can find hope and salvation through the Trinity and the Heavens? There is so so much to Christian faith, and well, as much as I would love to tell you everything, it is quite a lot, and well I understand if you do not hold an interest in learning about faith. But, I will say this, the church is no stranger to sin, I mean, we are all sinners, we are all descendants of the original sin. A priest has the ability to sin, a follower has the ability to sin, and we will sin. The worst people from the church, believe me will be condemned. But know that God Himself is love, and through His greater church and through faith, we can find true salvation. I always feel grief for those who have been wronged by prideful and sinful people who consider themselves followers of the Lord, and I pray that one day we all can find the light, and we can all be accepted into the Kingdom of the Lord when the Son returns. Either way, I know I say too much, but basically my point is this: let us at least consider the possibility that religion is not just a lifestyle or a perspective, but is truth, and give it a chance to show what it really is all about.
I enjoyed your comment a lot! It is nice to see how even inside the Catholic Church one can see the wrong doings of others!
Sadly I have, and probably will always, have a weird perspective towards all of the so told "truth" that the religion claims to have, it might be the truth to some, but not for others.
I follow others belives that lead me to another "truths" persay, and you have yours, and that is pretty cool, although most of the times it will be conflicting, it is good to know about others truths!
I would totally love to read more about it! and thanks for commenting.
by Mushi; ; Report
✩‧₊ 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐲⋆.ೃ࿔
I don’t really know what to say but this is very neat. My family is Catholic although we don’t go to church or pray. Can’t wait to see what other topics you talk about!^^
It makes me more than happy to see other peoples traditions with the Christian religion, even if it is not the conventional and more well know one, like going to church each Sunday type.
by Mushi; ; Report
deuil pur
pagan pantheons were the religious system humans came up with to explain the unknown, thor or zeus for thunder, athena for sucess at war, etc etc
when it comes to the big 3 abrahamic religion, i dont believe this is exactly the case
you also mentioned vile people using religion to make themselves prophets for exemple, it is true that that happens, and that religions where used to push political agendas, that is undeniable, but educated people on theology can spot them pretty easily, it is the ignorant who get fooled
as for suppressing your feelings because of religion, you grew up in a liberal society telling you that morality is everything you feel as long as it doesnt hurt anyone, this is a lie and some behaviors are truly hurtful to yourself and others on a level you dont understand
I see, now this gives me more to think about, thanks for explaining, I am hoping to one day study all of this! although I couldn't understand that last part, sorry about that...
by Mushi; ; Report
what i mean is, in a liberal society like that of the west, they tell you that morality is a subjective concept, that you can do whatever you want as ling as it doesnt hurt anyone. in other belief system like religion or more traditional societies, it is not the case, and there is rules forbidding things that you might not understand, for exemple why is homosexuality a sin. nowadays people will tell you that there is nothing wrong with it, you do not hurt anyone by loving someone that is the same gender. but from a religious perspective, if God made something impermissible, there is a wisdom behind it that might be beyond our understanding, and there is surely strength and devotion in controlling your desires.
by deuil pur; ; Report
Now I see how it is, I will admit that I yet cannot understand it, which bothers me, not theirs perspective but my non-able of understanding... but thank you so much for explaining!
by Mushi; ; Report
i believe atheist people are very sad and lack of spiritual sensibility which makes them shallow and materialistic, but you mentioned being agnostic which i is a good start.
if you do believe there is a superior infinite all powerful all knowing being that we call God, and that this God created us with a purpose or reason, it would make sense that He would guide us to help us going through this life, and living a life that would please him and fits his majesty.
abrahamic religions are about this, prophets sent by God to deliver a message and help us living life the right way.
thats why the rules, God knows us better than we know ourselves.
as humans, we have free will, which makes us able to choose between following our desires or any other influences or following God and his prophets, thats what life is, a fight between good and evil.
by deuil pur; ; Report
Saying something is impermissible simply because God says so without considering any sort of real-life, civil implications is idiotic and one of the worst outcomes of religion. Religious dogma poses a threat to logical and scientific thinking, and has done since the beginning of time. Homosexuality is natural. Try to justify it as sin with something other than "just because some guy that I believe existed said so for reasons I can't explain but I also cannot question him".
If you cannot question God, what difference is it from a tyrannical, totalitarian leader?
by prom; ; Report
I would like to say that I am drawn more towards this thinking, I remember reading the bible and thinking to myself "Wasn't this god supposed to be good and a loveable type father, why does it torture humans?" It is a bit odd...
Of course I wouldn't like my blog to start any debates, but you know, feel free, I will be reading through it all
by Mushi; ; Report
youre the type of people i was talking abt, no spiritual sensibility
nowhere i said you cant question a religion, but after having established that there is a God and that this God sent prophets and messengers as a guidance for humanity, using rationality and proofs, it is logical to follow the commands of God.
"without considering any sort of real-life, civil implications" if youre saying that civil laws make something moral or immoral thats untrue.
"Homosexuality is natural" yeah like rape and canivalism, you fond them all over nature, doesnt make it morally good.
i wont be debating more especially with an atheist i think talking to someone incapable of seing the world outside of the purely physical realm its a waste of time . my goal wasnt to debate just to share my thoughts about a topic if you disagree im fine with that
by deuil pur; ; Report
@martyr1 I am capable of seeing it, I just disagree with it.
Tell me, how, in any substantial way, does homosexuality compare to rape? Homosexuality is not an act of violence that causes direct harm on others. Rape is a horrific act that violates the victim physically and mentally. Homosexuality is literally just being attracted to a gender different from the social norm. This is not a substantial argument in any way. I would even say you are insulting rape victims by weaponising them to your convenience when your argument makes zero sense.
You dismiss my points without offering any real rebuttal. Hmm.
by prom; ; Report
im talking about homosexual act, not attraction, those are different, and it might not physically harm anyone it still harms society deeply, but that wasnt the topic.
listen, there is a reason why i told you this debate is useless; we have a different deffinition of morality, you follow a liberal morality, 'you can do everything you want as long as it doesnt harm anyone', you dont believe in an objective morality coming from a creator, this fundamental difference is the reason we will disagree on whats good and whats bad
i dont want to prove a point or make you change ur mind, idc, i share my poinion thats it feel free to do wtv you want with it, but if you come to me trying to tell me that im wrong its gonna go nowhere since we dont take our morality from the same source
by deuil pur; ; Report