After thousands of years, a little outdated. (Religion)

Member Name: TheDrowningMan

Product:	Religion
Date:	27/08/03 (643 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Can be of salvation to people with no where left to turn.

Disadvantages: Very much outdated, Regime is far too strict for the majority to follow, Is the cause of too many conflicts

Let me start by saying that I dont follow any religion, so if I offend anyone with what I say, then I apologise in advance.

Obviously I dont know the ins and outs of every religion, I couldnt tell you the first thing about Sikhism, or Hinduism. I have a basic knowledge about the English speaking religions, such as Protestant, Catholic and Christian beliefs. And from what I know, I feel that religion is somewhat outdated. Science is catching up with what the Bible speaks about. Solid scientific evidence about the universe and our own solar system first questioned the Church when Copernicus discovered that the earth wasnt the centre of the solar system or universe, and has continued to do so ever since. Of course the Church regularly changes its stance in the interpretation of the writings in the bible, but to believe in something, such as the written word of the bible, doesnt mean change it each time something else is disproved.

As for the Church?s stance on homosexuality, only a short time ago it made a statement saying that gay marriage is "deviant, and a threat to society", How can they make such a statement when in two countries there are gay ministers being allowed to preach in churches? Now I have not got any issues with homosexuality, but Im merely saying that it seems too openly contradictory to say being gay is wrong and a sin, but yet ordaining openly gay people.

There is a new TV channel on digital, called GOD TV. This, as you can guess, is a mainly American Christian channel. I was watching it the other day, and listening to two people discussing how homosexuality in a person can be 'cured', by doing certain things. The way they were talking just seemed to me that, in their view, gay people were the lepers of our society and simply had to be cured of their sinful ways. They were also discussing ways of stopping people masturbating, and not having sex outside of marriage, not having "sinful" thoughts,

and not doing this that and the other. It just seems to me that religion had fallen behind times. Society has changed, for better or worse isnt for me to say, but the church cant expect people to be controlled, and told to abstain from things, that nowadays, are natural, and arent viewed, by the majority, as sinful.

Religion, all too often, also seems to be the cause of conflict. I realise that this may be mainly due to the way powers-that-be divided certain countries, ignoring the religious boundaries. There have been so many deaths in Ireland during fighting between Catholics and Protestants, and in the Middle East, ongoing battles caused by religion. How can something which, for thousands of years, has caused war after war be a good thing?

But through all this, I know there are people, whom without their faith in 'whoever', would have undoubtedly lost their strength and will to live. I myself have never felt the need to pray or worship to anyone, but in times of the greatest stress, such as when someone is about to die, someone soothing them, and telling them their beliefs in God, and all the niceties that come after death would undoubtedly make that persons last few minutes/hours, more bearable, and that can only be a good thing. In times when a person is absolutely desperate, if they can find faith and turn themselves around, this is where I think religion has an excellent power and effect. To give someone belief in something when they have lost all belief in themselves and all things around them, is, undeniably, a magnificent accomplishment.

In conclusion, I feel religion, as a social regime is very much outdated, moral standings are very different now than they were even 100 years ago. But as something for people to cling to in times of hardship, I feel it can be of great help. Long may it continue to 'deliver us from evil', but not worry too much about 'leading us not into temptation'.


<
br>

Summary: