What if somebody makes a mockery of your religion?
@Graptopetalum (1807)
Canada
November 23, 2010 11:58am CST
I don't mean a comedian or cartoonist making jokes about it. I mean making some shoddy rip-off version like the orcs were made in mockery of elves.
Suppose a rather suspicious man comes along and says, "I'm a prophet, I know that your scripture has been corrupted but God's shown me what it should be like." He then proceeds to tear most the stuff out of your scriptures, including bits you thought were particularly good or important. He then translates what's left into another language, badly, which he claims is the language of heaven. He garbles the remaining bits some more, makes copies of some bits that contradict each other. Then he adds a load of complete and utter rubbish and proclaims that his new version of scripture is the only correct one. As if that's not enough, a bunch of people who are probably stupid or mad or something, believe this "prophet" and start violently opposing anybody who doesn't agree with him (which just happens to be compatible with the "correct" scripture).
What is to be done?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@Makro74 (591)
•
24 Nov 10
This is a matter of what you believe. But the cornerstone basis of most religions is the belief in a God and peace. These are the basis which most religions were founded. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that a 'prophet' is true unless he advocates these at his very core. More unlikely would his credibility be if he promotes violence.
This is the first point. The second, if such a person did arise, usually God Himself sees to it that he cannot survive. He is not safe in the hands of God let alone the people.
Therefore, what is to be done, is the mass authority of promoters of the law and peace who do not allow provocations or violence to occur. His following is marginilised and diminishes. However, if he is peaceful and no violence is resorted to, then we do not need to interfere with his preaching or train of thought, except keep an open mind and debate the facts. This is the recepie for peace.
1 person likes this
@TheMetallion (1834)
• United States
23 Nov 10
In my dialog with the Divine, am I receiving guidance that this self-styled prophet is pointing out the correct path for me to follow? If so, I follow it. If not, I don't.
If people are being violent, I defend myself, regardless of whether there are self-styled prophets involved.
@TheMetallion (1834)
• United States
25 Aug 11
Strange that you think so: I told you how I would feel and act if it happened with my religion -- with the added complication that Wicca doesn't have prophets, and someone who claimed to be one would be laughed out of any Wiccan community.
@Graptopetalum (1807)
• Canada
24 Aug 11
You seem to be assuming that this is just my own stupid problem. However the prophet's followers are very powerful and numerous and many people seem to side with them although they don't actually follow the prophet.
@Graptopetalum (1807)
• Canada
24 Aug 11
I really wanted to know how you would feel if this happened with your religion but you're responding as if it happened to mine and you don't care.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
23 Nov 10
I have personally witnessed this several times in my life and honey all I have to say is that I would never try and impose my beliefs on to anyone, I simply respect others for their beliefs and or opinion walk on by.
Same as me trying to make a mockery out of someone else's belief's would not happen. See we cannot control how people feel and or think so why would religion be an exception. Some people are head strong when it comes to adjoining an or opposing religions, I often ask my self why? We cannot control how people feel and or think.
@Graptopetalum (1807)
• Canada
24 Nov 10
It obviously isn't true that you can't control, or at least influence, how people feel and think. Obviously some people do manage to get others to accept their beliefs, and unfortunately this is sometimes true of evil and dangerous beliefs.
@Graptopetalum (1807)
• Canada
24 Aug 11
I really wanted to know how you would feel if this happened to your religion. Everybody seems to be responding as if this happened to my religion, which they don't care about.
@2004cqui (2812)
• United States
23 Nov 10
This has been done and repeated many times over ever since the invention of the printing press. Religion and politics are powerful, frustrating, easily manipulated subjects that can ruin the mood of a party! You do nothing. Live your own life as you see fit. Everyone else will have their opinions but that doesn't affect you, unless you let it.
@Graptopetalum (1807)
• Canada
24 Nov 10
Firstly, I'm taking the analogy from before the invention of the printing press.
Secondly, you can't really just ignore it if people are telling you to change to their shoddy, stupid, religion or get killed!
@Graptopetalum (1807)
• Canada
24 Aug 11
Everybody seems to be missing the point. I wanted to know how people would feel if this happened with their religion but they're responding as if it happened to mine and they don't really care.
@2004cqui (2812)
• United States
25 Aug 11
You seem to be just looking for an argument! You don't understand the "You" as a euphemism! Everyone is putting the responsibility of belief on the shoulders of the person listening to religious points of view. Yes, turbulent religious violence has occurred, but so has stupid, violent leadership. The list goes on. We know it did not happen to you!
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
30 Dec 15
With the so many preaching men and women of today i guess it is already happening and so many are following them
