Why should there NOT be freedom of religion?
By wyrdsister
@wyrdsister (584)
Canada
December 23, 2006 6:39am CST
I'm a big advocate for freedom of religion and spirituality. I believe that everyone has a right to their own belief systems, ways of knowing, and spiritual inspiration.
But I'd like to hear from people who feel differently. Do you think that we should NOT have freedom of religion? Do you think everyone should believe one way, and one way only? If so, why do you think this way? What reasons do you have for thinking there is "one true way?"
I'm starting this topic because I am genuinely interested in people who think differently from me. I'd like to understand better why some people feel there is one true way or one true religion. I am NOT looking for flamage, degrogatory comments about peoples, religions, or groups, or any other crap of that nature.;) What I am looking for are well-reasoned arguments for your standpoint. I will not be ridiculing anyone who posts here - unless you post something abusive, in which case I'll respond to you and report you to myLot.;)
So please jump in! I'm looking forward to learning and understanding more.
Thank you!
~Wyrdsister
5 people like this
38 responses
@Poo___Jay___1981 (24)
• United States
23 Dec 06
It sounds like your assuming that the government has so much total control that they are more powerfull than God, or religion. I definately know that God is out there, and He has the power to decide the way things are...lucky enough he loves us all anough to give us "free-will." The flip side to that is that there is no way all of the religions out there can be true, (not to bash on all of them, but you can't have hundreds of completely different cultures and religions say "they" are all the right on).
I stongly believe that there is only one way, we (as people) should have the drive to find it. Because the alternative, no matter what religion you believe in is bad. I do believe that every word in the Bible is true, and I have heard all the arguements about how man wrote it and that its all fairy tales. However, if you look at all the facts on the subject; if you read the from the original Greek and Hebrew writings, there is NO contradictions between any of the words. Now remember, the books in the bible were written over the coarse of like 6 or 7 thousand years.
Then, knowing that the bible was written by men but inspired by God, you can see His entire plan for the earth from beginning to end.
In a nutshell, God made man...who decided to not listen to what he asked them to do. Then He decided to give men "The Law," by giving Abraham the ten commandments. And if they broke the any of the laws, they had to sacrifice lambs as to say "they were sorry." In the meantime, God was sending people out to tell everyone that "God was going to send a saviour" to be the final, last sacrifice men ever had to have.
The fundamental difference between Jews and Christians, is Jesus said He was that final sacrifice. Christians believe that, and the Jews do not.
I have definately found that aside from what the bible says, every religion out there is essentially based off of what you do or contribute to it. Christians belive that Jesus did what he said and did it all for us.
But its still a choice you have make on your own, in your heart.
@wyrdsister (584)
• Canada
23 Dec 06
I'm not sure where you found references to government being stronger than God in my post. That confused me a bit. I'm also wondering if you feel it is possible to find the "one true way" without formal religion, or if religion (and one specific religion) is the only path to God and the truth.
But I thank you so much for such a well-thought out and articulated response. I really appreciate it! This type of response was exactly what I was looking for, and I really appreciate your effort. :)
~Wyrdsister
1 person likes this
@wyrdsister (584)
• Canada
26 Dec 06
Nope, you didn't confuse me too much, but that's for the clarification. :)
As for the "truth" having to stand up to anything you can throw at it - I'm not sure if that's always possible. Do you think there any version of the "truth" can is impenetrable to criticism? It seems to me that any belief system can have holes poked in it, and at some point faith has to come into it.
~Wyrdsister
@Poo___Jay___1981 (24)
• United States
24 Dec 06
what i meant about the government thing was; Just because the government says we should have the freedom to choose whatever religion we want doesn't make all of them right.
It seems like nowadays everyone is so worried about not hurting other people because of what they believe...you know the whole "Do whatever you want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else" thing. That concept sounds good and wholesome, but that would mean either everyone is right (which can't be true), or, there is truth out there and we just have to find it.
Please remember one thing...if you go looking for "the truth," it has to stand up against any argument you can throw against it. Either arceological evidence, or simply comparing the writings within itself (like making sure there is nothing contradicting itself). I have never found anything that contradicts itself in the bible, and people have been trying to find flaws in it for years. Until now, no-one can disprove it...only disagree with who Jesus said he is (being he said that he was/is God, not a god or another god...but GOD).
I hope I didn't confuse you too much with the whole government thing.
1 person likes this
@Ikkez0r (7)
• Brazil
24 Dec 06
Think like this, if there was, only one ''god'' there would be no need for modern warfare, since most conflicts start by religion, take for a look middle east or WW2,i am not saying that ther would be no fight with only one way, it would make everthing ''easier'' there would be no ''We belong to different religon, we cant marry'' but also, never,i mean never, there was only one door to be pick, so its kinda impossible to be only one path to be follow
2 people like this
@josephperera (2906)
• Sri Lanka
24 Dec 06
If there is only one God, the people who follow this true God will go to heaven. So while in this world the followers of this one God should have pity on everyone else who are going to burn in hell and help them at least have a decent life on Earth. Is it not what should really happen?
But instead of that what happens is everyone tries to keep this one God behind them and make a hell of this poor Earth. So my dear followers of the true God (whoever they are) please make the world a heaven for all those unfortunate souls who will be burning in hell for eternity. The lifespan here is limited. So what is wrong even if you under some hardships here.
@onesiobhan (1327)
• Canada
24 Dec 06
Most modern conflicts are started for MONEY.
This has always been true. Crusades, wars and other conflicts have always been about cash, land and power. It gets dressed up in religious terms to assuage the poor buggers who are stuck doing the actual dying while their bosses get rich.
(Feel free to insert "democracy", "peace" or "our way of life" into the above sentance in the place of religion. It's still true.)
1 person likes this
@wyrdsister (584)
• Canada
26 Dec 06
Even if there was/is one "god", we people are so good at interpreting things completely differently that the one god soon appears to be many. Is there any way to tell if there is only one god because of the many, many different interpretations of what god is/should be?
Thank you all for your comments! So great, and well thought out. :)
~Wyrdsister
@moneymind (10510)
• Philippines
24 Dec 06
here's what i think about it, human nature is not to bound i mean humans are free and easily get bored now just imagine if a group or community is force to believe in a certain 'religion' which they do not really accept to be in parallel with their culture and traditions, as you have mention war will erupt between the two parties. this is too short a post but i hope i have made some of my view. greetings. : )
@wyrdsister (584)
• Canada
26 Dec 06
No, your post wasn't too short. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
~Wyrdsister
@raisushkr (1398)
• India
24 Dec 06
freedom of religion already exists .actually i didnt understand wat u want to say .every has right to freedom its in constitution.all religions r good its just their religious head who try to portay that their religion is the best .most of religions say the same samething
@wyrdsister (584)
• Canada
26 Dec 06
I guess what I was trying to get at in my topic was why some people might feel that there _shouldn't_ be freedom of religion. I think that there should be this freedom, but I would like to try and understand the viewpoint of some that there shouldn't be just so I can get a broader perspective.
As for whether or not there is freedom of religion, I agree with you that there are some countries that do have this written in their constitutions and/or charters of rights (I live in one of those countries) but there are many countries that don't.
Thanks for your comment!
~Wyrdsister
@moonflowerpixy (536)
• United States
23 Dec 06
I believe you know my view point on this subject. I think we should all be able to have our own preferences as well. I will be reading your responses for I also am interested!:)
2 people like this
@wyrdsister (584)
• Canada
23 Dec 06
Hehe, yep, I think I do. :) Thanks for responding! I'm really looking forward to the comments as well.
BB,
~Wyrdsister
1 person likes this
@the_actor (494)
• Philippines
24 Dec 06
I believe that everything on this world is blessed, everything is created by God. There is no way those religions established by men can get in the way in my line of faith. Well, I believe in one Supreme being and that someday He will take us all in his arms. In short, it is extremely hypocritical to set our minds on religious dogmas. There is no need to be subjected to any church in particular, God has blessed us all even before the beginning of time.
@wyrdsister (584)
• Canada
26 Dec 06
That is a beautiful belief, that "this world is blessed." It's a belief I hold as well. Thanks so much for your comment!
~Wyrdsister
@DeenaD (2684)
• United States
24 Dec 06
Yes, there should be freedom. God made man free, so man could love and worship God freely. However, this does not mean that I believe for one second that truth is a matter of opinion. There is but One Truth, and it sets us free.
@funfreak2k2 (1734)
• India
24 Dec 06
how that we should not have religious freedom? God himself has not imposed that upon us. if He has, we wud all be in one religion only.
then how can a man impose it? he cannot. so he is trying to convince other poeple to join his religion. its propaganda of religion.
But i go with the opinion of God. man should be left to decide which religion he wants to follow. after all, man is blessed with reason and rational thinking !
@rash219 (808)
• United States
24 Dec 06
Well you do have one benefit of having only 1 true religion.....there will be no bloodshed in the name of GOD....but then again 4 this to be implemented ( which is impossible ) ppl will have to decide on which is good n bad for the religiion.....i believe one of the Mughal Emperors tried this method and failed drastically......one fine eg. is Chrisianity.....during the roman times.....Constantine tried to gather all the different types of Christians....even it did lead to the new testament....in the end it still failed...bloodshed, war, destruction still continued in the name of God..........
@xmanofsteel69 (458)
• Canada
24 Dec 06
Everyone believes in religion so they can understand the world a little more around them. I believe it is good for people to be diverse in their own beliefs, but have them at least close enough so no religious comments are said.
@fayzah (253)
• United States
24 Dec 06
I believe we should stand up for our rights and have the freedome of religion, isn't that why America was founded? But I get concerned when I was looking at my nieces history book the other day here in California and seen that there were religious stuff in it, when in fact the religion should be seperated from schooling unless in a religious school.
@adnan007 (1083)
• India
24 Dec 06
thats a different question.people use to ask about the goodness of freedom of religion.I think there there should be freedom of religion cos people have the right to choose there own culture what they want to.If there wasnt any kind of this rule and every body used to change thier religion by the forcement of other people that would be worng to humanism,because people r here to choose thier very own and not others as their boss to advice them the worng thing
@vinothcer (19)
• India
24 Dec 06
in this world each human prefers his/her thoughts as they thinking it as a richest one. it's a human nature..those who prefers it violenty shows their innocence.if you asked them a proper reason they won't.they just following the one who can attract them by their speach.eg.hitler
@anne_143god (5387)
• Philippines
24 Dec 06
I'am also an advocate that each one should have the right to choose their own religion according to their beliefs in their own free will. I'm against with those society that dont let their member to choose their own religion for it is their rights.
@narayanswarup (221)
• India
24 Dec 06
well u r right that everone should have freedom of one's religion but if u want to say that without a religion people can or should live that u r talking about a society of animals.
@riyyappan (10)
• India
24 Dec 06
Well my dear friend,
i would like share my knoweldge from what i have learned through Hindu Religion. Essentially, we in India, devide people according to three characters Satva, Thamo, Thamasa gunas. People who have Satva character lean towards god. People with Thamo Character will be interested towards work. Thamasa guna (character) leads to laziness, delaying the alloted work etc.
Your next question is why do people differ in their
perception about religion ?
Although god is in everyone heart, due to worldly nature we are unable realize him always. people who genuinely shows love towards god and meditate upon him can realize him.
People who go after this material world especially girls with uncontrallabe desire will always fail to understand the god and differ in their views about the god itself.
This gunas (characters) will go up and down for a same person. that is satva will be in maxima when other two are in minima depending upon their mind.
Finally all religions leads to one god, only the path is different.
Thank You, If you have any clarification you can look books like Bhavat Gita to understand Hindu religion better.
