Do you find that religions complicate an already complicated life?

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10 Answers

Didge Doo Profile
Didge Doo answered

Religion isn't a complication. Quite the opposite, it's a simplification. It's a lot easier to believe a collection of creation myths than make the effort actually to learn why life and the cosmos exist.

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Call me Z
Call me Z commented
Quite.
Prof Dawkins once spoke to this point:
"Religion...teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world". You summed it up wonderfully, Master Didge.
Didge Doo
Didge Doo commented
He has a gift for it. I hadn't run across that before. Thanks for the info.
Darik Majoren
Darik Majoren commented
Well phrased Didge.
Charles Davis Profile
Charles Davis answered

Yes and no. The problem I have with religion is that it limits education, especially the Abrahamic religions. When a question is come across that seems to have no answer, like "the origins of life", Abrahamic religions tend to do a "God did it" and then stop looking for the actual answer, because they have the answer, God. It's these limitations that bother me the most.

As far as actually complicating life, they can, by placing ridiculous rules on life. Gays and lesbians are examples of this process. In the not so long distant past it was inter-racial relationships, and prejudices against people that are not in agreement with this group or that beliefs. This is the reason many people came to the Americas and then started suppressing people, for religion, here as they were suppressed in Europe. Virginia is a good example, they outlawed certain religions and persecuted them, to where the Federal government had to step in and stop it. So yes it can, but is not always.

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Darik Majoren
Darik Majoren commented
Charles in Charge! . . . well said.
Tom  Jackson
Tom Jackson commented
@Charles Davis

The existence of a number of well known and respected Catholic Universities (as opposed to some "bible" colleges) would tend to suggest that the concept behind first sentence may need some qualification as to your intended extension of your proposition.

Descartes, Bacon, Fermi, Galileo, and Leonardo da Vinci were all Catholics who would most likely agree that God may be the exemplary cause of all creation ("God did it"); but they certainly didn't stop at that first level of inference. They were all interested, each in his own way, in discovering exactly how He did it.

As for what you consider "ridiculous rules on life"---and yes, I agree that some tend to cause even me to wince, although not for the same reasons as you might---the general approach is pretty much tempered by mercy and understanding in a pastoral setting.

And at any rate, we Abrahamic guys are just as human as any atheist (or vice versa if you prefer). The ordinary teaching magisterium of the Church is for the formation of conscience---an individual responsibility.

And for "infallibility" (pronouncements "ex cathedra"), the total number of those is still in the single digits.

And quite frankly, I occasionally wince when I hear my fellow Christians of any denomination comment on why and what they believe.
Corey The Goofyhawk Profile
Corey The Goofyhawk , Epic has no limit, answered

I would have to answer no. Despite claiming Christianity, I don't really think of myself as religious, though. However, I do find that my beliefs cause me to worry less, stress less, have hope, and have better focus toward my other goals.

John McCann Profile
John McCann answered

Religion, pure bunk, obfuscates life. To think that such primitive Bronze Age myths still hold sway over so many is disappointing, until you look at the declining influence of religion.

Not with a bang but with a whimper.

Cookie Hill Profile
Cookie Hill answered

No, True religion gives people comfort,hope and a future. Romans 15:4. False religion causes confusion, unhappiness and a life without purpose.

Tom  Jackson Profile
Tom Jackson answered

Nah---I find it gives form and meaning to an already great life.

Even if the atheists were proven right tomorrow, I would continue my life as it is now.

I find Catholicism to provide an excellent blueprint for us civilized humans.

Darik Majoren Profile
Darik Majoren answered

"There is a sway, to the Yay and the Nay." - Darkmajinn

On one hand, it can break the simplest of minds down to the simplest of terms.

"Why is the sky blue?" - "God did it."

"Who made creation with all of it's beauty?" - "God did it."

Such a life requires very little mental prowess . . . Even those deeply religious "scientists" will have a starting point (Hypothesis) and an Ending point (God did it) . . . They partly use actual evidence and "God Filler" to get from one end to the other.

It gets complicated when the big questions pop up:

"Why do I have cancer?" - "God did it."

"Why did my loved one have to die?" - "God did it."

It is uncomplicated to say "Take the wheel Jesus!" . . . It gets complicated when it is obvious the "Vehicle of life" you are in is heading for a cliff . . .

Ty Hibb Profile
Ty Hibb answered

False religion feeds on the inherent desire that we all have to worship. The confusion comes from satan's attempt at keeping people from knowing the truth. False religion works best with people that are not looking for true worship but instead are looking something that will allow them to do what they want and not what God requires. False religion is successful in separating the class of sheep that Jesus said will hear his voice. When what you call confusion has served it's purpose, those that are willing to use their free will properly  will be allowed to be a part of God's original purpose to fill the paradise earth.

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