http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,332590,00.html
Hello all,
I just came across an article that stated that about half of people in America are changing their religion. I find these findings to be astounding and I am a little confused. Now, I realize that we can't take all findings at face value and that we can't generalize ONE study to the whole population, but even if the figure comes anywhere near that of 50%, then I am shocked..truly.
I find that a lot of people today are changing their religions because they don't "agree" with something that their religion professes. I am Fully FOR people exploring their faiths and even other religions, but I don't agree with picking a religion because they like it most, because it fits their world view the best. People are always trying to find a religion that fits THEM, but perhaps certain things are there for a reason. Perhaps we are supposed to change. It's understandable to try to find things that fit into our world view. We already spent so much time creating a world view and then we encounter information that counteracts it, and so instead of changing our world view to fit this new information we try to find information that fits our own (even if it's wrong). Is that really progressive? Perhaps it is. It's good to have our own opinions and value certain things, but is it progressive to change our religion just because ours doesn't fit those opinions?? We should keep in mind that religions have certain concepts for a reason, and that instead of trying to find something else, we should maybe try to embrace them. Make a change within ourselves that help us become better people...maybe..just maybe..
"I don't agree with picking a religion because they like it most, because it fits their world view the best."
In my opinion, someone's world view and religion go hand in hand. I don't think that either is a choice, but really just the way it is. You believe what you believe, and you see things the way you see things, and these are bound together. I don't think that someone can "will" themsleves to believe something or see something a certain way. Its all about what's right for you.
Someone's world view will lead to someone's religion. One's world view becomes more and more complicated and more deep as we age, and that's why it would be SO hard to change a world view. But is "what's right for us?" really really "what's best for us" as individuals, but also as a society. Just because we don't agree with something, does not mean that it's not "right". It's okay to explore the things that we "think" are wrong and find information for and against it. But I realize that it's easier to find things that match our world view than actually change part of our world view. I am definitely NOT against religion exploration, but I do think that we should take a deeper look at why we "really" are changing our religions.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/arhipgeo86
Please use the reply button. Thanks.
The Abrahamic religions are, if I understand aright, Revelatory religions. How can one believe in any sect without a revelation? Wouldn't gaining insight into your own world view and how it compares to a sect be considered a revelation?
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
Sorry about that. I am new at this (and I know that I should not use ignorance as an excuse).
Like I mentioned before, I think it's great to explore religions and how they compare to one's world view, but it's important to evaluate our own world view and see if the way we created it is truly right. Our world view changes from when we are little to when we are adults. So too, it can change with new information, new facts, new anything. I'm not trying to change anyone's mind, I'm just simply stating an idea that we should perhaps take into consideration. :)
:)
"Sorry about that. I am new at this (and I know that I should not use ignorance as an excuse)."
No need to apologize.
How can a person objectively examine their own world view? How can a person really know every little thing that has shaped their opinions on things? And, of course, is their such a thing as a "right" world view, or even a right kind of world view?
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
I'll start from the bottom up. Is there a "right" world view, or even a right "kind" of world view? In all honesty, I don't know. I think that we can examine our own world view (think about what we believe and try to find out why we believe them) and then maybe even compare them to other people's world view. Maybe look at someone we admire because of who they are as people (hopefully all good qualities :)). It's hard to be objective about our own thoughts, but it's good to entertain ideas for longer than a second. It's easier to examine our world view when someone challenges something that we stand for and makes us take a look at why we believe what we believe. Most of the time we won't change it, but every once in a while we are struck by something that maybe didn't fit before but was explained properly and legit information was brought forth.
I am sure that we won't know EVERY little thing that formed our world view, but some things are more important than others and that's probably where I would take a closer look within my own world view. Although, it would be hard to change. Certainly :)
Is there an aspect of your world view that you would perhaps question? (just a question, not an attack or anything, only asking because I'm thinking if I would change anything myself) :) :)
Thanks for all the great input by the way.
Oh gosh, I was not expecting a smiley that big. oops.
Smileys are a good thing. :dances:
"I think that we can examine our own world view (think about what we believe and try to find out why we believe them) and then maybe even compare them to other people's world view. Maybe look at someone we admire because of who they are as people (hopefully all good qualities ...."
Comparison is good, but here's my problem. Lets say I admire, I don't know, Bill Gates because he's been successful, but he's also given a lot of time and money to charity. There are a few problems. The first is that emulating what you admire in a person does not mean conforming to their world view. The second thing is that you could try to conform to their world view and discover, even if you admire it, that it just doesn't work for you.
"It's hard to be objective about our own thoughts, but it's good to entertain ideas for longer than a second."
Agreed. And I would imagine that most of these people probably do think about the decision.
"It's easier to examine our world view when someone challenges something that we stand for and makes us take a look at why we believe what we believe."
Agreed.
"I am sure that we won't know EVERY little thing that formed our world view, but some things are more important than others and that's probably where I would take a closer look within my own world view. Although, it would be hard to change. Certainly :)"
I would agree that some things are more important than others. I don't know, though, that we can really know what some of those more important things are. It could be something that was once very important to you, but now is not.
"Is there an aspect of your world view that you would perhaps question? (just a question, not an attack or anything, only asking because I'm thinking if I would change anything myself)"
I try and always question. I am, however, fairly comfortable with my perspective.
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Comparison is good, but here's my problem. Lets say I admire, I don't know, Bill Gates because he's been successful, but he's also given a lot of time and money to charity. There are a few problems. The first is that emulating what you admire in a person does not mean conforming to their world view. "
* I agree that we should not be conforming to other's world view just because we like a few things about that person or because we admire some aspect of them.
"The second thing is that you could try to conform to their world view and discover, even if you admire it, that it just doesn't work for you."
*This is the point that I was "trying" to make in the first post. Something not working for us. We would have to examine why something we admire doesn't work for us. Is it because it's too hard to change or is it because it's not a good quality. I find that a lot of people don't stick to a religion because it "just doesn't work for them". And like I said, exploration is AMAZING :) :) I like it a lot and do it myself, but I have to think about why certain things are there to begin with. Religion is not there to "constrict" us and just makes us follow rules. There's probably a point to the ideas and we should just explore them further before deciding that we don't agree with them. :)
I like the smileys. :-h
"We would have to examine why something we admire doesn't work for us. Is it because it's too hard to change or is it because it's not a good quality. I find that a lot of people don't stick to a religion because it "just doesn't work for them"."
And, to me, that seems like a good reason. The fact is that, while a person may later change their mind based on new information, they are going to believe, basically, what they believe. That's the strong pull of religion, but when there are a lot of religions out there, what they believe can be found to conform much more strongly to one religion rather than another.
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
Good point!
:dances:
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund