What is the "Right" religion?

Z

ZenLateralus

Disposition Seagal
I'm really curious about responses here because I'm sure that there are people on this forum from around the world with different backgrounds and beliefs. I may not even get the who question out that I'd like to ask because the knowledge at which I seek is very complicated therefore, there must be many questions that follow the first. I haven't attended church in any serious manner for a number of years (or at all in the last year) because I am confused. What I would like to ask is what is the "Right" religion. I was brought up Catholic and in the past couple years found things that I didn't like about the practice (though don't get me wrong, I believe there is a God and I believe that God wouldn't allow something like the Bible to be made if it weren't true). One of my main problems is that there are so manly religions out there. How can only one be right?? That is what Catholics are taught to believe. When I do get bits of information about Eastern religions (esp. Buddhism, Dauhism (sp?), Kami...) I find them very interesting and I find a strong desire within myself to learn more and maybe practice what I learn (sometimes they seem more real). I don't see how one religion could have all the answers. So, is Christianity or Catholocism the "Right" religion? Is there only one "Right" religion? Why is it so wrong for Catholics to believe and practice other religions whereas some other religions allow for multi-religion practice? Is there not something true in every religion? Don't all religions have commonalities? I like to believe in things like Zen, Karma, and turning my suffering to happiness and there is not really an equivalent in Christianity and the off-branches of that religion. I talk to some people in my life and they're either stedfast in their religion and can't even think about another or they are as clueless as myself. I'm really interested in reading responses here because I don't really know what to believe. Why would I have such a strong desire to learn Eastern religions if they're not right? Why do so many people not practice Christianity and its off-branches is it is the one "Right" religion. I could probably go on and on with questions but I'll stop here. I hope everyone can be open minded in sharing there thoughts with me. Thanks.
 
yudansha

yudansha

TheGreatOne
It's like asking what's the 'best' martial art style...

I wouldn't say that there is such a thing as a "right" religion or a "left" religion ... lol ... no seriously I don't (although in politics ...).

Buddhism does not follow God.

Some deep spiritual leaders believe that their religious beliefs are the only 'correct' ones and that everybody else is being misled.

I always say that I believe in God (I'm Orthodox), but then I took too many evolutionary courses ...
 
tora

tora

Funmaker
It's more like asking "What shoes are the best to look in?" or "What is the best thing to eat for my breakfast?"
Be the right Christian,the right Muslim,the right Buddhist,etc...or just be...that's the essence.
 
tora

tora

Funmaker
If you take the names off and then take the dust of centuries off you get back to the essence...you get back to the beginning...But then again...the more people get back to their beginnings,the more they spoil it futher on trying to make it better once again...:rolleyes:
 
Jules

Jules

Potters Clay
ZenLateralus,
You will come across many different beliefs here. Everyone feels passionatly about their beliefs. I have shared mine many times. They are on these threads if you are interested in reading them. What is your faith?, Mel Gibsons "The passion.., Who is moon?(I personally don't believe in moon, but we talked about beliefs there), and Heart to Heart. I have shared more than people care to hear I guess. I am a minority here. I will not say more here; unless I feel compelled. Sincerely, Julie
 
tora

tora

Funmaker
Moon is a Korean Godfather and you better believe it-it's a fact! :D No need to re-ask me...:D
 
yudansha

yudansha

TheGreatOne
It doesn't always have to be this serious.

Julie you better not quit on us ... and I better see more of that humour of yours in that section that I just posted some funnies for you to get a laugh from.
 
Reservoir Dog

Reservoir Dog

MRKD4DTH
What was seagal before he became a buddhist? I know his mom was catholic, and his dad was jewish. I guess he didnt feel right with those religions. I applaud him for taking a different path to fulfill himself.
 
TDWoj

TDWoj

Administrator
Staff member
Most religions have many things in common, for example, compassion, charity, faith/devotion, good works, and the cultivation of a spiritual well-being that puts one at one with the universe, in whatever way "universe" is defined or named.

Those are the things that are "right", if one may use that term. What is "wrong" is when those basic tenets are corrupted or perverted by individuals who seek to destroy anything that doesn't fit within a very narrowly defined set of boundaries. "My religion is the only true religion; for those who do not believe as I believe, they are damned... and I have the right to destroy those who do not believe as I believe because they threaten the purity of my beliefs."

And if an individual's beliefs are so easily affected by external forces, that is more a reflection of the individual's weaknesses, rather than the rightness of his religion.

"Because I am right, then you must wrong; for it is not possible for both of us to be right..."

I remember reading somewhere - possibly in history class, or in a reference book somewhere - that the North American natives had a concept of seeing God in all things. To the missionaries, this was interpreted as polytheism, and blasphemy, that had to be stamped out with dispatch, or their souls would be consigned to eternal damnation. But if God made the heavens and the earth and all the things that lived there, doesn't that put God in all things? But it was that narrow definition of what God is, and the "rightness" of that one belief that made it impossible to accept another interpretation.

What I found fascinating one time when I was researching a project for high school, is that in almost every culture there is a creation myth that is nearly identical to every other creation myth, in context, if not in substance. In many disparate religions there is also the story of a great flood. And in most religions, regardless of whether they are spiritualistic, monotheistic, or polytheistic, there is an underlying thread of commonality that should, in theory, bring people together, rather than tear them apart.

And yet... we have Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland and Jews and Muslims in the Middle East killing each other for reasons that have long since ceased to make any sense in the modern world we live in. We have fundamentalists of all faiths screaming, "mine is right! yours is wrong! kill! kill! kill!" We have people who live securely in the belief that they and only they will be taken up to heaven when the Rapture comes, and that the majority of the world are damned, because their names have not been written in the book.

There are people for whom religion is not a refuge but a kind of gated community, that keeps out the undesirables. Is that a "right" religion? I don't happen to think so. Compassion is not just for people who are just like you; compassion is for every living thing. Performing a good deed is not a balance sheet entry - do enough good deeds so that one's entrance to the Kingdom of heaven will be assured. A good deed is something that is done because it needs to be done, in and of itself.

I'm a Catholic, by the way; and the irony is, "catholic" means "universal". Somewhere, along the way, that concept of universalism has been lost...

-TD, who likes going to church, but is somewhat uneasy about The Church these days
 
Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Lucky Member
The right thing is to be good to your ones around you, my personal opinion, for me, I think Buddism sits better for me, I agree with many aspects of it, I also like Muslim and Catholic as well, so, as Tora Critter said, be a good person !!! :)
 
Jules

Jules

Potters Clay
Everyone here thinks THEY are right. If any of us are wrong, our creator will set us strait some day.:)
 
K

kickingbird

candle lighter
Religious belief is very personal - each one receives what is "right" for that one. Throughout history, God has sent many prophets and teachers and holy ones, who have offered another rung on the ladder of higher consciousness according to the cultures and beliefs of the times. It is also said that the main religions relate to inner steps, inner levels of consciousness and awareness. That is where the realms of the outer, tangible world melt into the realms of the inner, intangle world of the Soul. There are holy beings who are in constant communion with God at all times yet they still live in the world as examples and teachers to us all. These holy ones say that God has no religion, that communion with Him transcends religion. Religion is a tool, a method, a way, a path, a meditation, a way to pray, whatever each individual needs to move them along on their journey; yet, in the final steps, one goes beyond the forms and journeys into the formless. It is the razor's edge. It is like the spiral on a seashell - each spiral taking one closer to the tiny point; and there is a journey even beyond that Point that one cannot make with the mind, the body, with religion, or any "form" - it can only be made with the Soul and Wisdom. It is beyond the beyond. In this aspect of belief, religion no longer exists, form no longer exists, separation no longer exists. Only Truth exists. To one in that state, there is no right or wrong religion - there is only Truth.

Even within Buddhism, Compassion is the key Point. Yet God IS Compassion. Buddha is chuckling with us - he is inviting us to become Compassion.
 
tora

tora

Funmaker
Dammit,Kickingbird,I was going to say something like that and something else but probably not as good as you,perhaps in a spoiled way :rolleyes: :D
Awesome,Kickingbird,awesome!
 
Jules

Jules

Potters Clay
A Thought In A Different Perspective

TDWoj said:
Most religions have many things in common, for example, compassion, charity, faith/devotion, good works, and the cultivation of a spiritual well-being that puts one at one with the universe, in whatever way "universe" is defined or named.

Those are the things that are "right", if one may use that term. What is "wrong" is when those basic tenets are corrupted or perverted by individuals who seek to destroy anything that doesn't fit within a very narrowly defined set of boundaries. "My religion is the only true religion; for those who do not believe as I believe, they are damned... and I have the right to destroy those who do not believe as I believe because they threaten the purity of my beliefs."

And if an individual's beliefs are so easily affected by external forces, that is more a reflection of the individual's weaknesses, rather than the rightness of his religion.

"Because I am right, then you must wrong; for it is not possible for both of us to be right..."

I remember reading somewhere - possibly in history class, or in a reference book somewhere - that the North American natives had a concept of seeing God in all things. To the missionaries, this was interpreted as polytheism, and blasphemy, that had to be stamped out with dispatch, or their souls would be consigned to eternal damnation. But if God made the heavens and the earth and all the things that lived there, doesn't that put God in all things? But it was that narrow definition of what God is, and the "rightness" of that one belief that made it impossible to accept another interpretation.

What I found fascinating one time when I was researching a project for high school, is that in almost every culture there is a creation myth that is nearly identical to every other creation myth, in context, if not in substance. In many disparate religions there is also the story of a great flood. And in most religions, regardless of whether they are spiritualistic, monotheistic, or polytheistic, there is an underlying thread of commonality that should, in theory, bring people together, rather than tear them apart.

And yet... we have Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland and Jews and Muslims in the Middle East killing each other for reasons that have long since ceased to make any sense in the modern world we live in. We have fundamentalists of all faiths screaming, "mine is right! yours is wrong! kill! kill! kill!" We have people who live securely in the belief that they and only they will be taken up to heaven when the Rapture comes, and that the majority of the world are damned, because their names have not been written in the book.

There are people for whom religion is not a refuge but a kind of gated community, that keeps out the undesirables. Is that a "right" religion? I don't happen to think so. Compassion is not just for people who are just like you; compassion is for every living thing. Performing a good deed is not a balance sheet entry - do enough good deeds so that one's entrance to the Kingdom of heaven will be assured. A good deed is something that is done because it needs to be done, in and of itself.

I'm a Catholic, by the way; and the irony is, "catholic" means "universal". Somewhere, along the way, that concept of universalism has been lost...

-TD, who likes going to church, but is somewhat uneasy about The Church these days
Click to expand...
T.D,
I have a thought for you and anyone else that thinks the same way.

Let's put this in third person a minute. Have you ever thought that maybe people shared what they believe about the rapture, the book of life, and the Bible in general is because that is what they were taught in church to be true and they wanted to let people they know and care about know too?
"What if" it is true. Wouldn't you be ticked if your friends or family and such knew something as serious as this and didn't tell you? Wouldn't you be hurt? Something like that you do not keep to yourself. Just a thought.

You have to read these to understand where they are coming from: (Ezekial 33: 1-7, and John 10: 1-8)
Paraphrased(from the Bible) to make it shorter:
If you were a watchman of a "country" and if he sees an army coming and blows the alarm to warn them, then anyone who hears and doesn't heed the alarm, the fault is their own. But, if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn't sound the alarm to warn the people, he (the watchman) is held responsible.
Revelation in the Bible talks about future prophesy. When you care about people you tell them what you know because the prophesy is coming to pass everyday. The verses in John talk about there is only one gate.
People do not share what they have been taught to be mean. They share because they "truly care." If they didn't they would keep quiet.

Everyone here shares and speaks passionatly about what they believe, and I truly respect that, but when God says in the Bible what you were complaining about, Bible believers are only scared for the people they love or have grown to care about; and also everyone else. It is not something you say nothing on.
 
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