- Feb 9, 2001
- 7,136
- 2,067
Why are there so many "bad" things happening that are destroying people and our planet?
I don't know how to have this conversation, but this thought keeps coming to me. With so many religions in the world, and billions of people engaged in their practices, why is there so much suffering? I've read that the main thing that most religions have in common is a set of ethical beliefs; not that they share the same ethics, but they all have some set of ethics that are mandated by supernatural forces.
Is there a sense of community common among people who practice religions, particularly Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam? And can these ethics or sense of community be defined, basically, as "good"? Where is the kindness, the love, the generosity, the caring and compassion? I'm not religious but I find those things important, but others may not. Do all religions preach love, kindness and service to our community? Are they elements that we are expected to spread broadly beyond the borders of our individual communities or keep it confined to only those within our communities/
I'm being naive, I'm sure, but I believed that if there should be a strong sense of community that permeates throughout the world, guided by the basic principles of what religions, I thought, have in common. With so many people believing and practicing these religions, why isn't the world filled with people who are kinder and gentler toward each other? Churches, synagogues, and temples are filled to capacity, if not beyond, on the "holy" days and so much money passes through the hands of the believers to their religious leaders...then why does poverty still exist? Why do murders still happen? Why are the 99% still struggling, fighting and dying just to live a decent life--breathe fresh air, drink unpolluted water, eat healthy foods--you know, all the basics that we need to live. Why is there so much anger and hatred among us? Is it true that it's in our DNA to destroy ourselves?
With so many religions in the world today, who is really benefiting from them? Why so much posturing and ritual practicing? Why isn't love and voluntary service to others out of the "goodness" of core being, the overwhelming evidence that we witness and thankfully receive?
Why are so many people drawn to religion?
I don't know how to have this conversation, but this thought keeps coming to me. With so many religions in the world, and billions of people engaged in their practices, why is there so much suffering? I've read that the main thing that most religions have in common is a set of ethical beliefs; not that they share the same ethics, but they all have some set of ethics that are mandated by supernatural forces.
Is there a sense of community common among people who practice religions, particularly Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam? And can these ethics or sense of community be defined, basically, as "good"? Where is the kindness, the love, the generosity, the caring and compassion? I'm not religious but I find those things important, but others may not. Do all religions preach love, kindness and service to our community? Are they elements that we are expected to spread broadly beyond the borders of our individual communities or keep it confined to only those within our communities/
I'm being naive, I'm sure, but I believed that if there should be a strong sense of community that permeates throughout the world, guided by the basic principles of what religions, I thought, have in common. With so many people believing and practicing these religions, why isn't the world filled with people who are kinder and gentler toward each other? Churches, synagogues, and temples are filled to capacity, if not beyond, on the "holy" days and so much money passes through the hands of the believers to their religious leaders...then why does poverty still exist? Why do murders still happen? Why are the 99% still struggling, fighting and dying just to live a decent life--breathe fresh air, drink unpolluted water, eat healthy foods--you know, all the basics that we need to live. Why is there so much anger and hatred among us? Is it true that it's in our DNA to destroy ourselves?
With so many religions in the world today, who is really benefiting from them? Why so much posturing and ritual practicing? Why isn't love and voluntary service to others out of the "goodness" of core being, the overwhelming evidence that we witness and thankfully receive?
Why are so many people drawn to religion?
