General Chat

Do you think if you claim to follow or belong to a religion you should follow all of the rules or teachings or do you think it's ok to observe the things you like and ignore the things you don't?

we're all not perfect, you can try and follow the rules or teachings of anything (doesn't have to be religion even) but it doesn't mean that you won't lapse or forget or get lost in the moment.

Also to what extremes are you talking about? Some religions have some very extreme teachings but sometimes it comes down to context and interpretations.

Hello Uggers . I guess that one is down to personal choice really .

Anyone who follows any religion to the letter of its laws and doctrine , runs the risk of being labeled a fanatic whilst to pick and choose which bits to follow is somewhat hypercritical .

I like the Quaker way of thinking and if I was to pin my badge to any religion then it would be them.

An interesting question - and if I'm honest I really don't know how I feel about that. I think that you should follow the basic teachings of whatever religion you follow.

Sue xx

I think you should use your intellectual and emotional integrity to define to yourself which parts of your 'church's dogma' you feel is 'man-made' and which is 'God-given' and act accordingly :))

xx

hello:)

I was thinking this morning that I cherry pick to a large extent what teachings of my religion I believe and follow and I know some people might see that as hypocritical. I don't think it is though. My local church is getting increasingly evangelical and that's the choice of the leaders and a lot of the congregation but it ain't mine and I don't interpret things the same way they do so I can't see it in the same way and follow it in the same way and I don't want to. That doesn't give me any crisis of conscience or anything and I'm very at ease with the way I see things

oooh good answers Sue and Rose :)

Rose, that's very much the sort of thing I was thinking after coming across some heavy emphasis on St Paul and the Ephesians etc. I personally think St Paul was a bit of a tosser.

Most religions seem to have at their heart the basic rules for decent human behaviour, lol.... it is how they are interpreted that leaves a lot to be desired (imho)

For instance... it is fine to say one mustn't covet your neighbour's wife, or hubby, or any of the things that belong to him or her, as we all know how jealousy can twist the emotions and feelings of some folk... but if the penalty for a sidelong glance and a wistful sigh is public flogging or a limb being amputated... well, that isn't for me!!

A couple of weeks ago I had to fill in a form for hospital... I couldn't leave the religion thing blank..... the principle being that everyone has a religion, or they are agnostic... well, I'm not an agnostic..... but nor do I feel I fit into any other religious category.

So I ended up putting Pagan in there, as it felt right!!

So I suppose I have answered your question Uggers, in a roundabout way... I follow the basic tenets of all religions, and none..... the best bits of the lot of them, which dictate how we should behave.. do not kill, do not covet, do not adulterate (is that a word, lol) honour your parents, do not steal, etc, etc etc.

Love

Daff xxxxx

ps and edit... I sooooo agree with you about St Paul........ what a dreadful man!! imho!! xxxx

No I don't see that as hypocritical. I've often wondered about certain teachings attributed to God and wondered if this is really what he wants his "people" to do. I'd have to agree with Rose's thoughts.

Sue xx

Morning Uggers :)) I think it's fine to cherrypick :)

btw were your ears burning yesterday? we were talking about you at the meet lol, and the decision was unanimous I, everyone thinks you're lovely :)

xx

Do not adulterate:)))) lol, Daff.

Sue xx

Re St Paul, I will try and find my copy of Beverley Nichols book , "The Fool hath said" he has some interesting things to say about St Pauls attitude to women. :)

xx

that's the thing Uggers, I know that people make up a church and religion is not necessarily the same as the "word of God".

This means that you may believe that some Churches are interpreting the word of God in a way that it was not intended (by the God you believe in). I suppose this goes back to Rose's point except she said it a lot better lol

Religious beliefs are personal choice, Dermot... and for me, I like the best bits of them all, feel nothing wrong with that, and live quite comfortably with it...... with a very clean conscience, much better in fact than some who feel that salvation every Sunday and an open acknowledgement that *Jesus is Lord* saves us so that they can sin the rest of the week with impunity..... now that really is hypocrisy, in my opinion! I have met far too many who follow that sort of Christianity!!

Love

Daff xxxx

ps.... Sue... good word, isn't it??? lol

Interesting answers thank you:)

Dermot, "pick n mix" in relation to religion is a biased cliche in my opinion. Interpretation using our intellect is an important factor that can't be dismissed because we think our way is the right way. Otherwise the majority of us wouldn't have progressed in hundreds of years. Jesus challenged the church of his day and many holy figures have done it since. How stupid would we all be if we felt the bloke at the top of our brand at church was right and never gave any thought to what we believed and just followed?

Wow....I agree with Daff too. Have I no mind of my own or is the glass or two of wine I had with dinner slowing me down.

Although I'm a Christian there are certain ceremonies in the Jewish religion that I find quite beautiful although I don't know much about the religion. I also like a lot of the teachings of Buddha and could quite happily live with Buddhists beliefs or at least some of them.

Sue xx

I was brought up in one religion Uggers, but I had a Mum who was interested in all sorts of alternative ideas, and was brought up to read about stuff and make up my own mind.......I think that is why I can quite happily go into a Catholic church and worship there, or mix with people of all faiths......

That counts in most aspects of life, Uggers, not just religion. We must continue to question our politians, ecologists, scientists, health professionals and religious leaders.

Sue xx

I'm CofE but have always been attracted to certain elements of the RC church - but then I'm quite aware that what appeals to me are some of the more superficial and mystery parts and because the teachings are often so far removed from what I believe, I don't think I would ever consider converting.

Exactly, Sue:)