Pros and Cons of Clearly Defined Religions

[meltzerboy]

In religions such as Catholicism, Judaism, and Islam, the rules (do’s and don’ts) are quite clearly defined; that is, there is nothing too vague about what is permitted and what is not in most situations throughout life. In Catholicism (and Christianity, in general), even the afterlife is described in significant detail.

My question is what are the psychological, emotional, and philosophical advantages as well as possible disadvantages of practicing a religion with virtually everything mapped out in such definitive fashion?

 

[wllmjoseph]

In religions such as Catholicism, Judaism, and Islam, the rules (do’s and don’ts) are quite clearly defined; that is, there is nothing too vague about what is permitted and what is not in most situations throughout life. In Catholicism (and Christianity, in general), even the afterlife is described in significant detail.

My question is what are the psychological, emotional, and philosophical advantages as well as possible disadvantages of practicing a religion with virtually everything mapped out in such definitive fashion?

 I am originally from Long Island, NY.  Many of the people who had a profound effect on my life were Jewish.  Growing up in NY I came to have a great respect for Jewish culture.   I  enjoy reading your posts.  I find your posts to be very insighful and thought provoking.  
 I don't believe that it is a coincidence that the three Monotheistic faiths are clearly defined.  An obvious advantantage of practicing a religion with virtually everything mapped out in such definitive fashion is that we know what we do and do not believe in.  I believe for most people practicing a religion that is not clearly defined would be difficult.  There would always be questions on what we do believe.  It is important that religion be organized and defined.  :signofcross:

 

[Charlemagne_III]

My question is what are the psychological, emotional, and philosophical advantages as well as possible disadvantages of practicing a religion with virtually everything mapped out in such definitive fashion?

Everything is more or less mapped out in defintive detail, but not eveyone bothers to look at the map. For those who do, there is great inspiration and reward. For those who do not, there is sometimes great confusion and anxiety.

I think a religion that is so liberal it tells people to believe what it pleases them to believe cannot be truly inspirational or rewarding. It’s more like a kind of spiritual masturbation.

Fun but self absorbed.

There are, of course, religious fanatics. But notice that I called them religious fanatics, not spiritual fanatics. Religious fanaticism is a defect (neurosis) of the psyche combined usually with a defective understanding of true religion or a misdirected devotion to false religion. For such people a complete roadmap to salvation can actually be a complete roadmap to hell.

 

[wllmjoseph]

Everything is more or less mapped out in defintive detail, but not eveyone bothers to look at the map. For those who do, there is great inspiration and reward. For those who do not, there is sometimes great confusion and anxiety.

I think a religion that is so liberal it tells people to believe what it pleases them to believe cannot be truly inspirational or rewarding. It’s more like a kind of spiritual masturbation.

Fun but self absorbed.

I wholeheartedly agree. There is a trend in some of the protestant demoninations to become more modern. In the process their faith is no longer definitive. There are then questions on what is moral or immoral. Things that were previously immoral are now moral. There is great confusion and longstanding Christian doctrine is perverted for the sake of fitting in with the times. Dicatorship of Moral Relativism.

 

[AbideWithMe]

Everything is more or less mapped out in defintive detail, but not eveyone bothers to look at the map. For those who do, there is great inspiration and reward. For those who do not, there is sometimes great confusion and anxiety.

Sometimes the opposite is true.

 

[meltzerboy]

I am originally from Long Island, NY. Many of the people who had a profound effect on my life were Jewish. Growing up in NY I came to have a great respect for Jewish culture. I enjoy reading your posts. I find your posts to be very insighful and thought provoking.
I don’t believe that it is a coincidence that the three Monotheistic faiths are clearly defined. An obvious advantantage of practicing a religion with virtually everything mapped out in such definitive fashion is that we know what we do and do not believe in. I believe for most people practicing a religion that is not clearly defined would be difficult. There would always be questions on what we do believe. It is important that religion be organized and defined.

How can I disagree or argue with a native New Yorker, especially one who is so kind and complimentary? And so I won’t. I would only add (though I’m sure it’s implied in your comment) that not only what we believe in is important but also how we put into action our beliefs. Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut: I agree.

 

[Marie5890]

Sometimes the opposite is true.

That has been my experience, especially when ethical science reveals facts that are contrary to the so-called map.

It causes confusion and even a crisis of faith for many.

Too much detail deprives people of exercising faith and reason to get closer to God in the first place.

Besides, details are filtered thru the human experience (it human ego, and in the 3 major monotheistic religions, that means almost completely and exclusively, the male ego).

I combine faith with ethical science, and thus am prevented from having a crisis of faith.

 

[meltzerboy]

That has been my experience, especially when ethical science reveals facts that are contrary to the so-called map.

It causes confusion and even a crisis of faith for many.

Too much detail deprives people of exercising faith and reason to get closer to God in the first place.

Besides, details are filtered thru the human experience (it human ego, and in the 3 major monotheistic religions, that means almost completely and exclusively, the male ego).

I combine faith with ethical science, and thus am prevented from having a crisis of faith.

Marie, is that what AbideWithMe means? I was about to ask but you seem to have replied appropriately. Two questions for you: (1) Is a crisis of faith (in Catholicism, I believe it is known as the “dark night of the soul”) always a bad thing? and (2) What’s your problem with the male ego? LOL Thanks for your insightful comment.

 

[meltzerboy]

Everything is more or less mapped out in defintive detail, but not eveyone bothers to look at the map. For those who do, there is great inspiration and reward. For those who do not, there is sometimes great confusion and anxiety.

I think a religion that is so liberal it tells people to believe what it pleases them to believe cannot be truly inspirational or rewarding. It’s more like a kind of spiritual masturbation.

Fun but self absorbed.

There are, of course, religious fanatics. But notice that I called them religious fanatics, not spiritual fanatics. Religious fanaticism is a defect (neurosis) of the psyche combined usually with a defective understanding of true religion or a misdirected devotion to false religion. For such people a complete roadmap to salvation can actually be a complete roadmap to hell.

Do you think there is any middle ground, Charlemagne? IOW a religion that is not a free-for-all but, at the same time, does not dot every “i” and cross every “t”? Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut.

 

[Marie5890]

Marie, is that what AbideWithMe means? I was about to ask but you seem to have replied appropriately. Two questions for you: (1) Is a crisis of faith (in Catholicism, I believe it is known as the “dark night of the soul”) always a bad thing? and (2) What’s your problem with the male ego? LOL Thanks for your insightful comment.

No I would not say that a crisis of faith is the same thing as the “dark night of the soul”. A crisis of faith is more when the intellect causes a cognitive disonance when it comes to facing whatever belief system one adheres too.

My comment about “male ego” was not an emotional strike out, but rather an observation. I think it may be tied up with testosterone to be honest, and the “competitive” nature that many men have, esp alpha males.

I have no doubt that in all of the various counsels of the church, there was rigorous debate fuel by the need to “win” “to drive home a point” to “compete” which often time is driven by male ego/pride/ testosterone etc

Hope that makes sense. Again, more of observations on male behavior (I work on a farm and see it all the time. I have no doubt the same happens in all industries etc )

Venerable Sheen often spoke of the “ego” and “egotism” though he never broke it down into either male or female ego.

And yes, we women have egos too. But for the sake of this thread it is a factual statement that the 3 major monotheistic religions have been driven by men, not women and certainly not a mix of men and women. That history has shown.

 

[AbideWithMe]

Marie, is that what AbideWithMe means? I was about to ask but you seem to have replied appropriately. Two questions for you: (1) Is a crisis of faith (in Catholicism, I believe it is known as the “dark night of the soul”) always a bad thing? and (2) What’s your problem with the male ego? LOL Thanks for your insightful comment.

Yes, Marie fleshed out what I was thinking.

A crisis of faith can eventually be a constructive, creative thing, though difficult for the present. It gets destructive, however is in those cases where it becomes paralyzing (due to fear of losing their faith if they honestly face the cognitive dissonance they are experiencing, or due to fear of doing the wrong thing or making the wrong decision [such as converting to another religion or becoming an agnostic]) and people leave off actively doing the good they do know they should do.

For some people, Micah’s “He has shown you, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you: To do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” and St. Augustine’s “Love God and do as you please” can be prevent a paralyzing crisis of faith, though admittedly for others such vague direction leaves them floundering.

And Marie, I’ve often wondered myself where Christianity would be had there been female influence in the Councils and other decision making processes.

 

[AbideWithMe]

My comment about “male ego” was not an emotional strike out, but rather an observation. I think it may be tied up with testosterone to be honest, and the “competitive” nature that many men have, esp alpha males.

A few days ago I heard a very interesting radio program about the behavior changes in a tribe of baboons in which the alpha males contracted TB from eating some meat in a restaurant garbage dump. They died off, leaving less aggressive males, which changed the whole “tone” of the tribe of baboons.