The whole purpose of religion
is to facilitate love and compassion, patience,
tolerance, humility, forgiveness - Dalai Lama

What is your view for the purpose of religion?

One can accomplish that without religion.

I guess everyone has their own views on this one.

I hate to get into semantics but I'm afraid I must in order to make my point.

I would suggest that what the Delai Lama was truly talking about is 'Spirituality' and not religion.

In other words, the purpose of spirituality is to better understand our 'humanity' which the Dalai Lama aptly associates with things like love and compassion, patience,
tolerance, humility, and forgiveness, etc.

I would agree that this is the purpose of 'spirituality' and I would also agree with t22learner that one can do that without 'religion'.

Very word 'religion' implies to me 'ritual'. To do something 'religiously' is to do it with dutiful devotion. It doen't even necessarily need to be associated with any concept of spirituality, and certainly not with any concept of any dieties.

For example, if a person gets up everymorning and jogs around the block dutifuly everday, then this person is jogging 'religiously'. It doesn't even imply that there is any spiritual, or divine associations.

Meditation to calm a person's mind can also be done 'religiously'. Again, it doesn't need to be done with any spirituality or divinity in mind. There are benefits to calming the mind. The only thing that makes it a 'religion' is that it is done 'religiously'. The same would hold true for physical work-outs.

Of course, then the practice of rituals are done in accordance with a doctrine, or under the belief that they are serving the purpose or the worship of a deity, then that to is a 'religion'.

Unfortuantely I have never been a religious person in much of any sense. Other than when I was working, I did work 'religiously'. I very seldom took days off or missed work for any reason. In fact, I was even religious about being a 'company man' and putting in far too much overtime which in hindsight I think was really stupid because I didn't need the money and no one truly appreciated the extra effort.

I would have been better off spending the overtime hours out seeking a make.

In any case, not that I have given my take on the semantics, I should also add that I am desperately trying to become more 'religious' in my life now. I think that sticking to rituals (or adherence to specific schedules) to falcilate the completion of projects and betterment of one's health and well-being is something that I have allowed to slip too far into the abyss of sloth.

I really need to become more 'religous' in my life. More 'ritually oriented'. A ritually-oriented life can be very productive. Assuming of course that the rituals themselves are aimed toward being productive.

So there you go. More erroneous typing of posts.

This is one thing that I need to STOP!

My first 'ritual' should be to stop posting on the forums and get a life!

I agree!

But what is in your view the whole purpose for religion?

To explain the things we "feel" are true, but cannot directly observe.

To make me feel guilty and on my knees saying I am sorry............

I was raised Catholic do not believe in hell like it was pounded in my head, but I do believe in heaven as you know I was there had to come back but as far as religion I believe in the main man I do not need a building to go to talk or praise him I can do it in my garden or when I am cutting my lawn any where I choose to talk and pray to him I do. I am his child no matter how I screw up he knows what is in my heart and my compassion I feel for him.

To Limit your mind from searching onward. To Keep Order

Take from it what u must.. but do not follow blindly

Socrates: we know nothing but of our own Ignorance

Control of the masses.

Religion = Manipulation

Religion = Dogma

Religion = The degradation of authenticity.


The essence of the concepts of religion, were I suspect intended to be based on compassion, patience,
tolerance, humility, forgiveness...etc.

Then the arrogance and greed of man got in the way.

to induce conscious R.E.M. sleep

Subjugation
Intolerance
Belligerance

... and they are the good points!