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Originally Posted by mmccarthy  If you spend any time studying religions from pagen to modern day religions you are struck more by their similarities than differences. I know some pagan practices were actually adopted by christian religions. |
I have spent many years studying Pagan, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish and Christian religions, as well as a host of others, and I'm more struck by contrast than similarity. Granted, the overarcing principle that there is a powerful force which has the ability to create is central to all of these religions, but that is essentially where the similarity ends.
I will concur, a number of Pagan practices were adopted into Christian practice. The recognition of "Sunday" as the Christian day of rest/worship was adopted by Constantine in the 3rd C. AD (CE, whatever) as this was the day (not suprisingly) that Pagans worshipped the sun.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mmccarthy Organised religion I believe has more to do with our need to believe in something outside ourselves that we can hold responsible for anything that happens outside our control. That doesn't mean there is no God just that the need to wrap up our beliefs in a set of rules and regulations bound up with ritualism is just our way of trying to control what we do not understand. |
I do not believe this statement is accurate, though. While
religion or
faith may be an attempt to explain that which we cannot control,
organized religion has been for centuries a method of control. It has been instituted throughout the world to assure conformity and a united belief among soldiers and civilians alike, particularly in times of war, and although some would have you believe there is a separation between Church and State, you need not look further than "In God We Trust" scrawled on American bills and coinage to see otherwise. If everyone in your country believes something, it is worth fighting for, and this was the prevailing ideal throughout every war right up until around 1812. Since then, there have been few wars attributed solely to religion, but that does not at all mean it has not been a rallying point.