Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyMartin 
That said, I think what you're really trying to ask is why people cling to the anachronistic structures, observances and proclamations of various religions. A true spiritual practice is very different from the external aspects of any religion it may be associated with.
So the real question as I see it is, "Why do people cling to belief systems as opposed to conducting an inward practice?"
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Absolutely Brilliant deduction, Andy.
Someone mentioned stoning of people to death - it's still carried out in some islamic parts of the world (along with honour crimes such as gang rape of women related to the "criminal", or punishment such as amputation, beheading on the "criminal" itself) And other religions have thier closets too - hinduism has had to be associated with sati (burning the widow live on the dead husband's pyre), untouchability of lower caste people, dowry (which led to female infanticide) and I can sadly go on and on.
These are the extreme forms of how people who have interpret religion - or added thier own rules and regulations to a religion.
Anyways, my take on Andy's version of Baltar's question is:
80% of people do not have it in themselves to undertake a spiritual journey on thier own. Just like today 80% of people don't bother about PD. They'd rather go with whatever the masses are doing to conform, or because they are too lazy or pre-occupied to find out on thier own.
It's the nature of the masses that have caused religion to take this path.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyMartin Not many people have the stomach for that; it is far more rewarding than most people can bring themselves to believe they deserve. |