by The Oriflamme
"Can't sleep? Don't count the sheep. Talk to the shepherd."
The message above that was posted in one of the advertisement boards in EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue) reminded us of how religion works today. Most of us forget that religion is only a group of people made by people that share a common belief. We forget that the "God" we consider and the Church we belong to are different from each other in countless ways. The church should not be the center of our attention. We should definitely talk to the shepherd.
Religion is believed to be created to bring peace on Earth. It is the symbol of love, faith, and hope. Religion is what most people believe as salvation from evil. As time goes by, things change. It is very alarming to know that the purpose of religion is not to bring peace anymore, but instead it brings war and death. Human’s craving for power turns good into evil. People are using religion to obtain power. Some men are using religion for politics. Religion is an instrument to bring equality among the people and to bring all humans together. It was not created for people to abuse power and to kill one another. Religion is nothing more than just an affiliation; therefore, every person having one is just like a public declaration and confirmation of his/her faith. However, religion nowadays is not only affecting our spiritual lives, but it has also climbed into politics. Killings, abductions, terrorism, and so much more gruesome acts are committed at large by people mainly because of issues regarding religions. I don’t recall the Bible or any other holy books teaching us to kill one another in order to attain peace, order, and power. How ironic it is to find out that those to be blamed for their gruesome acts are actually theists, and yet we are quick to judge if we hear that one of our neighbors or friends is actually an atheist. Religion is supposed to unite us; not divide. This is one of the reasons why religion is established in the first place--to gather believers into a place where they can come together and unite with other religions; and to be the forefronts of peace.
The so-called "religions" used to be groups or sects that has members of the same belief of who or what their God is, teaching morals. Nowadays, people do not see or take it like that. They now look into religion as a tool for power and authority and, as a civilian or an ordinary man, a person must go with the flow of what the majority of the society is believing or doing. “If you are one of those belonging to the majority, you're lucky; if not, you have to start hiding because death awaits you...,”says a quotation. Isn't religion is supposed to mold and strengthen one’s faith in the act of worship so that people may be reconciled with the Supreme Being and perhaps “brings" or "spreads" peace to the whole world? Ironically, it is now creating more and more divisions, causing more and more fights, bringing more and more wars, giving more and more numbers of deaths, hate crimes, and murder cases. Religion has now become a socio-political issue—no longer an issue of having a consecrated personal relationship with the Almighty.
Religion has played a central role in political life, both historically and in today's era; that often resulted to the worse. Religion, today, is holding us to our necks and makes us follow everything they say without considering our thoughts. Religion has always constricted itself to its own beliefs and is never open to changes. A comprehensive doctrine of a certain religion was always their basis in opposing bills that they think are against their practice, although other religious institutions do not see it wrong. Citizens should have the freedom to introduce considerations of what they think are appropriate to the discussion, like abortion, rather than drawing it from his/her own religious doctrines. Although religion has been proven useful in testing and evaluating theories about public deliberation, public reasons should be accepted by all, regardless of what their religion and religious leaders dictate. Nevertheless, religion continues to be an important political phenomenon throughout our world's history.
Another fact is more and more people convert to another religion each year. Why? Perhaps it has something to do with the environment one lives in or it has something to do with one’s personal preference. A person should not be judged period. His attitude, for one, can be determined not by faith but by his actions. Like some stories, quick judgment is often one-sided, whereas stories should be composed of at least two voices. Know, for a fact, that there is a bigger story behind it all. It all boils down to intention. Is it beneficial? Is it harmful? Is it unjust? Faith is considered to be an innate aspect of being human or mortal to believe in the Unknown. Man must learn to respect his neighbor: to be active in the concept of coexistence, to complement each other’s lives, and to live in harmony for the sake of humanity. Why does everyone feel the need to justify their beliefs? Why do majority religious sectors feel the need to impose their beliefs on others? We, as people of different belief systems and different cultures, should learn to accept and respect that the diversity of the world’s population will never agree on one thing. We all believe different things. That doesn’t mean any belief that is contrary to ours is wrong. And it certainly doesn’t justify the use of violence to try and eliminate those who do not agree to our beliefs.
What is the utmost functionality of Religion towards human race? Morality would be the perfect answer for an inquiry which questions the relevance of faith among people who grew up in a society which norms are based on the “supernatural” and the “unknown”. Perhaps, religion is still significant in a sense that it helps and promotes unity among cultural and socio-political groups. But, in what extent does religion purely improves one’s welfare. The religion which we as a people have witnessed no longer is a matter neither of faith nor of worshipping god. It’s about social and political prowess unto the people who indulged themselves on the principles of the fear of death, afterlife, and ignorance; these and more are evident implications on how religion is no longer the people’s weapon against crime and/or violence; religion is no longer about morality and of spiritual formation; religion is not the way we understand it to be; and religion is not a privilege, it is a choice and a requirement for an individual to act as normal as he can and as he must be.
Religion is power, power is the key; key to the “eminent” brainwashing of the people; people whose weaknesses are captivated, captivated by the illusion of Religion.
The message above that was posted in one of the advertisement boards in EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue) reminded us of how religion works today. Most of us forget that religion is only a group of people made by people that share a common belief. We forget that the "God" we consider and the Church we belong to are different from each other in countless ways. The church should not be the center of our attention. We should definitely talk to the shepherd.
Religion is believed to be created to bring peace on Earth. It is the symbol of love, faith, and hope. Religion is what most people believe as salvation from evil. As time goes by, things change. It is very alarming to know that the purpose of religion is not to bring peace anymore, but instead it brings war and death. Human’s craving for power turns good into evil. People are using religion to obtain power. Some men are using religion for politics. Religion is an instrument to bring equality among the people and to bring all humans together. It was not created for people to abuse power and to kill one another. Religion is nothing more than just an affiliation; therefore, every person having one is just like a public declaration and confirmation of his/her faith. However, religion nowadays is not only affecting our spiritual lives, but it has also climbed into politics. Killings, abductions, terrorism, and so much more gruesome acts are committed at large by people mainly because of issues regarding religions. I don’t recall the Bible or any other holy books teaching us to kill one another in order to attain peace, order, and power. How ironic it is to find out that those to be blamed for their gruesome acts are actually theists, and yet we are quick to judge if we hear that one of our neighbors or friends is actually an atheist. Religion is supposed to unite us; not divide. This is one of the reasons why religion is established in the first place--to gather believers into a place where they can come together and unite with other religions; and to be the forefronts of peace.
The so-called "religions" used to be groups or sects that has members of the same belief of who or what their God is, teaching morals. Nowadays, people do not see or take it like that. They now look into religion as a tool for power and authority and, as a civilian or an ordinary man, a person must go with the flow of what the majority of the society is believing or doing. “If you are one of those belonging to the majority, you're lucky; if not, you have to start hiding because death awaits you...,”says a quotation. Isn't religion is supposed to mold and strengthen one’s faith in the act of worship so that people may be reconciled with the Supreme Being and perhaps “brings" or "spreads" peace to the whole world? Ironically, it is now creating more and more divisions, causing more and more fights, bringing more and more wars, giving more and more numbers of deaths, hate crimes, and murder cases. Religion has now become a socio-political issue—no longer an issue of having a consecrated personal relationship with the Almighty.
Religion has played a central role in political life, both historically and in today's era; that often resulted to the worse. Religion, today, is holding us to our necks and makes us follow everything they say without considering our thoughts. Religion has always constricted itself to its own beliefs and is never open to changes. A comprehensive doctrine of a certain religion was always their basis in opposing bills that they think are against their practice, although other religious institutions do not see it wrong. Citizens should have the freedom to introduce considerations of what they think are appropriate to the discussion, like abortion, rather than drawing it from his/her own religious doctrines. Although religion has been proven useful in testing and evaluating theories about public deliberation, public reasons should be accepted by all, regardless of what their religion and religious leaders dictate. Nevertheless, religion continues to be an important political phenomenon throughout our world's history.
Another fact is more and more people convert to another religion each year. Why? Perhaps it has something to do with the environment one lives in or it has something to do with one’s personal preference. A person should not be judged period. His attitude, for one, can be determined not by faith but by his actions. Like some stories, quick judgment is often one-sided, whereas stories should be composed of at least two voices. Know, for a fact, that there is a bigger story behind it all. It all boils down to intention. Is it beneficial? Is it harmful? Is it unjust? Faith is considered to be an innate aspect of being human or mortal to believe in the Unknown. Man must learn to respect his neighbor: to be active in the concept of coexistence, to complement each other’s lives, and to live in harmony for the sake of humanity. Why does everyone feel the need to justify their beliefs? Why do majority religious sectors feel the need to impose their beliefs on others? We, as people of different belief systems and different cultures, should learn to accept and respect that the diversity of the world’s population will never agree on one thing. We all believe different things. That doesn’t mean any belief that is contrary to ours is wrong. And it certainly doesn’t justify the use of violence to try and eliminate those who do not agree to our beliefs.
What is the utmost functionality of Religion towards human race? Morality would be the perfect answer for an inquiry which questions the relevance of faith among people who grew up in a society which norms are based on the “supernatural” and the “unknown”. Perhaps, religion is still significant in a sense that it helps and promotes unity among cultural and socio-political groups. But, in what extent does religion purely improves one’s welfare. The religion which we as a people have witnessed no longer is a matter neither of faith nor of worshipping god. It’s about social and political prowess unto the people who indulged themselves on the principles of the fear of death, afterlife, and ignorance; these and more are evident implications on how religion is no longer the people’s weapon against crime and/or violence; religion is no longer about morality and of spiritual formation; religion is not the way we understand it to be; and religion is not a privilege, it is a choice and a requirement for an individual to act as normal as he can and as he must be.
Religion is power, power is the key; key to the “eminent” brainwashing of the people; people whose weaknesses are captivated, captivated by the illusion of Religion.