"Religion in theory" and "religion in practice."

Why? Promises are cheap, if someone says he has good intentions but keeps doing bad things he's either a hypocrite or he is lying. Your actions define your goodness, not your intentions.

If any question why we died/ Tell them, because our fathers lied -Rudyard Kipling

I'm beginning to suspect that the OTC doesn't know that religions besides Christianity, Buddhism, and Atheism exist. Anyway, the thing is with attempting to reach the goal of becoming a shining example of sinlessness (or the equivalent for whatever you're under) is that it's really freaking hard to be that good. Humans are indulgent creatures and most religions discussed here try to avoid that. However, this can go two ways:

• The person uses this whole shtick as a quick method of escape for whatever bad things they do.
• The person actually tries to improve after every mistake.

While the former is simply doing what humans do, using tools to get take what they consider the best route in life (in this case, the easy one), the latter is actually trying, but at least he or she has a set of morals that he or she sticks to in what is essentially on big journey to get as close to perfection/holiness/goodness as possible, which, to be honest, says a lot more that person's character. And from what I've seen, these sorts of religions are not meant to be easy ("Take up your cross and carry it everyday" or "You shall be reborn many times and suffer for hundreds of thousands of years before you reach enlightenment"), so many of the supposed followers aren't, in a true sense, "following the ideals of that religion". So the difference here in theory and practice? Difficulty.

Now, if you, say, want to get into Luciferianism then that's an entirely different story.

The thing about making witty signature lines is that it first needs to actually be witty.

"I'm beginning to suspect that the OTC doesn't know that religions besides Christianity, Buddhism, and Atheism exist." - Usht

For what it's worth, I'm quite aware there are other major religions, (Islam and Hinduism being obvious examples) but in the western world Christianity is by far the most popular religion, and in turn a good approximation to religion in general.

I don't know my own religion exists? Yowza. What a twist.

Read my stories!

"As far as "Christianity", one can't argue that it's good or bad "in theory" until you can come up with a workable definition. If it's just a system of beliefs and not behaviors, then it isn't a theory at all."

Quoted for truth.

@honor: "Why? Promises are cheap, if someone says he has good intentions but keeps doing bad things he's either a hypocrite or he is lying."

Or he's human. Are you claiming you don't fit this description? At all?

Most humans, including me, are hypocrites or liars, yes.

If any question why we died/ Tell them, because our fathers lied -Rudyard Kipling

K', got it. Then it's not just especially true of theists.

Usht: It's generally more like "If we say religion we typically mean Abrahamic religions and Christianity in particular" with me going "THERE ARE MORE. LIKE BUDDHISM". Now if I knew more about Hinduism, Jainism, Shinto, and the various Neopagan religions, and so on I would mention those more as well. I do not however so I act as our voice on Buddhism.

edited 23rd May '11 12:26:58 PM by Aondeug

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah

The Abrahamic God just has the best marketing team.

Yeah...Certainly better than what we have in the states. We are "THE RELIGION OF A FAT MAN AND MEDITATION" while everyone else is "New Agey bullshit" or "...wtf is that?".

edited 23rd May '11 12:28:55 PM by Aondeug

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah

"Buddhism? Isn't Lisa Simpson a buddhist?"

Whoo pop culture references I don't get because I live under a rock!

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah

Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers.Proverbs21:15 FimFiction account.

Zoroastrianism?!

Zoro-what-ism now?

And knowing is half the battle.

edited 24th May '11 9:38:04 AM by Usht

The thing about making witty signature lines is that it first needs to actually be witty.

It's not that I'm knowledgeable or anything-I just play a lot of Xenosaga.

I wonder what would have happened if the Zoastrian Persians had stuck around for a while longer, it would have been nice to have a religion based on truth in the Middle East.

Its not like they have a religion that is based on something that they call absolute truth from God right now.

If any question why we died/ Tell them, because our fathers lied -Rudyard Kipling

You know, I'm pretty sure they have at least three religions over there right now that are based on truth.

EDIT: Ninja'd.

edited 24th May '11 10:07:25 AM by Usht

The thing about making witty signature lines is that it first needs to actually be witty.

Yes, but lying was in and of itself a sin in that faith and I would like to see how that would have worked out in the longer term, especially if it had spread further. Zoastrian political journals would be read the world over for their use of facts!

edited 24th May '11 10:10:31 AM by JosefBugman

...you're shitting me right?

You do know lying is a sin in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, right? Just because it is a sin doesn't mean people don't do it anyway since humans aren't perfect, or more so, may lack the proper information at the time.

The thing about making witty signature lines is that it first needs to actually be witty.

Well, the Zoroastrians are still there — and with "there", I mostly mean Iran, India and neighbouring countries. Wikipedia says that there is a sizeable Zoroastrian community in Great Britain too.

edited 24th May '11 10:13:04 AM by Carciofus

But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.

Yes but its not the CENTRAL one. Its like the Ten Commandments style of "sin" not simply "don't do this".

I mean "stuck around" as a regional power.

edited 24th May '11 10:19:40 AM by JosefBugman

You mean like... "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor"? (This is commandment #8 or 9 depending on who you're talking to.)

Translation: No lying

edited 24th May '11 10:27:40 AM by Usht

The thing about making witty signature lines is that it first needs to actually be witty.

Zoroastrianism derail, LOL!!!

I too would like to see a world where Zoroastrianism fared a bit better in the adherence department throughout history than it did. It at least likely influenced developing religions, so there's that.

Still, it would be nice to see if adherence generally behaved themselves and exactly just how syncretic the religion would be if it was larger.

Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers.Proverbs21:15 FimFiction account.