IIIIITHE1IIIII on 19 June 2012
| Bong Lover said: I think you will find that you are basing your logical debunking of religious practice to be built on a rather shaky foundation. For many (most?) (all?) religion the religious practice and traditions are followed to serve as a framework that keeps the believer in contact with their faith. The practice is not the end, but it is a means to an end. Let's take prayer as an example, very few people think that a prayer is a magical spell that will automatically grant some sort of favor in the heavens. To pray is a technique for focusing your mind on the relationship with God. Even the most devote believers in prayer will tell you that just reciting the Lord's prayer while really just watching youporn will not bring you to the Lord. Prayer is just one example of this, but all religions I know operate on the same level. The religious experience is always internal, a result of a focused mental effort to find 'the Truth'. Self flagellation, fast, meditation, snorting frog skin, wearing a kippha they all have the same purpose. To focus the mind of the practitioner on his faith. |
Firstly, thanks for the respectful response.
Secondly, I think that what you define as the purpose of religious practice actually goes in line with what I said in the OP: "It gives you nothing but self-pleasure; an illusion that God is extra close to you since you are reaching out to Him." Your 'homemade' connection with God is in your head, in other words.
It makes sense in the sense that it makes you happy, but more religious practicing does not increase your chances of entering heaven, just like you said.
