Couldn't have said it better myself specially your last paragraph.

I agree that due to the current complex religion system in where thoughts are being taught differently to suit the line of time we are living in now , can create confusion among the younger devotees. The cause of this, of which I think could be because :

- Availability of Historical information on the internet , books and media (History Channel). These could provide different versions of Myths and stories that youngster have heard from their parents, churches, mosque, priest or ulamas since young.
- Public debates one one's religion's authenticity , this will undoubtedly unfold many dark side stories that religions involved would be trying hard to hide previously.
- Advancement of Science, this have provided an alternative escape route to youngsters now, that it is okay to abandon the thought about religion, because science is the leading "New Religion" now and most of what science said, are already proven.

When you mix these 3 together, you will get a mentally unstable youth and he or she will be experiencing what Daccorn said in the 3rd paragraph in the quoted text.

I feel I should post here since I've spent over half an hour reading and digesting this thread.

This thread has seriously altered some of my perception towards ancient religions. Perhaps I need to do some soul searching of my own to form a new point of view towards religions

Btw, I'm a Buddhist that is more towards regarding Buddhism as a philosophy rather than a religion.

Buddhism is a religion with philosophical theory as its foundation, it is different compared with Abrahamaic religions with faith to single god as its foundation, this is caused by different philosophical perspective, or I should say the way to explain agnostic power that controls the world.

There are an agnostic power controls the world, human are curious about it, and yet fear about it, knowing an agnostic power existence cause human to name it. The personification of agnostic power become God, the most famous is YHWH created by Hebrews. The materialization of agnostic power become Heaven (in Chinese philosophy perspective), which occurs in China. The philosophy theorization of agnostic power become Karma, it occurs in Karmic religions such as Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

Then the personification of the power makes human fear about it, and thinks they will never achieve that, and subordinate to them. That causes the agnostic power have absolute authority over human, where human cannot win over. That means, no matter how powerful you are, you can't win God. Christians and Muslims goes to heaven to praise the god with psaltery, but they won't be the same with the god.

The materialization of the agnostic power makes human fear about it, and makes human try to harmonize with it and use it well. That causes human will try their best to harmonize with agnostic power. This exists in Taoism from China.

The philosophy theorization of agnostic power makes human going to research it, and try to break through it. So, Buddhism nirvana is to know the force of Karma that bounded on themselves, and control the Karma by knowing the law of Karma. While the highest attainment of Buddhism is the Buddha, and everyone can become Buddha if they follows the correct path of Buddhism. That means, Buddhists fears Karma and learn Karmic law, and trying to break through the karmic law.

Just my point of view, no philosophical training on me, yet. *>.<* And, I'm atheist.

This post has been edited by alizcielblutmond: Sep 11 2010, 10:35 PM

I myself love the beauty of greek mythology and i do think everything will only exist in the world if one believes there is!

One may survive without religion if he/she can believe on themselves and can differentiate the right and the wrong. However, in real life I do see many people will only seeks their gods when they are lost or cannot determine their direction in solving problems in life. Sometime human just want to find something to rely on or to depend on when they have no other options. Say I do not believes in any god but since I was taught from small to pray to my god and will practice that whenever i went to the temple but not on a must to do it. Hence, believing and trusting in god will somehow gives me a protection or assurance that at least there is hope my problem will be solved or my wish will comes true.

similar to avatarism