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If clergy were honest, would religions die?

I do not think so. Based on the fact, some clergy are maintaining religions based on telling the truth and have stopped lying to their adherents. Knowing this, I wonder why the clergy of all supernaturally based religions continue to lie to their adherents.

In the more honest distant past, those who sought God; did so at a more intellectual level than most do today. The ancients admitted that nothing concrete could be known about God. God was said to be unknowable, unfathomable and worked in mysterious ways and that no attributes could be applied to God.

http://bigthink.com/videos/what-is-god-2-2

Today, the idol worshiping religions, like Christianity and Islam, have given what they still claim is an unknowable, unfathomable and mysterious God, with kinds of attributes; which of course are human attributes taken to the maximum of the impossible and delusional supernatural.

Some religions seem to be returning to the more intelligent thinking of the ancients.

Would the idol worshiping religions like Christianity and Islam, be well served if their clergy returned to telling the truth of what they can know of God, or are the clergy serving their religions better by continuing to lie to their adherents?

Regards
DL

P.S.
What is said here about politicians and business is a good analogy to what I think religions do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn16DsftSjI

One issue is that unfortunately it's not like all clergy have this self awareness that there is a lot of bullshit to what they peddle. In other words, the ones who are less based on fact could still brainwash themselves into thinking they are being "honest" with their followers.

No doubt a Creationist who tells you the planet is only thousands of years old truly believes it. Despite it being 100% provable to not be the case.

Yeah, it's a good point. Religions are far more dogmatic instead of being honest and introspective.

The idea of "prayer" I'm sure has been distorted into thinking that this "God" who is just like us except bigger (which is idolatry, like she points out in the video) will someone grant our wishes.

How egotistical and delusional we are.

Originally posted by Patient_Leech
Yeah, it's a good point. Religions are far more dogmatic instead of being honest and introspective.

The idea of "prayer" I'm sure has been distorted into thinking that this "God" who is just like us except bigger (which is idolatry, like she points out in the video) will somehow grant our wishes.

How egotistical and delusional we are.

Fixed.

Originally posted by Surtur
One issue is that unfortunately it's not like all clergy have this self awareness that there is a lot of bullshit to what they peddle. In other words, the ones who are less based on fact could still brainwash themselves into thinking they are being "honest" with their followers.

No doubt a Creationist who tells you the planet is only thousands of years old truly believes it. Despite it being 100% provable to not be the case.

Only self delusion or indoctrination from lying clergy will lead to such faith based beliefs, I agree.

There aught to be a law against such abuse of a mind.

Regards
DL

Originally posted by Patient_Leech
Yeah, it's a good point. Religions are far more dogmatic instead of being honest and introspective.

The idea of "prayer" I'm sure has been distorted into thinking that this "God" who is just like us except bigger (which is idolatry, like she points out in the video) will someone grant our wishes.

How egotistical and delusional we are.

To the point of having such an inflated ego as to believe that a God would die for us.

Regards
DL

Originally posted by Greatest I am
There aught to be a law against such abuse of a mind.

Agreed. But unfortunately this country has put a glossy veneer around anything "religious," so if you say something is for religious reasons, it has to be respected.

Originally posted by Surtur
One issue is that unfortunately it's not like all clergy have this self awareness that there is a lot of bullshit to what they peddle. In other words, the ones who are less based on fact could still brainwash themselves into thinking they are being "honest" with their followers.

No doubt a Creationist who tells you the planet is only thousands of years old truly believes it. Despite it being 100% provable to not be the case.

Yeah, oh yeah. Many preachers truly believe what they preach. I have no doubt about that. But they obviously have not arrived at those beliefs through rigorous thought and consideration. More than likely they were indoctrinated as children and the cycle continues. I'm sure there's plenty who know what they're saying is crap, too. It would probably be hard to get statistics on such a thing, though... heh.

Originally posted by Patient_Leech
Agreed. But unfortunately this country has put a glossy veneer around anything "religious," so if you say something is for religious reasons, it has to be respected.



Yeah, oh yeah. Many preachers truly believe what they preach. I have no doubt about that. But they obviously have not arrived at those beliefs through rigorous thought and consideration. More than likely they were indoctrinated as children and the cycle continues. I'm sure there's plenty who know what they're saying is crap, too. It would probably be hard to get statistics on such a thing, though... heh.

I do not agree that most priests, preachers and imams believe their own lies. Some could be that stupid though.

I agree with your first and that is how we have ended in showing respect to immoral religions that do not deseve our respect.

Both Christianity and Islam have basically developed into intolerant, homophobic and misogynous religions. Both religions have grown themselves by the sword instead of good deeds and continue with their immoral ways in spite of secular law showing them the moral ways.

Jesus said we would know his people by their works and deeds. That means Jesus would not recognize Christians and Muslims as his people, and neither do I. Jesus would call Christianity and Islam abominations.

Gnostic Christians did in the past, and I am proudly continuing that tradition and honest irrefutable evaluation.

Regards
DL