Religious Philosophy

Religious Philosophy - Ecclesiasticism by Rev.Fr. Andrew R. M. Manley Q. 1.) Critics, and some academics, have sometimes maintained that it is this focus on the internal self that has prevented societies where these religions are predominant that has resulted in their lack of material gain and progress. They accept the notion that it is this psychological focus that has removed any emphasis on scientific, educational, or economic advances. What are your thoughts? Do you think that emphasizing the "inner you" that that necessarily precludes social or scientific advances? A.) I do agree with some of the critics, in that the focus has prevented societies from progressing at a level that some countries have been able to excel. However, the notion that it is the only problem is where I draw a different conclusion. What I have noticed with my perception of the world and other religions is that denominational spirituality has a flaw, that flaw being that they are the only "right way" to a higher spiritual level of conscientious. If this observation is correct in it's assumption then one could saw that no religion is right to address any of these issues. With that being said I would have to conclude that all aspects of the spectrum need to be reevaluated as to a clarification of each status. Because each one is in it's self equal to the other as to being a viable solution to fix the problems of society. The problem still remains though that in order to achieve such tranquility would take cooperation, which in and of it's self is the true problem of these social dilemmas. All religious leaders need to step back into the basic fundamentals of their faiths and put more emphasis on drawing a growing attitude towards the general social environment, than on the theological approaches that most if not all religions take when ministering to those that want to be ministered to. If this "attitude adjustment" can be reached on a universal level than it would be feasible to say that the world would change for the betterment of the whole of society. Again, all stemming to a central point of being of the "inner you". Q. 2.) If, as we saw earlier in the course, that it is true that religions have tended to focus on one of Russell's 'three great problems' at the expense of the other two, which of these problems seems to you to be the "most important"? Ignoring for the moment the specific religions this indirectly indicates, do you believe the world would be better off if it adopted the views of the Western Ecclesiastical religions (i.e. the natural problem), the Eastern Ecclesiastical religions (i.e. the social problem), or the Southern Ecclesiastical religions (i.e. the psychological problem)? Why? A.) As I eluded to in my answer of question one, it is no easy fix. They are all equally to be the blame and solution to the problems we face as a society as a whole. To say that one is more right or better to address these problems is in it's self the problem. It takes cooperation to achieve this level of social understanding. It is all psychological within our selves to be able to grasp the true natural problem that has become through the decades a social problem. You might even say that it is because of religious beliefs that we are experiencing these very issues in society today. People expect and understand tangible experiences and they learn, adapt, and even grow from the five senses of their being in relation to their environments and situations. Compliance is also a major problem that these groups do not address when expressing the teachings of their faiths. Compliance in it's self is evil, to encourage a status quo as acceptable to me is the ruination of society. As well as to the opposite end of the spectrum being tolerance or rather the lack of tolerance in the preaching of social behavior. Each culture has it's exceptions, but it is the exception that slowly moves an individual or society forward to achieve a greater understanding and acceptance of society around us. ********************** Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button. The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar