Is Religion Anti-Life?

[Narz]

For example if one goes by the example of Christ then the highest virtue is to throw away your life "for" the "sins" of others.

Also, one of the pillars of Christianity is to put God above your life and even above the life of your offspring! For example in the Old Testament God asked Abraham to kill his own son Issac to prove his loyalty. Biologically, the purpose of life is to 1st survive and 2nd to produce healthy fertile offspring. So God basically asks Abramham to go against the wisdom of every cell in his body and do the unthinkable of killing his son to prove his loyalty.

Also, in Buddhism the premise is that "life is suffering" and the goal is to learn one's lessons in our life (lives) so we can escape the vicious cycle of existance. Christianity ups this promise by stating that we can attain enlightenment (heaven) at the end of just one life, provided we ignore and actively defy much of our instinctual biological programming (that God gave us).

I'm interested in hearing other viewpoints. Lets keep it civil, fanatics.

 

[ligertiger]

For example if one goes by the example of Christ then the highest virtue is to throw away your life "for" the "sins" of others.

Also, one of the pillars of Christianity is to put God above your life and even above the life of your offspring! For example in the Old Testament God asked Abraham to kill his own son Issac to prove his loyalty. Biologically, the purpose of life is to 1st survive and 2nd to produce healthy fertile offspring. So God basically asks Abramham to go against the wisdom of every cell in his body and do the unthinkable of killing his son to prove his loyalty.

Also, in Buddhism the premise is that "life is suffering" and the goal is to learn one's lessons in our life (lives) so we can escape the vicious cycle of existance. Christianity ups this promise by stating that we can attain enlightenment (heaven) at the end of just one life, provided we ignore and actively defy much of our instinctual biological programming (that God gave us).

I'm interested in hearing other viewpoints. Lets keep it civil, fanatics.

From all of the stuff you just said, it makes sense. However, most people do not live by the true laws of God, if they did, then they must really be hurting. Personally, I don't think religion is anti-life because then how are so many people living the high life? Also, our world population continues to grow, not shrink as it should be your possible logic.

 

[stormbind]

Most religions urge you to invest in your after-life, because your current life will not last long.

 

[vbraun]

Since there is no prove of an after-life, I am forced belive that there is nothing after Death.

 

[FriendlyFire]

Of course many great men / women were deeply relgious or influenced by religon.
On the other hand great evil has been done in the name of god.

 

[The Last Conformist]

Wrong question. You should ask is Christianity anti-life, is Buddhism anti-life, was ancient Iranian polytheism anti-life, and so on.

 

[vbraun]

vbraunism is pro-life.

 

[FredLC]

Hehehe. I remember some lines from the movie "The Devil's Advocate" that are quite fitting for this thread:

"God is a prankster. Think about it. It is the goof of all times. He gave men instinct; he gave men such extraordinary gift... than he set the rules against it! Look: but don't touch; touch: but don't taste; taste... just don't swallow!!!"

Well, funny stuff aside, from my entirely humanist perspectiv, taking in account my atheist overview of religious presets, I consider that these religions are not exactly "against life", for none actually advocates the reasonless destruction of it; (...)

(even the many uncalled for exterminations described in holy books are excused by some reason for them. If the reason is convincing or not, it is another story)

(...) What actually happens is that as many of the base of these religions rely on their supposedly infalible nature and their alligeance with the one who call all the shots - including life and death. In order to illustrate how deep and fundamental is their "rule", they exemplify it by demonstrating that a true believer must be ready even for a sacrifice as evident and unbareable as the dispose of one's own offspring.

As for religions recognizing that this life "sucks", well, it is a harsh fact that is hard to deny that, throughout history, a big chunck of humanity got a rather raw deal. Excuses for the suffering that is innevitable in life, together with the promisse that they will lead to something better, is not that hard of a sale's pitch to come by with.

Regards .

 

[GenMarshall]

I have always been told that Christianity (especialy the conservative branches such as Catholism) are pro-life.

 

[blackheart]

Also, in Buddhism the premise is that "life is suffering" and the goal is to learn one's lessons in our life (lives) so we can escape the vicious cycle of existance. Christianity ups this promise by stating that we can attain enlightenment (heaven) at the end of just one life, provided we ignore and actively defy much of our instinctual biological programming (that God gave us).

With Buddhism I would have to say yes. In that context it is, and also if you do not belief in any form of existence after death.

 

[Japanrocks12]

Take a look at Hinduism and you see that everyone is infused with a portion of the Holy Trinity. So how do you attain unity with them? Why commit suicide and destroy your mortal impurities, of course

 

[Dida]

religion is anti life, because their central promise is something to be obtained only in the after life.

 

[Meleager]

christianity is pro-life.

I can't however, condem you for thinking that it is anti-life as people have really screwed up christianity over the years.

I am a christian and i know that the after-life is not always on my mind, but rather the life i am living right now.

 

[Shadylookin]

depends on the religion. christianity and islam have a fairly bloody history and have many verses about killing others and their god that smites people. while on the other hand I'd say some pagan and ancient religions aren't anti life.

 

[blackheart]

depends on the religion. christianity and islam have a fairly bloody history and have many verses about killing others and their god that smites people. while on the other hand I'd say some pagan and ancient religions aren't anti life.

I think the most pro life would be Roman theology, since they didn't believe in an afterlife.

 

[GenMarshall]

I think the most pro life would be Roman theology, since they didn't believe in an afterlife.

Roman Theology? As in Greco-Roman Polytheism (AKA Greco-Roman Mythology)

 

[blackheart]

Roman Theology? As in Greco-Roman Polytheism (AKA Greco-Roman Mythology)

Yea... I read somewhere in a Word Lit book that said they didn't have an afterlife... But now that I think of it that sounds wrong?

 

[Shadylookin]

Yea... I read somewhere in a Word Lit book that said they didn't have an afterlife... But now that I think of it that sounds wrong?

I thought they believed in hades, but if I remember correctly everyone went there and it wasn't considered either good or bad

 

[Perfection]

How could religions be against Life? Hell, even Mikey likes it!

 

[cgannon64]

Christianity, though it seems so, is not anti-life at all.

The Christian emphasis on martyrdom gets its strength and meaning from the greatness of life; if it was not great, it would be effortless and meaningless to give up.