10-26-2007, 04:03 PM | #1 |
Member
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 474
|
Obedience, Divine Intervention and Religion
I am currently reading Ken Follett's new book World Without End (sequel to Pillars of the Earth, outstanding read). Set in 14th century Europe, the book vividly describes life in a community dominated by activities related to the local Cathedral and religious hierarchy. Without giving anything away, it is clear that people of that time held an absolute belief that their earthly blessings were inextricably tied to their level of obedience. Religious leaders used that psychology to extract sacrifice in terms of material goods (e.g. crops, goods and money), and blind obedience.
Fast forward to our present time. I am struck by how little has changed. Regardless of sect, organized religion seeks believers who will obey their particular creed and donate time and money in exchange for promised blessings - either in this life or the next. With these brief thoughts in mind, I ask the following serious questions: 1. Obedience What is the driving force behind obedience to religious doctrines? Are we in it for the blessings (e.g. health, wealth and salvation), or is it out of love for our fellow men? Do we pay tithes and offerings as protection against personal misfortune (i.e. opening the "windows of heaven")? 2. Divine Intervention Does God intervene in our daily lives according to our level of obedience? If so, why is God apparently so selective in bestowing said blessings? Why do we observe some individuals and families escape this life seemingly unscathed - while others experience such great suffering? Similar to the fourteenth century, do we judge those who suffer as being less worthy? I pose these questions in a serious vein and am honestly interested in your intelligent and well thought responses. Please refrain from boorish personal attacks and sexual innuendo. Think of it as my final attempt to find value here. |
10-26-2007, 04:12 PM | #2 |
Charon
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the heart of darkness (Provo)
Posts: 9,564
|
Interesting. Why the sudden hostility?
__________________
"... the arc of the universe is long but it bends toward justice." Martin Luther King, Jr. |
10-26-2007, 04:19 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Between Iraq and a hard place
Posts: 7,569
|
Regarding divine intervention and being rewarded for good deeds/punished for bad deeds.
There are a lot of factors at play. Some of them are: 1. Foreordination - we were foreordained to do certain things and experience certain trials in this life 2. Adversity - adversity is the result of our choices, the choices of others and foreordained trials 3. Timeframe for being rewarded/punished - I'm not aware of any rule that states how long you have to wait to be rewarded for a good deed or punished for a bad one 4. Divine intervention - I think it's entirely possible we will come to discover that divine intervention has directly affected our lives a lot more frequently than we think. I think Divine Intervention and Foreordination have some significant overlap. There's my five minutes of thought on the subject. |
10-26-2007, 04:21 PM | #4 | ||
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,596
|
Quote:
Quote:
As to why some appear to suffer more than others: this is the question of the ages. The lives of men over the history of the world constitute billions of threads in a giant interwoven tapestry, and truly only God can see all ends. But whatever his methods or his reasons, it is certainly inappropriate (as you have suggested) to judge men based on such criteria.
__________________
"Have we been commanded not to call a prophet an insular racist? Link?" "And yes, [2010] is a very good year to be a Democrat. Perhaps the best year in decades ..." - Cali Coug "Oh dear, granny, what a long tail our puss has got." - Brigham Young |
||
10-26-2007, 04:44 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,175
|
|
10-26-2007, 06:29 PM | #6 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 812
|
Quote:
__________________
I'm smart and I know it. |
|
10-26-2007, 06:57 PM | #7 |
Assistant to the Regional Manager
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The Orgasmatron
Posts: 24,338
|
Ken Follet, to the best of my knowledge, is NOT Mormon, so your comments will be received in the spirit in which they are prepared.
__________________
Ἓν οἶδα ὅτι οὐδὲν οἶδα Last edited by Archaea; 10-26-2007 at 07:09 PM. |
10-26-2007, 07:03 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 812
|
Am i going to please Requiem with my answer or is it Ken Follet which i have to deal with ? i thought Reuiem presented what she/he considered as his/her own serious questions ..hence the comment..
__________________
I'm smart and I know it. |
10-26-2007, 07:10 PM | #9 |
Assistant to the Regional Manager
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The Orgasmatron
Posts: 24,338
|
Is the purpose to please Requiem or to post thought provoking musings?
__________________
Ἓν οἶδα ὅτι οὐδὲν οἶδα |
10-26-2007, 07:39 PM | #10 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 812
|
Quote:
but the very first thing i have to take care ,is "the principal of the discussion" which i suppose, differs for me and Requiem.
__________________
I'm smart and I know it. Last edited by Mindfulcoug; 10-26-2007 at 07:51 PM. |
|
Bookmarks |
|
|