Is religion enemy of reason and imagination?

Question

Because you tell believers to imagine a scenario, they just recoil and blurt out their faith. I think questioning and imagination comes very hard to believers if it all. Try a 'what if'... or 'suppose' question on them and you would get a lecture on 'what if' is not possible because 'i already know!'

Another killer is 'if reason guides one to faith then it is ok otherwise it is devil misleading you'!!!

Answer 1

Religion per se is not the enemy of reason or imagination.



Some of the deepest logical reasoning have been done by members of religious organizations. Saint Thomas Aquinas for one.

Nor is religion the enemy of imagination: there are many religious mystics and without imagination there would be no religious art



I think your question is more correctly framed wrt some fundamentalist POVs: [Christain,Muslim,Hindu ...] This is usually based on the concept that whatever is written in their sacred books is completely accurate, precise, infallible and not open to interpretation. That the sacred book was in a sense "dictated" by their God[s] thru persons who merely wrote down what God told them.



With this mindset there is no need for reason or imagination, everything that one needs to know is already in the sacred book.

When the Muslims first captured the city of Alexandria in Egypt, the great Library of Alexandria was burning, supposedly the general when asked if the fire should be put out said "No,because if what is in their agrees with the Koran then its correct but superfluous if it does not agree with the Koran then it is heresy and should be burned."



I believe THAT is the mindset you are talking about. Nor is it limited to Islam for instance the Christain Inquisitions nor to the past. Extreme fundamentalists exist today and will reject out of hand anything that does not conform with their beliefs.



Galileo "The Father of Modern Science" [who was a religious person, his daughter was a nun] tried to save his Church from making a great mistake about the Copernican Theory that the Sun not the Earth was the center of the Soar System. His opinion was "That religion/Bible shows us the way to get into Heaven;not how the heavens move"



Q.E.D.

Answer 2

I am a believer and I have faith in God. If you give me a scenario, and ask for an advice I will answer you facts, a real life situation and answer basing from that faith. Would you rather that I give you an answer basing from imaginations? It is not reasons that guides our faith, it is an answer that comes from the Word of God and from life experiences.



You are right. The devil is the father if misleadings and deceptions. Don't let human reason guide you but rather let the truth from the Word of God guides you.

Answer 3

Religion is not the enemy of humankind, careless societies are. Religion by default helps people create and maintain order in their lives. Humans are the only creatures on earth capable of obeying "intuitive" laws, laws that aren't physically obligatory, such as gravity. If we volunteer to conjure and adhere to additional laws besides the physical ones, we demonstrate quite a bit of concern for order.



The reason careless societies are the true enemy of humankind is because the events that happen within drive people to radical interpretations of religion(s), and they usually use these to enact a vengeful or treacherous act, and usually replace their former friends and/or family with this pursuit.



However, the deeds of society don't necessarily lead to radical religions. In the case of Columbine, the two involved simply skipped radicalism and went to the "vengeance" they thought was merited (which of course was not merited or reasonable).

Answer 4

Yes religion of any kind is a death to all imagination ,creativity and free will.the ability to form an informed opinion is shattered and in many cases leads to unhappiness



CHRISTIANITY= VIRUS OF THE MIND





Christianity is basically nothing more than an extremely efficient virus of the mind.



Since they emanate from humans and therefore have an organic component, all ideas have a survival instinct just like their human progenitors, and will seek to propagate themselves into as many human hosts as possible. Now of course some ideas are beneficial to their human hosts, but not all.



Christianity is one of those malignant versions. Of course, the long-term life expectancy of its human hosts is beneficial to the Christian mind virus since it allows more propagation, but ultimately the survival of its human hosts is irrelevant, as demonstrated throughout history in wars with competing religious viral "memes" (ideas).



Need proof? Just look at the evangelical nature of Christianity. Christianity drives its adherents to "spread the word" through human-to-human contact...just like a virus spreads.



And what is a "word" anyway? Nothing more than the spoken or written expression of an IDEA. The Christian Bible even ADMITS that God is nothing more than an IDEA..."In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD WAS GOD", remember?



Need more proof? Ever wonder why the Catholic Church opposes birth control and abortion? It's not because abortion is murder, because throughout history the Catholic Church has either endorsed murder (Crusades, Inquisition) or turned a blind eye to it (Holocaust). No, it's because THE MORE UNEDUCATED, POOR, IGNORANT SOULS THAT ARE BORN INTO POVERTY AND MISERY ON THIS PLANET, THE GREATER THE CHRISTIAN MIND VIRUS' CHANCES OF SURVIVAL.



it creates so many unhappy inhibited people and unfortunately its passed onto many kids whether they like it, need it or not.

Answer 5

Religious or not, the behavior a person adopts from his/her surraundings.

One says religious people are nuts, fine with me but how will you explain the behavior of an Atheist who carries just as much if not more hate against those who are religious.

See my link, read my post and then read the outstanding response from an Athiest who also happens to run a site so bash Bible.



The Atheists who claim to be the most sensible people on earth have just proven they are in no case any different than the people who do the bombings and the ones who support it.

Answer 6

Only to some. There are people who refuse to use thought or look at anything new in all areas of life from religion to science. No one has all the answers and many are scared of the answers. Islamic extremist's want to kill any who do not follow their beliefs, but that is not a good example of all religious people. Many of the top scientist's in the world are also christian, and Darwin expressed some doubts about evolution before his death. If you relate all religion to a lack of reason it would seem your not to reasonable yourself

Answer 7

You come in here and present your cartoon scenarios as if they were products of logic, sound reasoning, and sincerity, but are nothing more than thunder and lightening coming from nowwhere certain. Are you serious, or not?



You have yet to state, and show the moral stability of, your premise in any of your questions.



Your questions amount to nothing more than some wishful imagination. Well, okay. That's okay. But, you've not shown legitimacy to any of your, um, "hypotheses."



I doubt that relgion logically built on sound premeses will harm anyone. Such, by definition, would never obstruct THINKING.

Answer 8

They have their own imagination they are working with. We are not allowed to disturb their reasoning, but they believe God sent them to twist ours.



ROFL @ the devil is misleading you. They all have the "Holy Spirit" so they can't be mislead... yet take 2 of them with the Holy Spirit and they can't agree on anything. I don't think they realize they make it all look like a horrible Greek play.

Answer 9

I think religion can be an enemy of reason and good sense often, and that it shouldn't be. Religion is a support for our fragile human selves to help some people gain the motivation, happiness and meaning that they wouldn't find in the seemingly bleak outlook of science and logic. But they shouldn't force it down people's throats.

Answer 10

I am a Muslim, with the so much of relegious potential approximately Islam, I could say that inexperienced subculture is supported by means of Islam. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) insisted upon Muslims to plant, develop and defend timber. and except this Holy Prophet (PBUH) insisted that Muslims shall are living a realistic existence, which entails conservation by means of all way, in order that we might spare the meals commodities and assets for many who are needy. And there's a a identical guideline for water conservation as good. I consider, if we easily comply with the Holy Prophet (PBUH) we would possibly conservate plenty extra for at present and long run generations. I STRONGLY BELEIVE THAT ALL TRUE RELEGIONS INSIST FOR SIMILAR PRACTICES. If we train faith past our mosques, temples and shrines, inexperienced existence type shall emerge in to our society so much faster than another crusade.

Answer 11

A good question actually.



Well, you can't generalize this topic by the word "religion" because it differs from one to another.



To me as a muslim I think the right way to access the truth is by asking such questions.

because if you really care about finding the true faith, then you'll discuss those ideas freely starting from question "What if god is not exist at all?".



I completly agree with you in that most of relegious people can't accept those discussions at all.



This really contradicts with human brain which is enabled to generate those questions.



I see that those discussions are very important to build your faith on solid and true facts.



let's answer a sample question "What if god is not exist at all?".



Just take a look at your self.

Your body contains tens of highly sophisticated integrated systems which is impossible to be created accedentaly.

So there is a realy great thing has invented this body. and this think is what we call god "Allah in Islam".



So the summerized answer to your question is:



No, true religions doesn't contradict with human thoughts at all (How it could if it has been created by the same one who has created our brain which is able to think this way).

those who "enemize" religion are people who misunderstand their religion so they customize it to fit their rigid minds. this is not religion fault.

Answer 12

Simple. Those who rigidly adhere to their religion have been programmed. Talk to one and you see the glazed look of the converted about them. You cannot engage in any conversation which requires thought beyond their own limitations, which is sadly imagination. It seems to me those who follow some being so divine have had that 'divine spark' surgically removed.

Answer 13

Religion is not compatible with reason as any exercise of rational thought immediately shows what complete nonsense religion is. That's why all believers can do is spout scripture and hope others will become as deluded as they are. Pitiable.

Answer 14

Most organized religion is an enemy of free thought..my religion allows for questions to be asked though..then again my religion isn't well known at all except by those that practice it..

Answer 15

Yes, religion is an enemy of free thought.

Answer 16

uh, pardon me but.....to come up with their "crazy" religious stories..don't they have to be a little bit imaginative?



some of them are down right borderline Disney movie perfect.





"A man is accepted into a church for what he believes and he is turned out for what he knows."~Mark Twain.

Answer 17

A religion is a person from Religia, so this question doesn't make a hell of alot of sense.

Answer 18

Obviously, by definition. But we are entering a new dark age where we can be ostracised or punished for even suggesting such heresy.

Answer 19

All I know is that, it takes A LOT of imagination, to have a relationship with god.

Answer 20

religion is not an enemy of reason and imagination - close minded people are.

Answer 21

It is the very essence of religion. Religion is designed so that you don't ever have to think for yourself again.

Answer 22

NO .. OFF COURSE NO ...

IF YOU DID NOT ASK OR IMAGINE WRONG OR TRUE THINGS .. THEN YOU CAN NOT REACH TO TRUTH ..

I AM A BELIEVER .. I LIKE USING "WHAT IF" .

Answer 23

reason yes, imagination> not so much.

Answer 24

yea...sure. here is another one - why do you listen to satan ?