This is something that is relevant to my view toward religion. As some of you probably know, I believe that to a lot of people who are religious, it is more important that their religion's teachings or the god's ideals are agreeable to their own, such that the believe/knowledge that their god exists or is proven to exists actually comes second.

An interesting counter-example to my theory, then, would be to present people who believe in a god whose values he/she utterly disagree, but is firmly believed to exist anyway.

Does anyknow here know any such person?

Finally, would you agree that such a person must be living a miserable life?

Originally posted by Dio Seijuro
This is something that is relevant to my view toward religion. As some of you probably know, I believe that to a lot of people who are religious, it is more important that their religion's teachings or the god's ideals are agreeable to their own, such that the believe/knowledge that their god exists or is proven to exists actually comes second.

An interesting counter-example to my theory, then, would be to present people who believe in a god whose values he/she utterly disagree, but is firmly believed to exist anyway.

Does anyknow here know any such person?

Finally, would you agree that such a person must be living a miserable life?
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Dio, I am not sure that many religious teachings are agreeable to human nature.
The Christian people that I have been in contact with are constantly on guard to not back-slide.
Once one becomes a Christian it appears that certain natural actions or emotions must be given up.
Now, whether this could be deemed as disagreeable I am not sure.

I believe that a religion that would require one to give up too many natural human emotions could definitely make for a miserable person. One would constantly be in conflict with one-self, more or less. Could lead to a feeling of unworthyness if they continue to have feelings that it appears to them others in the religion are not having.

I've never met anyone like that...
That would seem like a horrible way to live. I know I could never stand it.

Poor people in India often adhere to the caste system. It becomes a comfort blanket. My life is like this because it is the way things are. A defeatist attidtude. It plays on the human emotional need to be at peace. For some people to do nothing and suffer is easier then standing up for ones beliefs or aspirations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_caste_system#Varna_system

Originally posted by Dan Fussell
Dio, I am not sure that many religious teachings are agreeable to human nature.
The Christian people that I have been in contact with are constantly on guard to not back-slide.
Once one becomes a Christian it appears that certain natural actions or emotions must be given up.
Now, whether this could be deemed as disagreeable I am not sure.

Dan, do you think they have created a God that is more like a strick parent, because they like to feel they are being taken care of? We all got mad when pop wouldn't let us do this or that but most people miss being watched over. Just an opinion/thought.

I believe that a religion that would require one to give up too many natural human emotions could definitely make for a miserable person. One would constantly be in conflict with one-self, more or less. Could lead to a feeling of unworthyness if they continue to have feelings that it appears to them others in the religion are not having.

This has been proven by all the wacked out cults that have gone bad.

Dio, I believe that even if there is a God it does not watch over us like little children. We are a pimple on the a** of life and may never find or understand the answer.

After some research, I found out that there are indeed people who can be described as religious, but derive little or no hope or happiness from what they believe in.

People who believe in Demiurge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demiurge).

Originally posted by Dio Seijuro
Does anyknow here know any such person?

No, but there most assuredly have been a great deal of people in such a dilemma before. Belief and practice are two different things however, and an Indian dalit, or a rebellious teenager with Christian parents, and many others take part in the practices, but not the beliefs. Cult groups like the gnostics of ancient Christianity have views likened to your description.

Finally, would you agree that such a person must be living a miserable life?

For a general rule of thumb, I would venture to say yes. I find it strange that someone would manage to grasp hold of ideals that disgrace or conflict with themselves, but they could find a way and bring sorrow upon their outlook on life. But that really depends on the depth of the views, future lives, past lives, multi-layered/simultaneous existences, and so on that lead to happiness outside the current form, so fulfillment is not always lost in this predicament.