Hi Cris,
Quote c:
"I agree – once I understood religion sufficiently well to know it should be rejected I experienced a great relief and an inner satisfaction and knowledge of myself.
* Religion is a pathway to self knowledge. The relief I totally understand. This was a process rather an epiphany?
Quote c:
"See I’m not sure you can make such sweeping statements. I find the mediation techniques I have used do a far better job than religious faith. Religion does give positive benefits mainly because of the placebo effect, but I don’t think that is the underlying nature of religion. Meditation does the same thing and that is not religious, or rather doesn’t need to be."
* People tend to seek answers to the meaning of life, existance, etc, outside of themselves. They seek answers in relationships, self-help courses, material possessions, careers, etc, and in religion. In searching to understand mans place in the universe, religion has played a key role via metaphor or other, for endowing mankind with significance, within the cosmos. So I feel, like other paths to self knowledge, including techniques such as meditation, religion has given man a much deeper understanding of his psyche. But yes, this need not be the fundamental driver behind religion per se, even though I think it is a strong motivator within the subconscious.
Allcare.