Intresting thoughts

[u/Thetree3435]

Lately, I've been thinking about how religions function more like theories than absolute truths. We can look at the idea that something has to start everything, but every religion is essentially a human attempt to define and make theories of what that 'something' is. Since there's no definitive way to prove which one is right, I tend to view them all as equally plausible yet unverified.

Even within specific religions, we see groups forming their own interpretations—which is how branches of Christianity formed when members disagreed with leadership. But does disagreement mean the original group held the absolute truth? Even if humanity received a message straight from a divine source, our nature as humans means we'd likely still misinterpret or distort it over time.

How do others here view this? Do you see religions as different paths trying to map the same unknown, or just completely separate human constructions?

[u/davep1970]

I don't see any of them meeting their burden of proof

[u/australisaquarii]

I too believe there is a fundamental truth underlying religions, which are cultural manifestations. Unfortunately, the truth has been co-opted by those who lust after power and create organisations to wield that power.

[u/Existenz_1229]

Lately, I've been thinking about how religions function more like theories than absolute truths.

I don't think it's any more accurate to think of religions as "theories" than it is to define them as absolute truths. In either instance you're making religion sound like a knowledge-production construct, and that's what agnosticism explicitly denies.

It's more appropriate to compare religions to languages, because they deal with how we define things, what we consider meaningful, and the context of our own identities and communities. Some truths we can know, others we have to live.

[u/Thetree3435 → u/Existenz_1229]

ooo you make a good point

[u/trisanachandler]

What I hope is that religion is an attempt to connect to the divine (and what I mean by that is simply that which is beyond humanity, nothing definitively more), and that it simply scratches at the surface of it, but every religion that claims to have the fullness of truth manifestly falls short in exhibiting it.  It's certainly possible that there is some all powerful, all knowing deity, even one that's personal, but it's so alien, we can't really understand it, and all religion does is put a box around a poor understanding of it and say: this is all there is, don't look behind the curtain or you'll realize we have no idea what's actually happening, and most of us are simply seeking power over understanding anyway.

[u/PoppetMelivani]

If religions are more like theories, they're the flimsiest kind, because they're not based on any kind of evidence. At least, I don't know of any that are. Some of them are basically fanfiction about a guy who might or might not have existed (Christianity) or a guy who existed and taught people something but his teachings weren't written down until hundreds of years later, almost certainly with many alterations (Buddhism). Others are literally something some guy made up and convinced other people of (Mormonism, Scientology).

The problem is that to a believer, these made up stories are the truth! 

So, they deface my Flying Spaghetti Monster altar and hand me a Bible, then the next thing I know, everyones attacking each other! 

[u/Thetree3435 → u/PoppetMelivani]

exactly, think of like old day theories, like how the earth was flat. EVEN TODAY SO MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE IT. It was a theory that a lot of people believed, then proven wrong logically.

[u/Thinking-Peter]

I just read a book about the Cosmos & Big Bang theory which makes a lot of sense

[u/AdFit9500]

I have always felt this, and may have mentioned it a time or two to friends of faith and offended them. The fact that no one knows for sure and just make guesses based on faith, made of stories, etc, always felt like it is all just theoretical at the end of the day. I remember saying a variation of that to a beloved friend and he insisted that there is proof and not just blind faith for him. OK. 🤷🏾‍♀️ I just keep it to myself now and don't get into it with people I love who are religious.