Religion as Self Fulfilling Prophecy

[TheLightWithin]

Same as in people with Abrahamic background, except that there are many Gods and Goddesses. You could call upon them in case of any problem, and that they liked people to be nice. And that was enough for a ticket to heaven and to escape hell. Worship whomever you want. Even if you worshiped one, it is not that others will not help if called upon.

On the face of it, that sounds all well and good. It sounds easy and appealing, as stated.

Amongst the various Abrahamic traditions, there's no end of rivalry. Infighting within Christianity.

Was it like that for you and your neighbors?

However what you said

Very difficult to get out of childhood indoctrination, tribal pride and prejudices. It took me half my life to do that.

Sounds more ominous. More oppressive or negative. Is it fair to say that? Did you find it oppressive?
Half your life to overcome it - sounds like time and effort - you must have had a reason -

 

[Aupmanyav]

Was it like that for you and your neighbors?

However what you said

Sounds more ominous. More oppressive or negative. Is it fair to say that? Did you find it oppressive?
Half your life to overcome it - sounds like time and effort - you must have had a reason -

Yeah, it is like that for all Indians. You do your thing, I do mine. Only that one should not impinge on the other. That is Indian secularism as enshrined in our Constitution. "Sarva dharma sama bhava" (same treatment to all religions).

In Hinduism, there is no oppression. We are given a free hand. But even then, rejecting 'divinities' and 'divine order' is not easy.
Thoughts have to be fought, "Is all that I believed till now, false?"
Reason was lack of evidence.

 

[TheLightWithin]

Yeah, it is like that for all Indians. You do your thing, I do mine. Only that one should not impinge on the other. That is Indian secularism as enshrined in our Constitution. "Sarva dharma sama bhava" (same treatment to all religions).

In Hinduism, there is no oppression. We are given a free hand.

Everything you say here sounds almost too good to be true.

But even then, rejecting 'divinities' and 'divine order' is not easy.

Did you have to reject them? What was it about them that was hard to let go of?

Thoughts have to be fought, "Is all that I believed till now, false?"

Why do the thoughts have to be fought?

Reason was lack of evidence.

Complete lack or just insufficient?

 

[Aupmanyav]

Everything you say here sounds almost too good to be true.
Did you have to reject them? What was it about them that was hard to let go of?
Why do the thoughts have to be fought?

Complete lack or just insufficient?

I believe it is good and true to a large extent.
If they were not truth, why should I cling to them?
(But Hinduism provided me a solution without Gods or Goddesses - Advaita, non-duality)
If the thoughts are not true and would not leave one, then one has to fight those thoughts.
Complete lack of evidence. Science provides a much better infrastructure.

 

[Thomas]

@otherbrother – I have not watched this, it's 2 hours! But will ...

If you want to segment and discuss, that might be useful.

Have you read McGilchrist? I have The Master and his Emissary, but that's all.

 

[talib-al-kalim]

Same as in people with Abrahamic background, except that there are many Gods and Goddesses. You could call upon them in case of any problem, and that they liked people to be nice. And that was enough for a ticket to heaven and to escape hell. Worship whomever you want. Even if you worshiped one, it is not that others will not help if called upon.

Heaven and hell? I thought Indian religions teach rebirth or perfection ?