Philosophy Now Forum

Why this hypocrisy ? If we believe in god, then why don't we follow the path written in our holy books. Why don't we spread goodness and do good deeds so that we will goto heaven.

vivek252007 wrote:Why this hypocrisy ? If we believe in god, then why don't we follow the path written in our holy books. Why don't we spread goodness and do good deeds so that we will goto heaven.

The reason why it is so is because it is structured into what's called an "organized religion", where authorities take rulership in those religions under the justification of the claim of "successor to a prophet", or "ordained by God". The rulers who occupy organized religion require anyone who adheres to the faith obedience to the authority figures in whatever religious temple, and the authority of, for example, a priest (Christianity), rabbi (Judaism), Islam (Imam, Sheikh), or guru (Eastern religions), is pretty much above the actual scriptures or even God, without the adherents even knowing it.

The people occupying the "teacher/ruler" in the religions of the world interpret the scriptures for everybody, and thus they convince people to go to war with whomever person or nation disagrees with them, and dominate them with "their" brand of "truth", which often builds up an ego inside both the "teachers" and the people following the religion. They believe that because the authorities say that their religion is truth that they are the righteous against the "evil heathens" of the world, and thus they do not reflect on themselves, which manifests in hypocrisy in several ways, which cuts off your actual ties to God. Without self reflection, and without thinking critically, you are bound to unwise choices that follow, which results in hypocrisy.

So the title says, "Hypocrisy in our nature", which indicates that you believe this statement to be fact. So is it true that hypocrisy is in our nature? It is yes and no. It is yes because our minds can be manipulated to do things that are against our conscious mind, which keeps us from thinking clearly, but it is no because you can also have the will to actually use your head to make choices. Now these choices can often be hard to commit to because they are not self indulgent as the choices from the "wants" that are manipulated from our senses, but they are good as they make us see reality objectively, and not in the ego of superiority that's found in organized religion.

This is because our moral compass comes from within ourselves, not from any religious doctrine. Religion sets impossibly rigid standards that no one can fully adhere to, thus making hypocrites of the religious. People are going to do what they want and need to do, regardless of their religion.
Just look at the string of christian fundamentalists who have been caught (literally) with their pants down. Ted Haggard is probably the most well-known and despicable, because he actually preached about the evils of homosexuality.

WanderingLands wrote:

vivek252007 wrote:Why this hypocrisy ? If we believe in god, then why don't we follow the path written in our holy books. Why don't we spread goodness and do good deeds so that we will goto heaven.

The reason why it is so is because it is structured into what's called an "organized religion", where authorities take rulership in those religions under the justification of the claim of "successor to a prophet", or "ordained by God". The rulers who occupy organized religion require anyone who adheres to the faith obedience to the authority figures in whatever religious temple, and the authority of, for example, a priest (Christianity), rabbi (Judaism), Islam (Imam, Sheikh), or guru (Eastern religions), is pretty much above the actual scriptures or even God, without the adherents even knowing it.

The people occupying the "teacher/ruler" in the religions of the world interpret the scriptures for everybody, and thus they convince people to go to war with whomever person or nation disagrees with them, and dominate them with "their" brand of "truth", which often builds up an ego inside both the "teachers" and the people following the religion. They believe that because the authorities say that their religion is truth that they are the righteous against the "evil heathens" of the world, and thus they do not reflect on themselves, which manifests in hypocrisy in several ways, which cuts off your actual ties to God. Without self reflection, and without thinking critically, you are bound to unwise choices that follow, which results in hypocrisy.

So the title says, "Hypocrisy in our nature", which indicates that you believe this statement to be fact. So is it true that hypocrisy is in our nature? It is yes and no. It is yes because our minds can be manipulated to do things that are against our conscious mind, which keeps us from thinking clearly, but it is no because you can also have the will to actually use your head to make choices. Now these choices can often be hard to commit to because they are not self indulgent as the choices from the "wants" that are manipulated from our senses, but they are good as they make us see reality objectively, and not in the ego of superiority that's found in organized religion.

In 'no' also most of us are hypocrites because we use our will to use our head only when it comes to us being at the receiving end. Otherwise when we are at comfortable position we follow the herd. I sounds to me more like a selfish and self-indulgent behaviour than hypocritical. Like even if my religion prohibits eating non-veg food, I will keep my religious beliefs aside and do whatever I want to do. I think if we judge ourselves truly most of us will take a backseat when it comes to adhering to your beliefs. And then we say I follow this religion.

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:This is because our moral compass comes from within ourselves, not from any religious doctrine. Religion sets impossibly rigid standards that no one can fully adhere to, thus making hypocrites of the religious. People are going to do what they want and need to do, regardless of their religion.
Just look at the string of christian fundamentalists who have been caught (literally) with their pants down. Ted Haggard is probably the most well-known and despicable, because he actually preached about the evils of homosexuality.

Then in that case freedom to do whatever we want takes the upper hand vis-a-vis our so called beliefs. I think the only people who are true to themselves are atheists.