LIVE WITHOUT HARMING! LET US REFORM THE HARMFUL PART OF RELIGIONS

In LIVING WITHOUT HARMING: Let us look at the harmful part of religions, we saw the suffering, sometimes immense, that certain religions have caused and continue to cause to hundreds or even billions of innocent people. Fortunately, throughout history, significant religious reforms have been made, such as the Lutheran Reformation, which ended unacceptable abuses like indulgences, bulls, nepotism, and other forms of corruption, or the Second Vatican Council.

A good example of reformed, benign, and respectful Christianity is Quakerism, which has allowed significant scope for individual freedom, thought, and interpretation of doctrinal texts. It was also notable for its pacifism, for purchasing land from Native Americans in Pennsylvania and Delaware in the 17th century instead of stealing it, as most Christians did. Also for defending their rights instead of exterminating them, for fighting for the abolition of slavery, and for women’s rights.

In fact, in the 18th century, Philadelphia was the most liberal, tolerant, and advanced city in the USA. This is likely why the Constitutional Convention and the Declaration of Independence took place there.

Another example is progressive Calvinism, which is at the foundation of the liberal and modern cultures of cities like Amsterdam, Boston, New York, or San Francisco, and which, along with Quakerism, formed the core of the abolitionist and feminist movements in the United States and Great Britain in the 19th century.

All these advances are very encouraging and give us reason to believe that it is possible to continue moving forward. To do so, it is necessary to take a scalpel and remove all remaining tumors, so that nothing toxic remains—nothing that encourages harming innocent people.

This is not easy because, although in all religions there are many believers who wish to do this—especially in more civilized (or less uncivilized, depending on one’s perspective) countries—there are also numerous religious leaders and followers, particularly in fourth, third, and second-world countries, who oppose it and insist on continuing to commit misdeeds against innocent people.

LET US BE OBJECTIVE

The first step in realizing the desirability of reforming a religion is to open one’s eyes. That is, to recognize the precepts of each religion that lead to acts of kindness, compassion, and solidarity, but also those that lead to cruelty, injustice, and villainy.

Let us be impartial, seeing the light in each religion and all the good it brings, but also the shadows and the suffering it causes innocent people.

This implies not idealizing any faith or being blinded by some positive aspect, such as aid and charitable works, in a way that prevents us from seeing the misdeeds committed in the name of that creed.

Let us judge fairly, not refusing to see the rather monstrous and evil side of conservative and, above all, fundamentalist versions of certain religions—which are very different from the liberal, tolerant, and benign versions with much softer, sweeter, and more beautiful features.

Some say that religion should be viewed as a whole, globally. But then, should we do the same with Nazism? Should we focus on its positive aspects, such as the great economic and employment growth of the 1930s, its social programs, or the construction of the great network of free highways, and overlook the Holocaust and the destruction of Europe?

NO! Good aspects never wash away or compensate for the outrages committed, just as in a trial it is useless to tell the judge to look at a rapist, torturer, and serial killer as a whole, focusing primarily on the fact that he is a very good son and father and that his neighbors say he is very nice.

LET US BE CONSTRUCTIVE

I have a mission for well-intentioned believers: to influence other believers and, above all, the clergy to carry out a proper reform of religions. This consists of eliminating everything that is harmful to innocent people. Everything else can remain.

Let us take a sieve and pass through it the very good, good, neutral, bad, and very bad things that each religion has, so that we remove the bad and very bad and throw them in the trash—where they always belonged—such as hitting women who do not obey their husbands or harming homosexuals. And let the final result be a religion that is 100% benign and respectful.

For the three major world religions, the necessary reforms are as follows:

• CHRISTIANITY: read more…

• ISLAM: read more…

• HINDUISM: read more…

To do this, it is necessary to understand each religious precept within the historical context in which it was created. Read more about this topic…

As for BUDDHISM, it is not a religion but a philosophy—very benign and oriented toward not harming others. Therefore, it requires little reform, although, like almost everything, it can be improved on a practical level.

One of the changes it requires is that it is only fair for monks to support themselves through their own efforts rather than those of others, even if their followers voluntarily wish to give donations for their upkeep. This is especially true in poor countries where donors struggle enough to support themselves and their families without also having to fund monasteries. The equitable thing is for everyone who can to generate wealth honestly instead of living at the expense of others.

Many people naturally have a need for religion or spirituality, and it is good for them to meet that need, as it is healthy for happiness to function according to one’s own nature—but always without harming anyone, choosing harmless and kind forms and avoiding toxic and harmful ones.

Let us talk about religions, without taboos, and reform them to achieve a fairer and happier world.

And, furthermore, let us share these types of messages as one of the means to achieve the above.

Thank you for sharing,