Idea for a New Religion - Chapter 7 - Freedom

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from the ABC set Idea For A New Religion

FREEDOM A 1) God is all nature and humankind and the freedom which we deny to nature or to our fellow human beings, we deny to God. 2) Any system which is designed to serve God must be a lasting system. Systems which survive by oppression do not last. Systems which liberate and grant freedom to the common people are cherished, protected and preserved by the common people. Religions should not be oppressive. They should be about loving the world and all the people in it. They should be a tool to help people and to reduce suffering and only then can they truly be of service to God. 3) Freedom is essential for the devoted service of God. That which we do freely, we do with the whole of our heart. 4) Freedom of information is essential for true faith. Before we can truly believe something, we have to weigh up all the alternatives to that belief. Our faith must be an informed decision. 5) Freedom of speech allows the free exchange of ideas which are essential to human progress. Freedom of speech is the freedom to criticize and protest which is an essential weapon against tyranny and tyranny over the people is tyranny over God 6) Privacy and freedom from surveillance is protection against those who use private information as a tool of blackmail and oppression.

FREEDOM B 7) Freedom to be a non-believer - You don't have to believe in God to serve God, If you are a kind, giving person who cares for nature and for your fellow human being then you are already serving God. God loves a kind atheist more than a cruel fanatic. 8) Freedom Of Experimentation - Without experiment there can be no change. It is through experimentation and exploration that God tests and explores herself. 9) Equal Opportunity - Poverty, inequality, lack of education and opportunity equal lack of freedom. No society which tolerates poverty and inequality can call itself free 10) Peace between sects- If this religion becomes divided into different sects then the sects must live together in peace, friendship and cooperation. 11) No freedom for hate or intolerance - The only people who should not be free are those who wish to deny the freedom of others, they are agents of evil and suffering and should be deprived of power and influence and rendered harmless. All who expect freedom should respect the freedom of others.

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Comments

Highhat | January 4, 2012 - 08:42

I would like to think of myself as a "kind atheist". I have difficulty in understanding how sects arise in this picture of God which you portray?
I believe in nature as God- "God is all nature and humankind" to quote you. I don't believe in God as christianity and other religions advocate. It is not part of my upbringing and I believe that religion as a dogma is too narrow an outlook and that it creates wars as we see today.

;)Pia

well-wisher | January 4, 2012 - 21:17

Pia, many Religions and movements have broken into warring factions. I wanted to create a religion that avoided some of the mistakes of existing religions.

Imagine if Jesus had predicted that Christianity would split in Protestants and Catholics or if
Muhammad had predicted the conflict between Shi-ites and Sunni's.

If Christ had said, "There will be two Christian factions in a place called Northern Ireland and tensions shall arise between them but I would like them to live together in peace".

Divisions always occur but its best that, when they do occur, different factions coexist peacefully with each other.

Religion was not part of my upbringing either. My father was an atheist. My mother was a lapsed catholic. They never taught me about religion.
My only exposure to religion was through Primary
and Secondary school education and, like most young people of my generation, I rejected everything that I was taught.

However, through my own research into world religions, I've learned that Faith is a motivating force that, like any tool, can be used positively or negatively.

Also, this chapter is entirely anti-dogmatic. Its about the sanctity of human freedoms.

"4) Freedom of information is essential for true faith. Before we can truly believe something, we have to weigh up all the alternatives to that belief. Our faith must be an informed decision".

A religion that contained such a rule would encourage its followers to be educated, free thinking individuals.