If I could change one thing about religion...

[robvalue]

...it would be a shift away from the idea that holy books are "the word of god" and towards the idea that they are "[ancient] man's interpretation of god".

The first idea I see as incredibly dangerous. No matter how liberal people act, and how much they interpret all the bad bits out in their head, if they pass on the message that the book should be taken as literally true without question, then some people will do so. Calling them extremists for doing exactly what they are told to do is what makes me shake my head in despair.

The second I think is a much more sensible, rational, safer and accurate description. It also actually fits in with the current trend (which I'm very thankful for) of picking and choosing from the books. If this message was passed onto children, rather than the dogmatic idea that the text can't be questioned, I think things would be better for everyone. I wish people would be encouraged to interpret the texts themselves and to find their own meanings, rather than be told what it means.

If you are telling someone that parts of a book aren't meant to be taken literally, or simply ignoring parts of the book because they "don't apply", then it doesn't make sense to me that you would also tell them it's the perfect word of god. This is bound to be totally confusing and to produce unpredictable results.

I would be interested to know people's opinions on this, and for the theists, which statement best represents how they view the books.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I think that's a very good idea. As a side benefit, it might lead to a lessening of inter-religious tension: If people grasp the idea that scriptures are interpretations of gods, it may make them a tad more thoughtful before they reach for the Heretic Bashing Rock.

Boru

[ignoramus]

Rob, IMO, you there are some "bits" which cannot be touched or changed.
We know that religion is a deck of cards. The bit you want to take away, although a noble idea, is a foundation block and cannot be removed.

Theists really genuinely believe in the afterlife (I know, cray cray). Once you introduce the idea of non sacred texts, then everyone's out!
This is why it can't and won't happen.

[Aoi Magi]

Some derivatives of hinduism like buddhism and sikhism were meant to be taken as words of wise men and not absolute commandments of a divine being... problem is fundamentalists will be fundamentalists and will twist words to fit their agenda

[robvalue]

Rob, IMO, you there are some "bits" which cannot be touched or changed.
We know that religion is a deck of cards. The bit you want to take away, although a noble idea, is a foundation block and cannot be removed.

Theists really genuinely believe in the afterlife (I know, cray cray). Once you introduce the idea of non sacred texts, then everyone's out!
This is why it can't and won't happen.

They can still be considered sacred in that they were written by people who supposedly had interaction with "God", but just to drop the pretense that they recorded everything totally accurately and that the message hasn't changed over time.

I wouldn't expect them to drop the idea of the afterlife, or anything else in particular, just the idea that the book is infallible.

I mean, what many modern Christians believe isn't just different but actually contradictory to the bible. I have heard some Christians speak this way, and to hold the bible in more realistic regard. I'm hoping it will become more prevalent.

[miaharun]

Hello Sir, I have studied Buddhism from books/school when i was small. However we don't have a book with us after we have studied it. It never forced us to do anything. Merely a guide. To take what's in it is up to us. No one from the divine has written those, it was all Buddha's teachings which he went and found.

[Chad32]

If everyone focused on loving thy neighbor, and judging not lest they be judged, more than anything else in their holy books, the Abrahamic religions should be a lot nicer. Unfortunately history has proven otherwise.

[Excited Penguin]

Hello Sir, I have studied Buddhism from books/school when i was small. However we don't have a book with us after we have studied it. It never forced us to do anything. Merely a guide. To take what's in it is up to us. No one from the divine has written those, it was all Buddha's teachings which he went and found.

You buddhists seem like a pleasant bunch, for the most part. Of course, there's still the fact that rather than pursue some of those teachings the scientific way in this day and age you choose to subscribe to a quasi-religion, but whatchagonnado.

[miaharun]

The only teachings magical/intangible in Buddhism are Karma and rebirth. I don't know if it is there or not. But that's what i like to believe.

[Mystic]

If that was the case, I would pay little to no attention to them. From what I see of humanity, very little people are actually guided that claim to be guided. If God can't prove Guides to be from him, then while I may personally want to follow so and so, there is no grounding for humanity to follow so and so.

If it was all about personal guidance with no rope of God for humanity to hold on to, then there is no reason for religion, God can can guide everyone individually. But people aren't guided individually, and we need to come together and reflect, but we need teachers/guides and books to do that. You want it to be that the best people on earth have no proof of their authority, which if the truth is strange, would leave them with hardly to perhaps no followers.

You want it to bet he case people to put their opinions out there, have us reflect over what they say, but God's hands to be cut off, that he doesn't communicate to us, opens doors of reflections, opens discourses that we may happily reflect and understand key issues.

If I were to change one thing about religion, is have everyone stop relying on fallible religious leaders as if they are representatives of infallible leaders or God. Rather pray for God to guide you until you are initiated into guidance by the Guide of time and revealed a will concerning you and your life, and commanded and instructed, by God's rightful human King on earth.

The problem is people want to replace God's Mastery with that of humans. Substitute his guidance with that of leaders that we don't know if they are pure like they make it seem to be and have no proof of authority from God.

I would make society also more grassroots in learning, rather, then follow clergy zealously.