Is creating false guilt for profit by religions a good moral tenet?

[Greatest I am]

Is creating false guilt for profit by religions a good moral tenet?

One of the lies for profit by the Churches seems to be the invention of hell to instill fear and loosen the purse strings and increase the indulgences people pay to save their souls, which were never condemned in the first place.

Another example of this for profit lying by Christianity would be Original Sin. This was something unknown to the Jews who have a different interpretation of their myths. To them, Eden was where we were elevated, not where we fell.

Is creating false guilt for profit a good moral tenet and should a religion that does so be followed?

Or would God forbid such a sin and curse those religions to hell?

Regards
DL

[hrmjustin]

1. I am a believer in heaven not hell.

The church used hell to install fear.

[NYC_SKP]

4. I couldn't have said it better, hrmjustin.

And guilt trips are by no means the exclusive domain of organized religions.

[hrmjustin]

5. That is true.

[phil89]

8. What's thevpoint of jesus

If there's no hell? What's the salvation from?

[hrmjustin]

10. Good question.

It is a saving act that opens up heaven to us all.

At least that is what i believe in.

[Greatest I am]

12. Are you a Universalist

and which religion do you follow if any?

I am and people ask about Hitler and such. How do you get him into heaven if you are a Universalist.

Regards
DL

[hrmjustin]

15. Episcopalian.

I believe in the extreme mercy of God.

I think most or all go to heaven. If a soul is too evil then I think it no longer exists after death and judgement.

[DetlefK]

2. Maybe it's connected to the permission to lie for spreading the religion.

I don't remember when or how this came up on DU. Someone quoted a christian thinker (Thomas of Aquin?) that it's okay to lie if you do it in the service of spreading Christianity.

From there it seems like a small step to me to categorize "get funding for your church" as "spread your religion".

[cbayer]

7. I'd like to see that quote.

[Greatest I am]

13. A slipery slope

of allowing sin that led to the Inquisition.

If lies are ok then so is killing.

Regards
DL

[edhopper]

18. I think Augustine and Aquinas said

it is not allowable to lie in any circumstances. But there is wiggle room in holding back the truth.

[2naSalit]

3. I think that

BELIVING is the first mistake anyone makes. By following any religion one allows someone else to interpret what is and isn't for them without understanding what is happening or what is actually at stake for doing so.

something I stated to another poster last night...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1017&pid=260141

[Greatest I am]

14. Thanks for this.

Regards
DL

[cbayer]

6. Creating false guilt for profit for any reason is not a good moral tenet.

The trick comes into determining who is creating false guilt and who is not.

[phil89]

9. If theyre

threatening with a "hell" that has yet to be demonstrated to exist, they are at best dishonest.

[cbayer]

11. Maybe, maybe not.

There are many who truly believe in hell. If that is a part of their belief system, and there is neither proof for nor against it's existence, I don't think you can call that dishonesty.

Dishonesty would be if they did not believe it, but pushed it for a specific gain.

The assumption that it is a lie comes from your own mindset of non-beleif but can not be applied to others.

[Greatest I am]

16. all who claim a God

who has condemned his creation are liars.

All who claim a God who is an individual other than a man are also liars.

Regards
DL

[cbayer]

21. All who claim to know the truth and who the liars are….

are liars.

Regards,

cb

[trotsky]

22. So that makes you a....

[yellowcanine]

17. The sale of indulgences did not go away after the Reformation. Just took a new form.

Basically the message is give to the church and you will be blessed.

Hell and indulgences were the stick.

Now they use a carrot but the common denominator is guilt.

[edhopper]

19. The whole sin-original sin thing is

perplexing. We are all born of sin (I guess that's cause mom and dad had sex) and Jesus died for our sins. But we are still sinners who must ask for forgiveness, so why did Jesus die if it didn't help with our sins?

[beam me up scottie]

20. Yeah, I never got that either.