No 692 of Living Life Series 1
Can a religion introduced into a country win over the hearts of many? The answer is certainly in the affirmative. But can that religion change the culture of the people who embraced it? The answer is less obvious.
It would have moderated the culture but not changed it. Instead, the obvious is that that religion will be absorbed into the culture. There is no new culture though there is a moderated culture.
It would have moderated the culture but not changed it. Instead, the obvious is that that religion will be absorbed into the culture. There is no new culture though there is a moderated culture.
Thus Chinese culture will be augmented by religions introduced over the centuries to the Chinese. The people may profess to have a new religion but not a new culture though not exactly an old one at that.
If the not so savory part of the culture is for the majority in the community to look up to a ring leader, then if a new religion is being embraced, it is likely that the ring leader will take over the role of the historical prophet or saint.
If the not so savory part of the culture is for the majority in the community to look up to a ring leader, then if a new religion is being embraced, it is likely that the ring leader will take over the role of the historical prophet or saint.
If the religion requires complete loyalty of followers to the prophet or saint, then so much the better for the ring leader. Why is this so?
Well the culture is such that the man who is the leader or pastor will hijack this need for loyalty to exert full control of the people and even force those who do not comply and embrace their religion or sect to do so even at threat of loss of life and limbs or being consigned to hell in after life.
Well the culture is such that the man who is the leader or pastor will hijack this need for loyalty to exert full control of the people and even force those who do not comply and embrace their religion or sect to do so even at threat of loss of life and limbs or being consigned to hell in after life.
To those who see this as wrong, then it is wrong and a cult. To those who see this as not wrong, then it is the will of God and all those who don't go along are damned and they take it upon themselves to enforce compliance on behalf of God.
This is one aspect of religion today - 2014 and beyond. It is not the making of God and saints but that of men who are overzealous and carried away by the passion for their religion.
They are so passionate that they take things a few more steps further than those who brought the religion to them. They literally take things into their own hands. Culture can have impact on an adopted religion and make things no longer as beautiful as it should be.
But on the other hand, if a religion is introduced to a more liberal culture, then the culture will make it more beautiful a religion. The religion of Christ once it went beyond Jerusalem to the West many centuries ago was that much enhanced by the culture of the fast progressive West.
In the same way as Western culture is pervasive and sure winner, Christ teaching too is pervasive and sure winner. It in a way shares the same sort of dominance in the world with Western culture and civilization.
It has become a logical lifestyle choice for many beyond the West and a welcome one at that to fill the void left behind by lapse and lagging behind of Eastern culture. But of course, many too may not agree with this and consider this as an overstatement - perhaps even bigoted.
Let us agree to disagree and this is the nature of life in this world. It is not unthinkable to say that for any religion to make the world stage, it must be spearheaded by a progressive culture and for the present (2014 and beyond), it is the Western culture.
Even the Living Life Series has to be on the Western platform of English language if it hopes to have any chance of success to disseminate the thinking of the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨).
The good lord chose English speaking young locals in Singapore to start his temple and mission in 1969 ....
This is one aspect of religion today - 2014 and beyond. It is not the making of God and saints but that of men who are overzealous and carried away by the passion for their religion.
They are so passionate that they take things a few more steps further than those who brought the religion to them. They literally take things into their own hands. Culture can have impact on an adopted religion and make things no longer as beautiful as it should be.
But on the other hand, if a religion is introduced to a more liberal culture, then the culture will make it more beautiful a religion. The religion of Christ once it went beyond Jerusalem to the West many centuries ago was that much enhanced by the culture of the fast progressive West.
In the same way as Western culture is pervasive and sure winner, Christ teaching too is pervasive and sure winner. It in a way shares the same sort of dominance in the world with Western culture and civilization.
It has become a logical lifestyle choice for many beyond the West and a welcome one at that to fill the void left behind by lapse and lagging behind of Eastern culture. But of course, many too may not agree with this and consider this as an overstatement - perhaps even bigoted.
Let us agree to disagree and this is the nature of life in this world. It is not unthinkable to say that for any religion to make the world stage, it must be spearheaded by a progressive culture and for the present (2014 and beyond), it is the Western culture.
The good lord chose English speaking young locals in Singapore to start his temple and mission in 1969 ....
 |
| Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) |
