Religions think and shower concern for men but what about beings other than men. Are men the only concern of God and saints?
If religion has soul for life, then surely religion must be concerned for the spiritual welfare of beings other than men. But sad to say even for those religions who believe in rebirths and that other life forms be it animals and birds are but some of the many forms of rebirth, they too are largely concerned with men and not other beings.
Religions are by men for men, and beings other than men are not members of religions. Saints came to this world to save men but what about beings like animals?
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| Dove is symbol of The Holy Spirit but has it no place in Heaven after death, not even in Hell? This, if true, would surely be a lapse in human thinking and an insult to divine love of God and saints |
Don't they too live after death? Don't they have feelings and thoughts? The love and concern of religions for men is out of place if that same love is not extended to animals and other beings.
Otherwise, we would have terms like a Taoist dog or cat or for that matter a Christian dog or cat. The love talked about in religions would not be true love if only for the human species.
What type of God would only love men but not other beings? Wouldn't that be shallow thinking and blasphemy of God? All beings including animals like dogs can have the love of God and saints. Why should men think God and saints have love only for men?
Perhaps it is time to think about bringing pets like dogs and cats to church and temples. Good idea if they can be baptised say in water. Dogs would like it but not cats.
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| A holy dog praying alone because it has no place in the house of God built by men. Is this true? |
One common myth is that God creates man. Animals and everything else are there for man. Even Heaven and Hell are for men. What about animals? Do they have after life? Why is there the bias?
Don't animals and other beings have rights to life? Yes they do, but why many men say to the contrary. Religions are for all, animals and other beings included.
In the story of the Journey to The West, animal figures join the pilgrim monk to go to the West in search of scriptures. Isn't this more enlightening and good reminder that animals too can be in Heaven and even be saints. Omitofo.
Around 65 million years ago, when the dinosaurs went extinct, three quarters of the world's species went the way of dinosaurs. It was the world's fifth mass extinction event and due to a comet event.
The sixth mass extinction event will be because humans think the world and life is for them. Humans in year of 2014 and beyond may pose a threat to biodiversity and that is for real. They will herald the sixth mass extinction.
Men do not even get down to think of accommodating other beings in this world, let alone share with them the institution of religion. Only men can have the scriptures and not other beings like animals. The farsightedness and insight of the writer of the story of Journey to the West is commendable.
So the next time we go to church or a temple bring along your pet dog or cat. Won't that be nice and praiseworthy as well as more wholesome? Omitofo
But alas to some, religion is only for men and that is the norm. To them, it is far fetch to extend religion to animals. Animals do not have rights to religion. They only have animal rights which are different from human rights. But is that so? Care to know more? Then have more quiet time with God and saints and less noisy time in mass prayers with men.
The sixth mass extinction event will be because humans think the world and life is for them. Humans in year of 2014 and beyond may pose a threat to biodiversity and that is for real. They will herald the sixth mass extinction.
Men do not even get down to think of accommodating other beings in this world, let alone share with them the institution of religion. Only men can have the scriptures and not other beings like animals. The farsightedness and insight of the writer of the story of Journey to the West is commendable.
So the next time we go to church or a temple bring along your pet dog or cat. Won't that be nice and praiseworthy as well as more wholesome? Omitofo
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| Amitabha / Omitofo |
It is not about animal worship but about the chance for progression for all beings. All beings are capable of spiritual progress and that is yet to be an understanding for many men who know not what they do or rather what they think. They need to know better. Indeed they are poor souls.
Worst still, there is flip flop reversal of sorts in thinking among men in east and west and that is adding to the complexity. What was right is now wrong and what was wrong may now be right. It depends on the context and the times.
But such divergent views do add up to be whole like the yin and the yang. This is yet another insight into Tao - the inner truth that we should know behind life and religion that saints like Lord Bo Tien talk about.
The right is wrong and wrong be right, the near is far and far is near, the circle is nothing and yet whole are examples of the many more there are in Tao philosophy which are common to all religions. One example in West is that the humbled will be exalted and the exalted humbled as said by Jesus.
It is wrong and yet right for other beings like animals to be in religion. There is no paradox but both aspects or views do add up and reflect the truth and reality that animals and other beings have a place with God and saints but their path to spirituality is different and yet same as men. Omitofo.
There is for each and every kind, a path and kingdom of their own but all will meet as one the higher they go. That is why the symbol of Tao is of opposites coming together as one. There is synergy of the different beings and paths in that they crisscross or run alongside and do contribute to one another in some way.
Beings, animals and men included, may be different but yet one in this world. While religion is by men there is spirituality and in a way religion even for other beings. Yes, there is religion or rather spiritual systems for all - animals included. Omitofo.
But some men are somehow myopic and secluded from the wider world. They think only they as men deserve spirituality. They even think other men let alone animals and other beings cannot have the same blessings as them because these others do not belong with them.
They are eager that others belong to their value system. Well, they will have to learn step by step and move up the divine value chain. God will have mercy on them for they know not what they do. Let them learn and be wiser from the learning.
They do have good intentions and that is in itself good and worthy of praise and goodwill. We should rejoice in their good intentions and in a way be thankful. Do however let them know we may have to differ and this may be to their good as well as to our own good. Omitofo.
We are after all in the same temple. The world or universe is the universal temple. Heaven is the roof. Religions are the pillars. All under Heaven is in the same temple regardless of creed, species, beings, color, form or whatever. Amen - that is so and so be it.
Worst still, there is flip flop reversal of sorts in thinking among men in east and west and that is adding to the complexity. What was right is now wrong and what was wrong may now be right. It depends on the context and the times.
But such divergent views do add up to be whole like the yin and the yang. This is yet another insight into Tao - the inner truth that we should know behind life and religion that saints like Lord Bo Tien talk about.
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| Lord Bo Tien |
The right is wrong and wrong be right, the near is far and far is near, the circle is nothing and yet whole are examples of the many more there are in Tao philosophy which are common to all religions. One example in West is that the humbled will be exalted and the exalted humbled as said by Jesus.
It is wrong and yet right for other beings like animals to be in religion. There is no paradox but both aspects or views do add up and reflect the truth and reality that animals and other beings have a place with God and saints but their path to spirituality is different and yet same as men. Omitofo.
There is for each and every kind, a path and kingdom of their own but all will meet as one the higher they go. That is why the symbol of Tao is of opposites coming together as one. There is synergy of the different beings and paths in that they crisscross or run alongside and do contribute to one another in some way.
Beings, animals and men included, may be different but yet one in this world. While religion is by men there is spirituality and in a way religion even for other beings. Yes, there is religion or rather spiritual systems for all - animals included. Omitofo.
But some men are somehow myopic and secluded from the wider world. They think only they as men deserve spirituality. They even think other men let alone animals and other beings cannot have the same blessings as them because these others do not belong with them.
They are eager that others belong to their value system. Well, they will have to learn step by step and move up the divine value chain. God will have mercy on them for they know not what they do. Let them learn and be wiser from the learning.
They do have good intentions and that is in itself good and worthy of praise and goodwill. We should rejoice in their good intentions and in a way be thankful. Do however let them know we may have to differ and this may be to their good as well as to our own good. Omitofo.
We are after all in the same temple. The world or universe is the universal temple. Heaven is the roof. Religions are the pillars. All under Heaven is in the same temple regardless of creed, species, beings, color, form or whatever. Amen - that is so and so be it.
