No 726 of Living Life Series 1
Did the sages create and institutionalize religions or are religions created by men?
The teachings of a sage become a religion not because of the wish of the sage but because men need to have sense of identification. But when men split hairs and fail to agree with the emphasis and what constitute the teachings, then they create denominations and still hang on to their belonging to religion.
They institutionalize differences in understanding which is counter to the original purpose of the sage who wanted to polish and bring about oneness in understanding. There is really no need for religion as a label to divide men, let alone denominations to divide men further.
They institutionalize differences in understanding which is counter to the original purpose of the sage who wanted to polish and bring about oneness in understanding. There is really no need for religion as a label to divide men, let alone denominations to divide men further.
Religion is the creation of men. What a sage expects is only that people appreciate what he teaches and they can remain who they are. They can keep and identify with their roots.
A sage only wants to strengthen and improve on the culture of the people. Men somehow in their fervor inevitably do the opposite. They create religions as institutions and are creating sub-divisions which even to this day play some part in increasingly uprooting men from their roots. They create new cultures and subcultures. There will then be conflicts of cultures and dichotomy at that.
A sage only wants to strengthen and improve on the culture of the people. Men somehow in their fervor inevitably do the opposite. They create religions as institutions and are creating sub-divisions which even to this day play some part in increasingly uprooting men from their roots. They create new cultures and subcultures. There will then be conflicts of cultures and dichotomy at that.
But the term religion is here to stay and in time there were more than the four main religions - Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism and Islam. The terms are largely coined by men for convenience but in reality, there are those who practice a mix of religions just as there is also a mix of cultures and nationalities.
The Four Pillar Doctrine in 1969 by Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) refers to God Almighty as the focus of all religions - then mainly four in number in 1969. There is one basic truth of God or Divinity and God has the heavenly saints or sages to help him to reach out to more beings and men.
Religions created by men evolved from the sages and the sages elaborate the basic truth to become the separate teachings of the religions we know today. Religions have their own way of holding on to people and these become dogmas which are out of bound markers to prevent followers from straying.
All religions bring men to the holy life so as to purify souls and be closer to God and heavenly saints.
But there is the changing face of religion. Religion rather than race or nationality may in time be rallying points for men and this can be both good if there is harmony and not so-good if there is discord.
Men must see despite the differences in religions the oneness of God and divine peace that those in the different religions can achieve.
Men must not let the labeling of men into different religions divide men. That is why in 1969 the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) descended as the messenger of God to show the oneness of religions in God and that inner peace is possible through all religions. Let religions complement one another and bring men to inner peace...
But alas the few problems arising from religions are due to men and have nothing to do with the sages. The teachings of the sages are meant to improve the lot of society through augmentation of the prevailing culture of the times and not creating new culture or subculture.
Religions inadvertently may end up running counter to the interests of prevailing culture. Men through creating new culture of religion as institution end up not fully serving the interests of the sage they so adore. Men may create more of the problems the sage wants to minimize.
Men must see despite the differences in religions the oneness of God and divine peace that those in the different religions can achieve.
Men must not let the labeling of men into different religions divide men. That is why in 1969 the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) descended as the messenger of God to show the oneness of religions in God and that inner peace is possible through all religions. Let religions complement one another and bring men to inner peace...
But alas the few problems arising from religions are due to men and have nothing to do with the sages. The teachings of the sages are meant to improve the lot of society through augmentation of the prevailing culture of the times and not creating new culture or subculture.
Religions inadvertently may end up running counter to the interests of prevailing culture. Men through creating new culture of religion as institution end up not fully serving the interests of the sage they so adore. Men may create more of the problems the sage wants to minimize.
