• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Which major religion has more insight into human nature?

Which major religion has the most insight into human nature?

  • Total voters
    31
ALiberalModerate

ALiberalModerate

Pragmatist
DP Veteran
Joined
Jun 23, 2005
Messages
32,467
Reaction score
22,711
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Moderate
Of the world's 5 largest religions, which do you believe has more insight into human nature as in how we think and what we need in life to be happy and fulfilled? By this I do not mean which do you think is the "true faith" or not, but rather which one in its teachings and scriptures reveals the most about our true nature.
 
I'd have to go with either Buddhism or Tao, but I think it's because they are more accepting of human error than the Abrahamic religions tend to be. Their insight may not be more- they just perceive the errors and consequences differently.
 
SouthernDemocrat said:
Of the world's 5 largest religions, which do you believe has more insight into human nature as in how we think and what we need in life to be happy and fulfilled? By this I do not mean which do you think is the "true faith" or not, but rather which one in its teachings and scriptures reveals the most about our true nature.
Click to expand...

I am going to go with Buddhism. Abrahamic religions tend to be transformational, meaning its more concern with the destination than where you are at now (not that this focus is wrong, mind you, but that's how I see them). Buddhism and more eastern religions is about making now work. I did not choose Taoism because its gotten too archaic.
 
I think that all major religions have a lot of insight into human nature. In fact, I would say that even pre-axial religions such as traditional African religions do. However, I think that the eastern religions, specifically Buddhism, have spent thousands of years contemplating human nature and what we really need in life, thus they are probably more insightful into how we really think at our core than the western Abrahamic religions. However, I am sure others would disagree.
 
Buddhism has a massive advantage over the others because the others, abrahamic religions especially, believe everything is settled with their ancient holy book, and do not strive to evolve their views with observations of the world around them.

“If scientific analysis were conclusively to demonstrate certain claims in Buddhism to be false, then we must accept the findings of science and abandon those claims.” ~ Dalai Lama XIV
 
Christianity, without question.

It does not labor under the naïve delusion that human behavior is naturally inclined to be good.
 
Last edited:
Don't know, don't care.

Imo, every major religion is a complete and total waste of time.
 
SouthernDemocrat said:
Of the world's 5 largest religions, which do you believe has more insight into human nature as in how we think and what we need in life to be happy and fulfilled? By this I do not mean which do you think is the "true faith" or not, but rather which one in its teachings and scriptures reveals the most about our true nature.
Click to expand...

The American constitution has better insight into human nature than any of the above.
 
DA60 said:
Don't know, don't care.

Imo, every major religion is a complete and total waste of time.
Click to expand...

In terms of sociology I tend to disagree.
 
joG said:
The American constitution has better insight into human nature than any of the above.
Click to expand...

I am not religious, but I can't agree with that. For example, the constitution has nothing to say on holding on to anger or our core motivations in life.
 
Last edited:
Gathomas88 said:
Christianity, without question.

It does not labor under the naïve delusion that human behavior is naturally inclined to be good.
Click to expand...

I am not sure that is an accurate characterization of most other religions. For example, Islam does not believe man is inherently good or bad, but rather that he must choose to be one or the other. Buddhism certainly doesn't teach that we are inherently good, or bad for that matter, but rather that suffering is the core of the human condition, and the redemption from that has to come from within (the biggest difference in philosophy between it and Christianity). I think most eastern religions also recognize that everything we do we do for selfish reasons. Even helping others we do because it makes us feel better to do so.
 
SouthernDemocrat said:
I am not religious, but I can't agree with that. For example, the constitution has nothing to say on holding on to anger or our core motivations in life.
Click to expand...

Yes it does. It says you can do what makes you happy and the government won't get in the way and tell you what is The Good Way.
 
Gathomas88 said:
Christianity, without question.

It does not labor under the naïve delusion that human behavior is naturally inclined to be good.
Click to expand...

Neither does Buddhism- it just accepts it as a natural state of the human, and understands that what holds us back is ourselves, and not some force of evil.
 
no vote
IMO, none of them do, I do not think that human nature and religion are compatable...in my opinion
 
If we bloody well knew we wouldn't have more than one religion.
 
Buddhism for sure. It's more advanced than modern psychology, yet simpler to understand. The Abrahamic faiths tell us that it's not our job to analyze why the way things are, and instead leave it up to God. Buddhism tells us that it is our job and we won't be happy until we do this inner work.

It begins with the premise that our good and bad sides do not have equal value. We were born good, and the core of who we are is good. This departs from the Abrahamic faiths which state we are born into sin and must spend our whole lives becoming worthy of God. Modern psychiatry has its roots in Christian thinking which is why most mental problems get diagnosed as lifelong diseases that can only be managed, not cured. Buddhism flips this on its head and says that your true, good nature is always there, it is just decorated with neuroses and delusions which distract your mind from reality. It's your job to debunk them and restore your view of core mind.

It's the only religion that has ever worked for me for debunking mind, without inserting guilt, punishment, duty, etc. The "how" in Buddhism is way, way more useful than any other religion. Just stay clear of its answers for "why" and you won't deal with much koolaid.
 
Last edited:
joG said:
The American constitution has better insight into human nature than any of the above.
Click to expand...

The Constitution recognizes that men are corrupt, which is why it calls for checks and balances. Christianity also recognizes that mankind is corrupt, but provides a remedy that the others do not. That remedy is the salvation of Christ for eternal life, and progressive sanctification (instigated and monitored by God himself) that with the believer's cooperation, slowly transforms the individual from a broken sinner, more and more into the likeness of Christ. Buddhism and Tao can't touch that because they don't have divine assistance.
 
Northern Light said:
We were born good, and the core of who we are is good.
Click to expand...

Anybody who has raised a two year old understands that we are not born good. Good is also a relative term, because what's good in man's mind may well not qualify as good in God's eyes.

Northern Light said:
This departs from the Abrahamic faiths which state we are born into sin and must spend our whole lives becoming worthy of God.
Click to expand...

Christianity teaches we become positionally righteous immediately upon acceptance of Christ as our Lord and Savior for the remission of our sins. We cannot earn that and we do not spend a lifetime becoming good enough to warrant that salvation.

Buddhism can't save anyone.
 
lizzie said:
I'd have to go with either Buddhism or Tao, but I think it's because they are more accepting of human error than the Abrahamic religions tend to be. Their insight may not be more- they just perceive the errors and consequences differently.
Click to expand...

Absolute and complete forgiveness of human error is a basic precept of Christianity. Do you realize, in theory, Hitler could have been fully absolved of his sins, and be sinless before God with full glory and everlasting life (in heaven for those that don't get that)? How can any religion/philosophy top that in "accepting human error"?
 
upsideguy said:
Absolute and complete forgiveness of human error is a basic precept of Christianity. Do you realize, in theory, Hitler could have been fully absolved of his sins, and be sinless before God with full glory and everlasting life (in heaven for those that don't get that)? How can any religion/philosophy top that in "accepting human error"?
Click to expand...

Yes, I do realize that. I doubt you'll find many Christians who believe that Hitler was "absolved" in any case.
 
lizzie said:
Yes, I do realize that. I doubt you'll find many Christians who believe that Hitler was "absolved" in any case.
Click to expand...

I did not say he was.... but I do actually understand how he could have been. The choice was his, even in his dying moments. That is not something too many people can really wrap their heads around. True Christianity is not judgmental (it is of sin, but not of the sinner).... Too many people have a bad taste in their mouth about what Christianity is, as, after all, there are too many "christians" selling it.
 
Last edited:
upsideguy said:
I did not say he was.... but I do actually understand how he could have been. The choice was his, even in his dying moments. That is not something too many people can really wrap their heads around.
Click to expand...

Well, I can wrap my head around it, probably a little better than the average human, but it's a bit more complicated than just asking forgiveness.
 
I don't know that any of them particularly do. They all are very good at talking about our better natures while encouraging us to act on our worst ones. Hinduism might be the closest, though. It's the only one that isn't centered on rejecting our physical existence in favor of a nonsensical spirit one, and instead says that we should strike a balance between the two. However, it also ordains racism, classism, and slavery as inherent parts of the universe, so it has a lot of crap to go with its good parts.

Also, Judaism doesn't even get an honorable mention?

Also also, the only theological model actually worth endorsing is that offered by the two great prophets, Bill S. Preston Esquire, and Ted "Theodore" Logan.
 
Logicman said:
Anybody who has raised a two year old understands that we are not born good. Good is also a relative term, because what's good in man's mind may well not qualify as good in God's eyes.

Christianity teaches we become positionally righteous immediately upon acceptance of Christ as our Lord and Savior for the remission of our sins. We cannot earn that and we do not spend a lifetime becoming good enough to warrant that salvation.

Buddhism can't save anyone.
Click to expand...

I'm not going to get into an ideological argument with you my friend.

You should do what works for you.

Buddhism doesn't try to save anyone, it just tries to show you the nature of your own mind, which, regardless of what comes next, you are responsible for getting control of in this life. Do you disagree that you are responsible for your own mind?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom