Our Egos and Religion
 

The only reason why people are so decisive in their religious beliefs is to feed their own ego.

"We are humans. We are important. We need a meaning to life. We can't accept the fact that we don't know. We have to figure it out for ourselves."

Whether it's Jesus, Allah, Buddha, or none of the above. We all think we got it figured out.




Well how about this religion. I don't know, and neither do you. I STRONGLY believe in agnosticism. Anybody with me?

Re: Our Egos and Religion
 

[ QUOTE ]
The only reason why people are so decisive in their religious beliefs is to feed their own ego.

"We are humans. We are important. We need a meaning to life. We can't accept the fact that we don't know. We have to figure it out for ourselves."

Whether it's Jesus, Allah, Buddha, or none of the above. We all think we got it figured out.




Well how about this religion. I don't know, and neither do you. I STRONGLY believe in agnosticism. Anybody with me?

[/ QUOTE ]

Sure. Most of the atheists here probably are.

Then again, most of the atheists here (myself certainly and obviously included) get their egos mixed up in their opposition to religion.

Re: Our Egos and Religion
 

[ QUOTE ]
The only reason why people are so decisive in their religious beliefs is to feed their own ego.

"We are humans. We are important. We need a meaning to life. We can't accept the fact that we don't know. We have to figure it out for ourselves."

Whether it's Jesus, Allah, Buddha, or none of the above. We all think we got it figured out.




Well how about this religion. I don't know, and neither do you. I STRONGLY believe in agnosticism. Anybody with me?


[/ QUOTE ] I would mostly agree with you that the adherence to silly religious beliefs are somehow tied to ego. However, you mentioned Buddhism. Buddhism is a philosophy that trys to distance us from our ego.

Re: Our Egos and Religion
 

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I don't know, and neither do you. Anybody with me?

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I know that specific claims of many religions are false. As for the big questions, I don't know either. But I always like linking agnostics to this:

http://www.abarnett.demon.co.uk/athe...ic_prayer.html

Re: Our Egos and Religion
 

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The only reason why people are so decisive in their religious beliefs is to feed their own ego.

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The fact is that fear is the emotion that drives fervent religious beliefs not ego. Excuse me, that is not really a fact, It's my opinion, which probably should be considered a fact but really isn't.

pokervintage

Re: Our Egos and Religion
 

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[ QUOTE ]
The only reason why people are so decisive in their religious beliefs is to feed their own ego.

[/ QUOTE ]

The fact is that fear is the emotion that drives fervent religious beliefs not ego. Excuse me, that is not really a fact, It's my opinion, which probably should be considered a fact but really isn't.

pokervintage

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Agreed. A better hypothesis still is that people tend to apply reasons to things that has no reason, since that is the way we are geared to think (it makes sense from an evolutionary standpoint).

Since we are on a pokerforum we could use for an example the classic gambler's fallacy example: 'I hit the flush because I haven't hit a flush in a long time, I was due.'

Re: Our Egos and Religion
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The only reason why people are so decisive in their religious beliefs is to feed their own ego.

[/ QUOTE ]

The fact is that fear is the emotion that drives fervent religious beliefs not ego. Excuse me, that is not really a fact, It's my opinion, which probably should be considered a fact but really isn't.

pokervintage

[/ QUOTE ]

I've always seen the ego as self-protective, so I think fear relates to it.

Re: Our Egos and Religion
 

[ QUOTE ]
The only reason why people are so decisive in their religious beliefs is to feed their own ego.

"We are humans. We are important. We need a meaning to life. We can't accept the fact that we don't know. We have to figure it out for ourselves."

Whether it's Jesus, Allah, Buddha, or none of the above. We all think we got it figured out.




Well how about this religion. I don't know, and neither do you. I STRONGLY believe in agnosticism. Anybody with me?

[/ QUOTE ]

Is my disbelief in purple flying buffalo an ego trip? Seems common sense to me.

Re: Our Egos and Religion
 

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'I hit the flush because I haven't hit a flush in a long time, I was due.'

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OMG! What are you saying? You mean that's not true? I know for certain it's true at Bellagio's poker room.

Pokervintage

Re: Our Egos and Religion
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The only reason why people are so decisive in their religious beliefs is to feed their own ego.

[/ QUOTE ]

The fact is that fear is the emotion that drives fervent religious beliefs not ego. Excuse me, that is not really a fact, It's my opinion, which probably should be considered a fact but really isn't.

pokervintage

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I've always seen the ego as self-protective, so I think fear relates to it.

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I think ego as a term is so hazy it is rarely usable for much.

Re: Our Egos and Religion
 

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I've always seen the ego as self-protective, so I think fear relates to it.


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madnak, this is a quotable quote. Don't get me wrong, I am not putting it down, but it can be read in so many very different ways, it has to be true!

Good on you!

Re: Our Egos and Religion
 

Hmm. Good points. You guys are probably right, I can't think of any reason to use "ego" per se. It oversimplifies things. I do think people tend to have a strong personal stake in their religious opinions, even when those opinions are highly academic.

Re: Our Egos and Religion
 

[ QUOTE ]
The only reason why people are so decisive in their religious beliefs is to feed their own ego.

"We are humans. We are important. We need a meaning to life. We can't accept the fact that we don't know. We have to figure it out for ourselves."

Whether it's Jesus, Allah, Buddha, or none of the above. We all think we got it figured out.




Well how about this religion. I don't know, and neither do you. I STRONGLY believe in agnosticism. Anybody with me?

[/ QUOTE ]

In many religions the ego is actually subliminated. Even in Buddhism when you see people meditate they aren't elevating their own ego they are trying to get into a calm state. There's nothing calm when you elevate your ego. That's called striving. Nothing calm about striving.

Quote: "We have to figure it out for ourselves."

All the religions you mention have texts. If you mean do we have to figure out texts then yes, but that's not exactly figuring things out ourselves its more like coming to a good enough understanding of principles to be able to apply them. This is where the "decisiveness" comes in and since you're no longer able to follow whatever you want its pretty much the opposite of ego.

Even in the practice of yoga and there are many who get into the spiritual side of yoga the principles of yoga don't seem to appeal to the ego. If you've ever tried to do yoga you'll know that a Yogi teacher will tell you to never force things. You have to wait for the opening when you're stretching and that opening could take seconds, it could take months, it could take years. Once again self control and patience over the ego. Knowing yourself. Nevermind that the lady next to you can put her foot behind her head. That's her limit, not yours.

The ego sort of does the opposite. The ego tells you to compare yourself to others. It drives us to competition. It tells you to push your limits. We get a lot out of pushing our limits within reason.

Re: Our Egos and Religion
 

I meant figuring out the text or belief that is true. So yes, that is your decision. It seems to me that everyone has to "pick a side", and that's the part that's frustrating to me.

Re: Our Egos and Religion
 

Is my disbelief in purple flying buffalo an ego trip? Seems common sense to me.

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Show me some proof against it and I'll share your disbelief. Until then, I'll continue to believe that anything is possible in the afterlife (if we get one).