Division of religion is a division of people.

[Seawolf]

Originally Posted by Lorelyen

Many traditional, western religions were more in for power and politics than spiritual health and attainment. Once you get people in power (which is having the ability, desire and means to control resources) they become aware of threats to their power from others in power.

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There's really just one main traditional Western religion, and I think what you're saying applies to all religions because they are all made up of humans. When something becomes big and naturally requires organization and leadership, a whole new set up problems appear. So it doesn't really make sense to blame religion, and even less sense to pick out Western religion in particular. Religion is just about having spiritual beliefs.

Buddhism, for example, has the exact same problems. They have central leadership and all the problems associated with organization. They've even persecuted people who don't believe like them.

If our main religion happened to be Buddhism instead of Christianity, we'd be resentful at Buddhism, and people would turn to 'Eastern' religions like Christianity. You can theoretically substitute one for the other because religion isn't the problem, it's humans. and we're all humans. Religion is about having spiritual beliefs, and we 'spiritual only' are no different than our nemesis.. the 'religious'. We just want something to blame to make ourselves feel good. 'Us' and 'them'. But we're not as different as with think. Recognizing that in ourselves, not being afraid to face our demons and take personal responsibility instead of blame is a spiritual practice that leads to peace.

[Baile]

Originally Posted by Seawolf

If our main religion happened to be Buddhism instead of Christianity, we'd be resentful at Buddhism, and people would turn to 'Eastern' religions like Christianity.

Buddhism, for example, has the exact same problems.

That's certainly a theory. I personally wouldn't call it a particularly sound theory, in part because of your generalization about Buddhism.

The exact same problems? As I understand it, Buddhism doesn't acknowledge Jesus as God, hell, damnation, and any number of Christian beliefs. And it's doctrine of that sort that the spiritual crowd argues against and finds offensive.

Whereas it's impossible for example to imagine sectarian fighting over the "doctrine" of the Eightfold path: Living right, speaking right, right intention, right effort, mindfulness, etc. In other words, we should all live and speak mindfully. That's Buddhism. Would could or would argue and fight over any of that?

That's just one example of the clear difference between Buddhism and Christianity. Closer to the truth is that there is nothing remotely the same about Buddhism and Christianity, problems or otherwise.

Yes, well to ascend to a position of controlling a region, you need to persuade as many humans as possible to follow a doctrine. Without the doctrine you likely have religious anarchy (in the way that the earliest Christianity existed). For that you have to find incentives to persuade people to follow the doctrine...that, in itself, is an interesting exercise in consumerism and/or psychology. Brand loyalty? Of course, even within the same "blanket" religion, e.g. Christianity, you get rebels who adjust to doctrine, offer a different selling proposition - and then the trouble starts, the fighting between sects.

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[Seawolf]

Originally Posted by Baile

That's just one example of the clear difference between Buddhism and Christianity. Closer to the truth is that there is nothing remotely the same about Buddhism and Christianity, problems or otherwise.

I guess you're not aware that people are not as different as you want them to be. Can you tell me the different atrocities that Buddhists have committed throughout history? The truth is that we are all human beings, and prejudice against Christianity is just the same old vicious cycle of hate. It's best to let go of prejudice and hate, if we're able.