In defense of religious traditions

[Majed]

In defense of religious traditions:
‎Religious traditions aren't merely superstitous or arbitrary. They carry within them profound time tested wisdom for how to live life properly and generate happiness and success.
‎Traditon orders the psyche, it gives direction, restrictions, and guidance.
‎Religious traditions are lived experiences, they are a different form of knowledge from the purely theoritical, they are embodied knowledge. Certain knowledge is only experienced through practice, a master in any craft or domain, has dedicated thousands of hours in his field, to become a master. Theory only would never gives the same mastery than lived experience in any field. In the field of personal success and spiritual development, religion is the art that is to master. Mastering religion is about observing the rituals and rules, as well as abstaining from the forbidden and restraining oneself to what's allowed and cherished. To dismiss religious traditions is unwise. It's to underestimate their power in shaping happy successful lives.

[Leo Gura]

Children need rules. That's right.

Edited 11 hours ago by Leo Gura

[LordFall]

Which traditions are we talking about? If this is towards Islam it's not so much traditions more so doctrine and laws that lead to imprisonment if not beatings if not followed right?

Let's not forget how Iran came to the forefront of the news cycle over the past few years. Good ol morality police. 

If we're talking traditions like being nice to your neighbour then obviously that's a different issue. 

Edited 1 hour ago by LordFall

[Emerald]

I see the necessity of religions in relation to Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development model...

In the earlier phases of moral development, there needs to be a strong sense of authority outside of one's self that will reward if someone does "good" and punish when someone does "bad."

And that enables a society with a low level of moral development operate in ways that minimize selfish and ruthless behaviors.

If someone who isn't developed enough to abstain from selfish behavior for its own sake believes that they'll be rewarded for abstaining from the selfish behavior... or punished for engaging in the selfish behavior... they are less likely to do the selfish behavior.

And there are many drawbacks to this way of thinking... as it increases a sense of judgment and punitiveness towards themselves and others. But it's a useful way of operating when the higher stages of moral development have yet to be reached en masse. 

But once individuals develop to the higher stages of moral development where morality is derived from empathy, compassion, and conscience, there is no longer a moral need for mass adherence to religion.

Past that point, religion can be engaged with practically as a method of meaning-making and spiritual connection/transformation for the masses who are more geared towards pre-defined exoteric spiritual paths. (Though there are also usually more esoteric paths that are off-shoots of those exoteric religious practices that exist for people who are more interested in a deeper quest). 

And religion can also be used at the foundation for community... sometimes positively and sometimes negatively.

Past moral needs, social preferences, and pre-defined paths of spiritual connection... religion can also be foregone for those who find their sources of meaning and existential interconnectedness elsewhere... or who want an esoteric spiritual quest that they custom-tailor for themselves.