Question by Γνῶθι σεαυτόν zeitgeist pirateâ„¢: What religions haven’t undergone religious innovation, and is syncreticism a positive or negative thing?
Any change in religious practice, organization, or belief is religious innovation. Religious innovation is seen as a departure from traditionalism. Some people believe religious innovation is inevitable because there is a permanent tension between belief in the unchanging nature of tradition, and the actual societal change of religious organizations themselves. Do you favor or disfavor societal changes to how your religion was ‘originally’ interpreted and practiced, and if religious innovation does happen everywhere what is wrong with it in your opinion?
Best answer:
Answer by ☦ Orthodoxy Or Death ☦
Orthodox Christianity, preserving the Truth since 33 AD.
The Apostles who founded the Church (Orthodox) told us to “stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” 2 Thessalonians 2:15 and “that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 1:3
That is why the Orthodox Church is the only True Christian Church, Catholics and Protestants are heretics and cannot be considered true Christians, they do not hold fast to the traditions, nor contend for the faith which was once and for all delivered to the Saints.
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8 Comments Received
syncreticism a positive or negative thing?
I vote for that thing.
Religion doesn’t make people better, people make religion better.
Good question. I see by your name that you’re Greek. I was about to tell you about Orthodox Christianity, which absolutely does not change what Christ God left for us…for our salvation. The very word “Orthodox” means right or correct teaching or doctrine…and will absolutely never allow any man-made changes or innovations to creep into it. St. Paul has said, “Stand fast and keep the traditions.” I see not much room for misinterpretation there. No changes for society. People are the same now as they were when Christ came to the earth…Human souls still have the same needs, and Christ, in His Church, that He gave us 2000 years ago, fills all of them. Good question.
Christianity…
Pagan syncretism:
Deut. 12: 2-7, Deut. 13, Exodus 34:12-13, Deut. 7:5, Deut. 16:21-22
1 Kings 14:22-24, 2 Chronicles 14:3-4, 2 Kings 17:7-12, 2 Kings 18:4-6, 2 Chronicles 31:1
Judges 6:25-30, 1 Kings 16:30-33, 2 Chronicles 17:6, 2 Kings 21:1-7, 2 Kings 23:3-7
Nimrod, Semiramis, Tammuz:
Jer. 7:17-19, Jer. 44:15-23, Eze. 8:13-16
Orthodox(No matter if it is Ethiopian, Russian, Greek,etc)Christianity
Rastafari
Theravada Buddhism(the original teachings, i think followers are monastic?)
Hinduism
Jainism
Sikhism
Zoroastrianism
I can’t think of a single tradition which has remained static throughout its entire existence and I don’t think that it’s possible for there to be any such institution. Religoius syncretism has both positive and negative implications. It can be seen as a method of mediation at points of contact of two conflicting beliefs, but at the same time, the traditions which arise from the syncretism just enter into the arena and create more conflict.
A good example of this happening is with Sikhs in the Punjab region of India. They were born out of Hindu-Islamic syncretism, but ended up being persecuted by both Hindus and Muslims. Whether you say that overall syncretism is a positive or negative thing depends on whether you see the gains in diversity as being worth the costs of resulting conflict.
I think that syncreticism is a VERY negative thing. This is especially true for religions, whether you’re an atheist or a theist following that religion.
If you change an idea or mesh it together with others, you’re not being true to the origins of that religion.I’m pretty sure if it’s supposed to be universal truth, it should also be timeless.If you’re religious and you believe, for example, that parts of the bible don’t apply to us anymore because we’re in modern times, you’re a hypocrite.
For atheists, it does us a lot of good to see the religion stay pure with crazy fundamentalists because then you see the literature and belief system for what it really is.Usually, the purer you keep a religion, the more painfully obvious it is that there’s something wrong with it.Even the Phelps family has blended a little modern thinking into their beliefs, but they’re as close as anyone I’ve ever heard and they’re doing a great job at keeping people away.Blending modern thinking with theology kind of waters down the foul tasting ideals to something that appeals to our youth, parents or just generally impressionable people.This is kind of like how rapping in commercials sells products, only with this if you DON’T mix some new age stuff in, you end up looking really sexist.
Music-wise, though…keep on mixing ideas.
A change is a good as a holiday, and when you believe in an angry God that hates his creation, you really do need a holiday
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