Religious Restrictions -- Punishment or Liberation?

[DriftingCrow]

I've seen some comments on here and IRL where one of the arguments against religions is that they restrict and punish natural human nature. (I'd say, there must be an exception here for certain religions and spiritualities, LaVeyan Satanism being just one example )

The way I see it, some of these religious restrictions are either just strict or harsh interpretations of religious texts over the years (therefore making it more a cultural thing than really a religious mandate), including a mixture of traditional, non-religious culture seeping into the religion, and the rest are actually restrictions that are warranted and meant to lead you to a happier, healthier life.

For people who believe in some sort of God(s), it would seem like restrictions should be viewed more as liberation than a punishment (*will address a bit more below*). Lust seems to be something that many major religious wish to control and restrict by abstinence until marriage, but that's something that actually makes since, especially considering how reliable birth control is more of a modern invention, since it prevents the spread of STDs and unwanted pregnancies. There's always some things who's reasoning I can't always clearly discern, but why trust in a Being if you can't accept that It knows more than you? Sikhi is a pretty chill religion though, and all the five vices make sense to me, and overall it doesn't have too many other restrictions.  Not all of "human nature" is perfect, so why give into certain desires just because they float through your mind and doesn't necessarily harm anyone else? If paying heed to certain restriction will bring you to a greater connection with the One, then you're being liberated, not punished.

Though as I was pondering this, I remembered that in the Judeo-Abrahamic tradition, some people view G-d as having punished Eve and humans after the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge was eaten. There's also a Devil in this tradition (there's no Devil in Sikhi, anything "bad" that comes about is just from people loosing their connection with the One). But still, is it punishment in these traditions or just ways to protect you from the evils of Satan and keep you on the "straight and narrow" path?

So, what's your religion, some restrictions, and do you see it as punishment or liberation (or is it a mix between the culture and religion)?

[Shaina]

For people who believe in some sort of God(s), it would seem like restrictions should be viewed more as liberation than a punishment (*will address a bit more below*)...There's always some things who's reasoning I can't always clearly discern, but why trust in a Being if you can't accept that It knows more than you? Not all of "human nature" is perfect, so why give into certain desires just because they float through your mind and doesn't necessarily harm anyone else? If paying heed to certain restriction will bring you to a greater connection with the One, then you're being liberated, not punished.

This is so interesting, I was discussing this very topic with a mutal friend! 

Disclaimer!  Though I am a Christian my views are not necessarily representative of others that identify the same way.

I don't subscribe to the Hobbes' natural condition of mankind vs. society dichotemy. I think that "human nature" is much more fluid and impacted by society than some people believe. Lust, for instance, embodies a natural urge to procreate but many lust-filled actions are not done with that aim. So curbing those desires isn't necessarily curbing natural impulse.

That being said, I view the restrictions dictated in the His word as liberation from expectations placed upon us by society. Those urges aren't always natural and hinder our relationship with Him so any guidelines are most appreciated. I also believe in the Devil as a being representative of all evil so these restrictions not only bring us closer to Him but distance us from that evil. That's it in a nutshell anyways. 

[Jessica Merriman]

When I was in my chosen line of work I have looked into some peoples eyes and saw nothing. No soul, no values and being controlled by something I can not fathom. Evil does exist! Being said if evil does exist there surely must be a form of an opposite scale. If not there would be no GOOD in todays society at all. As for my Christian belief's beginning transition has taught me that organized religion is run by hypocritical humans who say one thing, but act another. I am really conflicted over really what to believe at this point. I look to the Bible as the most accurate as archaeology and written records prove quite a bit of it's contents. Not knowing what to believe right now I think I will be buried in my firefighter turn out gear just in case it is a little hot in the afterlife! Not being blasphemous, just prepared. Tough subject religion!

[King Malachite]

As a person of the Christian faith, I typically view the restrictions as a form of liberation becuase where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17 KJV).  I believe the restrictions are for the best interest for us and even though the Bible was written a long time ago, many of the things in it are still practical to this day.

[Lo]

Restriction is liberation sometimes. Complete freedom and unhindered growth is what cancer is. Without rules and mores, you have anarchy-- and not of the political/philosophical sort.

I have some pretty tight restrictions in my own tradition that would make absolutely no sense to someone else looking at what I was doing, but it makes perfect sense to me. The slow and careful shaping and pruning is healthy for me.

[Tanya W]

In the Buddhist tradition (at least as I have experienced it), religious restriction is ideally a tool for liberation. In the broadest sense, this works in two ways. I'll use the 'restriction' of silence to exemplify this:

1. In practicing silence we are being invited to hold life energy that we normally disperse willy-nilly. Talking takes energy. Talking allows us to let off energy as it becomes uncomfortable / too intense for us. When in silence, both the taking and letting off of energy are contained. This allows our life force to burn more brightly, which allows us to experience both ourselves and life in a clearer, deeper, more refined way. Such experience is the essence of the Buddhist journey.

2. In practicing silence we are also being given a chance to become more aware of all the ways we normally take and let off our internal energy. When we are in a period of silence, for instance, and we begin waving madly at people we pass in the hall, we are shown how desperately we need connection or affirmation or distraction, how hard it is for us to simply stay with ourselves. This insight adds fuel to the life force fire, even though we are letting energy seep away. And this increase in fuel results in the kind of experiencing noted above.

All this said, though, 'restrictions' such as this are not always offered / practiced with this understanding. Too often, in my experience, they are presented as subtle or not so subtle punishments for how f**ked up we are. A kind of 'father knows best, this is good for you, top-down' approach that, for me, does more harm than good.

So are religious restrictions punishment of liberation? Well, in my time in the Buddhist world, I have seen them function as both.