the 14th Dalai Lama once said..." It is far more important that a man be kind rather than religious"?

I absolutely agree with what he said. Kindness comes from one's conscience and being life a daily struggle between our ego and our conscience, by listening to our conscience and letting it prevail as much as we can, we certainly succeed in becoming better human beings, regardless of religious views. You are welcome:)

It's a nice statement and of course will do much good to the earthly lives of many people. Kinda echoes what John Lennon said in Imagine. However, there are religions that say the only chance of you getting to heaven is to live your life by that religion, or, at least by the simple faith in the core fundamentals of the religion. True, compassion and kindness are fantastic and that's why they are advocated by almost all religions. And the religious rites and rituals can also be over complicated and damaging to people when interpreted in the wrong way. Religion itself can be very flawed, but faith however, is a different story. Yes you can live by kindness and have a fulfilled life, but live by faith and love, and you will be able to experience God's glory in heaven.

Of course, I'm not trying to force my views on you. These are just my views. The Dalai Lama is indeed a great man, but I believe that 'For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.' The choice is totally up to you.

I ask what my Creator will have me to do. The answer is: All that glorifies His person. This triggers

Galatians 5

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

MIMI

I agree completely. Religion to me is nothing but man-made beliefs trying to get other people to believe what they want.

The Dalai Lama left out the crucial part that you can only be kind by having faith in Christ.