Go to Religion is a Sham
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Unidentified_Hacker
Ah yes! Perception is everything; sometimes it is too much!
posted by
archiew
on July 13, 2005 at 1:08 PM
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Archmeister
So true. I suppose then that the hostility level of the conversation is entirely dependant on the parties involved. How aggressive the question poser is and how the one in question takes it. It seems like sometimes even a simple question can be viewed by the other party as an attack.
posted by
Unidentified_Hacker
on July 13, 2005 at 10:33 AM
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Unidentified_Hacker . . .
Attacking and accepting religius beliefs are two different things. On a personal, day-to-day basis, I leave well-enough alone until someone starts to foist their beliefs on me, uninvited and unwanted.
On a public forum, such as Blogit is, I feel free to voice my opinions about religion, feeling that those who disagree with me will most likely not read my blog. If they choose to read and comment, so much the better, we then have a dialog that is a civil or as uncivil as the poster chooses.
posted by
archiew
on July 13, 2005 at 10:27 AM
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Archmeister
I think I did a post about this a while ago, or mentioned something similar in a post. My answer would be as follows: religion is grounded in belief, rather than fact. When someone is religious, their beliefs tend to make up the foundation of who they are. To question or attack those beliefs shakes up the very foundation of their being. That makes for scary times. On the other hand, some atheists BELIEVE that there is no God. So when you attack those beliefs, they react the same as the religious people do. Attacking beliefs is a dangerous game, and, as history shows, leads to violence and bloodshed.
posted by
Unidentified_Hacker
on July 13, 2005 at 10:20 AM
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How right you are! When someone's ego is seen to be under fire, the response is counter attack.
Ben.
posted by
A-and-B
on July 12, 2005 at 1:26 PM
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So, empty_handed_painter,
be creative; make something up!
posted by
archiew
on July 12, 2005 at 7:13 AM
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sheesh!!!
i don't have to say a thing
you all h ave said it all
posted by
Xeno-x
on July 12, 2005 at 6:25 AM
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It is even simpler . . . .
Good and evil are not dependent on religion to exist; good and evil reside in the minds of men and women.
posted by
archiew
on July 12, 2005 at 4:12 AM
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That is very simple. There has always been and always will be a war between
good and evil. People don't want to hear that. People don't want to think there is any evil. People don't want to believe anything other than what they believe is "good".
posted by
Justi
on July 12, 2005 at 3:11 AM
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David1Spirit . . . .
Eaxctly. If a religion preaches love, it should not teach hate.
posted by
archiew
on July 11, 2005 at 1:30 PM
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Well, then . . .
Wordwizard, let me just state that perhaps we need new, clean bathwater?
posted by
archiew
on July 11, 2005 at 1:29 PM
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wordwizard
The one problem I have is with their teachings of ethics. I cannot find anything "ethical" when any religion speaks out against other religions or against groups of people or personal lifestyles.
Any religion that sells hell and judgement and sin will never be able to teach it's followers about true peace and love.
posted by
David1Spirit
on July 11, 2005 at 1:28 PM
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Very good. I concur.
The problem has been we've thrown the baby out with the bathwater, though. Morals, values, ethics, have for the most part, up to now, been taught by religions. We have to find a way of understanding what those things are and how we can live together...
posted by
Wordwizard
on July 11, 2005 at 1:25 PM
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Very true, David1Spirit
They have gotten too comfortable, and many act as if they do not even believe their own theologies.
posted by
archiew
on July 11, 2005 at 12:43 PM
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archiew I agree
In order for mankind to evolve spiritually, there has to be a radical shift in the way organized religion influences us. We have to look inside and not listen to what these religious "leaders" are preaching. Because they may be paying lip service to peace and love, and show little of it in practice!
posted by
David1Spirit
on July 11, 2005 at 11:19 AM
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BTW . . .
The intolerence is not mine, except toward those who foist their foolish little beliefs onto me; the rest of the flock, I leave be.
posted by
archiew
on July 11, 2005 at 11:17 AM
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Well . . .
Yes.
My military training tells me to use the same weapons, or better, than those opposing me. Religion is akin to a racial mental illness, one that needs to be cured if we are to progress.
posted by
archiew
on July 11, 2005 at 11:16 AM
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I understand what you're saying, but it still begs the question -
why is the need for fanatical intolerant beliefs so imprinted on
the human psyche? It's obvious sectarian organized religion has
caused a lot of grief, but I sense a lot of intolerance in your
response to it. Hence my question about "emotional vehemence".
Can you promote tolerance THROUGH intolerance?
posted by
frankk
on July 11, 2005 at 11:01 AM
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It's a shame it's like that isn't it? I'm told there are many good things which come out of religion and have witnessed some good people doing good but what you say cannot be denied. So shoot me everyone else
posted by
Azur
on July 11, 2005 at 10:48 AM
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If there is a Devil . . . .
it is intolerance. Thanks, Ariala.
posted by
archiew
on July 11, 2005 at 10:43 AM
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Archie, as long as intolerance rules, so will the uprising against it.
posted by
Ariala
on July 11, 2005 at 10:35 AM
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And that, Frankk,
is why my writing about religion is so vehement.
posted by
archiew
on July 11, 2005 at 10:34 AM
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