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AbsolutelyPositive
To add to your comments, I don't have a whole lot of respect for those who act as flagrantly as did Ted Haggard - violating their own professed standards in private, then advocating those professed standards (standards to which rank-and-file believers actually try to adhere) in public, gaining political and social power along the way. So much of the behavior I noticed among those of a separatist Christian bent was unthinking, as if those who felt that way were born into the religion and didn't give it much thought. I've always felt that people who acted that way (acting as if they didn't give their beliefs much thought) felt that "everyone feels this way;" in their environment, everyone really
does seem to share their views, becuause they don't see those with differing views.
posted by
kidnykid
on December 19, 2006 at 1:21 PM
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Troosha
I agree that at least some people who become addicted to religion start out by wanting to fill a void. Perhaps they seek what those in the Protestant world call fellowship - a social community of likeminded folk. We all seek that, whether we acknowledge this fact to ourselves or not. (I have yet to meet anyone that doesn't want to socialize and - at least sometimes - conduct business with people who share their basic beliefs, whether those beliefs are those of the Christian faith or are not Christian.) Perhaps at least some addicts start out feeling that they have joined the right faith, whether or not they realize they seek fellowship. Whatever motivates them when they start out in a given religion, addicts end up addicted, much as an alcoholic might start out drinking socially or because he/she likes the taste of alcoholic beverages.
posted by
kidnykid
on December 19, 2006 at 1:14 PM
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kidnykid
I believe some people ARE addicted to their religion and if I were to speculate further it probably began by wanting to fill a void but ended up overriding their relationship with the world right in front of them. It's almost a state of disconnect, if that makes any sense.
posted by
Troosha
on December 19, 2006 at 1:03 PM
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I respect people who study different religions and make a choice
I have little sympathy with people who claim to be christian or muslim or hindu or whatever just because they were born into that religion. I think religious belief should be based on knowledge and discussion and thought process. Belief and non-belief should be backed up by knowledge and understanding.
posted by
AbsolutelyPositive
on December 19, 2006 at 11:05 AM
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