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calia14 - I can't help but feel that religion has its own dynamic
when politics are concerned.
During the primaries last year, every last potential candidate from both parties, declared themselves as persons of deep faith. No one is going to tell me that in any group of a few dozen bright people that there aren't at least one or two who have doubts concerning traditional religious beliefs. But we all know that in some countries, an atheist will never win an election and that reality has more to do with every last potentail candidate declaring themselves as persons of faith than reality.
Then of course there are those in religious groups that feel their country would be better off if they were able to force their religious beliefs on everyone else.
posted by
gomedome
on April 19, 2009 at 9:23 PM
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It is a shame that religion comes up so often in politics here in the US. Even members of the same church often differ in their beliefs at least slightly, so it is a dangerous and unstable foundation to base decisions that will affect an entire society upon. I believe in God, but I think the bible is open to differences in interpretation and therefore should not be used as a reference guide for laws, education, or any other aspect of national welfare.
posted by
calia14
on April 19, 2009 at 7:12 PM
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ash_pradhan - thanx for stopping in
posted by
gomedome
on April 19, 2009 at 11:40 AM
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ZenMom - I remember a speech by then presidential candidate Obama
Paraph: "We live in a country where more people believe in creation than evolution . . ."
I remember thinking that he was about to lay out some type of education package to rescue a society that has somehow let religious beliefs overwhelm reality. Instead he was lauding the fact that more people believe in creation as some form of positive aspect of a society.
The most ridiculous part of this notion is that it too is a belief that does not stand in the face of reality. If we were to measure all societies on this planet by what we as citizens of democracies hold near and dear, the obvious presents itself to those who are capable of seeing past the ends of their noses: The functionality of a society has a direct relationship to how religious a society is. The functionality scale works in reverse from the theocracies of the world to the more secular countries, with very few exceptions.
posted by
gomedome
on April 19, 2009 at 11:38 AM
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Pat_B - it has been my experience that when they are too far gone, there is
little that can be done for them.
Tell tale signs of a full bible lobotomy are the constant use of circular logic that has the bible proving other areas of the bible. Then there is the complete denial of reality such as refusing to acknowledge the following: it cannot be "God's word" if half of it is discarded or ignored for being redundant and homosexuality is a naturally occurring phenomena in all species.
I've found that continued clubbing over the head is the only way to handle these people. Many of them eventually come out of their stupor, unfortunately many do not.
posted by
gomedome
on April 19, 2009 at 11:22 AM
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elinjo - the majority of Blogit members do live in the U.S.A
In what we see on Blogit; To a great extent we are witnessing results of the polarizing affect that the evangelical movement has had on all aspects of life within continental USA.
posted by
gomedome
on April 19, 2009 at 11:07 AM
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calmcantey75 - be my guest
posted by
gomedome
on April 19, 2009 at 11:01 AM
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TAPS. - it is simply an aspect of human nature to not like being told that
we are wrong.
Even the deflection of personal responsibility in situations where we are challenged, or made to feel uncomfortable about being wrong is an aspect inherent in our makeup as humans. But the notion of spreading love for thy fellow man when what we are spreading is anything but love, is a preserve of religious beliefs.
posted by
gomedome
on April 19, 2009 at 10:59 AM
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Very well-written, perceptive & universally applicable!
posted by
ash_pradhan
on April 19, 2009 at 7:59 AM
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Re: Re:
People in this part of the world tend to regard religion as a private matter and do not expect it to have an influence on politics. There is a state church and at school children learn a certain amount about Christianity; but in no way is it fundamentalist.
The clergy complain that people do not go to church regularly and are totally uninterested in religion. However a recent survey shows that people often pray to the 'Almighty', even though they have rejected organized religion.On the other hand there is a general consensus that it is a 'Christian' country, what ever that means and quite a few people get up tight about Muslim immigrants who wish to practice their religion in a way that ethnic Danes find inappropriate. I get the impression that the climate in U.S.A. is more, what can I say? accepting and large with regard to non-christian faiths.
As an agnostic (with Jewish roots) I could not care less about theological differences, I just want to live in peace with everybody else.
posted by
elinjo
on April 19, 2009 at 7:51 AM
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Re:
elinjo.......We could learn something from Denmark. I would love to read your impressions/experiences living in a secular society. I recently read a book "Society w/out God; What the Least Religious Nations Can Tell Us About Contentment."
It was filled w/ interviews from people in Denmark and Sweden discussing non-belief. Is it true that, for the most part, they view Americans as Whacko when it comes to religion?
posted by
ZenMom
on April 19, 2009 at 7:04 AM
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I was thinking about this very thing, Gome, as I woke up in the
wee dark hours. I was thinking of how to respond to spiteful comments and boldfaced capitalized condemnations of people who are as God made them, according to the Bible. I realize now I've given too much attention to certain Christians who ignore their Savior's own words and spout vengeful tenets from the Old Testament He told folks to ignore. I knew I could count on you to come up with a reasoned blog.
posted by
Pat_B
on April 19, 2009 at 5:03 AM
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After five months membership of Blogit I remain flabbergasted by the bitter conflicts about religion that rage on this site. This is as you say an international forum, though seemingly the majority of members live in the U.S.A. where religion apparently plays a much greater role than it does in Denmark.
posted by
elinjo
on April 19, 2009 at 3:13 AM
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Do you mind if I borrow the "termite on acid" line?
posted by
calmcantey75
on April 19, 2009 at 1:40 AM
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It seems to me that just about everyone has the inherant character deficiency that makes one rail against being told that they are wrong about anything, whether it is about religion, or race, or politics, or intelligence, education, or simply about remembering details of what went on yesterday. Everyone seems to want the last word about everything. Some people get quite vociferous with their protestations.
posted by
TAPS.
on April 19, 2009 at 12:32 AM
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