Religion
- Thread starter humanfly009
- Start date
I'm with you on this one Ava. I have my own beliefs (atheist) but most of my friends are of one religion or another and we don't have any problems... I've even gone to church with some of them.
But with that said, I'm opposed to institutionalized religion that pushes it's own agenda into political or public realms. I'm a big believer in separation of Church and State and personally I've seen more harm than good come from religion, but I still respect people's rights to believe what they want without being harassed or belittled for those beliefs.
It concerns me when I see what is happening to the US and how religion is hijacking politics. There are even states where it is illegal for atheists to hold public office!
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Some of my favorite quotes is from a Richard Dawkins.
(http://richarddawkins.net/quotes)
"I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world."
"We are all atheists about most of the gods that humanity has ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further."
It is delightfully amusing to read intolerance and ignorance from those who criticize religion for being intolerant and ignorant. Religion is not the problem. Organized religion controlled by fallible human beings is not even the problem. The problem is not adhering to the teachings of the religion. Notice that I didn't use the term "rules", or "demands", and of course not all teachings of all religions are benign. But the basic tenants of most religions are:
1) Don't be an asshole.
2) Be kind, respectful, and do not take advantage of other people
3) Be kind, respectful and do not take advantage of the environment (animals, plant life, etc.)
4) You are not more important than anyone else.
5) Every creation is holy and, as such, has intrinsic merit regardless of our opinions of it or what we think it can do/not do for us.
Religious people who do not pay attention to the above tenants are doing a great disservice to themselves and their faith. But that does not invalidate the religion itself. Believing in a "higher power" (God, mystic force, natural force, etc.) gives people humility, focus, and motivation. It is not evil or stupid unless your actions make it so.
I was born Jewish and still find great comfort in that religion. I've also had the honour to learn about Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism and the Bahai. They all have something to offer the world if we keep an open mind. Don't piss on an entire enterprise just because you don't like some of the rules and some of the membership.
VF
u ever wonder what is left out of Religious books? heres a start..........
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6056789081969524094&q=michael+tsarion
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3036666289532383972&q=michael+tsarion
"Let us make him who shall nourish & sustain us. What shall we do to be invoked,to be remembered in earth? We have tried with our first creatures but we could not make them venerate us. So then let us try to make obedient, respectful beings who shall nourish and sustain us" Papal Vuh
"by the sweat of thy face wil be thy bread, until you return to the ground; for out of it you were taken; for dust thou art and to dust thou will return"
genesis 3.17.19 does that sound like God????
what else???
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6056789081969524094&q=michael+tsarion
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3036666289532383972&q=michael+tsarion
"Let us make him who shall nourish & sustain us. What shall we do to be invoked,to be remembered in earth? We have tried with our first creatures but we could not make them venerate us. So then let us try to make obedient, respectful beings who shall nourish and sustain us" Papal Vuh
"by the sweat of thy face wil be thy bread, until you return to the ground; for out of it you were taken; for dust thou art and to dust thou will return"
genesis 3.17.19 does that sound like God????
what else???
