>From: "J. Almeida" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: [Goanet] Sunila's MESSAGE >Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 09:23:10 -0700 (PDT) > >Sunila writes: >"If you actually look at the custodians >of organised religion you will find a whole horde of >perverts ranging from >paedophiles and child/female abusers to drug addicts >to violence >recommenders to revenge fanatics to racists to basic >cheats and liars and >egoistic chauvinists. And most people actually follow >them blindly" > >I fully agree with Sunila that we should not overlook >the failings of the custodians of organized religion. >I do not have access to survey findings on these >questions, but my hunch is that the incidence rate of >sin among them is no lower than in the general >population. When it comes to strong behavioural >predispositions such as child abuse, such people might >plausibly even gravitate towards positions of trust in >society (scout leaders, teachers, doctors, therapists >of various sorts, priests etc.) Let's not put any >human being on a pedestal.
I am glad you said that. And that is exactly why I don't believe in organised religion. I have no problem with people following Jesus, Krishna or Allah. But why does a person following Jesus need to swear allegiance to the Vatican Church ? Why does a person following Krishna allow himself to be brainwashed by the VHP ? And why does a persona following Allah become a terrorist ? Christ said I am the only way. Krishna said leave everything including your race & religion and surrender to me. Buddha said there is only one path and that is what I preach. Why do we think they are separate entities ? Why can't we believe that they are the same Almighty manifesting in different forms at different times ? After all, all religions preach that God is one !!! Why is there a need to create rigid structures and construct huge walls to divide society in order for a group or groups of people to attain power by using religion as a tool, until the whole thing becomes a sordid affair sogged with violence, murder, plunder and crime ? >Sunila also wrote: >"if all in India gave up their religion, everyone >would >focus on real issues like the economy, education, >infrastructure, health, >sanitation, and development" > >Politicians are supposed to focus on such real and >important issues (I would add law and order at the top >of the list, if Sunila permits). However, even >anti-religious politicians could include: I don't agree with you Joel. Politicians like priests are a reflection of society. They will only deal with issues that they think are dear to people. Religion, caste, and such communal divides have a lot of emotional appeal. The politicians exploit this emotional appeal to create vote banks and to gain power. How can we expect them to focus on important issues instead of religion and caste when we allow them to manipulate us in this way? It is only when we give importance to issues like corruption, law and order (I agree with including that :-)), education, health, etc. and when elections are fought on such issues that we will see better governance. A recent example is unfolding in Goa. There is absolutely no doubt that Manohar Parrikar's Govt. has been the best Govt. we have had in the last thirty years at least. He has achieved a lot in a year. Many of us including myself do think that he could have achieved more, but it is a fact that he has achieved much more than others. Nobody can deny that. One cannot regard him as communal. His party, the BJP is an openly communal party. But then the Congress is also a communal party although it does so covertly. And the MGP and the other political parties are overwhelmingly communal and casteist. Almost all the Congress candidates are habitual defectors, totally corrupt and incompetent. But many people are ready to ignore that and bring them back to power because of their religious and communal leanings and fears. How can we then expect these elected candidates to give us better governance when we have not voted them to power to give us precisely that ? Why can we not actually ignore the political parties and vote for the right candidate ? Why can't we ignore religious leanings and communal and casteist divides and vote for better governance ? But if one says that, one is accused of siding with the saffron. But whether one sides with the saffron or the green (assuming the Congress colour is green), is not the question. The question is better governance, better living standards, and better opportunities. Why don't we think like that ? Cheers, Sunila _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
