"... On Apr 15, 2:39 am, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: ..."
> If your mind is feeble Let's not compare ... its not a productive activity and can only lead to where Molly and I were a short few posts above -- me being the more guilty. > The article is still airy and I can see that you are not finding it as > totally reliable with the word "think" in your paragraph appearing 5 > times. I've known you to be more deliberate as you are in the last > paragraph. I did say that I couldn't vouch for the accuracy of the article, but that I liked what it said. My use of the word 'think' is the same as if I'd said 'it is my personal belief' -- in other words, it is something I believe to be true. I was just trying to tone down the pedagogical language to a softer presentation to avoid offense. > I do agree that religion has been responsible for untold > atrocities throughout the annals of human history, Still we cannot > discount that numerous benefits have been attributed to religion > simultaneously. Many acts of kindness, caring and giving occur because > some faction of humanity thinks it is the right thing to do in > accordance with their belief system. That may well be true. In fact, I don't doubt it a bit. However, my view is somewhat (slightly?) skewed in that for most of my atheist life I was avidly anti-religious and have only recently come to the more considerate view that for some religion is salvation from their own minds and fears. I live in a very religious and patriotic community which translates into bigoted and narrow-minded in practice. One of the most common discourtesies I hear, even from their own lips, are that for being so religious they certainly are hypocritical. Nor do I disbelieve that religion has been the source of acts of kindness and concern but I doubt they are numerous and certainly can't outweigh the wrongs committed by said organizations. Some of the most unforgivable acts in our history have been done in the name of religion and/or god. When I watch these huge televangelist meetings and see crowds that would dwarf any sports spectacle chanting and singing the praises as directed by the bombastic faker (not fakir) on stage, it makes my stomach churn in anguished disbelief that people could be so -- yes, I'll say it -- stupid. These are my brethren in humanity being led to the slaughter and (okay, here's a paradox) it fills me with disgust and hatred, compassion and forgiveness, a desire to smite them for their wickedness and to lift them up so they can find what they seek within themselves. > I'm sure Mother Teresa was happy > in what she was doing and I've known to many benevolent religious > people to harbor a jaundiced view as a generality towards religion. > For the right people it is the right thing. I grant this much ... that for some, and I've known a few myself, even within the order of priesthood, religion can provide a community of acceptance and safety within which their more noble selves may arise within that context of all-consuming sense of security. M.Teresa, Ghandi and the Dali Lama are just three who fit within that category. Given the forgiving protection of an all consuming belief in a higher power they were able to face the worst this world had to offer and hold their ground. But these are rare occurrences and for the most part people seek the enveloping suffocating security of the commonly religious because they are unable to find it within themselves. What I find even more ludicrous is that in every faith and creed I've ever dipped my mind the words are there, plainly and clearly for all to see and are ignored: If you wish to find Me look within Thyself for There is where I am. (I paraphrase and capitalize but you get the drift.) > As for Denmark.................. > > * 21% said "A personal God" > * 31% said "A spiritual force" > * 19% said "I don't know what to believe" > * 23% said "I don't believe there is a God" > * 6% did not respond > > In spite of this, 82.1% of the Danish population remain members of the > Evangelical Lutheran Church, and a large majority of people attend > churches for baptisms, weddings, and funerals. But it's a state church, just like the Church of England and many others. The membership and practice is primarily in form only and without substance. The numbers you quote above seem to bear that out. > It seems as though the Muslim population, globally, are causing a > serious problem akin to that of the crusades, one that needs to be > addressed and examined in another thread, I think! You said a mouthful. It is a problem that puzzles me and definitely needs a very thorough interrogation and investigation. The conundrum for me is that I believe the vast majority of Muslims are reasonable, rational and peaceful people, wanting nothing more than to live their lives, be relatively happy and not step too hardly on others' toes, and the loud, fanatical and destructive Muslims are in a small minority. Yet that vast majority sit in silence and do nothing to quell the cancer within their own society that is causing all of them such outrage throughout the world. There are over a billion Muslims yet I see and hear no such denunciations in any corner. This is what puzzles me. Even Catholics are prone to protest when the Vatican gets too far out of line. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. 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