Hey, Pollard, where are you, mate? People have started to refer to Mother Teresa here - your corrective is needed! :-)
On 15 Apr., 17:46, gruff <[email protected]> wrote: > "... 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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