On 9/12/2010 10:28 AM, Slip Disc wrote:
AW;
Yes there is.............
I'll refer you to rigsy's sept. 6 10:15 am post as to my "theistic
religiosity" comment.
Also, people use therapy and AA like a religion- in fact, they "use" a
lot of things in lieu of religion. What about jingoism?<<<rigsy
Regarding AA, can cults be considered religion? Like most things it
depends on who is wielding the book, but I've heard some very disturbing
stories about their practices, that combined with psychologically
vulnerable people in need of help opens us a franchise opportunity for
all sorts of predatory and unsavory uses of religion. Again, I'll remind
that the utmost caution and conscience should be the hallmark, lest it
fall into predatory (deranged) hands. Kudos to those who do it well.
"An empty stomach is not a good political advisor." Albert E.
Do you think no one would help anyone else on an island of atheists
because they didn't have a religion to tell them to do so? Helping
is primal and innate as nurturing; religion and faith is human
construct and not necessity.
I think religion and politics often work on absurd reductions. Here's
another from old Al, "If people are good only because they fear
punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed. " The
latter reduction is 'necessity' saying, 'do it now or else' waving flags
of fear and anxiety. Both together is just a BAD combination, though it
would be neat to see some universalist group show the others up by doing
it better. Something like that might emerge in a few hundred years if
progress continues. Such might be the only ones capable of placing the
faith in digestible context while promoting the common good and secular
ethics. The pillars of monotheism are so entrenched in using the
population for domination they cannot be trusted, despite how great they
could be for us (and perhaps are). IMO dogmas designed by and for tribal
wel/war-fare are of no use to evolving our societies except perhaps to
observe and learn from and sometimes hold them dear.
Somewhat on topic, I found this interesting page about 600bce, an early
enlightenment period? http://www.halexandria.org/dward206.htm.
