What do you have to say about religion?
Western religions, eastern religions, the difference between "real" religions and "cults", the price of faith, the history of religions, etc?
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11 comments:
Keep the American Government Secular. Pandering to all religions does not create a separation of Church and State - and undermines both government and religion. Our government, as per the beliefs of the people who created it, should operate according to reason and freedom. If we desire a religious person in public office, we will surely elect him - but the moment we begin establishing religious relics such as the Ten Commandments as public policy, we begin to lose our freedom from religious oppression. Religion, I contend, is a good thing - it softens the hearts of men, gives them hope and purpose, and frees them from the vices that come with being human; However, religion and power have had a difficult courtship over the years and we should strive to keep the two separate in order to maintain the integrity of both.
I'm all for a secular government - for the sole reason that we are NOT all Christian so why on EARTH would we run the country from that standpoint?
GREYFACE
In the year 1166 B.C., a malcontented hunchbrain by the name of Greyface, got it into his head that the universe was as humorless as he, and he began to teach that play was sinful because it contradicted the ways of Serious Order. "Look at all the order around you," he said. And from that, he deluded honest men to believe that reality was a straightjacket affair and not the happy romance as men had known it.
It is not presently understood why men were so gullible at that particular time, for absolutely no one thought to observe all the disorder around them and conclude just the opposite. But anyway, Greyface and his followers took the game of playing at life more seriously than they took life itself and were known even to destroy other living beings whose ways of life differed from their own.
The unfortunate result of this is that mankind has since been suffering from a psychological and spiritual imbalance. Imbalance causes frustration, and frustration causes fear. And fear makes for a bad trip. Man has been on a bad trip for a long time now.
It is called THE CURSE OF GREYFACE.
And upon this day I say unto you: Each Sentient Being is an Incarnation of
Me, and whosoever upon hearing this Truth shall come to know it, is
blessed; and twice blessed are they who shall be unable again to forget it;
but thrice-blessed is that Man or Woman who needed never to be told.
Visitations 13:5 The Honest Book of Truth
I find the religious crowd claims they don't spank their children much more than those not so religious. But then I see how much they yell at them and more often than not the emotional abuse is much worse than any physical abuse if any that comes from a swat on the butt.
And lastly, here's me opening a can of worms......We live in a predominantly religious community, so I will take what I feel is one of the most misused quotes from the bible, which is "Spare the rod, spoil the child." and counter it by making my final point in saying that perhaps the "rod" meant the Iron Rod, the Word of God. From a personal viewpoint, one is spoiled if if that type of rod is withheld. Let us remember that the root of "discipline" is disciple and isn't that what the Lord's lifes' work was all about? Remember this "But whoso shall offend one of these, my little children.....it were better for him that a millstone be hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depths of the sea.." When I am at my wits' end with my own child, I ask myself if I could visualize Christ raising His hand to a child, or anyone for that matter. And I can't, so I don't.
"I don't hold much stock in religion, a persons faith, however, is a much nobler thing. For it is what resides in your heart, and is reflected in your actions, that makes a man/woman good...or not"
As a Pagan priest, licensed clergy, and student of religious history, I see many disputes and debates on this topic. I tend to observe and mediate mostly, armed only with information, knowledge and wisdom gathered form over two decades and what still amazes me is the amount of ignorance that exists dealing with the various religions. When I research a Judao-Christian denomination, I seek out many members of that denomination to inform me and answer my questions. The same is true when I seek information of the Budda, the Tao, Hindu, Wicca, Druidism, Muslim, ect. And I prefer many sources to a limited input, allowing me a better informed 'opinion' and broader scope of understanding.
I do not go out and teach my religious beliefs, but do offer insight to those who seek information. I do not argue my beliefs over others, nor do I scoff at others religious practice or belief. To do so would limit the faces of god and the ability to see the devine. Mankind has held one belief or another about the gods since man first continplated death and nature, and that is something that very one will always hold to, a belief in something more powerful than themselves.
It is our lawful right, here in America, to be allowed our belief, without limitation and without regress. I support that, to and for all religions, and believe that religion and government should not become one and the same. History recorded what happened the last time that became true. Government has it's place, as does religion. The two can work together, at arms length, and neither should be held more important than the other.
So the next time you are involved in a 'question of religion', discuss rather than debate, debate rather than argue, open your mind to knowledge rather than close your mind with ignorance. And most importantly, agree to disagree.
I agree that faith comes from within. Many people preach whether the Book of Mormon or the Bible or whatever, but very few practice. I love my religion but often fall myself. Faith is a constant strive to improve that which you believe. We have to be willing to do that.
The best thing religion could do for society is to quietly die off.
Just FYI, there is a site called Pharyngula written by an instructor at some Minnesota college, in which the instrutor is offering to desecrate eucharist hosts and, now, the Koran online for the entertainment of all, because he thinks religion is silly. Here is the link: http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/
anyone else see this as a shameless bid for attention from an attention-seeker???
Looks to me like he's just putting a good Saturday's entertainment on video.
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