RE: Having Far More Respect For Beliefs Of Non Judeo Christian Theists
February 24, 2012 at 3:02 am
Quote:Do you not just think its inaccurate to imply that all religions are equal in terms of what effect their particular beliefs would have on society, and some religons are much more harmful?
In my observation there is no such thing as a pure or homogeneous religion. The notion of any one religion being more harmful the another is meaningless to me.
My position is: ALL religions were invented by men for men,for a range of reasons. All reflect the times and culture in which they were invented.They also reflect the personality,needs,prejudices and neuroses of the inventor(s) The same is true of all believers.EVERY believer chooses the emphasis his religion will have for him. He has no choice; all religious belief systems are so contradictory and/or vague,that it is impossible to take them on face value. Hence they are adapted to suit.
Eg the extreme conservatism of say the Saudi Wahabi Muslims everything to do with their tribalism and maintaining the corrupt status quo and very little to do with high moral or spiritual ideals.
Extreme Islamists who go around blowing things up,use a narrow minority definition the word" jihad" not shared by most Muslims.
I'm NOT saying the extremists are not 'true Muslims',of course they are.I'm trying to get past the idea the person's actions necessarily reflect his beliefs.Plus to accept that all humans beings lie,constantly,and we all rationalise,constantly to allow us to do what we want.
To judge any of the Abrahamic faiths soley on their holy books is a prejudice of selective reading :for every negative and hateful verse (and there are many) there is at least another positive and loving verse. To judge hundreds of millions of people by the behaviour of a few hundred or a few thousand is stereotyping and the acme of bigotry.
Thought for today
Quote:Show me your idea of heaven and I will show you what is missing from your life (anon)
As Forest Gump would say: " ---and THAT is all I have to say about THAT"
