I don't hate you. I don't hate anyone or anything. You have taken my comments to be aimed at your specific religious group, when it was not. I find all religions to be equally at fault in most of my critique. I will (somewhat) except certain Buddhist sects and will give a pass to Sikhs for some really awesome philosophical requirements. What I have is a critical mind and an education into the contradictions inherent in the philosophy of religions and their realities.
This is why all gods have the same flaws, desires, kinks, passions, and psychological problems that men do.
Where do you get this stuff? You must be thinking of the Greco-Roman gods; the Judeo-Christian god is not at all like that.
I suggest you read your scripture more closely, and educate yourself on other religions. Let's take the Judeo-Christian god as an easy example: Quote: "...For I am a jealous God." Jealousy is a psychological problem of men. A truly loving god would not succumb to anything as mortal as jealousy. Or vengeance. A god that sends a horde of bears to tear children apart for mocking one of his holy men isn't exactly a loving or forgiving god. Lust? Got that too. Big on impregnating virgins, and even isn't above a little incest and/or polygamy. And don't get me started on penis's and foreskins. That's a kink of another kind.
Now let's take the assertion that Christians brought about the civil rights revolution or the abolition of Slavery. Do you realize that Christian scripture, dogma, and culture was used to justify slavery far more than it was ever used to condemn it? The fact that Martin Luther King JR was a Baptist minister is irrelevant. There were just as many leaders of other churches at the time fighting against civil rights.
Your assertion that religion brings people together is simply not true. By it's very nature religious groups are divisive. They categorize people into groups of "Us" and "Them". This is why we have terms like "Gentile", "Apostate" and "Infidel". Just because a religion accepts anybody into it's ranks does not mean it is accepting of anybody. It is in fact a mechanism of separating those that believe the same as we do from the rest of the world. Anyone who doesn't share the common view from within the religion is by definition not included. Look what happened just recently with the Pope excommunicating the mother, doctor, and victim after an abortion was performed on a 9 year old girl pregnant with an incestuous rape-acquired baby. The father, on the other hand, said his nine "Hail Mary's" and seven "Our Fathers" and is all good.
At least the Eastern religions are up front about their gods and their habits. Gods for every special occasion, sexual practice, moral ambiguity, and time of day. I don't think this is right, but I give them credit for less hypocrisy.
Faith based groups may do a lot of good work in this world, but they also do an equal amount of carnage. Look what's happening in Africa with the Abstinence only education by faith based organizations. Or again, what the Pope just said; "...condom use is causing the AIDS epidemic to become worse."
No, I don't hate you or your religion. If you find comfort in it then that's fine. I accept religion for what it is and reject it in my life. I accept all people for what they are regardless of their religion. Do you know that I've actually had a friend who is devoutly Christian look at me and say: "How can you not be Christian? You live the most Christ-like life of anybody I know." I hope not. Jesus was one of the biggest egotistical bastards in the bible, never above showing off or using his powers to convert people to his way of thinking, but also doing these things for his own benefit without regard for anybody else. Me, I do good works, am nice to people, refrain from alcohol and drugs, and avoid jealousy revenge and other "immoral" activity because living a worthwhile life is it's own reward. I don't need a religion to tell me I'm doing the right thing, and I have no religion to make me feel bad when I accept someone on their own merits instead of through the prism of that religion's dogma.
no subject
This is why all gods have the same flaws, desires, kinks, passions, and psychological problems that men do.
Where do you get this stuff? You must be thinking of the Greco-Roman gods; the Judeo-Christian god is not at all like that.
I suggest you read your scripture more closely, and educate yourself on other religions. Let's take the Judeo-Christian god as an easy example: Quote: "...For I am a jealous God." Jealousy is a psychological problem of men. A truly loving god would not succumb to anything as mortal as jealousy. Or vengeance. A god that sends a horde of bears to tear children apart for mocking one of his holy men isn't exactly a loving or forgiving god. Lust? Got that too. Big on impregnating virgins, and even isn't above a little incest and/or polygamy. And don't get me started on penis's and foreskins. That's a kink of another kind.
Now let's take the assertion that Christians brought about the civil rights revolution or the abolition of Slavery. Do you realize that Christian scripture, dogma, and culture was used to justify slavery far more than it was ever used to condemn it? The fact that Martin Luther King JR was a Baptist minister is irrelevant. There were just as many leaders of other churches at the time fighting against civil rights.
Your assertion that religion brings people together is simply not true. By it's very nature religious groups are divisive. They categorize people into groups of "Us" and "Them". This is why we have terms like "Gentile", "Apostate" and "Infidel". Just because a religion accepts anybody into it's ranks does not mean it is accepting of anybody. It is in fact a mechanism of separating those that believe the same as we do from the rest of the world. Anyone who doesn't share the common view from within the religion is by definition not included. Look what happened just recently with the Pope excommunicating the mother, doctor, and victim after an abortion was performed on a 9 year old girl pregnant with an incestuous rape-acquired baby. The father, on the other hand, said his nine "Hail Mary's" and seven "Our Fathers" and is all good.
At least the Eastern religions are up front about their gods and their habits. Gods for every special occasion, sexual practice, moral ambiguity, and time of day. I don't think this is right, but I give them credit for less hypocrisy.
Faith based groups may do a lot of good work in this world, but they also do an equal amount of carnage. Look what's happening in Africa with the Abstinence only education by faith based organizations. Or again, what the Pope just said; "...condom use is causing the AIDS epidemic to become worse."
No, I don't hate you or your religion. If you find comfort in it then that's fine. I accept religion for what it is and reject it in my life. I accept all people for what they are regardless of their religion. Do you know that I've actually had a friend who is devoutly Christian look at me and say: "How can you not be Christian? You live the most Christ-like life of anybody I know." I hope not. Jesus was one of the biggest egotistical bastards in the bible, never above showing off or using his powers to convert people to his way of thinking, but also doing these things for his own benefit without regard for anybody else. Me, I do good works, am nice to people, refrain from alcohol and drugs, and avoid jealousy revenge and other "immoral" activity because living a worthwhile life is it's own reward. I don't need a religion to tell me I'm doing the right thing, and I have no religion to make me feel bad when I accept someone on their own merits instead of through the prism of that religion's dogma.
Here endeth the lesson.