Only when it involves serious misconceptions, like that the Nazis were somehow Norse Pagan or the like. Then I bring down the hammer. Or axe. Or whatever I happen to be holding.
And if you watch the program ''Ancient Aliens,'' it's been said the Nazi party might have been aliens. ha ^_^
I think the Nazi party debate is easier to maneuver through because that piece of history has objective, verifiable evidence to support that it really happened. Religion differs as so much of it is built on subjective opinion and interpretation.
If communism may be counted as a faith, the answer is no. When an idea can be discredited so thoroughly by name dropping "Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot", using the "100 million deaths" figure, and the phrases "totalitarianism" and "human nature", you've lost the battle before you've even started. I don't want people to believe in my ideas, or even understanding them. I will settle for them believing in me so I can make a difference.
This is so well said, very important you posted this. I was thinking today that all of the strife that has happened throughout history over religion, is largely because people forget that they are fighting people, and not mere labels and symbols. This too can be the case if we use words to wound, too. I have mega issues with the RCC, lol so sometimes, I'm a bit terse with my replies. I need to be mindful that such behavior doesn't get me or anyone else...anywhere.
Fair enough. It irks me when people say they were Christian, too. Truthfully, they were making up their own religion that combined aspects of various things.
Ah, you are Catholic? Uh oh. lol ^_^
Just kidding!
I remember when I was a practicing Catholic, and defending the faith. And then I left it four years ago, and found myself speaking out against it. And the rebuttals that came back to me, I once used. lol It is odd how things go like that. It seems to me, that we are all very different, yet very the same. No matter where we live...no matter what we think we know...we all want peace, and to have fulfilling lives. Some don't need spirituality, some do. I realized recently, instead of continuing to fight it...that I wasn't entirely happy as an atheist. I felt like I was, and I still don't believe any religion holds the absolute truth as to who or what a god might be. But, there is so much value that I find in spirituality, that I missed. If you feel that Catholicism enriches your life, and that it causes YOU to enrich others' lives because of it...who am I to judge? Every religion has a volatile history, and the potential to be loving, generous and everything in between. That is the essence of mankind, me thinks. Which is why all religions have all of those attributes. Just my thoughts to it.
I do it and hope that some will be educated. But yeah, often it's a waste of time. Often I find my views are deliberately distorted because I am viewed as a heretic.
People are still using the word 'heretic?' haha Wow. Gnosticism actually is thought of as coming before the Christianity people have been following through to modern times. I appreciate your reply.
As a side note, I posted this thread because I know that I will be expected to defend Islam (at times), should I choose it as my spiritual path. Right now, I'm exploring it, and only it. I want to give time to prayer, and reading the Qur'an and living my life as if I follow it completely, to see if I would be interested in 'converting.' I don't like legalistic terms though. Having said that, I've told a few people in my offline life about exploring Islam, and my Muslim friends are delighted, but two of my friends, one Christian and one atheist...are not happy. I remember when I left Christianity, I lost two good friends (one since somewhat returned) so I'm reminded of how fickle people are over religion and faith and beliefs. I have to figure it out on my own, and I can't worry about what others may think.
