-
Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:- Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
- Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
- Access to private conversations with other members.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!
is religion a breeding ground for intolerance and violence?
- Thread starter kai
- Start date
Runewolf1973
Materialism/Animism
Well, thanks to both of you for the frubals.
Caladan
Agnostic Pantheist
Nestor's next speech, which was this: 'O shameful thing! Ye talk
Like children all, that know not war. In what air's region walk
Our oaths, and covenants? Now I see, the fit respect of men
Are vanish'd quite; our right hands given, our faiths, our counsels vain,
Our sacrifice with wine; all fled, in that profaned flame
We made to bind all: for thus still, we vain persuasions frame,
And strive to work our end with words, not joining stratagemes
And hands together, though thus long the power of our extremes
Hath urg'd us to them.
Like children all, that know not war. In what air's region walk
Our oaths, and covenants? Now I see, the fit respect of men
Are vanish'd quite; our right hands given, our faiths, our counsels vain,
Our sacrifice with wine; all fled, in that profaned flame
We made to bind all: for thus still, we vain persuasions frame,
And strive to work our end with words, not joining stratagemes
And hands together, though thus long the power of our extremes
Hath urg'd us to them.
Yes, religion is only a way to the absolute, and there are many other ways as well .And each way has to be respected, and so too the dignity of those following it.
If this is not done, then violence and chaos is the result.
Much of these stems from the organized religions.
Well said. Intellectual honesty, humility , non-violence and respect for human rights is the answer really.
lol, blame it all on religion! Please guys, don't be so judgmental. Try to think of the people you are talking about, read their history, READ for God's sake.
This is not something new in Africa. This has nothing to do with religion, YES, NOTHING. People in that area always tend to group themselves either in tribal or religious way,etc, then seek power based on that. It's all about acquiring allies in any way. I'm not generalizing, but this happen in many places in Africa. It's all about power. You just have to pick your team then fight for it.
Remember?
Rwandan Genocide - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hutu-Tutsi conflict
Last edited:
Smoke
Done here.
I didn't blame it all on religion, but to argue that either Islam or Christianity is a peaceful religion is to completely ignore their history. Maybe you should take your own advice.
Copernicus
Industrial Strength Linguist
To the extent that religions are supposed to be peaceful, you should consider that people are incredibly good at rationalizing whatever behavior they think enhances their well-being. Eliminating and assimilating rivals and enemies is a time-honored behavior in all animals, not just humans. Violence is a preferred method of eliminating danger and threats, and that is true of believers of almost all religions. Even Buddhists have armies.
The problem with religions, as I see it, is not about what they tell us, but the method by which they deliver the information. Morality is the set of rules by which people interact with each other safely and peacefully, but the rules of such peaceful interaction tend to be guaranteed by authority. It is only natural for people to perceive others as threats if they don't have allegiance to the same authority. Christians have splintered into many factions, and even those factions will sometimes fight each other over who speaks for divine authority.
It is worth remembering that Roman Emperors helped shape Christianity in order to help them rule over a vast and diverse empire. They tried on more than one religion before Constantine settled on Christianity. And he used Christianity, among other things, to unite and motivate his military forces. Inevitably, the church schismed into rival bishoprics, with the Bishop of Rome claiming supreme authority over the others. Eventually, even Western Christianity schismed, creating even more violence. Ultimately, secular governments and religious tolerance arose to put an end to the instability.
Religions have nothing to do with what the followers do. Some people invade countries and kill children in the name of democracy and freedom you know?
Copernicus
Industrial Strength Linguist
If religions have nothing to do with what the followers do, then they should stop telling people how to behave.
Smoke
Done here.
Religions have everything to do with what the followers do. Apart from the beliefs and actions of the believers, there is no religion.
Do religions speak? are they human beings or something?
Religions are mere beliefs. Religions don't control how you interpret them.
Smoke
Done here.
I don't think you gave that even a moment's thought; it's utter nonsense.
Copernicus
Industrial Strength Linguist
Religious authorities speak. Religious doctrine affects human behavior, does it not?
Those who are recognized as religious authorities help to shape religious beliefs. To a large extent, those authorities do control how believers interpret the religion, and that affects human behavior.