Are there truly any, besides their social guidelines that would exist in any civilised society anyhow?
What positive contributions to this world came from religion, and are we better of with or without them?
That is true indeed, but isn't the faith in that case not just a mere make-believe entity to which one can relate to and gain comfort by?
I think true spiritual envelopment is within one's self, and not in the faith of some higher being or person.
Yes, but spiritual development can be catalyzed by a supernatural being. There is no one way to do it. Humans will seek comfort, always, even atheists do it by simply saying "it was out of my control."
All spirituality involves probing "forces" that are at least partially beyond human perception. Perhaps its a bit extreme to create a being, but as long as it remains unconscious and inactive in daily life...its not really a big deal. To each his own.
Its when "god" starts judging, interfering in daily life, and becomes conscious that we call Houston.
This leads to the indoctrination of religion, which is where its evils stem from.
Religion has, throughout history, been an important part of political control and directing the masses. Indeed, it is hard to imagine certain cultures ever getting off the ground if they hadn't had it.
__________________
From even the greatest of horrors irony is seldom absent.
Since that period, religion as a system of government has and always will be doomed.
But its hard to imagine socities developing without religion (a tribe without its spiritual leader?) There are very few exceptions, and those exceptions are among the most advanced cultures in the Pre-enlightenment world.
Under control of Islam, countries in the middle ages, there were huge advances, and now, the Islamic countries are about 50 years behind, so I guess for every Golden Age, you get a Dark Age with Religion
True. And I was also thinking of it as a tool of governments in the ancient world - the use of divinity, in the hands of a small elite, to gain that authority. In most ways I believe civilisation has moved well beyond this in the modern world - religion no longer has inherent politically benefits simply because it is religion - rather it is doing what it should do - address those who need its spiritual questions.
Or not so much the religion or the god it represents, but rather the politically skilled way it is used.
__________________
From even the greatest of horrors irony is seldom absent.
We have been slaughtering each-other over such differences for centuries, I wouldn't hope for things to cool down anytime soon.
Leads me to my main point; we all want the same in our faith of our religion, so why are we so willing to shed the blood of those alike?
Because while one can generalise and say "we all want the same things in a religion" (which is debatable) people want everyone else to believe a certain way. They want to believe they are right. Pure and simple. Their holy book, scroll, whatever says "this is the way it must be done, and one who doesn't do it this way is wrong."
__________________
From even the greatest of horrors irony is seldom absent.
People don't think. They lack the power of relatavistic thought. Remeber that this concept is historically a relatively recent development. It needs time to sink in.
I believe that has nothing to do with religion at all. Mutual respect and coexistence need no religion at their base. I think religion only distorts the possibility of such.
KMC Community Forums
Aug 25th, 2006 11:16 PM
