Question of the Day

[ayoub]

Why is so much blood shed over "peaceful" religions?

Comments

[the-ravyn.livejournal.com]

Because the leaders of such religions have lost sight of what is just and true.  They are more interested in having their "interpretations" be viewed as right as opposed to what is truly right.  Power and greed overshadows peace and love just as it always has since the beginning of time.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

That's sad... but true...

I just find it so hypocritical of them to claim a belief and then act in the opposite way...

[bronxelf-ag001.livejournal.com]

Because many "peaceful" religions require that you not only adopt their "Should", but convert by any means necessary, *everyone else* to that "Should" as well. It is not enough that *YOU* live by whatever tenets you've chosen. You are required to make sure everyone else does, also.

There are very, very few things (in fact, there may not be any, now that I think about it) that I despise more than religion. (which is not to confuse it with spirituality- that's internal. Religion is a systemic construct, not a human internal mechanism.)

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

I'm with you... I despise organised religion...

[amanda.livejournal.com]

Because their 'leaders' need to get laid more.

Or... because people are stupid, stubborn, and arrogant.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

I think both apply ;)

[chiropteraclan.livejournal.com]

Because religions are about exclusion, "us" versus "them." Now why they turn so violent, I wish I knew. I have never understood that.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

I think it's because they're just bloodthirsty :P

[chiropteraclan.livejournal.com]

hahahahaha! Well many of your characters would definitely agree with you there!

[alainn-mactire.livejournal.com]

Because the human race is imperfect and seems to have a lust for power, status and money. Go any higher up that the actual congregation and there will be corruption.

Few wars are really over religion. It's money and power and fear hidden behind "religion" as an acceptable flag. And religion gets blamed.

Take the teachers, the original prophets - would Jesus or the Buddha condone senseless killing in their name? Can't see it myself. It's just powerful men twisting the original ideas for their own sick ends.

Add to that the inherent human trait of "I'm right and you're wrong" and you have trouble.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

Very well put, m'dear :)

[fox-bard.livejournal.com]

Survival of the strongest. That which is Other could beat you out in the food chain. Then your legacy and genetic endurance (which you are driven to perpetuate) become threatened. The only solution is then to minimize that threat, and the easiest way to do that is to destroy it so you don't have to meet that threat in the field again, or risk having it overtake or infiltrate your group/idea/whatever.

Just think of religion in terms of aggressive business practices. It's the same thing in the end.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

Now that is a terrifying thought...

[spacedlaw.livejournal.com]

I think it must be the concept of "religion" itself, causing otherwise perfectly reasonable persons to turn rabid. Just like politics or football.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

It seems that some people need little excuse to become rabid...

[mighty-rontor.livejournal.com]

For the same reasons why peaceful animals fight over mating rights only religions don't fight over spreading their genes; rather, they fight over spreading their memes. Religion is a product and priests are the salesmen with either a pillow or a gun for your soul.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

they fight over spreading their memes

That's very true... And scary... But it made me laugh out loud!

[mighty-rontor.livejournal.com]

What, the memes bit?

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

Yup :D

[mighty-rontor.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Few people really know what a meme really is. I think that it's the single most misused word in blogdom.

[childeofloki.livejournal.com]

Any priest or shaman must be presumed guilty until proved innocent.
- Robert Heinlein, "The Notebook of Lazarus Long"

[mighty-rontor.livejournal.com]

Now wouldn't that be interesting to write into a national constitution?

[childeofloki.livejournal.com]

Is that Slim Pickins on your icon?

[thermalsatsuma.livejournal.com]

Since when were any of the Abrahamic religions peaceful? The old testament is full of Jehovah commanding the Israelites to go and conquer as many rival tribes as they could, massacring anybody that got in their way in the process. Judaism, Islam and Christianity have no problems with waging holy wars of one sort or another.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

That's why I put peaceful in quotes... They all claim it, but they just aren't....

[childeofloki.livejournal.com]

Since when were any of the Abrahamic religions peaceful?

The New Testament. But old habits die hard. Especially the ones that say you can kill people you don't like without remorse or fear.

[thermalsatsuma.livejournal.com]

You can still read violent intent into the New Testament if you look hard enough. One of my favourite quotes is "he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. ... :-)

[childeofloki.livejournal.com]

Damn, I thought that was in the Old Testament.
Well, what the hell. I'm no Christian. I follow the old gods.

[donnickcottage.livejournal.com]

People use religions like they use everything else. Whatever makes it work for me is justifiable, whatever interpretation I can create that suits my needs and desires is correct and righteous, whatever I have to do to twist the closest concept to my own beliefs so that it gratifies me in the greatest way with the least amount of sacrifice is not only perfectly acceptable but the only way in which I will profess to be an advocate.

Religion doesn't suck, people do.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

Well said!

[amante-donne.livejournal.com]

I guess because religions are not actually that peaceful

[childeofloki.livejournal.com]

Denn du bish mensch.

[eternalxwhisper.livejournal.com]

I think it's because the people that are in power are to selfish to think of anyones needs but their own.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

I think you have it right...