Common sense. It works. Taking Religion with a grain of salt works as well. It's great for getting peace of mind and meditation and the likes, but I take religious advice and the more bizarre ceremonies with a grain of salt.
Think about what you're doing, the Religion big-wigs are human after all, they aren't guided by gods, nor are they living gods themselves.
Over the years I formed my own opinion on religion. Made my own too, in a sense. Something with a powerful name that gives me emotional/morale support. Does the charm, no strings attached.
@Enojado,
About 1.5 year ago I made a thread not unlike this one. I think it ended with about 70 non-flame pages.
Quote:When in doubt, look to your own conscience. Can't go wrong with the principle of abstinence from violence and disruption of people's right to choice as long as they aren't violent towards others/breaking the law.
Your "conscience" - your personal morals and guidelines - are only a result of your upbringing. Many people and cultures around the world do not have the same conscience or moral guidelines that we do, they dont see violence or disruption of other's rights as a 'bad' thing, and they dont have those concepts to guide them away from corrupt leaders.
All religion is, at it's core, supposed to be about peace and co-existence. If you read the kuran, the bible, or any other religious text, typically that text teaches that you should not harm others, you should not interfere with their lives in a negative way, so on and so forth. The problem arises when men get involved - humans are naturally a greedy, corrupt race, it's our nature to be self-serving and powerhungry. When men are allowed to lead others, to put that religion into their own words, that's when wars and violence begin.
I've never viewed religion as an actual 'truth' - I dont think there is a god, or gods, or any intelligent dieties running things from behind the scenes. Religion was, in my opinion, developed simply to provide those moral guidelines in order to make the world a better place, and it was only when mankind started influencing religion with it's own greed and corruption that it became a "I'm right, you're wrong, so I'm going to kill you" practice.
Christ is a good example - I dont believe he was the 'son of god', I just think he was one man trying to make a difference in the world by getting people to love one another instead of fight one another. In the end, he was murdered by the Romans for threatening their power and wealth through his teachings, no other reason. Unfortunately, movies and books are not the real world - in the real world evil typically prevails, if only for a short time before another evil replaces it.
The same cycle has been going on likely since the human race began, everyone's always trying to screw everyone else over for a little more power, a little more wealth, a little more influence and self security.
EDIT:
Quote:Common sense. It works.
Unfortunately, common sense isnt as common as the name implies. Most people utterly lack any sense of common sense, and that's why crap like this happens every day.
Arguments about religious extremism and violence are kind of moot. It's the fault of idiots, to be brief and somewhat judgmental. Maybe not idiots, but you get my point.
Even though I don't fully agree with what Ophidian said, he got it right on the part how some leader figures and some "believers" misguide others into doing terrible things.
@Tenacity: That's one point of view and mine's a bit different. Meaning that I'm a Christian. But anyways, I don't want to say that your opinion is harmful. After all in my opinion, what makes a good man is a good man, not a religion whose member he boasts to be. But yes, anyways, even if my point of view is wrong, which I take as an option but don't believe so (faith thing:P), I'd still state an important function of various religious texts has always been providing moral guidance to those whose upbringing might not have been so effective, or even, as part of their upbringing.
It's a damn shame people twist it, though. Which is why it's kind of important for people who follow religions to think for themselves. The religious texts like the Bible or Quran don't themselves preach anything violent. So basically, we'd have no problem if people acted like individuals and instead of blindly listening to others, read and understood their religion's foundations.
I think Monty Python's Life of Brian, along with being freakishly hilarious, also sent a good message.
(Especially that scene when he's on the window)
<span style="font-familyalatino Linotype">
<span style="color:#000000">All morons hate it when you call them a moron.
As military, someone who has been there, and met, speak to, worked with Muslims, Christians, and Jews, and who is himself Asatru... (former or current military? I prefer not to say).
Organized religion is a control mechanism. That is why people fled England, well one of the reasons. It's in every religion, and I hate anyone and everyone that uses religion as a sword. The Crusaders, the Israeli Zionists (ZIONISTS, not every Israeli or Jew), the Christian Identity movement, and the Muslim Extremists are all people that deserve to be put in the ground. We ARE capable of coexisting, but Vatican City, Jerusalem, and Mecca will have none of it.
If you want an example of how faith should be, I point you to the founders of the US. Most of them were very Christian people, but put faith aside to declare that the US was to have a distinct separation of church and state. Now, if you ask me if America is a Christian nation, I will reply with a yes. America is a Christian nation because it was founded on the Christian ideals of tolerance and love, that we have so many different faiths within our border. Again, I am not a Christian, but I do respect the interpretation of Christianity that puts self-governance, love for a neighbor, and the figurative turning of the cheek. So many people have forgotten that on each side of the 'Big Three' religions.
I'm going to stop now, before I offend anyone. That is certainly not my goal. I'm an equal opportunity chastiser. Every religion has it's extremist factions (Even Buhhdism! They have monks that dropkick orphans in the face) And I feel that it is the duty of every faith the actively denounce and take action to diminish those extremist factions.
In short, if you are using your faith to strip away life, liberty and the pursuit of happines, YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG!!
Alan H. Delaney: Disillusioned Vet, Freelance Cargo Hauler, Captain of the Lady's Lament
Maximilian M. Brodie: Quiet, Practical and Patient, 1st Mate of the Lady's Lament.
IG Name: Lady's_Lament
Humanity as a whole is too greedy and malevolent to leave anything untwisted. If something exists that can grant someone control over someone else ( be their original purpose "good" or not), it will be used and abused for that someones goals, if not now, eventually. In general, I like to say that we are too dangerous to ourselves and others to have beliefs.