any thoughts--thanks for any answers-smile and enjoy the day
2007-11-30 22:45:13 · 21 answers · asked by lazaruslong138 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm paraphrasing Prof. Dawkins reaction to the attacks of 9-11( a faith based initiative if there ever was one!)
"Can everyone finally please stop being so damned respectful when it comes to irrational beliefs!"
The human kindness, the morals, the connection to the past, the support during hard times are stuff I refuse to disrespect.
But the negative aspects of religion, the bigotry, the superstition, the abuse of believers trust, etc. No reason to be respectful.
Make any cult leaders day miserable today with my blessing.
2007-11-30 22:52:21 · answer #1 · answered by annarkeymagic 3 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Religions are made of people and people are worthy of respect. We tend to focus on all the bad stuff perpetrated in the name of religion - and there is plenty - but but there is also much good done by religious people and organizations. To blame all of religion for the acts of some individuals and groups of fanatics is just not balanced.
Feed the Children, OXFAM, Heifer Project, AIDS Ministries, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee are a few of the good things done by religion on a large scale. Just look around your community for local examples: Homeless shelter, food bank, women's refuge... More often than not, these types of ministries are started and maintained by local churches. And many, many people find that faith in a higher power, and the community support of their religion, helps them to survive their particular life situation. Who am I to disrespect that?!
Let's not paint religion and religious people with a "they're all alike" brush. The good, the bad and the ugly can be found in almost any group of people - even *gasp* Atheists.
Shanti,
-Z
2007-11-30 23:31:16 · answer #2 · answered by Zee 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can respect a religion for its good parts, they all have some. But, you have to be critical torward religion, just like one should be torward science and technology. Morality could be better on this planet, and we need the best and newest in spiritual ideas and training techniques from all available sources. I don't believe religion should be given special treatment over other important areas of life. It needs to be examined and evaluated, just like any other important area of study. Intuition is important in this evaluation process.
2007-11-30 22:59:24 · answer #3 · answered by astrogoodwin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why? Religion has caused the deaths of millions of people all over the world and down through time. Religion doesn't seem to respect human life.
So... no.
2007-12-01 10:20:32 · answer #4 · answered by Raven B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only reason I would is out of respect for religious people.
So, I would never disrupt church services, for instance, or deliberately interrupt them while they're in prayer. I wouldn't go door to door to tell them they're making a mistake and believing in something false.
People deserve to be treated better than that.
2007-11-30 22:54:11 · answer #5 · answered by Let Me Think 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
God has a chosen path (the road to eternal life) and every individual who is sincerely trying to find it should have the love and respect of every other person who is also trying to find it. God tells us that churches (the people, not the buildings) should be formed for the purpose of encouraging one another especially as this system comes to a close (Satan's system). We need eachother if we are going to survive.
2007-12-01 00:22:19 · answer #6 · answered by Sparkle1 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I used to believe there was. Now, I cannot treat lies with respect. I try to stay out of the way. I don't want to cause people to go into shock. To take away one's god is to cause one to lose their mind. It is just too much on some people. Most religious people are so dependant on god, that if you suddenly take him away from them, the mental wards would be over crowded. Seriously. My family being in that faction.
2007-11-30 22:53:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
yes. my reason is, religion is anyone's way of reaching, to some extent, into the deeper things of life and the spiritual dimension of existence. its ways are prescribed to lead a community of faithful, as one mind, one, heart, and one soul. man is a social being, so that even in his spiritual journey towards things eternal, co-travelling with other souls provides him a consoling and strengthening effect.
it is only that as one grows in spirituality, religion is seen in a more mature perspective and some even spiritually outgrow its dependence of it. this is not a common experience though but a very remote and out of the ordinary phenomenon. and this is something that only God and the soul knows.
2007-11-30 23:09:19 · answer #8 · answered by Gentle Breeze 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why? Any person who believes in a God is a nutcase. I mean come on!! A God comes from nothing and makes the universe in 6 days!!???? A woman from a mans rib!!???? Biggest load of tosh ever. And don't get me started on Islam and the murderous muslim rabble. They want to execute a teacher cos her pupils called a teddybear Mohamed!! Presumably a fatwah will be issued soon on her. Oh wait!! I've just heard a voice! It's God! It's all true!!! He says I have to tell all you religious people to kill yourselves IMMEDIATELY!! Will you do it? Of course not! Don't want to believe now do you huh?
2007-11-30 23:08:59 · answer #9 · answered by Martin R 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, there is. Religion was and is the basis for the desire of humankind to reach beyond themselves. Plus we must never make the mistake of blaming the faith for the actions of its followers.
2007-12-01 06:43:33 · answer #10 · answered by revkiwimac 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋