The Fireball Approach: How Insular is Religion?

Question

Okay, sorry about the R&S reference, but I think most regulars are familiar with Fireball's tendancy to classify questions as unworthy of the R&S section, and it leads me to question how pervasive religion really is in people's lives.

This morning, someone asked about the religion of the Omaha mall shooter. Constantly we are being asked about the faiths of Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee and George Bush. Often such questions are deemed inapropriate to the section because they supposedly belong in Current Events or Politics or whatever. BUT, if your religion is supposed to inform your every decision, then shouldn't ALL questions be in the R&S section? Shouldn't the devout Christians be coming here to find a baby name that brings glory to God or to determine what car - if any - is most in line with the spiritual teachings of their particular sect? Can we not assume that any question asked here is looking for a spiritual perspective, or does the question need to ask "what would

Buddha drive" in order to get a religious / spiritual perspective?

Or does religion & spirituality..

really only effect those things that you decide they should effect?

So my question, I guess, is, when is something NOT an R&S question, IF the answers give a religious/ spiritual perspective on the question?

(Thanks, Lisa... I didn't make that clear and I also should have mentioned that Fireball isn't the only person to point these things out - just the most visible and consistant.)

Poppy - if the question is asked in R&S, can it not be assumed that the asker is looking for a religious or spiritual perspective, though?

Answer 1

I have seen and borne witness to FB's "tendencies" as you called it, and others, and to me religion and/or a person's beleifs is VERY pervasive in rheir lives. I know it is in mine.
I don't deem alot of questions asked here as inappropiate. I don't believe some questions should be taken to another area just because they don't have the words religion, beliefs, christian, etc. in them. I allow religion and personal beliefs to influence my actions, but I don't allow them to make my decions because I do believe we are to keep an open mind and act logically and resonably.
I think sometimes some questions should be asked in R&S and not other sections, but I don't believe that they should come here just because they belong to a particular sect. There is no label christian, muslim, theiest, etc. on this site, and many of the questions that are asked here I believe belong to this section and/or philosophy.
To me this is just another form of philosophy, and I was surprised to see the two so far apart. You have asked an excellent question, and I dn't think that you should add "What would Jesus do," because I believe he would agree you have made a valid point in spirituality.

Answer 2

I have to assume that a person wants a religious and/or spiritual perspective if they put the question here. Yes, religion colors everything, especially since it has made such huge breaches in the wall of separation between church and state. We need to know that we will not have four more, let alone eight more, years of tearing down that wall.

If someone does not want an R&S perspective in their answers, let them take the time to put it in the appropriate category.

Or just dump them all in Polls & Surveys, which seems to be the "miscellaneous" category ever since it was created. We originally had a Community Guideline against polling questions, as they were assumed to be point gaming. Then the Y!A team bowed to user pressure and created its own category.

Answer 3

You make a great point. However, I believe that if a person is really looking for a religious or spiritual perspective, he/she will more or less make it known.

But I do agree with you - FB approach is just rude and mean in my eyes. Simply don't answer it if it doesn't suit you.

EDIT: Yes, if you're a person who happens to assume the best of people. I believe I'm such a person and I bet you are too - the opposite would actually be the roots of FB approach.
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Answer 4

This kind of modular thinking is the only way these kinds of people can function in this world as they do. For instance, they manage to segregating everything scientific they have decided to believe from the science they throw out because it is contrary to their myths, and act as if they feel no conflict. This automatically means duplicity, since, like everyone else, they live by naturalistic assumptions (necessarily). Thus, the groundwork is already set for the divided intellect they display. It's a symptom of the larger mental disorder that is and sustains belief in Abrahamic religion.

Answer 5

If you are a very spiritual person, it affects everything you do or think, I guess it depends on whether you are viewing it as an outsider or an insider, so yes it is insular.
I always thought religion and spirituality was where philosophy, science and human everyday living meets, if slightly awkwardly.

Fireball though, just likes a good whine...gotta love her though.

Answer 6

I wonder if FB even noticed that R&S is included in Society and Culture... I think that says it all.

Because religion is part of society and culture, it can influence pretty much ANY facet of life. Obviously barring things which religions have no teachings on... Such as automotive repair or IT stuff.

Answer 7

i replaced into like fireball, then I grew to become 13 and found out religions have been myths. and that i'll reserve judgement against theists while they stop attempting to make rules i could stick to in step with their myths and coach their fairy thoughts in public colleges.

Answer 8

"this is R&S you're off topic"


if it's about "religion" it belongs here...

that question specifically asked "what religion" ding ding ding, religion section....

if it said, "does anyone know if the shooter was white?" then that belongs in current events, or in race issues...

Answer 9

Try 'Philosophy'. This is religion here!

Answer 10

Wow, I don't think you need an answer.