T And T Garage
Serious Thumper
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SuzukiSavage.com Rocks!
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This is only my opinion (but might also be shared by others)-
If you really want to know why these things have gone on for so long, look no further than religion itself.
At the very base of religion, is the idea of inclusion vs. exclusion. "This is what is right and if you don't follow along, then something bad will happen to you". But, "If you follow along and do what we say, then all your wishes will come true."
Of course, that's a rudimentary statement at best, and it doesn't get to the heart of your question - but it's the starting point.
Again, in my opinion, it seems people in general feel better when they're told what to do. When they're given a list to check off, they feel they've accomplished something. Religion does that for them. It makes them feel included. It insulates them. It reassures them that what they're doing is right.
Conversely, it also reassures them that what other, non-believers are doing is wrong. It gives them the "power" to judge others based solely on their own outlook - not taking into consideration anyone else's. Evangelizing is pretty much based on this. Convert these lost souls to (insert religion here).
So who's right and who's wrong? Is it wrong not to be a Christian? I don't think so. Is it wrong to be a Muslim? Again, I don't think so. Same with being a Jew, or a Seventh Day Adventist, or a Holy Roller, or whatever. On the flip side, is it right to kill in the name of any religion? I don't think so.
Far too often, a religious people wraps themselves in their little secular world, with views no farther than the tip of their nose. They point to the problems in the world instead of actually doing something about them
There are exceptions of course - I think that our own Eegore is a fine example of the good that it can do.
But sadly, the good are often overlooked for the evil. When's the last time you saw a report anywhere on the good that a church, synagogue or mosque have done?
The bad gets more press because people's fear of it drives up ratings. Fear grabs your attention. Fear motivates.
For better or worse, that same fear drives many to religion. Therein lies the starting point of problems with religion.
I do feel that the base of all religions is good. But through interpretation and man's shortcomings, far too often it's mutated and distorted into something it's not.
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I mean, how do we trust in any religion that justifies murder of another?
- “If a man lies with a male as with a women, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed; they have forfeited their lives.” (Leviticus 20:13)
- ..then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. (Quran 9:5)
Of course most of us all realize that these passages aren't meant as hard set rules, but there are some that follow them to the Nth degree and call them gospel.
Further, as Sero put it - what kind of God forgives a lifetime of child molestation or murder, or hate?
Again, that's how some justify their actions, that's perhaps the reason that these molestations happen, or why the Crusades and other holy wars have killed so many.
Religion has been flawed by interpretation, by evangelization, by man in general.
To go back to the original question - "how did this ever go on for so long?"
Because Humans aren't perfect. Good and evil (and everyone's interpretations of what those are) exist.
And again, although not very well stated, this is just my opinion.
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