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Post by IceAngel on Oct 29, 2001 9:24:03 GMT -5
Well, as one of those people who is relegious and not only in times of crisis, I'd of course differ drastically with the 'foolish' and 'waste of time' comments For me, the terrorist attacks simply caused me to want more contact with God and Church. I do find strength in my faith and that event caused a whole lot of need for solace and strength for many of us. I know that a lot of people did as Mel suggests and suddenly found they had a depth of spiritual belief/need they hadn't acknowledged til then or perhaps were looking for answers and started by entering a church. Whatever the answer, calling anyone a hypocrite when you aren't aware of their personal reasons for doing so, is hardly fair.
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Zoras
Minion
Burn with the Dragon's soul
Posts: 203
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Post by Zoras on Oct 30, 2001 4:55:54 GMT -5
The Chinese have a saying:
"In times of trouble, hug the Buddha's leg."
Now, I'm sure nobody will deny that in the aftermath of great disasters or personal tragedy, there is often a resurgence in faith and spirituality. Whether its from people wanting to know that there was a greater meaning behind the tragic events or simply wanting to hope that such a fate won't befall them, its really not my place to judge. In everyday life, its easy to forget that the world has two sides, and we'd rather pretend that the ugly, vicious side of life doesn't exist.
During times such as 11/9, people are starkly reminded of their own mortality, and since death and the afterlife is the one thing that science has no answer for, people turn to the one pillar that humanity has relied on throughout the ages: religion.
This is not the place to go into which religion is the true faith or whether religion itself is a pointless venture. I only wish to state my observation that people rarely give religion and faith a secondary place in their lives until something happens to change that. I won't pass judgement on that, since I just wish for everybody to find peace in their own way.
I can't help but wonder why, since all religions preach a gospel of peace and forgiveness, that religion has been the cause of so many wars in the world?
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Post by Falkirk on Oct 31, 2001 9:16:16 GMT -5
I can't help but wonder why, since all religions preach a gospel of peace and forgiveness, that religion has been the cause of so many wars in the world? I don't think that religion has been the cause so much as the excuse.
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Lord Bane
Peasant
D?faitiste Extraordinaire
Posts: 63
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Post by Lord Bane on Oct 31, 2001 9:54:29 GMT -5
Not entirely true Falkirk. Probably the largest part of the wars fought in the name of (any) God only used religion as an excuse, but without any doubt there have also been strictly religious wars. However, these usually took place when a schisma was (being) formed, more often than not intra- instead of interreligious wars. What Sol perhaps meant to say is that people who suddenly seem to realize they're actually very pious in time of trouble, but forget all about their God when everything goes good, are hypocritical to say the least. And to return to the original topic, that's how I feel most "religious" people are in Europe at this moment. They remember their God when their child is born (baptization) and when they're at the age to receive their Communion. Other than that God seems to have become an extremely vague notion, not even coming close to the view earlier generations had on the Good Lord. Beat me if that's an evolution for the better or the worse. I'd say the first, though
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Post by ElricMorlockin on Nov 5, 2001 11:38:55 GMT -5
Lord Bane Sir! Do you feel the same way about people who worship the "state" to get their comfort?
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Lord Bane
Peasant
D?faitiste Extraordinaire
Posts: 63
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Post by Lord Bane on Nov 5, 2001 12:36:40 GMT -5
Worship the state ? Don't think I'm following you here, E-man.
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Post by ElricMorlockin on Nov 5, 2001 13:43:05 GMT -5
Senor Bane
My point is religion means something different to each individual. Some people see their politics as their religion etc.
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Warlord
Slave
"Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom." -General George Patton
Posts: 27
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Post by Warlord on Nov 5, 2001 15:25:35 GMT -5
Senor Bane My point is religion means something different to each individual. Some people see their politics as their religion etc. I agree though it seems to me that religion has caused or has been used as an excuse to cause, more harm throughout history than it has done good.
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