Keep Dreaming: Taking religion seriously

[rug]

11/24/2011 12:20
By DAVID BREAKSTONE

Yes, the time has come for all of us to start taking religion seriously, and ourselves, perhaps, a little less so.

The problem with religion is that people start taking it seriously.

Actually, the problem is that they start taking themselves seriously when it comes to religion. Or believe that God does. Or become convinced that they know exactly what God wants of them.

Which allows them to do all sorts of outrageous things in the name of the Almighty, far too often right here in our own neighborhood. Things like slaughtering untold thousands of infidels in the name of Jesus, waging a Holy War of terrorism in the name of Allah, or prohibiting Tzohar rabbis from officiating at weddings in the name of Moses (“Closure of Tzohar wedding project prompts outrage toward ministry,” November 9).

http://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Opinion/Article.aspx?id=246828

[xchrom]

1. Invisible rec. Nt

[Nihil]

5. Somehow appropriate for this forum ... (n/t)

:think:

[msongs]

2. today we worship the god of gluttony, tomorrow, greed nt

[MarkCharles]

3. Aptly stated! N/t

[JDPriestly]

4. The interesting thing is the growth of fundamentalism in the dominant religions in nearly

every country.

I think that it is due to fear of change.

The world is presenting challenges that frighten us. It doesn't matter whether a nation is predominantly Jewish, Protestant, Catholic, Muslims or whatever, many people are looking for some system of ideas, some language, some rigid moral rules they think they can hold on to, rely on.

So, they recreate in their minds the "old-time religion" and insist that it is right and everything that deviates from or grows out of it is wrong.

"Please, let there be one thing that I can just know is true without having to examine it or question it or even think about it." That is the mindset of fundamentalism.

Then the true believers in whatever fundmentalism they have chosen focus on shutting out questions or thoughts that would cause them to doubt the belief they have chosen. They call closing their minds to doubt, "faith."

I, of course, believe that those who really have faith dare to examine, question and think and draw their own conclusions, perhaps only for the moment, from the evidence of which they are aware. Those who really have faith are prepared to change their ideas and learn new things.

Sadly, the growth of fundamentalism all over the world is likely to move humanity backwards not forwards. We will all pay the price for our lack of faith in the reason that God or nature or chance or whatever you wish to call it gave us.

[MarkCharles]

6. Very wise observations.

Reminds me of a video I recently viewed.

"The Erosion of Progress by Religions"

"A warning from history by Neil deGrasse Tyson about what happens when a creationist is allowed to overule scientists."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oxTMUTOz0w&feature=related