Thursday, 13 March 2008
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Currently Reading
Honey Blonde Chica
By Michele Serros
see relatedIs religion the problem?
Elizabeth and I had another great conversation this week. The topic was What's wrong with the world?
That's quite a question!! I don't claim to have an answer but I do have some theories. However, my theories aren't important just now. The really interesting part of the conversation was our discussion of Richard Dawkins' theory that religion is the cause of most of the world's problems.
I definitely have my gripes with religion, especially it's all-too-common use of fear to control the masses. I dont like the us-vs.-them mentality it creates either. And I certainly don't like the terrible things that have been done throughout history in the name of "God", but I'm not so sure that religion is to blame. Last night while I was doing homework, this thought popped into my head:
There are no violent and peaceful religions, only violent and peaceful people.
Think about it. This would explain why you can't accurately say "All muslims are violent" because that's just not true. You can't say "All Christians are peaceful" because that's not true either. There are violent Muslims and there are peaceful Muslims just like there are violent Christians and peaceful Christians. And this goes the same for all religions, I don't mean to just pick on Christianity and Islam.
And I don't even think it matters what the religious texts say. I think it only matters who is interpreting the text. If a violent person is interpreting the religious text, I think they will interpret it to condone violence. If a peaceful person is interpreting the text, I think they will interpret it to promote peace.
Therefore, my theory is that a religion is only as violent or peaceful as the people who practice it.
What do you think?
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Comments (4)
I couldn't agree with you more.
If a person carefully studies the New Testament, Christ never condoned violence. Christ was always for peace.
Luke 6:29Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.
Ever heard the G.K. Chesterton story about this question?
A prominent newspaper decided to host an opinion column on the question, "What is wrong with the world?" and sent the question from their agency to several prolific writers and journalists. G.K. sent back to them the following note:
Dear sirs,
I am!
Sincerely yours,
G.K. Chesterton
..too classic!
Not only is it fun talking with you, it's fun reading about our conversations on your blog. So true about the violence and peace issues. Do you think there is hope for violent people to ever become peaceful people?
Amy,
Great post! Would you be willing to take it a step farther and agree that there are actually not violent people and peaceful people, but instead people who act violently or act as a peacemaker in a given situation?
And would you be willing to take it even one step further than that and agree that we all act violently in certain situations?
Just curious about your thoughts. GREAT blog--so thought provoking!
:)
sean