To be honest I really don't see a difference between old gods or new gods. I just finished reading "The God Virus" and it definitely has changed the way I view the topic of religion and theology. Some of the ideas I had already understood but there was quite a bit of new perspective on the topic that I had never considered before. For some I bet they would just see the book as another atheist attack on religion but it doesn't really read like an attack. At least not in my perspective. The premise is religion is a mental virus. The way it propagates and controls it's host. The difficulty at a cure and the problems it creates for both followers and non-followers.

I find it incredibly funny when I get called a militant atheist, because I have never blown up a building, hijacked a plane or threatened to kill opposing groups for their infidel ways. I don't even condemn them to any eternal torment either. So how exactly am I militant?

So in conclusion, gods of yesterday are the same gods of today, just altered a little to suit our new life style. But people still insist in believing gods exist. When will we grow up and not need these delusions?

I have also been doing a lot more studying in Islam and I have to mention pretty much everything I have learned it just paints an even worse picture of Islam in general. There religion itself makes hate and discrimination too easy to develop. Now I know most Muslims are probably non-confrontational type of individuals however the extremists make up for all those peaceful ones when they insight hatred and insight attacks on groups they oppose. However we are not talking about one bad Muslim out of a hundred thousand doing something extreme. The numbers are much closer than that. It is more like one out of every ten Muslims is an extremist. That makes those radical numbers huge and the hatred or discrimination wide spread.

The point is, instead of judging something by its abuse, judge it instead by its merits.

Well isn't that just as one sided as only looking at the negative impact? This saying of yours just sounds like to me, "Ignore all the bad things that religion has caused and only consider the good things it has done."

To be quite honest here, we would have to conclude if we consider both, that religion has done far more harm than it has ever done anything good.

But to also counter your science argument. I think we should hold science to the same standard that you just said we shouldn't. I think if science is causing harm then by all means it should be squelched. Why should we tolerate something causing harm only because we support it's general position? No, and that is bad.

You also don't believe in what you claim anyways. Because I can sight two examples that you would not agree with, yet they have merit. The war on drugs causes more violence than it solves. And illegal prostitution causes more harm than it solves. So should we only reflect on the merits of legalizing drugs and prostitution? I bet you wouldn't agree to that, so you don't honestly believe what you say.

To be honest I really don't see a difference between old gods or new gods. I just finished reading "The God Virus" and it definitely has changed the way I view the topic of religion and theology. Some of the ideas I had already understood but there was quite a bit of new perspective on the topic that I had never considered before. For some I bet they would just see the book as another atheist attack on religion but it doesn't really read like an attack. At least not in my perspective. The premise is religion is a mental virus. The way it propagates and controls it's host. The difficulty at a cure and the problems it creates for both followers and non-followers.

I have also been doing a lot more studying in Islam and I have to mention pretty much everything I have learned it just paints an even worse picture of Islam in general. There religion itself makes hate and discrimination too easy to develop. Now I know most Muslims are probably non-confrontational type of individuals however the extremists make up for all those peaceful ones when they insight hatred and insight attacks on groups they oppose. However we are not talking about one bad Muslim out of a hundred thousand doing something extreme. The numbers are much closer than that. It is more like one out of every ten Muslims is an extremist. That makes those radical numbers huge and the hatred or discrimination wide spread.

I find it incredibly funny when I get called a militant atheist, because I have never blown up a building, hijacked a plane or threatened to kill opposing groups for their infidel ways. I don't even condemn them to any eternal torment either. So how exactly am I militant?

So in conclusion, gods of yesterday are the same gods of today, just altered a little to suit our new life style. But people still insist in believing gods exist. When will we grow up and not need these delusions?

that even pigeons have the disease, . Pronounced..
Concering conscription; the question could be, have you already made up your mind, or has your mind already made you up?

We will grow up when we dont have to fear death when we can live forever.

Soooo, are you going to make me google "The God Virus", or could you describe it for me in this thread?

You've set my mind to pondering: pragmatically, how can a non-Muslim encourage the growth of the more flexible and reasonable Islamic traditions? A non-Muslim can't, at least not these days, IMO.

Perhaps universalists, or humanitarians or hermetic students and humanisten and those not invested in any one tradition or name for god, might want to consider converting to Islam, for the sake of the ultimate good. That's something I will seriously study on, and I'll need to put a time limit when "study" must conclude in decision and/or action.

Realistically, I don't have enough time left in this realm to accomplish much, if anything. Do you think this is a potentially good idea? If so, do you think there are people in younger western generations who might consider taking a similar path? If not, what are some viable alternative ideas?

rebecca

Re: Islam: I fully agree that if the non-Islamic world does not address this tension realistically and pragmatically, trouble lies ahead for all. IMO, change will have to come from inside the Islamic community. I know there are a few schools or traditions, particularly (surprisingly) within the Shi'a (sp?) sect, which offer the flexibility for change. There's one tradition, I can't think of its name, which, though fundamentalist, interprets the Quran as (roughly) "conditional verses trump unconditional verses". If any verse puts a condition on something, say Jihad, that condition holds for all verses pertaining to Jihad.

You've set my mind to pondering: pragmatically, how can a non-Muslim encourage the growth of the more flexible and reasonable Islamic traditions? A non-Muslim can't, at least not these days, IMO.

Perhaps universalists, or humanitarians or those not invested in any one tradition or name for god, might want to consider converting to Islam, for the sake of the ultimate good. That's something I will seriously study on, and I'll need to put a time limit when "study" must conclude in decision and/or action.

Realistically, I don't have enough time left in this realm to accomplish much, if anything. Do you think this is a potentially good idea? If so, do you think there are people in younger western generations who might consider taking a similar path? If not, what are some viable alternative ideas?

rebecca

:bigsmile:Who wants to live for-ever ? What would you do ?

Well, that's not possible. Yet. Anyway, I love the plurality in the world, the languages, rituals. Do I have to mention the beauty of the different races ? I think the most beautifull children ever will be born.

Hopefully we have an Earth to pass on to Humanity.:a-thought:

I have only ever been friends with female Muslims, even though i once flirted with the idea, ideal, idealism of becoming a man.


They will be given a sign, we need to let them and their faith breath, it will correct itself, or the people will do it for themselves.
These times are a changin.

I once considered it, just needs one good leader, they may still be fine.

Religious schools?
(Learn their, Teach them their good book.)
The Quran is beautiful and can be read by anyone.



---------- Post added 03-06-2010 at 02:02 AM ----------


I dont want to live foreverm, i welcome my life ending even though i dont encourage it.


PLAY THIS A LOUD AS YOU CAN HANDLE.
YouTube - Queen - Who Wants to Live Forever (HIGHLANDER VIDEO)


Beautiful beacuse they are different. And beacuse i can love them more for it.

:bigsmile: liked video / hardly watch TV etc.

Do not think of Abraham as a thing of the Past
Think Religions did de-terriorate; starting with 10 rules...
Now a life-time study; scilly traditions and a former SS as leader of the RC Church !

I choose to look a'round; may-by I am wrong, but it is my choice

No "divine" Law for me.

If a Messiah will come back I will first Question the fact.

I will be 2nd in line to help as much as I can.
I believe it's time for a positive leap.
I want to say I love your Forum>

:detective:PSH

As I told earlier I admire more gods and goddesses and heros etcetera. I think t:bigsmile:hey teach us values for life. Organisated reliligion is based on un-equality of the religious themselves. Non of my business ? It violates human rights.

I used to pray to a Goddess, which is your favourite goddess?

It was Aethena Nike but I met Tanit-Astarte on Ibiza. Then I got inti it and respect woman gods the same as woman around me.

Hera is my favourite. I feel her as my mother feels to me. Venus stands for Moral Decay. Hera - Hearth
:devilish:

The cow that is the marriage, the marriage that is the cow,
are you a worshipper of the poppy or just the pomegranate?
Hera warm clean blood.