So, for years and years now, I've thought that the worst thing that can happen to this world, as a whole, as an extended group of human beings, is a crisis of faith
( Read more... )
That's an interesting way to look at it. However to simplify what goes on in the middle east and ignore the recurring pattern that has been in place there since before the crusades is a stretch. One could say that it is not a crisis of faith but human natures intolerance of things that are different that cause most world events.
True... it usually is an intolerance of things that are different. But even now, the major world crises are divised by religion. Are we demonifying the Christian Arabs? No. I saw something on the news today about Christians in the Middle East going to services and being scared that the church would be bombed. Would we be so quick to "convert" people, or to kill them, if we were secure in what we believed? If the Sunnis and the Shi'ites each knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that their way was the right way, would they really be trying to take over power? Aren't they both just trying to prove that their version of Islam is the "correct" one? (This is as a group. Individuals are excluded, especially those using terrorist tactics, as I doubt they actually believe in Islam, and instead just use it to twist things around and convince impressionable people to join their "causes")
You say that as though modern day is any different but how are were the Crusades truely much different? It is not so much a crisis of faith as human nature in my opinion, the world had been bathed in the blood of humans fighting over just about anything, religion however has always been a top reason. Then again I tend to just love to debate such things.
I don't see why people can't just get over the fact that there is a higher power. Whatever you decide to call it, and how you worship it, is up to you.
But when people force their religion on others who don't want to believe it, is bullshit.
*sigh*
But trying to get the world to grasp that concept, isn't going to work.
Heh, only when I sit down to think about it though. Church is good for that -- in between feeling awkward about Communion (which wasn't so bad, as Helene didn't go up for it either) and counting the pagan symbols in the sanctuary, I found a place I haven't been for a while... where I can just sit, and think, and calm myself down. That, more than anything, is what I think all worship is. It's that little quiet place inside ourselves where we can admit that we need help, and start to understand that there is something helping.
As I said, I'm starting to think priests are just philosophers who take more on faith. You, my good sir, have no faith at the moment. I think that's one of your problems.
Try my latest entry on for size... I hope it does not offend or disillusion you... but this is my Prime Philosophy... maybe my best work. I have a lot of faith... in many things... there are more things in Heaven and on Earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy/religion, m'lady.
part one of my responsepseydtonneApril 9 2007, 02:29:19 UTC
Oh man, there are so many holes in this but I do not want to make you cry. Let me see how I can approach this...
Religions do not split simply because of a "crisis of faith". Religions split similar to how major scientific paradigms shift:
Someone gets a new understanding of the old meaning of some facet of the faith (e.g.: "Do we teach the children the Trinity before they can understand it?" or "If we're all children in the eyes of the Lord, why do I have to sit in the back of the church?");
That new understanding does not jive with the old enough to be coexistent in the same church house;
The person with the new understanding convinces some members of it while others stick to the previous tenet;
A house divided cannot stand, so a split is formalized.
No one comes up with the concept of a "house" and builds it. The Platonic concept of a thing is not what leads to instantiation. Instead people build structures to solve the problems of climate, the structures take on a significance because other attributes of the solution become
( ... )
part two of my responsepseydtonneApril 9 2007, 02:31:00 UTC
Let's look at the reasons many former Catholics aren't coming back. I have plenty of my own reasons as a former Catholic. I do not like the power structure of the Roman Church. Americans get to pick and choose what they accept about doctrine only because they give so much money to the Vatican. However, the Catholic Church can tell a proper follower what to eat, which prayers to say, and what things mean
( ... )
Comments 15
Reply
Reply
Reply
I don't see why people can't just get over the fact that there is a higher power. Whatever you decide to call it, and how you worship it, is up to you.
But when people force their religion on others who don't want to believe it, is bullshit.
*sigh*
But trying to get the world to grasp that concept, isn't going to work.
Oh well.
*huggs* Happy Easter!!!
Miss and love ya lots!
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment