Religion of Love

WARNING:

THE RELIGIOUS MAY NOT WISH TO READ THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS. NO DIRECT INSULT TO A PARTICULAR RELIGION IS INTENDED IN THE COMMENTS BELOW, BUT IT CAN BE INTERPRETTED THAT WAY WHEN BELIEF IN A GOD OR GODS IS INVOLVED. IF YOU ARE NOT INTELLECTUALLY OR EMOTIONALLY MATURE, AS IN: EASILY OFFENDED BY POINTS OF VIEW DIFFERENT FROM YOUR OWN, PLEASE STOP READING THIS COMMENT. THANK YOU.

Regarding the seemingly endless stories of Muslim's killing not only Christians, but other Muslims as well, I try to look at it from my local point of view, substituting the people involved in the killings with the people in my area. Not that it gives me any detailed incites into the problem. It's more an exercise to see the insanity of it all a bit more clearly.

I live on the outskirts of a small city, population: around 25,000 - spread between two cities, a canal separating the two. To me, the killings are like one city looking at the other and finding it offensive. Normally, the only result of that would be an occasional Letter-to-the-Editor in the local paper complaining about the other city. Substituting the mentality of the killers though and the story gets ridiculous. Instead of writing a letter, the offended citizens cross the canal and kill everyone.

The hatred it takes to murder someone is immense. The hatred it takes for group after group of people to kill other groups of people is insane. Killing other religion's members is, while horrendous a practice, somewhat understandable...or at least, predictable: the beliefs involved between the parties are typically vastly different from each other. In quite a few of the stories though, where one Muslim group kills another, the differences are (from my point of view) trivial. Typically the killers consider their actions justified by "God's will"; the offending sect they attacked had not followed the faith correctly (as they see it) and therefore; it was not only acceptable to murder them, it was the very will of God.

That's one reason why I am not religious. Religious belief to me is the result of ignoring the obvious and substituting reality with something else ...an unreality where each individual can allow themselves to "know" what their diety's wishes/rules are...and that's ludicrous to me.

Returning to the subject of Muslim -vs- Muslim killings and the point I'm trying to make should become clearer; the notion that each sect believes only they are the "true" followers of God, and all others must adhere to their beliefs or die, is the definition of insanity...or at least it's an unfortunately popular example of it.

This type of insanity is rampant among these somewhat isolated sects and appears to be infectious. More and more sects become extremist as a result of another local sects past aggressiveness, in part to survive. A "kill or be killed" mentality, in a way, though it's probably a more subconscious than conscious decision.

In any case, this mentality results in "justified" killings, from the killer's point of view, but to me it's yet another instance of masses of people deliberately chosing to be insane as a means of cultural survival. It's also true enough to say that basic human behavior tends to incite the desire to be victorious in all things...add religion though, and all bets are off as to the outcome, since it inevitably ends in War.

I apologise if these comments have offended anyone. I strongly advise any of the offended to write a rebuttal and post it instead of attempting something nasty...that'll only add to the insanity of it all, and isn't going to change my mind. Plus, I warned you lol

 

Hmmm, something's not right...I still see rails.

 

I'd also like to add that, while I am "attacking" the idea of religion in general, I do have some respect for people's religious beliefs. I respect other people's rights to believe in a God or Gods (or other). My respect is retracted when that belief causes harm to others. It is permanently revoked when people kill others with the belief that their God authorized or otherwise demanded it.

As for Muslims in general; I have no particular hatred of the religion, at least no more than any other, when it's civilized. It's my belief that the majority of the modern Muslims around the World share my disdain for such killings. The incidents I've alluded to previously show a degree of disdain for other beliefs though, a hatred for any belief that does not mirror their own. That hatred is fueled by a perverse righteousness, a belief that only they know the true will of God, and that allows them to kill free of any remorse or guilt. I have immense disdain for such a mentality, and believe most Muslims would concur.

 

Yes I have to apologise to Andy for miss aiming that post at him

 

The true percentage is unknown to me, but I'm relatively comfortable stating that in today's World that percentage is probably low-balling it. It's likely to be a greater percentage than that but, it's not the end of the World...life (for most) goes on.

I want to bring attention to the source, or a source, of the problem...and that is intolerance.

Anger over perceived Western attacks against the Muslim religion, whether justified or not, has ignited a rage in all corners of the faith*(see example at bottom of post). That rage encourages attacks against not only non-Muslims, but neighboring Muslim faiths that are deemed offensive.

I therefore agree with Andy in the respect that, in region after region and town after town, more and more Muslims are becoming less and less likely to tolerate even the most trivial of differences, choosing to eliminate all aspects of what they find offensive, be it a building (rival faith's mosques), a cultural piece (the Standing Buddha in Afghanistan, ancient grave-sites throughout the World), or person. Universally, it's religion that they believe is being offended, and the belief that their God requires the elimination of the offensive thing.

I also agree with you that those people who choose to kill others in the belief that their God requires it or justifies it should themselves be removed from the ranks of the living.

*Earlier I stated that perceived attacks against the Muslim religion fuels the rage that leads to these horrible murders. As an example I'd like to look first at two comments; one by Andy, one by yourself.

Andy said:

You replied:

It should be clear that the two are only related in the sense that they are both cartoons with religion as the subject. One calls for murder, the other is mocking...that is far from being equal.

While I understand that Islam prohibits the depiction of Allah in any form, what Muslims need to understand is that, that limitation only applies to themselves. While it's one thing to be insulted by such depictions, it's a whole different thing to demand non-believers comply with those beliefs. Yes, it's a sign of respect to comply, but in a civilized society tolerance for such depictions should be taught.

 

No you don't. You often post in a most respectful manner.

 

No Andy I got it wrong so a apology was in order.

 

Now back to the games LOL

 

lol It's good to see you two getting along an' all but sheesh! Get a room! ...(looks around room)...Oh yeah, I guess you two are in a room. Now please, continue.. (grabs a chair and sits down)... just pretend I'm not here... (grinning) ...now look into each others eyes...(sees both glare at him) FINE! I'll leave you two "alone" then...