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And I was naive enough to think that you were actually concerned about the people in Burma. It seems like you were just asking me that as a debate tactic.
It is evident through the responses to this topic, a discussion initiated by you, that you are ill prepared to discern a person’s ability, desire or motives based on messages posted on a forum.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FunkyMonk
Are you suggesting that Buddhism is the cause of the political problems in Burma?
FunkyMonk’s response to Colossus_Antonis’ post 32 above.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FunkyMonk
This incident is not just about religion. It is about land, politics, threats of war, racial tension, human rights abuses, etc.
Religion is just one issue out of many that could have motivated this incident, probably near the bottom of the list of what motivated this incident. Lets get real here.
Religious beliefs are instrumental, if not key, in shaping society and culture. I believe it would be a grave error to suggest that one can study religion but exclude the societies and culture (people groups) that observe the religion. Do you believe that religion can be disconnected from society and culture?
Yes many Christians are scared to study other religions. I have heard them say that, thinking that too much knowledge will confuse them. I personally love to study other religions and I think that understanding them will broaden my own mind in a way that many in the church would call me "blasphemous" but I am more concerned with what God says about me than men. Understanding that in Buddhist and Hindu religion there is a "supreme power" and other "celestial entities" (deities), could be compared to the angels. I wonder, where was God in India or in North America for that matter, when God rescued the Isrealites from Egypt or when the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. If HE (or SHE
(SHE being blasphemous of course) is omnipresent, what was going on in the rest of the world? Why would a God with the power to create heaven and earth, hover over a couple of mountains and protect just a few?
Because the bible says so? Guess what, the Roman Catholic church altered the religion, and so probably others along the way, so that we would honor ONE, so as to become subservient to an idea, or a monarch, a king, a pastor, a wife to a husband. BE OBEDIENT, is the idea, BE A SLAVE! Study and be aware, texts were left out of the bible... What did they say?
Who is the true vine? Who are the branches? Do not be afraid to ask questions, to challenge, and to use your God given MIND! You are intelligent, communicate with God, search for him for yourself, do not let the church rulers dull your capability by telling you what to believe.
Yes, I have studied many religions. All of the "major" world religions and some of the lesser known.
I think it's very, very important. It is easy to fear what you don't understand and what is unknown.
If only public schools would teach world religion, from an objective standpoint, so that the youth today would not live in such fear and intolerace and confusion.
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