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Culture and history are more important than people eating? Sounds like a television preacher.
I'll repeat it again. It doesn't have to be one or the other. That's sophomoric thinking. And yes, culture and history is important as two of the foundation stones of today's life.
My post is directed towards the developed world. I know that things are very different in poor and/or undeveloped countries. Today it feels like everybody is against religion. Especially Christianity. Las I’ve been living in countries like Sweden, Norway, Canada and Australia it really feels like most people see religion as backward, oppressive, evil, stupid and so forth. Anybody religious is either stupid or weird. Many bad things are blamed on religion. Most wars, deaths, scandals. This is for me a mystery. Sure, the crusades were bad. But, so were many other wars during those times, as well as before and after. And, the crusades were not religious, they were solidly politics disguised as religion. I don’t see many people blaming atheism for millions of murders in Soviet or China. Sure, the paedophile scandal has been really tragic across the catholic church. But, research shows that paedophiles are even more frequent in for example schools and in sports clubs than in churches. But, I don’t see anybody blaming those institutions.
Maybe people are angry at the “blind worshipâ€. But, the western man still worships a lot, even if it is not God. Money, materialistic things, celebrities, fame and themselves. Depression, anxiety and stress is among the things created by this knew worship.
Maybe you compare with more religious societies or countries and think that “we have developed far better than them†or that our standard of living is higher. But, is that not mostly because of our exploitation today and throughout history of the earths resources and other peoples? Is that a sustainable way of life? No, it is not.
Religion has not given anything to society? Think again, many of history’s greatest minds within philosophy, politics, science and so forth were devout religions people. Christianity is the ruling power? Think again, 80% or more of religiously oppressed globally are Christians.
So, I’m not saying that you have to believe or be religious, but why the hostility. Why is Christianity seen as backward?
Don’t you see anything good in what has been accomplished in our societies thanks to Christianity? What’s so bad with “love thy neighbour�
Religion has a history of mixing with political,economic and nationalistic aspirations of people. This intermingling has allowed people to use religion as a means to an end which has led to negative consequences, hence the negative view. Today, people view secular societies as a way to protect their future in the face of globalization, to do as one pleases, or as a means of gaining acceptance. Secular societies have indeed resulted in acceptance of the LGBQT community, pot, and alt right views. There's more uncertainty among young people, particularly the less educated and economically disadvantaged, about their purpose in life. In a place like Sweden, a prosperous developed country, there's increasing popularity of the far right. In the USA there's a hardcore base that cares little about immoral or unethical behavior among its elected leaders. There certainly is more appeal in rallying against immigrants and religious minorities than in espousing Christian ideals as found in Acts 10:34,35, the ideal of loving thy neighbor, praying for your enemy and respecting people of all sorts. Racism, economic disparities, increasing divisions, nationalistic fervor, increasing uncertainty about the future-these problems will continue to plague mankind despite a population that is less religiously inclined. People who attempt to follow the teachings of Christ, they will have a way to cope and hope. Others? just look at the increasing divorce rates, drug use, and unrest. Is the increasingly developed secular world better off? It depends on where you stand in society.
Because it rather spend millions and millions to rebuilding an old church and ignore the starving
Indeed.
Violence is hard wired in humans ,especially males. Religions have always been used to allow men to feel virtuous while committing the most disgusting crimes. Nothing has changed in millennia .Well, except perhaps for various so-called 'human rights conventions' which are ignored whenever inconvenient.
Culture and history are more important than people eating? Sounds like a television preacher.
People not only need to live, they need something to make life worth living. For some it's religion. For others, sex, drugs and rock. For yet others, it's antique human junk.
Religion has a history of mixing with political,economic and nationalistic aspirations of people. This intermingling has allowed people to use religion as a means to an end which has led to negative consequences, hence the negative view. Today, people view secular societies as a way to protect their future in the face of globalization, to do as one pleases, or as a means of gaining acceptance. Secular societies have indeed resulted in acceptance of the LGBQT community, pot, and alt right views. There's more uncertainty among young people, particularly the less educated and economically disadvantaged, about their purpose in life. In a place like Sweden, a prosperous developed country, there's increasing popularity of the far right. In the USA there's a hardcore base that cares little about immoral or unethical behavior among its elected leaders. There certainly is more appeal in rallying against immigrants and religious minorities than in espousing Christian ideals as found in Acts 10:34,35, the ideal of loving thy neighbor, praying for your enemy and respecting people of all sorts. Racism, economic disparities, increasing divisions, nationalistic fervor, increasing uncertainty about the future-these problems will continue to plague mankind despite a population that is less religiously inclined. People who attempt to follow the teachings of Christ, they will have a way to cope and hope. Others? just look at the increasing divorce rates, drug use, and unrest. Is the increasingly developed secular world better off? It depends on where you stand in society.
Where there is increased concern about immigration, there is a move to the Political Right, together with flag -waving, sabre -rattling and isolationism. And Christianity is right in there, terrified both of secularism and Islam. Indeed the problems stem right back to religion (1).
Is society getting better? I see a lot that's better. I see a lot that could be improved. But I can think back to the supposed 'Good Old Days when it all seemed to be better. But I can assure you it wasn't. I'd say that with more secularism has come a world that is potentially better, and I can't see that religion can take any credit for it, nor secularism justifiably blamed for the bad.
(1) Ok, desert storm was about Oil, not religion, but Al Quaida was a religious movement though the idiotic original motive was replaced by Good old anti - Israel and American support for it.
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