(Quran 8:12) - Remember when your Lord inspired to the angels, I am with you, so strengthen those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved, so strike [them] upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip. Im curious about religious extremism. Particularly the violent type (rather than, say, some curiously strict but pacified sects or whatever). Extremists typically claim to be following their religious text better than their co-religionists. Those co-religionists would probably say the same back. But since these texts are typically filled with violence and detailed practices, I imagine the extremists may actually be doing a better job. Whats my point? That much of organised religion is filthy and vile, only accepted nowadays under the assumption that just because its adherents are, on average, not violent or overtly immoral then presumably the faith is that way too. But really, all thats going on is people pick and choose certain parts of their religion to follow and disregard others. (Obviously religious texts are in many ways inconsistent and dont form a cogent argument, story or explanation meaning that religionists often have to choose one part over a contradictory other part, but to me thats just another reason to not buy into that kind of unlikely world view. For example. There shall be no compulsion in religion (2:256)) Honestly, I think organised religion is an intellectual cancer for the most part. Thats not to say that I dislike religious people themselves, per se, any more than I would dislike someone with cancer. (Quite the opposite, a lot of people Im rather fond of are religious.) I just think its a shame that so many people suffer from that affliction of mind. So many rational people who calculate and apply reason to so many of the other intellectual parts of their lives will suddenly accept a deity wildly underdetermined by evidence and, of course, one of a handful of fairy tales to go with it. Interpret the initial quote as you will, (yes, Im sure jihad is all about struggle or something, lol) there are plenty more in most religious texts if you can be bothered to look. I would advise most religious people to either look at their texts closely, re-evaluating the interpretation or allegory sleight of hand. My own views on religion and morality are hardly a secret.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 08:37:51 +0000
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