Sentinalese kill ‘missionary’

There’s faith, the sort where you try to lead a good life, help others, follow the life rules as laid out by the 10 commandments, it might involve church, it may not,

Other faiths / denominations are available

Then there’s blind faith which is what got this chap killed, which is akin to brainwashing.

Extremists of all flavours are dangerous

Most people of faith are good people, there are however some bad apples as in all walks of life.

Let’s not pillorise Hogie for his views, he’s not the problem
 
PhilTheFragger said:
There’s faith, the sort where you try to lead a good life, help others, follow the life rules as laid out by the 10 commandments, it might involve church, it may not,

Other faiths / denominations are available

Then there’s blind faith which is what got this chap killed, which is akin to brainwashing.

Extremists of all flavours are dangerous

Most people of faith are good people, there are however some bad apples as in all walks of life.

Let’s not pillorise Hogie for his views, he’s not the problem
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Thankyou.

Funny old world.
 
Religion = ancient mechanism for controlling the 'ignorant'/poor masses through encouragement of satisfied dreams or fear of something unimaginably more powerful (as most philosophers like Aristotle have stated).

Alexander did it by keeping his troops on the march and raping and pillaging so they didn't get bored and start fighting among themselves.

These islanders have what they need so do not want any outside interference and good luck to them.
 
Scrotie McBoogerballs said:
The Bible/Quran/Torah, the biggest works of fiction, ever!:eek::sick::rolleyes:
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yup - Harry Potter is just
GreiginFife said:
Best sellers though, got to give 'em that.

Like the book about adhesives I'm reading... can't put it down.

Eyethangewe.
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Being a collection of books - some of the books of the 'Bible Collection' are a much better read than others. Some are cracking - others are interminably dull :)
 
drdel said:
Religion = ancient mechanism for controlling the 'ignorant'/poor masses through encouragement of satisfied dreams or fear of something unimaginably more powerful (as most philosophers like Aristotle have stated).

Alexander did it by keeping his troops on the march and raping and pillaging so they didn't get bored and start fighting among themselves.

These islanders have what they need so do not want any outside interference and good luck to them.
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Or it could be just some peoples way of making sense of the world. I'm speaking as an atheist here but people can believe what they want. At the moment there's a lot people believing in something based on not much more than faith and hope, which is fine. The problem comes when other people exploit that belief or faith for their own personal gain. Lots of that around everywhere you look.
 
I have no objections to what people believe as long as
  • They don't force it down my throat
  • They don't use it as an excuse to discriminate / generate hate against other groups
  • They don't use it as an excuse to cover up the misdemeanours of others in their faith
  • They don't believe themselves to be holier than thou because they have a faith
In my mind, true humanity is how you treat other people and not which deity you choose to follow.
I was brought up a Catholic but my parents brought me up with the belief that we are all the same under the skin regardless of race, creed or colour.
However I now see myself as an agnostic as I am more and more losing my faith in religion as I see how people manipulate the writings to forward their own particular agenda at the expense of others.
These people on the island didn't ask this guy to go there. The rules were clear but he believed that his God was better than anything they believed and that he would be protected and/or go to a better world if anything happened to him. You can either call that faith or arrogance or both.
I've seen the divisions of religion both from where I come from, and within my family, and now here in Glasgow. I understand it's not as bad as it was but why is it there at all? As has been said earlier, so many are just interpretations on the same basic writings, and we have to remember that all these holy texts have just been written by human beings who had their own agenda, beliefs, discrimination's, etc. so I'm not sure why I should take The Gospel as gospel.
 
Fade and Die said:
So exactly like Harry Potter then!
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Yes - like Harry Potter. Other than absolutely nothing in any of the Harry Potter books has any grounding in fact, whereas many of the characters, places and events recorded in the books of the Bible are factually known. Not all - maybe not most - but many.
 
Robster59 said:
I have no objections to what people believe as long as
  • They don't force it down my throat
  • They don't use it as an excuse to discriminate / generate hate against other groups
  • They don't use it as an excuse to cover up the misdemeanours of others in their faith
  • They don't believe themselves to be holier than thou because they have a faith
In my mind, true humanity is how you treat other people and not which deity you choose to follow.
I was brought up a Catholic but my parents brought me up with the belief that we are all the same under the skin regardless of race, creed or colour.
However I now see myself as an agnostic as I am more and more losing my faith in religion as I see how people manipulate the writings to forward their own particular agenda at the expense of others.
These people on the island didn't ask this guy to go there. The rules were clear but he believed that his God was better than anything they believed and that he would be protected and/or go to a better world if anything happened to him. You can either call that faith or arrogance or both.
I've seen the divisions of religion both from where I come from, and within my family, and now here in Glasgow. I understand it's not as bad as it was but why is it there at all? As has been said earlier, so many are just interpretations on the same basic writings, and we have to remember that all these holy texts have just been written by human beings who had their own agenda, beliefs, discrimination's, etc. so I'm not sure why I should take The Gospel as gospel.
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I too have absolutely no time for those who manipulate things for their own agenda and to their own ends - especially where that agenda may be to the detriment, loss or suffering of others (hence in large measure my stance and absolutely firm view on the B matter)

And you don't have to bother about what is written - you can completely ignore every single word...:)
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
I too have absolutely no time for those who manipulate things for their own agenda and to their own ends - especially where that agenda may be to the detriment, loss or suffering of others (hence in large measure my stance and absolutely firm view on the B matter)

And you don't have to bother about what is written - you can completely ignore every single word...:)
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Thanks and believe me I don't. The trouble is that people selectively choose parts of the writings to get over their point and ignore other parts which are totally contrary to that. But that's human nature.
I understand that religion is an important part of many peoples lives and I respect that totally. For others it is something that helps them and has proved to be an important emotional support for them in difficult times. I see that as well. My mother ensured my Dad had the full mass when he passed away because that was a major comfort to her and I will do the same for herself when she passes on out of respect. Although me and my brothers are (were) all in the box me and burn me camp. Funnily enough, my eldest brother was a full churchgoer, my middle brother is an atheist and I am an agnostic so it's never been forced on us. Even at the Catholic school we attended the mantra was more in treating people equally irrespective.
Good luck to you and your beliefs. I respect them even if I don't personally believe them.
 
Robster59 said:
Thanks and believe me I don't. The trouble is that people selectively choose parts of the writings to get over their point and ignore other parts which are totally contrary to that. But that's human nature.
I understand that religion is an important part of many peoples lives and I respect that totally. For others it is something that helps them and has proved to be an important emotional support for them in difficult times. I see that as well. My mother ensured my Dad had the full mass when he passed away because that was a major comfort to her and I will do the same for herself when she passes on out of respect. Although me and my brothers are (were) all in the box me and burn me camp. Funnily enough, my eldest brother was a full churchgoer, my middle brother is an atheist and I am an agnostic so it's never been forced on us. Even at the Catholic school we attended the mantra was more in treating people equally irrespective.
Good luck to you and your beliefs. I respect them even if I don't personally believe them.
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No probs Sir! and you are absolutely correct - there are many different and varied reasons that a lot of people have developed a spiritual faith that for quite a few is of a religious variety.

For all of them (myself included) a spiritual belief and most importantly faith is a help through life; knowing we are not and are never alone; a touchstone that can be used (often through prayer or - yes - through study and trying to understand the writings of the Bible) to help us see the right thing to do ourselves - and for ourselves - with the hope ultimately to the benefit of others, and absolutely not simply for our own personal gratification, benefit and satisfaction.

Many, many others do not need such spiritual support to achieve the same - perhaps life would be easier if I were one of them :)

And many just do and say what they want regardless ...
 
I'm a non-believer ................................ I didn't set out to be, I just am.
When my dad was told he only had a few weeks left to live, he said to the doctor "That's okay, I have a very strong faith".
He died the next morning and I'm convinced he willed himself to death to avoid his and his loved ones' anguish at his upcoming death.
Now, whilst I genuinely have no 'faith', I did envy him .......................... it made his own passing fearless to him.
I think my point is that faith is something you have or you don't, you can't decide to have it or not.
Maybe I'm wrong, it's just how it is for me.
For that reason I can never criticise someone for their faith, no matter how it manifests itself.
I'll question it all daylong but it's a very personal thing.
Each to their own, there is no provable right or wrong.
I do, however, think some people use faith as a prop.
Excuse my witterings, I'm just trying to make a point ............................. albeit badly!
 
Slime said:
I'm a non-believer ................................ I didn't set out to be, I just am.
When my dad was told he only had a few weeks left to live, he said to the doctor "That's okay, I have a very strong faith".
He died the next morning and I'm convinced he willed himself to death to avoid his and his loved ones' anguish at his upcoming death.
Now, whilst I genuinely have no 'faith', I did envy him .......................... it made his own passing fearless to him.
I think my point is that faith is something you have or you don't, you can't decide to have it or not.
Maybe I'm wrong, it's just how it is for me.
For that reason I can never criticise someone for their faith, no matter how it manifests itself.
I'll question it all daylong but it's a very personal thing.
Each to their own, there is no provable right or wrong.
I do, however, think some people use faith as a prop.
Excuse my witterings, I'm just trying to make a point ............................. albeit badly!
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Nothing to be excused for there 👍
 
Slime said:
I'm a non-believer ................................ I didn't set out to be, I just am.
When my dad was told he only had a few weeks left to live, he said to the doctor "That's okay, I have a very strong faith".
He died the next morning and I'm convinced he willed himself to death to avoid his and his loved ones' anguish at his upcoming death.
Now, whilst I genuinely have no 'faith', I did envy him .......................... it made his own passing fearless to him.
I think my point is that faith is something you have or you don't, you can't decide to have it or not.
Maybe I'm wrong, it's just how it is for me.
For that reason I can never criticise someone for their faith, no matter how it manifests itself.
I'll question it all daylong but it's a very personal thing.
Each to their own, there is no provable right or wrong.
I do, however, think some people use faith as a prop.
Excuse my witterings, I'm just trying to make a point ............................. albeit badly!
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Well put mate, as you say, each to their own, plus we have the extremists at both ends of the spectrum.
 
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