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On Sat, 11 Feb 2006, Charles W. Smith wrote:
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>
> The reality of it is that it is impossible to separate religion from any
> of our political controversies. These controversies cannot even be
> understood properly without understanding religion's influence and
> impact on the controversy. And there are none that religion does not
> influence.
Charles:
Referring to your comments about slavery:
There are many forms of slavery. That is for sure, but it does no good to
confuse definitions simply to try to make a point because unless everyone
gets on the same page you will never have consensus.
No doubt religion can be useful to the ruling class. No doubt it can also
be comforting to the middle-class, including some in the ruling class and
very satisfying to the poor who need to believe in something or nothing
makes any sense. The concept really, isn't about truth so much as it is
about comfort and in the first case where it is useful to the rulers, to
keep the poor and middle-class working against their best interests if
they can fall back on their faith in a better after-life and for many
religionists the concept of predestination is important for providing a
rationale, no matter how mistaken, that "what ever will be will be." I'm
certain you have heard others, perhaps your mother or grandmother herself
say this. It is common for Christians (though not so much Jews) to rely on
the concept of predestination to justify just about everything.
And in that respect, and others, one might suggest that religion is a form
of slavery of the mind. But there are many forms of slavery and it does no
good to compare forms of slavery. All slavery is bad certainly, but
forms of enslavement are not the same in degree and therefore not
equally as bad - because they are not the same.
It is manifestly obvious that all forms of enslavement are undesirable
when seeking the truth. But religion can also be a good thing, even when
not truthful. That is because religion for many is an important guide for
morality. It is necessary for some to believe in something in order to
justify their life. It is that purpose which makes religion necessary. As
for morality and "doing unto others," Without it there is no structure -
which is not to say there is no morality. Of course there is, but some
people need structure. Others can provide their own structure and reason,
although always subjective, is determined using a different yardstick; not
religion.
It is obviously wrong to attribute to religion all that is bad without
seeing the advantages in religion - although not all religions are equally
bad or equally good. And while all religion is wrong, IMO, it is not
necessary a bad thing. If we didn't have to think about things at all it
would not be necessary at all and the irony is the more we think and
reason the less we realize religion becomes a necessity - (studies
indicate those who are religion are happier than atheists).
And Islam, the religion which requires total submission to the law of
Allah is inherently by it's essential fundamentalism, is essentially wrong
and bad because it has always been a religion of conquest and pilage. It
physically enslaves through dhimmitude as a matter of Koranic policy, as
the literal word of God through the angel Gabriel directly to Muhammad's
ear.
Hank
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