COMMENTS:
I get so irritated with 'neighborhood missionaries'. I don't feel it's right to go around pushing your views on other people.
Someone knocks on your door and you answer it and find 2 or 3 people smiling and not saying anything right away, and you know immediately what is going on.
I don't even wait for them to say anything, I just say "I am NOT interested", to which the reply is always "Oh we just wanted to talk to you today about some good news" and I again reiterate with "Was there something about what I said that you didn't understand?"
Any time I've ever been part of church that pushes this sort of thing I immediately leave that church.
Well the one girls that did most of the talking said "Well, what if I told you that the bible predicted that a incrossable river would dry up allowing a fortessed city to be attacked?". "It happend. (she mentioned the name of the city and a date, but I don't remember it now) "I'm not going to say that the river was bone dry but it was shallow enough for the army to cross". I said "First of all, if my god is going to make a prediction that the river will be dry, then it'll be dry. Secondly anyone can make a prediction, go ahead and make one" She said "o.k someone on your street will be robbed". I said "there you go, you just made a prediction" She said "But I didn't say where or when". "Neither did the bible" I replied. This is dragging out. I'll cut to the chase....
About three weeks later the girl that did most of the talking was back with her priest. I invited them in and said "can I be the one asking questions?" They said "sure"
I didn't have any question prepared because I had no idea they were coming. I wondered to myself why they were wasting such a beautiful day going door to door. Being religious people shouldn't they be appreciating "god's work"? So I asked them. They gave me the text book answer. Jesus wants us to save lives (or something to that effect). Right, I should have known, dumb question. I then said "Look, religion isn't all bad, I like the fact that you help the poor and needy". (Side note: I was living in Kitsilano, one of Vancouver's wealthy regions so why the hell were they there to being with? These people don't need help but that's another story.) "I just doing think that you should hold religion as a carrot in order to get help". "He says "we don't, we simply offer assistance as suggest how letting god into their lives ...(I started tuning out after that). OK I'm not the most openminded person. Anyway, the girl piped up and said "last time you turned down a bible, we would really like for you to have one this time". I caved in and took knowing full well that I'd never read it.
That Bible is a great conversation piece when your high society bible beating relatives come to visit haha.
"Oh my a bible? That's good to see"
"Yah, well, it's a great paperweight"
"Whaa....??? YOU DONT READ IT?"
heheh
Never read it in it's entirety, no. I don't believe in gods. As a kid, I belonged to Scouts and bible reading was a part of their prerequisite (even though at that age I didn't believe in gods or devils etc). I don't remeber them asking me.
Since you DO believe in a god, have you read any other religion's books or did you just settle on the bible (or whatever it is that you read) because your upbringing?
Why not first get a little bit more informed yourself? Wars are NOT always fought over religion. In fact they are much more likely fought over the control of natural resources.
These wars (and others) were not fought over or on the basis of religion:
1. World War 1
2. World War 2
3. US Civil War
4. US Revolutionary War
5. The Korean War
6. The Vietnam War
7. The Falkland Islands War
8. Russian Civil War
9. Chinese Civil War
10. Russo-Japanese War
11. Cuban Revolution
12. Gulf War
13. Well... the French and Napoleon had a few wars. Seems to me it was hard core atheists that led the charge to overthrow the monarchy.
14. Pretty much all of the wars that Britain and France engaged in to further their imperialistic aims.
15. Pretty much all of the slaughters and genocides of Native Americans by white settlers.
I could go on and on, but I just listed a few of the biggies. I read this nonsense by atheists all the time that wars are fought over religion. They are fought over natural resources and control. Some uninformed person must have once said wars are fought over religion conveniently forgetting all the massive wars like the world wars and especially the wars that put atheistic communists in power in Russia and China.
Hello....
I never stated that wars are ALWAYS fought over religion. My statement was "as long as there is religion there will always be war". I'd like that not to be the case but if history is proof of anything than it isn't the case.
I didn't have to go back as far as did to find examples of wars/conflicts where religion is a major factor.
Afghanistan- Extreme, radical Fundamentalist Muslim terrorist groups & non-Muslims
Bosnia- Serbian Orthodox Christians, Roman Catholic), Muslims
Côte d'Ivoire- Muslims, Indigenous, Christian
Cyprus- Christians & Muslims
East Timor-Christians & Muslims
India-Animists, Hindus, Muslims & Sikhs
Indonesia, province of Ambon-Christians & Muslims
Indonesia, province of Halmahera Christians & Muslims
Iraq-Kurds, Shiite Muslims, Sunni Muslims, western armed forces
Kashmir-Hindus & Muslims
Kosovo-Serbian Orthodox Christians & Muslims
Kurdistan-Christians, Muslims
Macedonia-Macedonian Orthodox Christians & Muslims
Middle East-Jews, Muslims, & Christians
Nigeria-Christians, Animists, & Muslims
Northern Ireland-Protestants,
Catholics
Pakistan-Suni & Shi'ite Muslims
Philippines-Christians & Muslims
Russia,Chechnya-Russian Orthodox Christians, Muslims
Sri Lanka-Buddhists & Hindus
Sudan-Animists, Christians & Muslims
Thailand-Buddhists & Muslims
Uganda-Animists, Christians, & Muslims
Voted : Continue
Imagine no suicide bombers, no 9/11, no 7/7, no Crusades, no witch hunts, no Gunpowder Plot, no Indian partition, no Israeli/Palestinian wars, no Serb/Croat/Muslim massacres, no persecution of Jews as 'Christ-killers', no Northern Ireland 'troubles,' no 'honor killings,' no shiny-suited bouffant-haired televangelists fleecing gullible people of their money.
I am not blaming all this killing on God either, people are obviously not evolved enough to know what's actually good. It is Not having more stuff or being better or stronger than anyone else.
If there's a God then we need him/it more than ever right now.
I am not holding my breath.
by Jyl on Tue Dec 05, 06 3:19pm
[+]
Voted : Not interested
Religion's on the right side of the street. I went lefty years ago.
Notice that all bar 2 of the wars on your religious wars list involved Islam.
Not that I'm saying we should wipe them out, that would be the complete WRONG thing. But it is a religion that breeds intolerance, and if there was some way of converting every single Muslim over to Christianity, I would do it in a heartbeat.
Anyway, it is better to have wars and religion than far less wars and no religion. It is better to have a crap life on earth and go to heaven than turn away from God and go to hell.
^16 of the 23 listed involve Christianity. So I don't think converting Muslims to Christians would do much. Now if you say convert Christians and Muslim to Buddhists or Atheists then you'd be making some real progress.
War is a traditional thing. One must carry on the tradition, mustn't they!
War is very newsworthy, captivating, a nice break from monotonous 'peace'. Let's you and them fight! Who's gonna win and who's gonna lose, and then what!
study world history and you will find that only it last 60 years has there been so much war because or religion.you really should read more!
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