Yet, in today's world, or at least the world that I live in, when one tells the truth one gets judged, yelled at, called names, and sometimes shot at and killed.
I live in a very conservative Christian section of Pennsylvania, where Amish and Mennonite religions have influenced the culture here over the years. I find Mennonites very accepting of other's views of religion for the most part, and if they do not agree they are able to agree to disagree in a peaceful manner. Probably because they have suffered religious persecution themselves. However, I cannot say the same from the outcrop of individual churches influenced mainly by Mennonites that are not affiliated with anyone but themselves nor for many extremely religious people that I know around this area.
This is not to say that the problem is not at epidemic proportions across the world, it is! For much of this discussion, however, I will speak of Christianity.
Why is the Christian religion so unable to change and accept facts of science? The bible says to seek the truth. Yet, when people seek the truth and find out for themselves that: alot of the bible is historically inaccurate at best; or intentionally designed to further the beliefs of a few prominent powerful men to further their personal gain at worst, people become so angry, so hateful.
Let me tell you a story about my 7-year-old granddaughter. She was at school and told a classmate that she didn't think it was possible for God to be Jesus's father because Mary was a human. This classmate called her names and told her she could NEVER play with her again or be her friend. My granddaughter's response was, "Well, I will still be your friend when you're done being mad."
Now, 7-year-olds are not just born thinking this. Someone taught both of these children about religion. Which response sounds more like Jesus?
In a world filled with religion based hatred how can we equate tolerance with "don't say anything because it may upset them." This 7-year-old had the guts to question a very unbelievable scenario and was met with hatred and alienation.
Please read the article in the link below. I consider myself a Spiritual Christian. I view the Bible as a historical book and guide to life. I think Jesus is "the son of God (or goodness)" just like I am a daughter of God (or goodness). I think of communion as a way to connect to my fellow Christian's whether they believe as I do or not. Breaking bread, sharing a meal is extremely important to me as it has throughout history been a way to bring people of all faith or no faith together. I believe that Jesus, Buddah and Mohammed were good and just people trying to make sense of a world that made no sense. They tried to help guide us through to a place of knowledge and enlightenment where we can make our own choices. And EVERY one of them was all about acceptance, about treating others as you wanted to be treated, about letting people learn and maneuver through this life at their own speed. EVERY one of them was peaceful and those people who changed that thinking to benefit and further their own agenda for this world spat in these wonderful loving vessels of goodness's faces.
We have to stop saying it's OK. It is not OK to teach a 7-year-old that you should not be friends with someone who doesn't believe the same as you. It is NOT OK to let someone spew hatred about anything, especially religion, and be quiet.
It doesn't take much. All you need to say is that you believe the founders of the world religions, all of them, to be peaceful, love-filled men and you don't believe they would approve of hatred and walk away.
" In this war, the best weapon, by far, is the truth. Now more than ever, telling the truth counts. So please, do it." Jeff Taylor
God is goodness in the world. Seek the truth and speak the truth. Stay at your religion, be active and actively and lovingly encourage change from within. Religions are not meant to be 215 years old. They are meant to help you through this life and give you peace.
Your religion was made up by inspired humans much like yourself hundreds of years ago. Be dynamic, make your religious beliefs dynamic, don't let the words of the past bog you down. Start with the idea that God is goodness, not some white man with a beard on a cloud. And Goodness is around you, if you look for it, every day.
I love you all because you are reading this and are seeking truth. Keep having faith that this journey, where ever it leads you, will eventually bring you so much peace and contentment that all of the milestones of painful truths and feelings of being duped and being abandoned by your faith will bring you to a better place in the end.
Feel free to contact me at anytime if you need to talk about this. It is HARD! And at times you will feel like you are dangling in the wind. But, believe me, it is worth it.
And always remember, telling the truth counts.
We must offend religion more: Islam, Christianity and our tolerance for ancient myths, harmful ideas - Salon.com http://www.salon.com/2015/02/22/we_must_offend_religion_more_islam_christianity_and_our_tolerance_for_ancient_myths_harmful_ideas/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
The question of whether Western countries should adapt to Muslim newcomers for the sake of social harmony confronts us with a formidable dilemma, which is, nonetheless, eminently solvable. Steadfast belief in the inerrancy of religious dogma, coupled with (at times fanatically held) convictions that the dogma’s many mandates are meant to apply to all humanity, clash with principles of secular governance and Enlightenment-era precepts that oblige us, at least ideally, to sort out our problems relying on reason, consensus and law. (Yes, blasphemy laws still stain legal codes in several Western countries, but for a long time now they have rarely been applied.) Though many Westerners wish to show tolerance to Muslims they consider disadvantaged in their new homelands, we cannot “adapt” here, especially under threat of violence. We must unabashedly stand by reason, the rule of law, and secularism.
Those arguing in favor of exercising “restraint” are really advocating (cowardly) self-censorship. We do enough of this already. When some “offensive” cartoons are published in Europe and riots break out in the Middle East, the newsworthy images, no matter how relevant, are seldom reproduced in the reporting that follows. And lest anyone forget, neither the artists of Charlie Hebdo nor Lars Vilks entered local Muslim communities waving around their Muhammad cartoons, bent on stirring up trouble. They were exercising their professions in their offices, with every legal right to do so.
Should we admit how touchy a subject faith is for Muslims and just leave it alone? Well, religion is a (far too) sensitive topic for many people, and not only Muslims. Our enduring deference to all religions, despite their verifiably phony explanations for the origins of the cosmos and our species, to say nothing of their toxic preachments, only furthers their survival. We need not less but more frank talk about faith.
Concepts of freedom of expression and the laws designed to protect it were born in Europe’s blood-soaked history of interfaith warfare, mostly between Catholics and Protestants. The (atheistic) French Revolution aimed to “de-Christianize” France in order to smash the (temporal, wealth-based) stranglehold the Catholic Church had on the country. The Founding Fathers well knew how the state could use religion against the people; hence, the First Amendment safeguards both freedom of speech and freedom of religion by forbidding Congress to enact laws abridging the exercise of either. The Abrahamic faiths have never been simply matters of conscience; they have always served as weapons to impose control, especially over women and their bodies, sexual minorities and education. Weapons need to be kept under lock and key, or better yet, eliminated.....
“Now,” she added, “it’s us or them. I want us to win.”
So do I. And if you’re honest with yourself, so do you.
In this war, the best weapon, by far, is the truth. Now more than ever, telling the truth counts. So please, do it.
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