Religion
Related: About this forumWhen religious beliefs become evil
Those were just some of the signs that Tamerlan Tsarnaev, accused of masterminding the Boston Marathon bombings, had adopted a virulent strain of Islam that led to the deaths of four people and injury of more than 260.
But how else can you tell that someones religious beliefs have crossed the line? The answer may not be as simple you think, according to scholars who study all brands of religious extremism. The line between good and evil religion is thin, they say, and its easy to make self-righteous assumptions.
When its something we like, we say its commitment to an idea; when its something we dont like, we say its blind obedience, said Douglas Jacobsen, a theology professor at Messiah College in Pennsylvania.
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/28/when-religious-beliefs-becomes-evil-4-signs/comment-page-44/
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)trotsky
(49,533 posts)Are religions that practice ritual circumcision evil?
Those who believe that homosexuality is a violation of god's law think that a religion preaching acceptance of homosexuality is causing a great deal of harm. Whose religion is evil in that case?
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)As for the word harm I mean when it teaches you to bring physical harm to someone. I am not commenting on circumcision.
Phillip McCleod
(1,837 posts)you are shielded by faith. they are shielded by faith.
nothing can ever change this way.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)trotsky
(49,533 posts)Other Christians disagree. Thus it shows just how important it is to determine who gets to decide what "harm" means - your initial statement made it seem so simple, but I assure you it is not.
And I can certainly understand why you don't want to talk about circumcision here. On another thread, a poster was opposed to it but OK if it happened as part of a religious tradition. What a double standard! Unfortunately it is this unwillingness to talk about the tough questions and really analyze the role of religion in the equation that leads to so many political problems. I'd rather talk about the 700 pound gorilla in the room than ignore it.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)trotsky
(49,533 posts)Other Christians, other believers, will have different opinions on what constitutes harm. No wonder you don't want to comment on circumcision.
It just seems like you are unwilling to think past a certain point - you declare how it should be, then the dialog stops. Which is eerily close to what happens when trying to dialog with right-wing fundies (which I'm not saying you are, just comparing the behavior). A behavior that is best summed up by an actual bumper sticker I've seen:
"God said it, I believe it, that settles it."
Which of course begs so many questions it's ridiculous. But that's as far as you seem willing to go. It's frustrating.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)trotsky
(49,533 posts)but you've already declared you won't answer them.
So there we are.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)trotsky
(49,533 posts)The precedent you've set is that you're willing to discuss an issue, but only to a point where you have to think about the tough questions, then you bail. I don't see much coming out of a small talk discussion, which appears to be the only kind you're willing to have.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)trotsky
(49,533 posts)...and are willing to tackle the serious and difficult questions, let me know.
LTX
(1,020 posts)religion is not the source of action or belief?
And out of curiosity, do you believe that circumcision in general is evil? Or evil only if part of a religious ritual?
trotsky
(49,533 posts)Feel free to start another thread to address another topic!
Thats my opinion
(2,001 posts)to be the bearer of all truth, and everyone else to be in error--and this means condemned.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)Tax policy, unions, abortion, energy policy, etc.
Does that make Democrats dangerous? Are their beliefs evil?
You yourself have made all sorts of declarations on what is or isn't modern Christianity, telling millions of Christians all over the world that they are in error. Are your beliefs evil?
madrchsod
(58,162 posts)dimbear
(6,271 posts)Phillip McCleod
(1,837 posts)..after the boston bombings.. the results were not pretty. i was called both an imperialist and a bigot. still kinda stings.
the short answer is.. this isn't going away because the religions 'Of The Book' to use the Islamist term have clearly immoral passages, that anyone can read at any time and interpret however they choose.
as long as the words are written down that way, people are going to interpret them the way they were intended.
you know.. the way god meant Joshua to understand them at the end of the exodus.
'kill them all, the babies and livestock too, or you get *nothing*'
cbayer
(146,218 posts)1. I know the truth, and you dont.
2. Beware the charismatic leader.
3. The end is near.
4. The end justifies the means.
Some of this can be applied to non-religious movements that have become extreme as well. They may also be indicators of a serious psychiatric illness which might need to be evaluated.
Overall, it's a difficult line to draw at times, with extremes at both ends. Some want to call all religious belief evil while others embrace religious extremism.