Religion!!!

[stevie1time]

Imagine if religion was a choice like what subjects to take in you 3rd year of secondary school??? I mean,they are all as bad as each other,and not one can truly prove they are right until you kark it???

[tiggerblue10]

True.

[Octavius]

Well it is more of a lifestyle choice than 2 years of study towards an exam, so your analogy is a bit �karked�. And if you really think that ALL religions are �as bad as each other� then I might suggest you go back a couple of years to a lower set!

As regards choosing religion, then you do or you don�t, it really is up to you. Whether any of is right, religious or otherwise, is a chance we all take in life isn�t it?

[stevie1time]

I think the point i was trying to make is that religion is forced upon kids being born into a faith..i have Sikh on my birth certificate..yet i do not at all practice it..I wouldnt call the Muslim,Mormon,Jehova's Witness a lifestyle choice,more brainwash really...So if we had to pick a religion to take up in School,then i presume most people would choose one that hasnt caused a war or death,one that welcomes all other faiths and beliefs,and one that says we will all go to heaven and live in eternal bliss....I cant think of one :)

[Octavius]

Well if you are talking wars and all-welcoming characteristics, then I suppose they wouldn�t study politics or history either then?

[stevie1time]

The Crusades couldnt be classed as a war i suppose...Naming a Teddy Bear Mohammed could cause a war..Building a huge wall to separate Palestine is not a war,but just a mere diference of opinions i guess, and also the Protestants and the Catholics,they have great get together parties,even Parades so they can have a pleasant debate..

[Octavius]

I am not saying that they should be taught to be religious, unless they so desire, but that you can�t ignore religion in education, which is what you seem to be confusing.

The crusades were a collection of several wars for political purposes on the backdrop of religious motivation. Naming a teddy bear Mohammed could cause a media frenzy divided between religious intolerance and Islamophobia. I�m not sure a war was looming, although quite why the events in Darfur have not braced the nation in the same way I am unsure. Yes of course you are right about Palestine and Northern Ireland. So if we take religion out of the educational mix, then if you agree, children should not learn about all these historical and political events at school. Perhaps we should exclude Word War 2 also, since that involved the Jews.

[stevie1time]

Very interesting Oct,i will be honest i have my doubts about religion,but i dont ignore it,nor do have any opinions against those that have faith and belief..Its just not for me..I am on the fence with the Jewish faith,but i suppose anti semitism is understanable to an extent( not extreme) i mean they did condemn Jesus to the Cross in many peoples minds..(not mine,im not religous)

[Octavius]

Sorry I can't agree with you on that. I find intolerance towards relgion as abhorrent as intolerance towards atheism. To villify people because of their beliefs or non-beliefs, colour, race or sexual persuasion is not the sign of a progressive and open mind.

[stevie1time]

Understandable,but we live in a world full of intolerance,we are not free men,we pay taxes,we commute in our iron coffins,we abide by laws that are not our own...If a man commits murder upon your family,robs your possesions,takes your life,dreams,aspirations and soul....who punishes,condemns and sentences them..Not God,but some **** in a wig...who dont even know how to pronounce your name...Where is God then??? we die...we turn to dust....why waste an entire life on a promise that with a chance(and that chance makes all the difference) someone was right after all....!!! screw religion..its or people with no self belief,no self confidence and a weakness and dependency on a whisper!! myself and my wife made our children,I work,I pay my bills,I keep a roof over my families head,I look after my family when they are ill,I have to go to see the Bank Manager when I am skint,I run and try my best my life and my families life......ERRR where is this prick God...when he coughs up a bit of cash,then maybe i might give him some of my time....The devil is in us all when it comes to self preservation...So please dont condescend with your false pathetic beliefs...cos when that hoodies about to stab you through the heart for the ten bob in you pocket...im sure god aint gonna stop him :)

[stevie1time]

And just one more thing Octavius...You feel that intolerance of religion is wrong...Go up to the families of people that have been killed by suicide bombers...walk right up to them in their darkest hour and say..' well folks,its their religion and their beliefs,yeah they just murdered 3 thousand people,but hey,we cant be intolerant,cos its religion'

[stevie1time]

Erm,went on a bit of a rant there,nothing personal in there Octavius,I sincerely apologise if any offence taken...I will say i am still on the fence with religion,its just not me at the moment in my life..Our family lost a 5 year old boy to a road Accident,it ripped our hearts out,i lay blame,there is a big void in my heart.....it was put there the day a so called 'God' decided to take him....

[Octavius]

Ok, you seem to have several issue swirling around your head and you are going off in a number of tangents. I�m not offended, although I can almost certainly disagree with many of your assertions and assumptions. But I wouldn�t deny you your right to have opinions and air them.

Maybe I should clarify. Intolerance towards people who carry out atrocities in the name of religion and inflict ham upon other is execrable. I am not denying that. My inference was that I dislike intolerance towards people because of their beliefs or non beliefs. It is their actions towards their fellow man which define them, not their faith. To hate someone just because they are a religionist (or not) is unacceptable in my view.

Let me also get this straight. I am not trying to convert you. Of course I have sympathy and can empathise for the situation you have explained, and I am not trying to convince you that God is to blame or that He is not. Religion may not be the answer to you and your situation, it is a personal thing and we all have to deal with these tragedies in our way. Whether we follow religion or we don�t, we are all affected by the loss of a loved one in more or less the same way and share the same emotions of loss, guilt and hate.

[Pippa68]

RE isn't compulsory in my kids school when they choose their options for GCSE.

However the school my daughter will be going to is a CofE girls school, and RE is compulsory.