Perspectives Of Wealthgreenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread |
Hello Folks, We all have about the same amount of "things", so possessions really do not set us apart from each other. We all pretty much look the same, except we may be lighter or darker or have a different eye color. What sets us apart from each other as a major different is how we worship! That difference is to some more important that anything else. Someone once said, that there is only one God but, a thousand ways to worship him. Some people chose the way that they want to worship Him and use it as a way to make themselves appear superior from others. This is the nature of people. Many people want to stand out or be noticed. Religion gives them the conveyance of distinction, separating them into a more narrow and elite (you may say) category of superiority. My God is this and my God is that....throw in a little heaven and hell....and next thing you know you are unique. If one could just set religion aside for a few minutes and take a real look at why he/she is here, they may find out that others are here for the same reasons, regardless of what their beliefs are. From the moment we are born into this world we fight for position among our peers, siblings, co-workers, neighbors, communities, etc. Sure there are drop-outs but, they too are always desiring to be unique as well. Just the fact that they have dropped out has made them unique in a way. I guess what I am trying to say is that we all have definite goals here on this planet and we should look at each and everyone of them, understanding that if we do not follow the path that will do the better for the most of the goals then we are violating the rights and freedoms of others. Our first goal is survival of our own life...obviously we all are achieving this one. Our second goal is survival of our family...again obviously we are all achieving this one I hope. But, the third goal is iffy...survival of our group. The fourth goal is iffy as well.... survival of mankind. The fifth, sixth, and seventh are important but, pertain to enviroment and without the first four in harmony the rest of them are non-exsistant in our lives. Lets go back to our fourth goal....survival of mankind. What can one do or say that will help mankind survive? What can one tell another human being that will make him realize that he or she is important or special to them? It may sound a bit niave or "old fashiion" but, a kind word, or a handshake, or any gesture of peace, respect, or even love, can do more to make a person feel important or special than any religion's books ever could. So, I will start the trend by saying that dispite the rumors I have heard about you being a "Jew",or "Fundie", "Christian", "Baptist", "Pagaen", "Druid", "Athiest", "Moslem", "Hypocrite", or "Snake Worshipper" I would like to acknowledge that I think you are very special and vital to all of mankind and that you will contribute much to us all with your words of wisdom and your experiences in life to help us all live a better and more rewarding lives. You are vital to each and everyone of the rest of us humans as we are all trying to stick together and keep the race a majority on this planet. If something was to happen to you the rest of us would mourn. You do not have to demostrate a unique label to the rest of us that you are special, we already know that and accept you just as you are....human! Sincerely, Ernest
-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), September 06, 2001
Might you have meant "'Perspectives' of Wealth"?
-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), September 06, 2001.
Well opined Ernest!I have long believed that God does not care what religion you are, nor care how diligently you attend religious services. I believe God cares HOW you live your life. Are you a good spouse; a kind / loving parent; are you quick to help out those in need; are you a person which makes a difference, no matter how small. In short, are you the type of person that EVERYONE would like to know. And emulate. Time is short in this world; it is up to us if we make a difference.
-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), September 06, 2001.
Oh, how I have been trying to teach this to my children! TOLERANCE of others leads to peace. You may not always agree with them, but you can still show respect, kindness and love. We have friends and aquaintances of many colors, religions, and creeds BUT as we associate with different people we find that we have much more in common than not. Sitting in my friends Amish kitchen with the kids running around playing one winter evening, I realized that we aren't all that different. Our religions may not be similar and our clothes are different, but we both want our children to be healthy and happy. We can discuss recipes, quilts, family and friends, the state of the world, and many other topics. As we pass through this world make it a goal to find out what you have in common with this person, what you can agree on, where the middle ground is. The most important thing is not to always be right, but to try to spread peace and understanding. I always keep in mind a quote I heard at church camp when I was 12 years old,"YOU MAY BE THE ONLY BIBLE SOMEONE EVER READS"
-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), September 06, 2001.
Tolerance is the key! My mother-in-law thinks everybody is going to hell if they are not of her religious beliefs. (it is a Christian religion but if you don't go to her particular "church" she believes that's it for you)It doesn't matter that her son was delivered from being an alcoholic INSTANLY after more than 40 years of drinking and never touched another drop without going to AA meetings or anything! (and I am a certified drug and alcohol counselor in a previous proffession!) She still says he will go to hell because he doesn't go to her particualr "Church."
Just because I am white and from Alabama doesn't mean I am a bigot...we have friends of all races and all religious persuasions and we love them all equally....
we try to live as simply as possible and tend to our own business.
-- Suzy in Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), September 06, 2001.
When my Dad was dying, he would lay there and talk (yep, really talk), to deceased relatives of ours. The relatives were all from different backgrounds as far as religion. My Dad was Catholic, an Aunt that was born again Babtist, an Uncle that never went to church, etc... He would hold the longest conversations with them. Some we weren't able to understand, some we were. But we all came to the conclusion that all of the relatives were in the same place, no matter what religious beliefs. Dad also kept asking us about a man that he had known 50 years ago in his home town, like how he was doing and so forth. This was a month before Dad died. When we went back to Ky. for the funeral, we asked the Priest about this particular man and the Priest told us that the man had died just a week before at 94 years old. We all think Dad knew the old man was going to be taking the same journey as Dad. My Dad may have been dying, but he taught me the most important lesson than he had in all my life....God decides and I don't believe God concerns himself about man-made religions.
-- Annie (mistletoe@kconline.com), September 06, 2001.
Ernest,Thanks for starting this interesting thread. I am a former ultraconservative Fundamentalist Christian. I became an atheist and a humanist in late December, 2000.
The ideas that you have expressed are very similar to those espoused by humanists, who are also keenly interested in the welfare and "survival of mankind." Like you, humanists also attempt to get all humans to "stick together" so that we can all live better, "more rewarding lives."
In my opinion, religion is an obstacle that prevents us from attaining this goal. Religion divides people. It threatens liberty. It has been retarding the development of humankind for thousands of years, ever since it was invented by Man. It has contributed to the establishment of borders and nations of people, has given power to tyrants, and has sparked innumerable wars.
As Melissa said, I agree that "TOLERANCE of others leads to peace." And, yes, "we aren't all that different," are we? Religion doesn't do anything to promote tolerance among people, though, and actually CREATES many of the differences that exist between us. Christianity, in particular, doesn't promote tolerance at all. One of the fundamental tenets of Christianity (unless you are some sort of Liberal Christian) is that all those persons who reject that JC is the son of "God" will eventually be burned in hell. Is that "tolerance?" How do you expect to have any friends when you believe such a thing? The only friends you'll have are the people that agree with you, or the people that haven't yet discovered what it is that you believe about them. Christianity promotes INTOLERANCE of EVERYONE who disagrees, and that is one reason why I no longer worship the god of the bible.
As Annie stated, I also believe that religion is "man-made." Of course, being an atheist, I believe that "God" is man-made also. However, I am tolerant of people who disagree with me, and do NOT wish them all dead like Christians (and many other religious adherents) the world over wish for the people who disagree with them. Just thoughts for y'all to consider. Thanks for listening.
Humanists say: "Our only label is 'Human!'"
-- Louis in Georgia (walking_in_the_light_of_reason@hotmail.com), September 11, 2001.