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Politics : About that Cuban boy, Elian -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (8277)	7/10/2000 2:32:58 PM
From: Master (Hijacked)	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9127

Karen I said "YES". Why do you call it a non-answer? Back later. Duty calls. Remember the Ten Commandments? I'm about to break one of them <g>

To: Lane3 who wrote (8277)	7/10/2000 2:44:07 PM
From: X Y Zebra	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 9127

I think that teaching people to be good is wonderful. It's even better when they learn and practice being good. Religions, though, have both sins against man and sins against god. If they stuck with the sins against man--preaching goodness--I might agree with you. On the other hand, teaching people to be good to each other can also be handled by Oprah or the Boy Scouts. "Teaching people to be good is wonderful." (the end justify the means?) Would that include teaching the fact that organized religion does not acknowledge (or takes a few centuries to do so), the killings, burnings, and general criminal acts performed against entire groups of people ? (i.e. Crusades, Inquisitions) Would it also include the fact that it teaches to "fear" an imaginary god, who to this day there is NO tangible proof of its existence? How about being part of a powerful system who treats women as second class citizens and gives little value to the intellectual capacities of women ? (i.e. no woman priests ) Or... patronize cults who indeed clearly state what the functions of women are, these being having children and take care of husbands ? (i.e. The promise keepers, any ole' Christian fundamentalist creationist will do too.) Or... encourage braking the law (i.e. pray in school), in spite of the fact that REPEATEDLY the Supreme Court has again, and again, stated that such act is anti-constitutional. (lately such decision has been reaffirmed, yet again). (i.e. countless of rural communities who have had to stop such practices "prayer before football games, before graduations, school board meetings" et cetera --the names are in the Supreme Court records) Or... Denying the advances of science, (in the face of facts), which puts the teaching of religion squarely in the realm of lies. (i.e. Life creation is a divine function ~vs~ cloning,). Is this what they teach children and then it is considered "good ethics and morals" ? I say religion teaches you lies, deceit and lack of free-thinking. "Being good" requires the use of reason, the use of analysis, the ability to question formerly established practices that in the face of new evidence, such practices perhaps never were wise to follow. The simple ability to ask... "what if? " Religion takes the mind of young children and fills them with their dogma preparing them to become nothing more than zombies. Is that moral ? Why must a child be instilled with the stupid "fear of god" ? As for the Boy Scouts...? HA ! They are teaching them discrimination in reference to homosexuals. I do not agree with homosexuals, however, I will respect them in their choice, (provided that is, they do not push it onto others.) Religion not only WILL push their bs on others, if and when they are capable, they threaten you, wither directly, or in a very subliminal manner if you do not follow their ideology. In addition, in spite of their lack of evidence, they are a bunch of pompous arses, since they assume that by the sheer fact one does not follow their teachings, such fact alone --with no further consideration as to your behavior as an individual, MAKES you evil. Sorry, I am not in the market for wholesale bullsh*t. I consider religious people EVIL --except those who are civil and keep their beliefs to themselves, RESPECTING those of others. Then I will respond with civility. Until then, I see religion as a threat to my freedom, my ability to reason and my well-being. They are a risk to free-thought. Now they complain and cry that "religious people are the only ones who suffer from the intolerance of others". I don't think so. I see no church burnings, or their members being hanged or burned... What is different now is that people with other beliefs are capable of expressing their thoughts and defending them against these tyrants who are pretending to wear the mask of a sheep. I say rubbish, and if they feel "they are suffering of intolerance" well, tough on those who so believe ! Have a spoonful of your own medicine which you dispensed so efficiently for centuries. Besides, if they can dream up gods and demons as they do, he he he... small wonder they are now imagining their own paranoia. Hey, this is their chance to prove that their gods will save them and defend them. But this time let god himself (I wonder why it could not be "herself"), do the deed, none of the humans "acting under the influence of gods" and will start armies chopping peoples heads "in the name of god".