Yes, I know 1528 is a long time ago but it happens today, but in different guises.What is it that possesses religious people to feel that they have to control the lives of people who do not belong to their religion? Why can't the religions be content to manage their flock and, at worst, expel people they feel do not reflect the values of their religion. Why the need to interfere in the lives of people who are not of their flock?
Politics and power.
The above cartoon says it all when it says that the 18 were burned by the Government because of their beliefs.
The politicians will use religion weapon to justify their particular agenda. If there was a God, he must be totally sick of both sides of a conflict invoking his name as a blessing before they go off to slaughter each other's young men and rape their women.
Religion is invoked in the debate on same sex marriage. What's it got to do with religion?
Some oddball Islamic states (religion & politics, no?) impose all manner of dress, dietary and behavioural restrictions on all member of the community, regardless of their own religion.
And 'God only knows' what their God thinks of Politicians saying the Lord's Prayer before each session of Parliament. Not in my name, springs to mind.
This would be a much happier planet if religion kept to itself.
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5 comments:
You have no idea. Power is so good and religion is too good a tool to get and keep power.
I agree religion has nothing to do with same sex marriage. Many religious people think they own marriage. Have they not noticed civil marriages?
Absolutely spot on! (As usual.) But we couldn't have a world without religion unless we are willing to accept responsibility for our actions and that just isn't going to happen.
This is definitely not far from what happens today, somewhere. Check out this POST about Catholics in Mexico dragging evangelical Christians from their homes because they refused to participate in drunken native rituals and worship Catholic idols.
I have been reading a book called "Infidel," the tragic story of how Muslim women are treated in Africa, written by a woman fortunate enough to get to the Netherlands and give up her crazy superstitions ---but she is under the threat of death constantly.
I swear religion makes people insane.
Not sure about "This would be a much happier planet if religion kept to itself."
I guess I have seen enough things, like hospitals funded by the religious but which serve everyone, and groups of people demanding more humane/human/caring society, that I'm thankful for a "faithful" presence in our nations. But there is a nastier, more sinister side to the coin, which you have noted.
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