All I want is not to get tongue-tied on Tuesday...
I am entitled to an opinion (still) and I'm bloody well going to express it!
(The above sentence aimed squarely at my parents for the time being.)
( Until the other week, I'd never even heard the term 'Collective Worship'. Now I have, and I am ANGRY... )
(The above sentence aimed squarely at my parents for the time being.)
( Until the other week, I'd never even heard the term 'Collective Worship'. Now I have, and I am ANGRY... )
Ah, if only that were where it ended!!
Were that all religious folk like yourself and your mother, lovely Silver :)
religions of the world tend to originate from some remarkable prophet-figure, who truly impressed hundreds, thousands, or millions of people in his lifetime, often with miracles or teachings that changed people's lives upside-down.
In his lifetime? Can't speak for all the main religions (and I do love the fact that there are WAY more Hindus than Christians) but certainly Christianity was more like an avalanche - and the facts of Jesus' life are decidedly shady and over-glossed. Interesting also that all of these prophet fellows are just that - men, not women. We actually have very little evidence of any prophet's real life - and yes, they all follow a similar vein, perhaps too similar.
In times of crisis, people reach for spokespeople. They will acredit one person with (for want of a better phrase) any passing 'miracle', and objectivism goes out of the window (or mud hut air-hole.)
If a religion has survived thousands of years, with billions of followers who swear they have found 'the truth' through it, then in my opinion it is not something to be brushed aside.
But - religion does not survive in the same form. Social mores and morals change constantly, and religion adapts to those changes. In Christianity for example, we are living in a rather stagnant period, but only since medieval times, which is a relatively short timespan on the global scale.
People (today more than ever - largely as a result of education and a more general dissemination of knowledge/opening of borders) can look at a wide range of moral teachings and choose their own path. The important thing to remember is that we are capable of making a moral choice about these matters, which means in turn we are capable of deciding between right and wrong without the aid of (and despite the nature of) religion!
There are many, many amazing people (most of whom we never hear of) who are inspiring and awesome without reference to their spiritual beliefs. I would certainly argue that the ones we do hear of are more often given a platform because of their religious involvement, and of course, this is part of the argument in Texas education, which Charis and Lankyguy touch on, below.
To me, this business of collective worship is part of a general belief that without religion we are incapable of goodness, and this makes me unutterably sad.
In any case, I knew you were only being tongue-in-cheek. I just like friendly debate about religion.
Quite so - if we are scared to debate as intelligent human beings, we simply live ignorantly in fear!
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Totally agree. However I do believe there is an uncorrupted essence in all of the major religions, which is what some followers (the minority usually) manage to access and use for good.
I use the word 'believe' though, for this is obviously a personal belief of mine.
The important thing to remember is that we are capable of making a moral choice about these matters, which means in turn we are capable of deciding between right and wrong without the aid of (and despite the nature of) religion!
Yes. A person can def make moral choices without religion. I don't think that a religious person is any more likely to behave morally than a non-religious person (although obviously as a Buddhist I do think Buddhism has a lot to offer in this area to any person who makes their own personal choice to follow it).
To me, this business of collective worship is part of a general belief that without religion we are incapable of goodness, and this makes me unutterably sad.
Yes, this is sad. And it's a belief that would do everyone good if it was moved away from.
I wish there was more friendly debate going on out there concerning religious issues. I think we all have to be careful in this area, as it is a topic people are usually passionate about, but lack of communication breeds lack of understanding. And lack of understanding breeds hostility, divisiveness and/or ignorance ragarding very important issues.
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