Religious Freedom

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

But when you find other faithss lacking, I'll be interested in the basis by which you do that.

I'm pretty sure that Wendybeth was saying she found others' ACTIONS lacking, not their faith specifically. I don't believe she has a problem with others having differing dogmatic beliefs; she has a problem with their self-righteous actions in defense of their religion.

There are plenty of Catholics who don't bomb abortion clinics. There are plenty of Muslims who aren't violent. It's the extremists who bother me, because their fanaticism obscures the goodness that their religion is supposed to inspire. I suspect that this is what Wendy is talking about.

And I don't know about Wendy, but I really respect what Christ had to say (even if it's only attributable to the oral tradition.) In the Bible, much of what is said by Christ has to do with loving and forgiving others and being peaceful. Regardless of who said it, in my opinion, it's a good way to live. But then, I also like to reach out and see what others have to say about how to live. Buddhism, especially, has some great philosophies that help me day-to-day.

Why do I accept some religious philopsophies and not others? Because I have no desire to be told how to think; because I like to come to my own conclusions. I take a piece from this and a piece from that and I use what feels useful to me. Just like you do, Alex; you simply find different things useful.