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Dickson's Blogathon

"Dickson, You are so lazy you would marry a pregnant woman!" - H.S. Math Teacher

Site is back up!

Site was down for a day due to an ip change but now Mack is hosting my dns so this problem shouldn't bother me again. Thanks Mack!

In other news, I finally realized why religion bothers me. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate religion but what I hate is how some people carry out their religion. I was reading the news recently and came across an article where an airline pilot promoted christianity during the flight and told non Christians to "make use of their time" by talking to other Christian passengers about their religion. Obviously, he was way out of line and will face serious consequences but this is the type of attitude that really annoys me. Although on a smaller scale, I see people crossing this line on a day to day basis from individuals to large collective groups. And on many occasions, they speak with a tone of voice as if they are better than you and they look down upon your lifestyle (more so with groups). Even worse is that I come across this so often that its starting to get on my nerve. Maybe thats why I seem to be so close minded towards religion. If they would stop shoving it down our throats then maybe they would have more successful campaigns. Religion should be something that one approaches, not the other way around. Its a lifestyle one adopts, not one where they are forced to take. These people are not messengers. They are salesman. When you get a call from a telemarketer, how often do you embrace what they are saying? Even too much of something, even if that something is good can be detrimental. Remember those days when people raved about how great email was and how great it potentially can become? Now when people hear the word email, the first word that comes to mind is spam. Its come to the point where governments and lobby groups are taking legal actions to save email by imposing bylaws to restrict what one can do. And in my mind, before religion can save other people, religion needs to take actions to save itself first. I am not suggesting that bylaws be imposed but better guidelines to those people who want to spread the word. Then maybe, it can save itself from becoming the "spam" of the future.

Anyhow, I'm only one fish in a big ocean. Take my word as is. Here's the article I found: http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/02/08/airline.christianity/index.html

Maybe one day I'll learn about religion just to see what the commotion is about.

Published 10-02-2004 04:44 by dicksonw
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Mack D. Male said:

No problem about the DNS, glad to be of service.

Here is my take on this post - finally! Most people know where I stand when it comes to religion, so its nice to see someone else take the same view. That pilot was way off his rocker, and he's lucky I wasn't on that flight or the passengers would have had more to worry about than who was religious or not.

You say religion should be something that one approaches, not the other way around. While I definitely do not disagree, I would take this a step further and say that religion is something no one should approach! I mean seriously, get rid of religion, and we don't have the middle east crisis, we don't have the countless wars over religion that have occured, do occur, and will continue to occur. Take away religion and we don't have a group of people, who believe in something they cannot account for, exerting influence on the laws of our countries and societies - a place they most definitely do not belong. Take away religion and we don't have people devoting themselves to something that isn't real when they could be making a valuable contribution to society and the world instead. Take away religion and we don't have people think twice about their every move for fear of sinning - imagine what the world would be like if evolution thought twice before making its next move! You think we'd still be here? HAHA

Yes you know my views...strongly against. Kudos to you for posting this Dickson.

PS. I know you religious-types will have some "uplifting" or "spirited" response to this, and to you I say "you will succeed in converting me just the same as I will succeed in converting you."
February 10, 2004 4:55 PM
 

andrea said:

Oh Dickson and Mack...

Why must you rant about religion when you know nothing about it. You don't see me talking about stuff I don't know, like computers, cars, etc.

But I totally agree that the pilot was out of line. Religion should not be forced onto other people. I hate it when zeolots (ie. Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, evangelists....) try to convert you so you can be "saved".

Religion should not be something forced onto people. Maybe the devout should just lead good lives, and when other people see that, they will follow your example. When you ring people's doorbell and cram religion down their throat, I don't think they have a very good impression on you. Are you that desperate to "save their immortal soul" or do you just want more people join your church?

And Mack, you think that religion is responsible for all the strife in the world today. Most laws are based on the old laws in the Bible: don't kill, don't steal, etc, etc. Do you actually think that people are altruistic enough to make these laws themselves? Most people are selfish. It's human nature, we can't deny it. If people had a fear that if they do something bad in this life, and there would be repercussions, would they still do it?

The "religious" wars that are fought now are just a few fundamentalists fighting in the name of religion and making the rest of us look bad. They use religion to give their people a "us versus them" mentality. It's a classic move. The Americans did it against the USSR, Japanese, Germans....

And the whole evolution vs creationism thing. Why must you paint all religion with the same brush? We're not all backwards and living in the stone ages. As a devout Catholic and a staunch biological scientist, I embrace both these theories wholeheartedly. How can the universe be explained using mathematical concepts? Does that not show it has design? The Big Bang Theory: if a whole bunch of dense matter blew up and created the universe (evidence from that the universe it expanding - the red shift), where did this matter some from? AND I, for one, love evolution AND creationism. Both theories are flawed on its own, but together, they complement each other. Even the Pope says so (http://www.cin.org/users/james/files/message.htm).

Granted, religion has its flaws, but so does atheism or agnostism. The benefits of religion far outweighs anything wrong with it. I can't type anymore cuz I'm so tired, so talk to me at school.

Anyways, just to reiterate my point, if you don't know what you are talking about, don't pretend you do. It makes me mad, and you look stupid. I'm not just talking about religion, any topic at all.

And don't worry Mack, you're still my husband although our views differ significantly and you also didn't get me anything on St. Valentine's Day :(

P.S. Just to piss you both off:

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the
darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff-
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you annoint my head with oils;
my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of
the Lord
my whole life long.

Psalm 23
February 16, 2004 2:14 AM
 

dicksonw said:

March 1, 2004 8:13 PM

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