Why is it that every time religion is brought into something it becomes a controversy? Anything where religion is mentioned, stirs up arguments. Some people feel really strongly about their religion while others may have completely different views. The beauty of America is that people are allowed to have different views and believe different things. But the question is who is right? Are we supposed to go with the religious people and base our laws on their or do we agree on separation of church and state.
That brings up another question. As Americans we believe in separating religion from the government. The question that I must ask is how can we completely separate the two when many of our laws are based on religion, such as the Ten Commandments? For example, thou shall not kill. We can all agree that killing is morally wrong; hence it is illegal to kill. Many morals come from our religious beliefs, but that does not mean that someone who is not religious or an atheist lacks morals.
Many of the issues that people talk about on this site are related to religion. Homosexuality and abortion are against the religion of some, therefore people say they are wrong. The two largest religions in the world are Christianity and Islam and they are both against these two things. And since majority rule, these issues are the ones that are the most criticized. But what about the third largest religion: Hinduism. To them eating beef is wrong, but you don’t see protests about not killing cows.
There are so many different religions in the world, many which conflict with one another. The only way to get around this is respect each others religion. It is the only way we can get along. My family is from Trinidad and the three major religions are Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam and apart from getting all three religions’ holidays off, they respect each other. Everyone there knows about each others beliefs and holidays and they all get along. Whether blacks and Indians get along is another story. Then again, no where’s perfect. I remember the first time I went there and saw the lifestyle; I wondered why everywhere can’t be like that. I was amazed to find that my mom knew so much about Hindus and their beliefs. It inspired me. If only other places could be like that.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
jujuman13
The danger of organised religion is that they all teach exclusivity and preach that theirs is the one true faith. To have one true faith means that all other faiths are wrong, hence the fighting we see around the world.
I believe the only way we will achieve peace and mutual respect on this planet is if we are all willing to change our beliefs.
I am not saying we should completely throw away our belief systems but what we need to do is let go of the beliefs that no longer work and keep the ones that do.
Thats the beauty of Hinduism because it is inclusive in nature. It's philosphy is so mature and advanced because of which this oldest Spiritual path is rightly called as mother of all religions. I am in love with Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Laws -also known as Hinduism).
Religion stirs controversy because for many religion it integral to their identity, or in some cases, their entire identity. In the West, we value individuality, privacy, and tolerance--all which are modern ideas. However, in other more traditional countries and cultures, people are more communal, public, and strict about their lives. Westerners and those of traditional cultures hold to different worldviews.
I think a lot of it is education. Not schools, but parenting. A lot of parents, when trying to instill their morals and values in their children, tell them "it's the right thing to do" and the children grow up believing it is the right way to do things. As an adult, after being told for decades it's right, many have a hard time trying to adjust to being told that it isn't right for every one.
I remember my first real experience in learning about different religions.
Like most children, I was only regularly exposed to the religion that my mother followed; as such, I knew and recognized many of the various traditions my religion entailed but was ignorant to the ways of another religion. For example, an aunt of mine tried to explain the Christian concept of “Santa Claus” to me when I was about five years old. I completely misunderstood what she said and could not fall asleep at all that year for the entire week of Yule because I thought a “fat, red man was coming to steal my Yule presents.” Months later, my mother was finally able to explain to me about the concept of Santa Claus and what he means to many children and adults. This was not the first time that my following a particular religion left me feeling as an outsider.
As with many people, I went through a period with a great deal of death that raised many questions and, therefore, several issues. For me, this time was the years between my fourth and fifth grade classes. During these years, several people began to just die all around me. My grandfather died that March, followed by his wife the next May. My uncle died over the summer and a cousin died of cancer that next January. Because all these people followed my religion, the ceremonies were the same or similar.
However, later on in that school year, a girl committed suicide. I did not like the girl, Melissa, but I was friends with her sister and my mother was a friend of her parents. We were invited to attend the ceremony and, out of respect and sympathy, we went. What struck me was the ceremony. I had never seen a priest, a Christian Cross, and did not understand all that he was saying.
In my mind, the priest was messing every thing up for Melissa and was robbing her of those things she would need in her next life. There was no time for us to bring up her gifts, no mention of the pennies to drop into her grave, and no blessing from the Goddess. I was outraged and hurt. As I said, I did not particularly like Melissa but I still felt that she deserved these things as every other funeral I had been to had them. I asked that priest what he thought he was doing and informed him of my reservations. His reply was simple: “I do not have to explain myself to one so ignorant as a child.” In my fifth-grade mind, this translated roughly to “you are stupid.”
I was shocked and a little upset; however, my mother was livid and made sure the entire ceremony knew. In one of those conversations that people wish they had been able to hear, my mother pulled the priest aside and spoke to him. To this day, I do not know what she told him; but I do know that he apologized profusely to me and to the entire audience when they were finished. Later on that day, Melissa’s parents also apologized to me as though they thought they had done something wrong.
This incident essentially forced my mother to begin explaining to me about different religious belief systems and thought patterns revolving around those beliefs. In a very indirect way, this time introduced me to religions of all sorts; more importantly this incident taught me how not to speak to someone who may not understand my own religious views.
Deciding I never wanted to be called stupid ever again over religion, I asked my mother the best way to avoid that. Her answer was simple: “Learn as much as you can about as many as you can” and she took me to the book store to buy me my first Bible, the Egyptian Book of the Dead, the Koran, and the Torah, and told me to start there. Through reading these, and other texts, I have come to grasp a fundamental understanding of several religions; most of these religions I do not agree with. However when discussing them with someone else, I learned the hard way…”just because I think their idea is ‘stupid’ does not make the person believing in the idea ‘stupid’.” A very hard lesson to learn and one I think most people overlook.
----
"Dream as though you'll live forever, but live as though there's no tomorrow" --James Dean
http://www.progressiveu.org/user/fanaile-drupal-org
I agree with Kerry- it's so intense because religion is a very personal thing and we take attacks on -it- as attacks on ourselves. We identify with a certain religion and in some cases base our entire lives on it.
Another thing to think about is how ironic it is that America is one of the most "religious" countries in the world, yet our public is appallingly misinformed and/or uneducated about various religions.
The quest to find one true religion will probably go on forever, along with all of the other surrounding conflicts. And yes, it would be amazing if every one could respect each other -- too bad we're all too selfish. The ones who comment on another's religion are not completely to blame, though, and I don't think you actually said they were...but anyway, those who get offended by a mere "I don't think Jesus ever existed" are as much to blame as the rest, if not more. Great post though.
I did comment on this topic in a blog today already, you brought up some more things that also came up in my debates under it. PLEASE READ: http://www.progressiveu.org/224212-how-can-you-pick-one-religion-and-ass...
"Insanity in individuals is something rare - but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule."