Often we debate concepts that have the word 'religious' in them.

religious tradition
religious belief
religious attire


It seems to me that there is only debate because of the decision to define the tradition or belief or attire as 'religious' and that if that description wasn't there, people would be more respectful and/or tolerant of what other people choose to do, believe, or wear.

For instance, If you believe in prayer before a meal, and attend a home or event where prayer before the meal does not happen, you may make a fuss. or vice versa, if you are an atheist and attend a home or event where prayer DOES happen you may make a fuss.

Or another example, if you are not of the belief of God made HE male and SHE female, and instead every one was JUST made human, and you hear that boy scouts only allows in boys, or girl scouts only allow in boys, you may make a fuss.

Or if you are not a christian, you may be offended if someone says Merry Christmas.


I hear that religion is a great divider, but it doesnt have to be. I feel more than half of the division, is based in how we CHOOSE to make anything with the label religious an automatic divider.


A wanted to share a technique that I find helpful in this situation(really any situation, but I have narrowed it down to the subject of this forum)

If we find ourselves with a 'divisive' religious question around a belief, tradition, or fashion, ask whether it is divisive ONLY because YOU have attributed it to religion. If so, the division is avoidable and you should maybe try to accept the difference like you do any other.


So, maybe I am not Jewish. I don't celebrate Hannukah. so, if someone says to me, "Happy Hannukah", I can choose to make it about 'religion' because of the word Hannukah, or i can choose to make it about someone wishing me a positive feeling because of the word "Happy". It is not different than if they say "Happy Sunday", or 'Have a good day." and if they framed it around the title of a holiday that is falling, it doesn't change that the wish itself is for my happiness.


If I am at a place of business that sells flags. And I am a religious extremist angry with America. And the owner does not wish to make me a flag for a flag burning event, I can frame that around religion and feel like that service is denied based on my 'religious belief

Or I can frame it around whether a small private brand, in the social media age, should have a right to some discretion over how and where their product or service is associated at certain events. No different than a vegan cake maker not wanting to sell a cake for a pig roast, or a pacifist not wanting to sell party trays for a hunting convention.

Just take the religion out of it and frame it only on personal right or personal discretion, and it may take a different perspective.

Many Christians believe Jesus is G-D ....when I say Happy Chanukah , I am remembering the plight of the Jewish people and the Maccabees... If you are not Christian you should read the New Testament...if your are not Jewish you should read the Torah ( the first five books of the old Testament) if you are not Muslim you should read the Quran .... Then study the time line in history to understand the geographical issues that are still around... All of our holidays surround the memory of our past.... When we said Shalom then we mean "peace be with you" ........... There are fundamental differences between the religions and only through studying each of them in depth can someone from the outside understand why there is some strife.......................

Hi

If Only,

i could pray for true love and perform true love rituals at a temple dedicated to a goddess of Love.

This is a nice determination/fixation.

There is a similar situation here.
Yes, the word "religion" can attract over attention.

It has the free wills of the people. And everyone is able to express ideas about everything.

Probably, if there was another word instead of the word "religion," Perhaps different groups/segments would talk about it.
In short, brain gymnastics can be seen where people are.

I think...

...then you have some people who toss the word "religion" and attach it to whatever they are opposed to.

I don't want to have morals, that is too religious.
I don't like rules, that is too much like religion.
I hate God because that is religion.


People have discovered that if they admit to hating something on a personal level, they get judged by everyone equally. But if they attach religion to the object/subject they hate, then they are more accepted for their views. They now have a crutch and use it randomly at will.

When I run into people like that, I try to be a mirror that reflects their baloney. Yes indeed, they spitefully hate that. No one wants to ever be held accountable any more. It's like a curse to admit you are wrong or dislike something based upon your "free will."

Today's society is weak and pathetic. The term, now that is an example of what a man/woman should be no longer is being applied to anyone. We are in a time of denial. You would think someone was facing murder charges now these days, to even admit they dislike the color blue. But then again, many people are gender confused, a brilliant term to cover up the fact someone is basically insane!!

The outlook and attitude of people definitely coincide with what is happening world wide. And that makes it even more obvious we are in the "Last Days!!"

And that makes it even more obvious we are in the "Last Days!!"


Ahhhh, now the other 458 make sense.

Many things in life we take for grant it. Then at times we apply knowledge to our lives. Whether it's Science, Philosophy, Your Own Idealism and Wisdom, the belief structure of God, we do this to broaden our scope of the "Big Picture." As a Mathematician, I love all of the Sciences. As a thinker, I love all of the Philosophies. As a man of Faith, I love what I gain through Almighty God. As a human being trying to survive, I love how I can take all that I love and what interests me and compile it into a better awareness of who I am, who we all our, and the "Big Picture" of why we are even here.

But more than anything else, I love to "Case Study." From Scientific Theories, Theoretical Philosophies, the "Word of God," are general interests I tear apart and try to decipher.

"The End of Times," just happens to be my focus at the current moment. We had Stephen Hawking who claimed the world would end in the next couple of years, we have had several scientists like Krauss, and Philosophers claiming humanity is coming to a point of being too destructive to work as a whole and will bring the end. And we have what Yeshua claimed in Matthew 24 and in several chapters in Daniel, Revelation, and the Book of Enoch.

I observe, and then base what I see, according to the many views declaring what would constitute the "End."

And the "Big Picture" of knowledge, reveals we are on the cusp of that point.

So, if you think you know me by one or two sentences, I can assure you, that you don't have the first clue about me!!