I don't claim that religion is needed to acquire a sense of communityq
However, it certainly is one of the easy ways of finding one if you move somewhere new. First thing one of my friends did when she moved was go to the local Evangelical branch - immediate friends, willing to help with whatever she needed (to an extent). There aren't many places you can do that. She's not a mental, and we've had some pretty good debates that only went out of hand once or twice. Luckily we managed to get them under control again.
I dislike the Pope, he was the wrong choice for Catholicism and a lot of Catholics agree, although they still listen to him since that's the way it works - which is exactly the problem. Religions are lost in their old-fashionedness, most haven't managed to move on, whatever religion you're talking about.
When you say believers I think you mean fundamentalists. It is true that they are very hard line, but what they believe in is so firmly ingrained in their minds that criticism will just, in my opinion at least, come across as insulting. The more moderate members of the same faith will be the ones who will convince their militant sides to finally shut the fuck up. A lot of these fundies are led to believe what they do by the interests of one, charismatic leader. They are the ones that mess everything up.
(
morrybyte made a subtle namechange at, Sat 31 Jan 2009, 19:36,
Reply)
Bit late - sorry had to put child to bed.
In the end it boils down to: is it true? If it's not it's bollocks and should be fought because it poisons people and causes great harm to many (or false hope, which equates to harm in my view).
Let's face it - it's not true is it?
(
Mod Edit, Sat 31 Jan 2009, 21:50,
Reply)