[chazzysaw]

Our understanding of the TOE seems to be eons away at this point of existence on this planet. Our minds are not prepared to accept the necessary acceptance in what we believe and think to be the truth. There is a major obstacle that affects us in both of these areas. It has paid a toll on our thinking for centuries and has effected our beliefs in devastating ways. The Religions of the world has kept our consciousness locked in a primitive point in time. The superstition connected to most religions maintain a fear in people to believe otherwise. Even though modern thinking has advanced to new discoveries and awareness our superstitious fears has kept our minds trapped in the Dark Ages. There are a few minds sprinkled around the globe who dare to think outside the religious box but not enough to be effective. Those who dare have to be very careful on how they express themselves, it can be very dangerous. The discovery of the TOE, today, can be very dangerous to the religious community.

[austintorn@aol.com]

[chazzysaw]

From Hinduism to Buddhism to Judaism to Islamic, from Christianity and all of its sects (and there are many) are all related one way or another but conflicts between them still exist to this day. These are ancient beliefs that go back thousands of years (yes thousands) and here we are thousands of years later trying to make sense of their laws and customs and applying them to today's life. An example of this is in August 2001, Dr Younis Shaikh, a medical doctor and lecturer, was sentenced to death for blasphemy. In as resent as 2006 in Afghanistan Abdul Rahman was sentence to death for converting to Christianity. A Christian group in 2005 tried to bring a private prosecution for blasphemy against the BBC for broadcasting Jerry Springer, The Opera. There are many instances like these to this day. One more incident as resent as a few weeks ago when a British school teacher in Sudan allowed her young students to name their teddy bear Muhammad and the Islamic community wanted to penalize her with death. The control religion has over the world slows down the thoughts and advancements of realizing the TOE.

[chazzysaw]

Religion is like an infection in the eyes of the our planet Earth. It causes us to see things at a blur, nothing is clear. It has caused paranoia among ourselves, that creates enemies because of a belief. These beliefs are primitive beliefs and regardless of all the evidence revealed today proving religion's ignorance it continues it's quest to keep our minds and thoughts in the dark ages. Religion has put a fear in the hearts of humans that causes one to think if you don't believe what they teach, God will punish you.

[austintorn@aol.com]

[austintorn@aol.com]

[Sentient marine]

Originally Posted by chazzysaw Our understanding of the TOE seems to be eons away at this point of existence on this planet. Our minds are not prepared to accept the necessary acceptance in what we believe and think to be the truth. There is a major obstacle that affects us in both of these areas. It has paid a toll on our thinking for centuries and has effected our beliefs in devastating ways. The Religions of the world has kept our consciousness locked in a primitive point in time. The superstition connected to most religions maintain a fear in people to believe otherwise. Even though modern thinking has advanced to new discoveries and awareness our superstitious fears has kept our minds trapped in the Dark Ages. There are a few minds sprinkled around the globe who dare to think outside the religious box but not enough to be effective. Those who dare have to be very careful on how they express themselves, it can be very dangerous. The discovery of the TOE, today, can be very dangerous to the religious community.

Maybe our understanding of the TOE is supposed to still be eons away. It is curious that people blame religion. In all the wars there was usually an advance in military technology that made it a better proposition to attack another army or a fortunate position of superiority of numbers. The greed and ambition of the ruler or political power of the time is overlooked. The animosity between people, families, tribes and eventually nations over who should hold what patch of earth. Breeding and the need to expand the Burroughs or starve into non existence, poor seasonal weather ... misinterpreting the portents and omens that indicate a time of hardship. The need to occupy the minds of the young and the restless who would cause more trouble within their own community if not sent out to war. At least if they came back they should be older wiser more disciplined and aware of what it is to follow orders or even broken enough to be less of a burden.

If we didn't have religion of all types, any type is it really so hard to think that people like any other animal wouldn't fight or find a reason not to start a war. To my mind if there were no religions we simply would have found another excuse to do exactly what we had intended to do all along. Another incontrovertible truth would have been found to justify the actions of greed, hatred and all the driving factors that are so much a component of a war.

For what it is worth ... religion has proven the safe haven of the sick and the wounded. The rest for the weary and the destitute. A way out for the trapped and an inspiration for the heroic acts of nobility and kindness that would have no other means of expression were it not for the teachings that religion, all religions are so much a part of right back to the dawn of thinking humanity.

If religion has prevented one war, just one ... sought and found peace once, just once, then given the cost and the death and pain avoided it has served its purpose well and continues to do so in the hope that it may do so yet again. It is the way people use their religion as a righteous club not the purpose that it was indeed intended for that is defiling, the people defile and blame religion for the actions that had there been no religion would have been blamed on something else.

Perhaps if one starts with people are not perfect just yet, nor are they all perfectly just people and accept that they are just people ... then that is a starting point, a foundation to build on. We think our personal goals so lofty our ideas so grand and do not consider that others will never have the same vision unless we seek to serve them and their vision. Religion provides a vision of what it is to serve and that is the hardest path that any being could possibly choose to walk.

Slow to change, slow to anger ... yes something so huge and consistent across humanity is an awesome and daunting proposition, most likely because of the people in charge at any given time. Seek not to change religion for it serves its purpose nor the militancy of those who think they serve religion. Set quietly about change for the better, continue the search for the TOE and as each mile post of discovery is achieved the world and religion will eventually follow if it is shown to be right. Upset religion and you upset the world, seek to find God and there is a multitude of choices ahead of you outwardly and hopefully if you are quiet enough deep enough within yourself you will find what you need.

[chazzysaw]

In many cases religion is like an infection in the eyes of the planet. It keeps progress at a blur. To this day all that we have learned through the ages humans prefer the primitive superstitious way of life. Religion has contaminated the mind with paranoia and fear to think out side of the religious box.

[chazzysaw]

The world's religions are taking us on a slope that is sliding down on a path of destruction. We are caught in it's strangle hold whether we want to be or not. It sways the thoughts of those who convince themselves that they are on a mission for the good of mankind even if it kills them. There are those who take their religious beliefs to the extreme and impose them on people in harmful ways. I am not only referring to the suicide bombers who are terrorizing the world because of their religious beliefs. I'm talking about the gay bashes. These religious fanatics feel it is their place to decide who has a right to live or not regardless of their personal choices. Is it not religions that teaches to hate homosexuals? I'm also talking about religion it self that teaches not to trust the beliefs of other faiths. Something I find to be strange because they all basically believe the same. I would also like to mention the bombing of abortion clinics and killing their doctors, is another example of extreme religious behavior. These people think they are on a mission from God to save the embryos. The weird thing about these crusaders is that they are the same people that support the death penalty. What makes this type of activity even more dangerous is the fact that there are prominent religious leaders that support this type of behavior.

[chazzysaw]

I read an article in the news paper about Catholic nuns who have sacrifice there whole lives of service to the church retire to a remaining life of suffering and poverty. The whole psych that is taught to these poor women is that they are sworn to a life of poverty. What about the Bishops and the Cardinals and the other hierarchy are they not sworn to a life of poverty too? Is this a one sided deal that nuns suffer and the leaders live in a life of luxury? Is this a way to treat the mothers of their religion? After a life dedication and devotion I would think they deserve the remaining part of their lives to be made much more comfortable than it has been.