As an Agnostic, hasn't society had enough of religion? [View all]
This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Yonnie3 (a host of the General Discussion forum).
A little background. I have always been a religious skeptic, even from my early days. I remember at 12 years old, which would have been in the early sixties. My parents put me in Catechism class to prepare me for my Confirmation. My parents were Italian Catholics. It was just about the time that the Vatican allowed meat to be eaten on Fridays without it being a Cardinal sin. Well, one day I raised my hand to ask the Nun, in front of the class, "If my uncle was on a street corner on a Friday night 2 years ago and ate a hamburger and died without any other sins on his soul that night, he would have gone to hell. If his brother stood at that same corner this Friday night and ate a hamburger and dies without any sins on his soul, he goes to Heaven. How's that fair?" Well, that Nun was not happy and shoed me out of the room and called my father. My father said that the question I asked was for God to decide and I wasn't to ask that Nun any more questions in front of the class. If I had questions, bring them home.
Anyway, a little side story before I get to my point. I don't know if there's a God, and to be perfectly honest, I really don't care. I've read the Bible, especially the New Testament for its historical significance. After all, it was the only book people read for a couple of thousand years. There are nuggets of importance in that book. I admire Jesus the philosopher. Mathew 25, Sermon on the Mount, do unto others and tolerance. Jesus was far more a Socialist than I am. He advised his Disciples to sell everything they owned and give the money to the poor. I don't mind giving my share to charity, but there's no fucking way I'm selling everything I own and giving it to anyone. Sorry. Can't do. I agree on some levels, but I reserve my right to disagree. I am able to separate the philosophy from the fairy tales in the Bible, hence my being an Agnostic.
But, to my point in the title. Jews, Christians and Muslims all come from the same teachings of one God. That's why all of their Holy sites are clustered together in the same area. But what God taught all of you to kill each other? Christians are just an offshoot of Judaism. After all, you can't be a Christian without believing in the Old Testament (Torah). Yet, for hundreds of years, Christians killed Jews during the Inquisition. Protestants killed Catholics; Shiites slaughtered Sunnis. Jews Killed Muslims. Christians killed Muslims. Muslims killed Christians. It never ends, it only gets worse. Alright, maybe I can understand the ignorant people of the eleventh century following superstitions and not knowing any better. But fucking 2024. Give me a break.
When will the rest of us say, "enough"?
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