tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31655026.post3211261873425949512..comments2024-03-28T10:16:23.693+00:00Comments on nourishing obscurity: [religions] defined or defiled by devoteesJames Highamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14525082702330365464noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31655026.post-71906759746140134592007-08-06T09:07:00.000+01:002007-08-06T09:07:00.000+01:00...flys in the face of many biblical stories...Poe......flys in the face of many biblical stories...<BR/><BR/>Poetryman - how exactly does this "fly in the face of"? It merely complements it.<BR/><BR/>Crushed - OT far bloodier than chop off the fingers? That Jewish OT must be bloody. Good thing the Christian Bible isn't, eh? :)James Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525082702330365464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31655026.post-40386483219787273042007-08-06T07:27:00.000+01:002007-08-06T07:27:00.000+01:00Homer wrote of Odysseus and the cyclops long befor...Homer wrote of Odysseus and the cyclops long before the biblical story of David and Goliath was written.<BR/><BR/>Biblical pre-history finds a great number of stories of a virgin birth by a woman with a name similar to Mary.<BR/><BR/>I offer these two examples, as there are thousands of others, that in some cases, flys in the face of many biblical stories. <BR/><BR/>I am not sure what I was trying to say now (I need to go to sleep), but something tells me to leave the comment as is and bid you good night.Mark Prime (tpm/Confession Zero)https://www.blogger.com/profile/04683863540465969835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31655026.post-11167304749260022462007-08-01T17:32:00.000+01:002007-08-01T17:32:00.000+01:00Which comment? Wekshcake's last one? I thought i...Which comment? Wekshcake's last one? I thought it was the way things are too.James Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525082702330365464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31655026.post-13373523205916544162007-08-01T16:40:00.000+01:002007-08-01T16:40:00.000+01:00Hmmm, interesting comment Welshcakes.Hmmm, interesting comment Welshcakes.Wolfiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05820269114208456064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31655026.post-88719512481494747672007-08-01T14:14:00.000+01:002007-08-01T14:14:00.000+01:00What a post! Obviously a lot of work, thought and ...What a post! Obviously a lot of work, thought and research went into this. First of all I agree with you that it is best to go about quietly doing as much good as we can, the only trouble being that some people think "good" is cutting off the heads of people who do not share their faith. But then, to me, it is not a faith in this case - it is the faith being used for political ends. I'm not so sure there are "secular Muslims" - not any more. I taught many Muslims, as you know, and regarded some as friends. But none would condemn any of the terrible acts committed in the name of their faith and nice, intelligent women who had degrees from their own countries told me quite cooly that most Chriatians are going to die in the great war that there is going to be between us. With regard to imposing your own religion on another culture, you say "Surprisingly, not the Jews": this is surely because,as I read somewhere - I think in the "Telegraph" but I can't refind it - there is something in the Jewish religious service about obeying the law of the country they are in [unless that law required them to do something completely outside Jewish law, such as to eat pork]. Like you, James, I often wonder what we are all fighting about when we purport to worship the same god. The problem is, of course, as you point out, whether the religion can adapt to the times. I suppose Christainity has been successful in this because the NT message of love is basically so simple. I once taught a class of male Muslim military and we were doing one of those quizzes about what is most important to you. I said "love" - by which I mean being as kind as you can and not knowingly hurting people - but they all said "religion" and it transpired that they would blindly obey that religion whatever they were told to do in its name. Then there is the position of women - their rights being witheld in order to prop up odious regimes. Nothing to do with religion at all. Your Krikkit analogy is a good one and says it all.Welshcakes Limoncellohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17209759237794290941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31655026.post-10831547206754417152007-08-01T10:29:00.000+01:002007-08-01T10:29:00.000+01:00Great article James, thanks.Crushed, like you I to...Great article James, thanks.<BR/><BR/>Crushed, like you I took the time to study all the major religions. On balance I agree with you that the OT and the Talmud represent the least inclusive of them, but then the question really is about to what extent are the laws and guidance of each religion is woven into the lives of the followers?<BR/><BR/>Many people these days seem to argue that religion dictates culture however in my travels and studies I have found the opposite to be true, that culture moulds religion into its image and the forces which mould that culture are complex, diverse and ever-changing.Wolfiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05820269114208456064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31655026.post-76660555114186814112007-07-31T21:27:00.000+01:002007-07-31T21:27:00.000+01:00Good point, Lord Nazh. We'll have to debate it. :)...Good point, Lord Nazh. We'll have to debate it. :)<BR/><BR/>Crushed. I'll reply tomorrow morning. Too tired now. Night night.James Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525082702330365464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31655026.post-79802648154715116562007-07-31T21:00:00.000+01:002007-07-31T21:00:00.000+01:00Long piece so I'll look at it more later, just wan...Long piece so I'll look at it more later, just wanted to comment on one part.<BR/><BR/>It doesn't matter if you buy anything on Sunday or not, they are still at work, working. Selling to you is not what causes them to break the Sabbath, being paid to be at work does.Lord Nazhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00251537214808629536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31655026.post-63326428969664052242007-07-31T20:49:00.000+01:002007-07-31T20:49:00.000+01:00It interests me, because I have scoured the Koran ...It interests me, because I have scoured the Koran cover to cover, partly to find the mythical passages we are always being quoted (mostly interpretations by later scholars), but also to take the book in context.<BR/><BR/>In fact, the OT is far bloodier.<BR/><BR/>A look at the medieval caliphate of Cordoba shows how the three faiths could live in harmony under MUSLIM rule, under a climate of remarkable tolerance. It amazes me where these Morisco travellers of the eleventh century went to and the academic/scientific melting pot that was created.<BR/><BR/>Slavery, Burning witches, persecution of gay people, have all been justified by using scripture, but religions that only propagate such teachings disappear- they do not benefit society, and therefore fail.<BR/>I think Islamophobia has deep roots, like anti-semitism, but we are not wise to it yet. The Holocaust made us wise to anti-semitism, but we are being whipped up the same way here by our leaders.<BR/><BR/>An interesting point about religous extremists invading others, is that most of Ireland's woes stem from the dicord caused by a Fundamentalist minority which cannot abide to live under the majority.Crushedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02479751225625007588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31655026.post-14447100323861069562007-07-31T19:52:00.000+01:002007-07-31T19:52:00.000+01:00...I think it's about mutual understanding (which ......I think it's about mutual understanding (which destroys fanaticism.<BR/>Understand truly other creeds, and you see the closeness.<BR/>Fanaticism is often ignorance...<BR/><BR/>Wise words, Crushed. You actually read all that stuff I wrote?!!!<BR/><BR/>Wow!! I didn't expect anyone would.James Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525082702330365464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31655026.post-63329797152588151182007-07-31T19:02:00.000+01:002007-07-31T19:02:00.000+01:00I think secularists overemphasise these sorts of p...I think secularists overemphasise these sorts of passages to exploit division.<BR/>Most people, for example are unaware that Muslims respect Xmas, acknowledge the virgin birth and almost all of the Bible.<BR/><BR/>My own experience of British Muslims bears little ressemblance to the myth (I have met few who didn't drink, for example).<BR/><BR/>Islamophobia is exploited by politicians to serve their own ends by joining a number of unrelated dots that happen to have islam in common.<BR/><BR/>But on the other hand, we have to have some understanding of the motivation of the extremists.<BR/>I don't condone the Inquisition for example, but I can see why those who led it meant well.<BR/>By the same token, I can understand that in some twisted way, suicide bombers do what they do out of a kind of love.<BR/><BR/>I think it's about mutual understanding (which destroys fanaticism.<BR/>Understand truly other creeds, and you see the closeness.<BR/>Fanaticism is often ignorance.Crushedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02479751225625007588noreply@blogger.com