donovan wrote:Just so I am clear on my position. I do not believe religion is the root of all evil. I think it has the potential to be the solution to mankind's problems. It is my belief it it the only real solution. That does not mean that Mr. Billybud is wrong in his observations.
billybud wrote:My observations only incidentally have to do with religion. They really have to do with our natural distrust of "others", our tribalism. Religion is just a manifestation of that tribalism. Folks just like to fixate on religion because it is something that they feel strongly about and that they understand.
Over the last 100,000 years as man has evolved, it became important for us to rapidly recognize someone as "same" or "other". Being able to recognize a member of a hunting party that you run into in the forest as a clan member or as a member of a rival group, actually meant life or death. Humans have evolved to be born with exceptional face recognition abilities and we quickly notice sameness or "otherness" of race or ethnicity. When you first meet a new co-worker, you become immediately aware of his race or ethnicity. After time, that awareness recedes as you begin to incorporate knowledge of him as a person.
Tribalism is hard wired into the human race. We are essentially a race of clans. Just as we lived in small family clans 10,000 years ago, we live in clans now. Super clans. Nations are super clans that still function much the way clans did eons ago. They provide protection, a sense of commonality and community. Religion functions as a clan of sorts as well (some may say sub clan).
Spence wrote:
I belong to the Buckeye clan grouping. I do agree we are a world made up of tribes. We will likely always be.
WoVeU wrote:Dossenator wrote:On a side note...I attended a very large church in Northwest Arkansas (I was the band director for their private school). The church raises millions of dollars every year and puts it right back into the community and all over the world...they go all over the world and help set up communities with water and sewage systems, homes, and churches, help local families (especially those with children) with food, clothing, gifts at Christmas time, gives out untold amounts of food (especially around the holidays), help women who have been abused, and the list can go on and on. The point I am trying to make is that religion is not the root of all things evil.
You wouldn't happen to be referring to Gravette, Ark would you?
Dossenator wrote:Mr. Billybud...it's a fine line we all walk on. It is dangerous making generalizations about groups and making comparisons like: Christians are like Nazi's. I am a Christian and don't feel like I am anything like a Nazi. In fact, in my short life I have never come across a Christian that I would confuse for a Nazi. Your statements sound as if you have a strong dislike of those who believe in God. How is that any different then calling someone a heathen....you might not have a fancy word for it like heathen...but it is the same thing.
Dossenator wrote:Mr. Billybud...when I made my last post you had not made your last two posts. I don't believe because I am a Christian that I am better then anyone else, and it does not mean that I in any way condone slavery, the killing of Jews, the massacre of Muslims, the attempt to arradicate Native Americans, etc. Money, gold, land, water, oil, power, the color of ones skin, etc have also caused men to attach and kill one another throughout history. I can also lists many good things that Christians have done to better others lives. Again, it is dangerous to lump all of one group together and say "THEY" are like this, or "THEY" or like that.
billybud wrote:I have no strong dislike of folks who believe in god...that is your reading through your "filters".
.....I am a rational realist who tries to see what is there, not color it because of my race, religion, or national state.
I am only pointing out that we have for 10,000 years acted as tribalists...and being a christian is being a member of a tribe. And members of tribes are invested and often see their tribe with distorted lenses.
If I criticize...I don't like people who believe in god. Proof positive of the correctness of my thinking.
Edit (posted before I read your last post)
Dossenator wrote:WoVeU wrote:Dossenator wrote:
You wouldn't happen to be referring to Gravette, Ark would you?
WoVeU...how do know about Gravette...little bitty down in Northwest Arkansas.
Derek wrote:Being a Christian is not a tribe. It's about a relationship with God.
donovan wrote:Derek wrote:Being a Christian is not a tribe. It's about a relationship with God.
Well...your point is well taken, except for the 12 tribes of Israel which hold a fairly significant place in Christianity as well as Judaism. There is nothing inherently wrong with being a member of a tribe. A fairly common religious term.
Maybe we should write Arnold Murray to have him tell us where he thinks the Lost Tribes of Israel are hiding!
This guy IS nuts!! But he had a hot wife, who used to be a porn star. Derek wrote:donovan wrote:Derek wrote:Being a Christian is not a tribe. It's about a relationship with God.
Well...your point is well taken, except for the 12 tribes of Israel which hold a fairly significant place in Christianity as well as Judaism. There is nothing inherently wrong with being a member of a tribe. A fairly common religious term.
Maybe we should write Arnold Murray to have him tell us where he thinks the Lost Tribes of Israel are hiding!
I understand....I just felt that he was saying that being a part of a tribe, meant that they were mind numbed idiots who do what their leaders tell them....that might be true for some...how else do you explain people still sending money to Robert Tilton.
Some in my "tribe" say that it's wrong for me to enjoy a Guinness, I say it's not....It's a personal choice that I make, and it's not popular with everyone. Most Christians are not as tribal and doctrinally stamped as some think.
I don't know if Arnold is anything like Dr Gene Scott....holy cow that guy could cuss and smoke a cigar like no one else.
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