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Killing people in name of ideology X is most likely going to raise negative attitudes and hatred towards the said ideology X. I guess this goes for any ideology, be it a national identity, political party or a religious group. So, in my eyes it seems like Prophet Muhammad was also hit and wounded today in France.
I'm not against any group of people, not against any religion. I just wish that people everywhere would see other alternatives instead of killing more people...
ISLAM = No other alternative than killing. I know it. I am The Last Byzantine and Turkish soldiers massacred our city when we surrended.
I understand that this is not an easy topic to think and to talk about. But for me one thing is absolutely clear, with no doubt: we can't blame Islam on Charlie Hebdo attack.
I mean, if it were some extremist muslims who did it, it doesn't mean that every muslim is an evil killer and the whole religion is only about killing with no other alternative. No, we must stand away from faulty logic and try to think clearly and to see beyound violence. That is our only hope, if we, as humans, want to quit the vicious circle of violence.
Actually, I guess those who planned the Charlie Hedbo attack indeed want to sharpen anti-islam sentiments in Europe. Why? Because anti-islamistic attitude in Europe means more frustrated european muslims with hurt feelings, which means more recruits for extreme movements. Do we want that?
http://www.juancole.com/2015/01/sharpening-contradictions-satirists.html
Personally, I don't belong to any religion. But if some other people have valuable religious traditions, I'm fine with that. I just hope that we could all be moderate, sensible, loving human beings respecting each other. As mentioned in the article linked above, major Muslim movements have already condemned the Charlie Hedbo attack. And I think this is the direction we need to be moving towards: Every religion, tradition and nationality supporting and respecting each other, promoting peaceful and respectful ways of following the tradition.
EDIT: just to make it clear. I did check the IP address from which the comment of "The Last Byzantine" was sent. And yes, the same IP address has been earlier used by a person I know - from an European country. So, I hereby say it only once, strictly and clear: no foolish posting here! As there IS a limit which earns IP block, and posting nasty unfruitful anonymous comments is about getting very close to reaching that limit. You have been warned.
I think that many things that are blamed on religion are really the result of selfish/bad individuals calling the shots behind the scenes or people who are predisposed to do bad things using religion to make up a rationalization for what they want to do.
Like maybe if they weren't using religion as a crutch for their bad actions, then they would use something else. Anything to rationalize a selfish, bad, or crazy action, you know?
Don't get me wrong, I am not defending any particular religious sect, and I guess I am kind of a nonpracticing universalist or something myself, but the christian tradition is what most of my culture adheres to, so that's all I feel like I can speak intelligently about; lacking any significant direct exposure to anything else....
But anyway, I feel like there are a lot of positive things that religious sects do, too. There were several churches here whose members went to Haiti on their own dime after the earthquake and helped them rebuild a town. I respect that a lot more than just sending money to an aid agency (such agencies are just big business scams, with typically only 5% or so actually getting to the people who need it and the rest going to pay the organization's "administrative overhead"; I used to work for such a place before I got disgusted with how they work and left). But these churches, whether I believe in their religious philosophy or not, the fact remains that they are actually putting boots on the ground and getting positive things done.
And the church soup kitchens feed the hungry in this country far more efficiently and effectively than our government social programs, too.
The theme that seems to run through history and into the present for me is... It seems like the larger and more powerful an organized religion becomes, the more they seem to have the potential to do or sanction bad things. Maybe that whole "power corrupts" saying or something, I don't know. It just seems like the little independent protestant sects of christianity always seem to be more "good" to me than the big powerful sects (be they powerful christian sects or whatever other religion) with a strong core leadership of people who are dictating what the belief system of the sect will be, rather than the regular people members themselves deciding directly.
I am very suspect of organized religion in general. I believe that everyone should decide what they believe in for themselves rather than having it dictated to them by a (possibly corrupt) authority...
Sorry for the ramble/rant, hehe. :) I am probably not making much sense... I think my orange wine turned out to be more alcoholic than I intended...... x_X
Oh, fine - I think your comment makes a lot sense, and I can follow your line of thought.
Also, I like the way you write out your reasoning - not just stating simple short slogans, but describing the actual process of thought.
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