Religion has had it's time.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by whell

Of course there are extremists on both ends of the spectrum of the religious debate that give their respective causes a black eye. The folks in the middle are caught up in the damage caused by the folks on the extremes who can't seem to embrace the concept of "live and let live". For example, while you might admire his conviction, here's an example of someone who can't "live and let live":

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/new...sade/22253013/

As far as religious types who don't get it, one need look no further than what's going on in Iraq and Syria.

Looks to me like he is trying to keep organized religion and government from becoming intertwined and simpatico. For that, I applaud his efforts.

Dave

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

I think the environment she was raised in has a lot to do with it.

Dave

Indeed in countries in which Muslim customs prevail, a woman is dog shit.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by hillbilly

Rob, things must be very different where you live. It's nothing like that here. Elderly get the upmost respect here. You walk in a store, old or young and you'll hardly need to grab the door as someone will hold it open for you. That is no joke. And when I go to the store, it's hard to get out of there because the folks will talk your ears off. You pass a car on any country road out here and they'll wave at you, and only look at you puzzled if you pretentend you didn't see them or to good to say hi back. Out of honesty, I was thrown in culture shock when I drove up north to the fest. Had a pizza guy at a redlight scream shit at us when I didn't ''floor it'' soon as the light turned green. They had no respect for people finding their way through a place we were only traveling through. Stopped for gas and folks didn't speak, just walked past bumping shoulders like they had a chip on theirs. You will not find that in my area. And garages do not ask you to wait in no office. People bullshit with the mechanic's while the work is being done. There are stools and chairs ''in the mechanic area'' if you want to go watch. In fact, if a local was to be told to stay in the office, they'd feel they were going to get screwed and take it somewhere else.

I have never seen an auto shop allow customers in the work area, here in Virginia. I don't know if that's a law or an insurance thing. Or maybe it's just my experience? At any rate, I'm thinking it might be the same in some other states.

Dave

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by whell

So he says. However, looks like he's also made a career out of taking on municipalities over religious iconography.

No, so the quotes say:

"How is it that a dirtbag can come into a community and cause so much controversy and destruction?" asked Rick Phillips, 59, a Spring Lake real estate broker who organized a rally to support the cross last year. "These carpetbaggers need to be driven from our community."

That said, I don't agree with his methods, which is really nothing but religious intolerance.

Regards,

D-Ray

[icenine]

Yes religion provides a source of community connection along with mores and values.

However it also instills tribalism and is used as an excuse to justify many evil deeds and wars: "God Is On Our Side." I think the problem starts when governments and religions become joined together...which corrupts both the secular and the sacred. There is a reason why America is one of the best countries to live in....we separate both with the First Amendment.
The problems come with people thinking their religion is the best and they start to try and convert everyone. Plus there are contradictions. The Roman Catholics are very on point about social justice and ending poverty, but do not want to accept contraception as a way to stop what they are supposedly fighting. In the Philippines the Vatican opposed the legalization of birth control in a nation where almost everyone is barely scraping by and the population is growing at a very vast rate.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by icenine

Yes religion provides a source of community connection along with mores and values.

However it also instills tribalism and is used as an excuse to justify many evil deeds and wars: "God Is On Our Side." I think the problem starts when governments and religions become joined together...which corrupts both the secular and the sacred. There is a reason why America is one of the best countries to live in....we separate both with the First Amendment.
The problems come with people thinking their religion is the best and they start to try and convert everyone. Plus there are contradictions. The Roman Catholics are very on point about social justice and ending poverty, but do not want to accept contraception as a way to stop what they are supposedly fighting. In the Philippines the Vatican opposed the legalization of birth control in a nation where almost everyone is barely scraping by and the population is growing at a very vast rate.

Agreed, on all points.

Dave

[hillbilly]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

I have never seen an auto shop allow customers in the work area, here in Virginia. I don't know if that's a law or an insurance thing. Or maybe it's just my experience? At any rate, I'm thinking it might be the same in some other states.

Dave

Out of being curious, do yall have to pay for gas before pumping? We pump gas first, then go inside and pay for what we put in the tank. I had to stop in Toleto OH on my way up to the fest in MI to fill up and they made me pay in advance. I'm not used to that.

[HarmanKardon]

Originally Posted by sanford12

Is it time to put aside religion. We've all heard the definition of insanity. Doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. I think 5000-6000 years is a good enough track record to prove it doesn't work except to hold back the advancement of the human race with close mindedness. It's not needed for morality. Anyone can be moral and most people are born that way. I just wish religion would get out of the way and let the human race fulfill it's potential.

What is religion? It is the personal expression of something that is impersonal, Lao-Tsu called it "Tao". This Tao is a fact, but not comprehensible for most people. So some guys had been invented like God, Jesus, Shiva, Mohammed, Buddha, most of them at first representing at least partly the principles of Tao. But soon later assholes started to corrupt the thoughts and teachings of those old guys what created messy religions. As long as people cannot accept that after the last breath the show is definitely over, as long religions and their believers will exist.

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

I have never seen an auto shop allow customers in the work area, here in Virginia. I don't know if that's a law or an insurance thing. Or maybe it's just my experience? At any rate, I'm thinking it might be the same in some other states.

Dave

The same over here Dave.

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by icenine

Yes religion provides a source of community connection along with mores and values.

However it also instills tribalism and is used as an excuse to justify many evil deeds and wars: "God Is On Our Side." I think the problem starts when governments and religions become joined together...which corrupts both the secular and the sacred. There is a reason why America is one of the best countries to live in....we separate both with the First Amendment.
The problems come with people thinking their religion is the best and they start to try and convert everyone. Plus there are contradictions. The Roman Catholics are very on point about social justice and ending poverty, but do not want to accept contraception as a way to stop what they are supposedly fighting. In the Philippines the Vatican opposed the legalization of birth control in a nation where almost everyone is barely scraping by and the population is growing at a very vast rate.

You wont get an argument from me Robbin.