[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Penelope_Grey

This is why I am glad I am outwardly an atheist.

Welcome to the club - I am atheist, too. Which does not mean that I am not religious.

Because religion causes a hell of a lot of problems throughout the world.

Cults and theistic religions, to be precise.

I have no idea what you mean about Hitler, and wearing a black uniform.

It means that without conflict the Nazis still would be there, and me and my parents would have spend all our lives in a Nazi society that now would be many decades old - what could easily have led me to become a member of the SS - and being convinced that I am right and just in my Nazi beliefs - i would never have known anything else than Nazism.

Sorry. But my mother always taught me to think for myself and to not be drawn into conflicts and to treat people as my equals as and where I find them. I will not be mean to somebody simply because they are Muslim, black, or from France, or they have a funny accent, overweight, whatever!

Neither do I. the only reason making me do so is their ideology, and when that ideology is expaning and tries to rule my own home. Nazis. Scientologists. Islam. Note that for example I do not attack Hindus, although there are a lot of bad things to remark about hinduism: widow burning. Apes under the protection of religion - helping to spread desease and being a problem in villages were they steal food - people die of starvation becaue of this. A highly injust and inhuman caste system. Point is, they do stay were they are and do not try to expand over all the world, submitting and ruling others and make them like they are themselves. I must not like their system, but I also must not try to see my thoughts through in other parts of the world were i am not welcomed, and whereI am not at home. - Ideologies that I use to attack are not that self-restrictive, and they do not care if they are welcomed by the locals or not: they try to enforce their presence against their will. And this is where I stop debating, get my sword ready, draw a line and tell them: not one step further.

If instead of seeing things as a battle all the time, like we have to fight for this, fight for that, I just think the world could be more peaceful if more were prepared to make the effort.

"Those without swords can still die upon them." Not seeking battle in the first to push one's own agenda is one thing, and noble. Defending against someone who does - is another. You sound like having a good heart. There is nothing wrong in that, but vulnerability is no virtue, but simply vulenrability - not more. You can have a good heart and not like to fight - and learn fighting nevertheless:_ to defend yourself, or to protect the weak and those in need of help. Ever red about the king Arthur mythology? I love the old sagas, Arthur, Percivale, Dietrich of Bern, the Nibelungen. Much truth and insight about humans included in them.

Be careful when dealing with people who are totally different from you. That you are disgusted by conflict, does not mean that others share your attitude. For them conflict to overcome you may very well be a legitimate tool. What do you do then? Turn the other cheek? Maybe they want your head.

I also recommend to study Islam, judge it by it's own content. check if history is in congruence with it, or not, and if it is triggered by it's teachings, or not. I suspect you have many wellmeaning illusions about it. Do not believe me because I say it. Gain the independant knowledge you need to form your own opinion - so don't trust Islamic statements as well. There is so much manipulation in the media. Go your own way to knowledge. Read. Travel. Do not so much listen to people representing predefined interests: politicians, clerics, members of this or that camp. And when you're sure of what you've found, stand by it, and defend it.

Even if people like you and me eventually would find themselves on opposing sides, then. In that case I still could respect you more even when opposing me when I can see you have understandable reasons to think the way you do, than if you just parrot other's words and do not know what you are talking. An opponent with priciples I like better than an opponent who has none.