Like hippies before them, hipsters tend to flock to what they may perceive as being a peaceful religion. They want to embrace some sort of man on the moon theory to live by and guide themselves with but if they are seeking a truly non-violent religion they will be forever out of luck.
The West has been treated to some horrific images of the violence being perpetrated by Buddhists in Myanmar as Muslims are being assaulted and driven from the country. Hundreds of thousands of Muslim refugees are now packed into Bangladesh where there are scant resources to care for them.
This is just an example of contemporary Buddhist violence. It only takes a moment of research to find that violence inspired by Buddhism has been happening for centuries.
What about Hinduism though? They have inspired yoga and meditation! They embrace peace on all levels!
Every major religion has and does spawn violent acts among its followers.
Of course defenders of the various religions love to spout out: “but those people were not ‘true’ followers” etc.
Bah. That’s just bullshit. How can there be a true or non true follower of what is essentially a set of fairy tales anyway? The behavior of the adherents has been through the arbitrary sanctions of their religious leadership for millennia and little has changed whether by a Pope, an Imam a head monk or whatever.
Sects and branches constantly evolve from all religions and almost inevitably devolve into a period of violence and intolerance when given enough time.
Islam is dominating religious based violence these days (they have done so for centuries), but they are far from alone,
One could come up with a whole new set of anecdotal fairy tales to follow. That is far from unprecedented. That is actually how each and every religion has come into being. Scientology is a great example of a new religion. Scientology has of course fallen into violent acts in the name of their faith too. The true mark of a religion. They have made it!
Folks can follow celebrity inspired baloney religions that break from established faiths as well. Kabbalah is a prime example of this. If that movement takes off and gains enough followers, rest assured that some folks will feel that violence will be required in order to maintain and propagate their faith. This evolution of religion is inevitable.
Religion is tribalism at its ugliest form. The instinct to spread the faith with religions is inherent among adherents and it is only a matter of time before fundamentalist followers feel that violence is justified in the name of their chosen faith.
It is a true sign of religious insecurity when followers feel that they need to take the role of enforcement of the faith from the figurative hands of their chosen deity and violently do it themselves. No matter how many religious texts call for leaving judgement to their version of a supreme being, adherents will feel that they have to take judgement into their own hands.
I know, I know. Those who are violent are in the minority. Those who are violent don’t represent the faith. Yes. I keep hearing that mantra over and over and over again. That is the problem. I keep hearing this yet no religion has managed to purge these violent minorities. The common denominators are religion and violence and that rule appears to be inviolate given enough followers and time.
Seeking and promoting peace and non-violence is a great thing to do. I hope that humanity evolves into a better and more tolerant world.
The first step in finding world peace however will be in the shedding of religion not in embracing it.
There are no exceptions. There is no religion of peace. Quit seeking that non-existent faith and you will truly be finally walking on the real road to peace.
Christ showed the way, all one need do is follow it.
Yes godless communism is the way to world peace. What an idiotic post.
QUOTE: “The first step in finding world peace however will be in the shedding of religion not in embracing it.”
Atheism has its violent adherents as well. Just saying.