Quote Originally Posted by Kuskovian View Post
Sounds like you have found a very closed minded practice in a given religion Thorne.
Perhaps you are right. I was raised Catholic, but turned away from it at an early age because it never made much sense to me. And my studies of history have shown me that religion (NOT faith) has done almost as much harm to mankind as politics.

And I do agree that many western religious fanatics are "my way or the highway types".
Even when thier own sects writtings specifically say otherwise.

Most religions look for universally applied imperatives, simular to Imanual Kant's aplications.

Like: "love thy nieghbor as thyself" or: "and it harm not others do as thou will"
Maybe, but again, history shows us that these concepts tend to apply only to other members of that religion. Those of a different religion seem to get much less consideration.

Yet to dismiss "all" spiritual faiths out of course is an arrogant mistake that even Einstien refused to make.
Again, don't confuse "Faith" with "Religion". At least in the context I am talking about, they are two entirely different entities. I do not dismiss people of faith, of any faith, out of hand. Everyone is free to believe what they wish, or not believe what they wish. I don't have any problems with believers (or non-believers).
My problem is with those who insist upon my believing the same way as they do. Who would persecute me (if they could) for not believing as they do. And it just amazes me that, in this day and age, there are still people out there who are ignorant enough to believe that they have all the answers. And a codified religion only perpetuates that problem, to my mind.