HHH, I think the conditions now are a lot different than say 15-20 years back in India and also around the world.
Radicals maybe on the rise, but mass opinion can more easily be mobilised these days by office going individuals, students. Earlier only radicals had motivation to take efforts and reach people because of its difficulty. Now all our voices can be heard much more easily, to a very wide audience.
So, I don't think it is necessary to be radicals to stop radicals from other religions. How many of these so called radicals do you really think are following whatever is said in their holy books? Religion has long since been removed from our daily lives. It is only used for (negative) arguments and identity.
Bottomline, I think the world can only get better. In this information world, truth has overwhelming odds to triumph, than deceit. This is what god, supposedly, always wanted.
RE:Rise of radicals?
by JGN on Jun 15, 2007 05:28 PM Permalink
Dear Sarath, you are absolutely right. There is no point in fighting in the name of religions and the so-called holy books. We all should learn to think rationally. In this age of science and technology, there is no place for religious fundamentalism. Please try to propogate atheism in your friend circle.
RE:Rise of radicals?
by HHH on Jun 15, 2007 07:44 PM Permalink
Atheism is not the answer. It would only lead to xian and muslim fanatics running amuck...
RE:Rise of radicals?
by Anand Iyer on Jun 15, 2007 05:44 PM Permalink
"religious fundamentalism". Bad term. Religion is based on "beliefs".
The meaning of "belief" is "a feeling that something exists or is true, especially one without proof."
So only a fool would "Believe" or entertain "beliefs".
"Beliefs" sow the seed of fundamentalism. Some "M" appears in India and say that caste should be birth-based. Someone appears outside India and say he has been sent down by Almighty and humanity should be divided as believers and non-believers and only what I say is true.
A believing mind is the fertile field in which charlatans sow seeds of religion by claiming taht they r divine. They tell big lies(people r accustomed only to telling small lies). When they hear a big lie, they "believe" it.
RE:Rise of radicals?
by Sarath Chandra on Jun 15, 2007 07:11 PM Permalink
JGN, when we try to propagate something (anything), I am not sure if we are not doing the same thing as any of the founders of these religions did.
I would rather say, use your reason and not take anything based on faith. I don't believe in a god nor disbelieve (but I have no conclusive proof either way). Hopefully, we (mankind) can come up with a theory where we can explain everything and there would be some shape we can give to the ultimate truth (which is supposedly god).
I personally would rather say, "this is what I think and these are my reasons, and of course I am open to hearing your reasons for thinking the way you are. If I am convinced of your reasons, I may change if I have the strength to, and what you do is your wish". The bottomline "No force on anybody (physical or emotional)"
RE:Rise of radicals?
by JGN on Jun 15, 2007 07:31 PM Permalink
Dear Sarath, I cannot just imagine that somebody sitting somewhere is controlling my thoughts and actions and I will go to some imaginary heaven/hell after my death. I hope you have read the scriptures of many religions. All of them are talking about betterment of the life here-after. If the god is so mercyful why there is so much disparities (social, economic, etc) on this earth? Why the all pervasive god could not have made all his creations equal in all respects? You might have also read the questions posted by Mr. Anand Iyer yesterday. Can anybody give a correct answer to those questions?
What I mean by propogate atheism, is not the same as propogating a religion/cult. Here we are only trying to make people understand the futility of religions and the so-called holy books.
You can get a large number of articles/books on atheism from the internet. I hope you will find them logical.
RE:Rise of radicals?
by Sarath Chandra on Jun 15, 2007 07:49 PM Permalink
Yes JGN, I don't believe in the traditional/popular god (nor do I in heaven/hell, life hereafter, holy books, etc). I do think we have freewill and control of our destiny.
Many people argue that for them god is the ultimate truth/knowledge, which all of us are after. Ofcourse, this is confusing issues. We can all say we are after the ultimate truth/knowledge and do away with the word "god", as this word really took on a very specific meaning.
I think my posts reflect whatever you said in this email and will in future too. And did you read "God's Debris" by Scott Adams. It has an interesting concept (for me) of life/creation. I am presently reading Marshal's "Necessity of atheism".
RE:Rise of radicals?
by Nostra Damus on Jun 02, 2008 07:51 PM Permalink
Sarath - The Buddha tried to teach this sensible lesson more than 2500 years ago, but only intelligent people like the Japanese and EAst Asians understood his teachings. I now wonder whether The Buddha was of Mongoloid origin. After all, he was born in Nepal on the border of Mongol territory.
