Sta.sh
Fave this journal (it will be your number)
Watch me IF you like my art~ ;v;
Theme
.
.......... The design MUST HAVE ONLY 2 COLORS; BLACK AND WHITE
this journal 
Fundamentalism and/or extremism of religion or philosophy never does anyone, or anything any favours, including (and perhaps most of all), the very thing it strives to promote.
Doesn't matter where it comes from, what you call it, or what God/country/creed you claim to speak for when you're committing it - it all sucks, the world's too small for it, and we'd be better off without it.
| Deviant Login | Shop | Join deviantART for FREE  |
Take the Tour  |
I never understood how some of these books could be read as historyfact, perfect directions, rather than just stories!
What happened that prompted this post!?!?!
Well, all that prompted it was me reading the news and seeing comment threads descend into religion vs atheism posts, when I think that to some extent I think that using those two terms is missing the point. I'm not a religious person, really, but I have a "Zen" streak, for lack of a better word.
I guess I felt that intolerance can come from all directions - people feeling differently than me about something doesn't concern me, but people who do so so very strongly that they think their belief or ethos can or should be imposed on others, I have very little time that.
What is so damaging to us, surely, is the idea of extremism, fundamentalism, dogma - even the most "non-religious" of cultures (North Korea comes to mind) impose an almost worshipful demand on their people. Any system which says "This is what you will think, and this is how you will feel about it or we'll kill you (I'm looking at you, Kuwait) is problematic, religious or otherwise.
"Freedom of religion" should INCLUDE "freedom FROM religion", surely?
So it's not whether or not people have a faith - I may not agree with it, but I defend people's rights to feel however they want to feel in this life that gets them through the day.
But because faith is a personal experience, I think that's where it should stay. If any god judges us in the end, then let that be the case, but meanwhile we need to all back the fuck off and leave each other in peace.
So ...yeah.
Here's something super annoying for you to enjoy - just came across it in one of the free newspapers here in Vancouver: [link] !!! LOL!
For Pete's sake! Have people no dignity!!?!?!?
I honestly think the school over-reacted, and the family REALLY over-reacted. I may not agree with his shirt but I defend his right to wear it, just as I would for a little kid to run around with a Tool t-shirt. All the school has managed to do here is make them look like victims, which isn't helping, and just makes the self-righteous meter skyrocket. Meanwhile, the family has over-reacted no doubt in the name of said victimization. WWJD? Probably not any of this, but then Jesus has been hijacked too, beyond recognition.
Ultimately, I don't know these people, so who's to say - but at heart I think the whole thing is unnecessary grandstanding and ridiculous, and if anything smacks of personal weakness. If your faith depends on a t-shirt, if it's so easily shaken as to be utterly dependent on symbolism (and this isn't just Christianity but I apply this equally - to people who would shoot cartoonists who draw Mohammed, to anything like this)..
What makes something precious and meaningful isn't how it's dressed, or drawn. If anything people who attach so much meaning to symbolism have completely lost the point of faith as a living experience - be the faith, stop beating people over the head with it.
Is it nice to burn the American flag, for instance? Not particularly. But the flag stands for, among other things, the right to do so. When people lose sight of that - be it about country or church, they're losing the whole picture, they've already lost.
Thank you for sharing this!
I think I read something that the school had a policy of not allowing any sort of slogan shirts, can't remember now.
I do remember that when my niece was in HS in Texas, they had a similar policy and at first I thought it was a crazy restriction (my typical rebelliousness!), then I realised that they could cause more trouble than they are worth so it seemed kinda ok.
I wish I myself was better at getting along with all people but most of the time I'm so super irritated it's better for me not to talk to anyone!