If there is one underlying theme to these images it is
hatred. It is a hatred caused by religion (or the manipulation of religion).
Undoubtedly, religion has beneficially contributed to societies and cultures
around the globe for millennia, but when can it be said that the benefits are
outweighed by the cost? When a religious group dedicates more time and effort
into denunciation than enlightenment or morality, what purpose can a religion
be said to server in a productive society? Are these individuals on the fringes
of their religions, or are they representing those who share the same beliefs,
but lack fervor?
These images have purposefully been presented without a
context, and I have determined them to be genuine to the best of my ability. The
violence or hatred may not be carried out by a specific religious group, but
when all of the individuals belong to a certain religion, does it matter if
they are carrying on in the name of God? Should their religious beliefs not supersede
their secular beliefs? Look at the last photo in the series: What would be your
reaction if I told you these men were on their way to assault politicians,
rather than Christians? Does it matter, or would violence for freedom be a
noble justification? Perhaps your opinion is vice versa; violence in the name
of God is more justifiable than violence for a secular cause. I have always reasoned
violence in God's name to be absurd, because why would an omnipotent being need
humans to carry out its will?
Do images of children with guns represent any aspect of
their respective religions? Absolutely not, but that there is no immediate
conflict between their actions and their religious beliefs is alarming. And the
conflict may exist, but there appears not to be an elder, whether religious or
parental, who has discouraged this behavior, but seems to have encouraged it.
To be fair, I do not know the influences on these children, only that the
negative influences have prevailed.
Maybe I, as an atheist, am hypercritical of religious hatred
because I do not benefit from religion whatsoever. I certainly have a bias, but
can you justify all that is carried out in the name of God?
I'd like to start by saying I myself am also an atheist, partly for reasons you have shown above but mostly for the fact that I have trouble putting faith in something or someone that is rarely, if ever, visible.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, I do try to put myself in the shoes of a religious believer. Although there is a lot of violence that comes from many belief systems around the world, there are even more people in those systems who spread hope and love instead. From experience with family and friends, I have learned that religion makes people feel like there is a reason for living and it can teach you wonderful morals to live by. Unfortunately, religion gets a bad rap because our media tends to feed off of violence and suffering. Therefore, we tend to hear all about the bad well the good gets shoved in a corner to be forgotten.
I am not trying to belittle the issue with religious violence because of course it is tragic and should be minimized as much as possible. I am just trying to point out that religious violence is an extreme that majority of believers do not condone.
I agree with your comment; we are exposed more to the negative than the positive. However, if an individual adheres to a belief system that can be used to condone violence (as stated in scriptures or dogma), yet does not condone violence themself, should that individual bear some responsibility for supporting a belief system which can legitimately be used to justify violence?
DeleteI agree with allot of the points you made; however I think the world would be allot worse without religions. Religion is a major factor for keeping order and moral decision making in our society. You stated that you think the benefits are outweighed by the costs; however, the problems of religion receive allot more attention, then the benefits of religion. I do agree their are allot of controversial issues spread throughout the various world religions, but I believe the impact religion has on many people should be viewed at a higher stature then these issues that attract so much attention.
ReplyDeleteI did not mean to convey that I believe the benefits of religion outweigh the costs. In fact, I could make a rather lengthy argument to show how costly religion is to our global society.
DeleteI find it alarming that you believe "Religion is a major factor for keeping order and moral decision making in our society." Name any atrocity which has occurred on this planet and odds are more believers were involved than nonbelievers.
The fact that I haven't been stoned or beheaded for being a nonbeliever can be attributed to law enforcement and innate human morality, because it is not difficult to open a religious book and find a section that would instruct a believer to do so. (I'm not saying all religions are intolerant of nonbelievers.)
I definitely agree with some of the stuff you said, it makes sense because a lot of issues do come from the clashing of religious groups but in the defense of the religions themselves, i believe that the people that use religion to back up their own extremist ideas are not in fact real Christians, Muslims, Jews, etc, they just hide behind it so that they can get other, more naive people to follow behind them . If those people were really worried about God, they would let him be the judge rather than trying to punish those who don't share the same beliefs.
ReplyDeleteyou make some valid points, religion is a strong culture for many people and religious hatred is just another part of it i guess.
ReplyDeleteAlright, I just wanted to start by saying that I, as a Christian, have noticed many flaws with religion. I am free methodist, so I believe in God, but I do not blindly follow in what everyone seems to think "Christianity" is made up of. I have my own ideas of what I think goes on in the world, and beyond, but I won't get into that right now. I do not oppose any religions, my closest friends consist of christian, atheist, buddhist, and muslim beliefs, and to me, it doesn't make any difference what you choose to believe. If there is a God, and I do believe there is, he would never close the gate to an atheist if they were a good person. People who try to force their religion on others is wrong. Just because someone doesn't believe in God doesn't give believers the right to tell that person that they are going to hell (as some people do). No one knows what lies beyond death. It's a mystery to the world, and for one to tell another that their ideas are wrong is messed up. Everyone is allowed to have their own beliefs and dis-beliefs, and who is one to say they're wrong?
ReplyDeleteI also wanted to point out that I recognize the photos of the children holding up sighs that say "God hate America." It's from a video called "Westboro Baptist Church," and what these people do is highly unethical...they believe that God is is angry at the world because of gay people, and they think that God is taking his wrath out on American soldiers due to the fact that there are so many gay people in America. It doesn't even make any sense and these people are so messed up. I completely agree that some religions take it wayyy to far, but I just want to point out that not all Christians are like that. I accept everyone for who they are, and I believe that God does as well, and he would be highly disappointed in people like those from the Westboro Baptist Church.
-Alexis
With so many branches developing off main religions with new and different beliefs, there’s no doubt to be some sort of violence. But the fact that violence is not practiced in their beliefs, doesn't give them the right to act on it. I like what Saja said "they just hide behind it so that they can get other, more naive people to follow behind them". People use violence and how’s it’s portrayed in media as a form of propaganda to join their beliefs and ways.
ReplyDeleteAlthough religion can provide an easy scapegoat for human aggression, I would argue religions don't kill, people simply do. All one needs to do is look at the death tolls caused by societies that promoted an agenda of atheism, (Soviet Russia, Nazi Germany) and the scales start to balance. When factoring in this, plus all of the real good that religion does for the world, I believe that the bad does not outweigh the good.
ReplyDeleteGuns don't kill, people do, but we still have laws on gun possession and use. Ultimately, we are responsible for our actions (assuming one's mental health is not abnormal), yet we are influenced by others, and we influence others. It is the influence of religion with which I am concerned.
DeleteAs for atheist agendas, Soviet Russia had a clear atheist agenda, but Nazi Germany consisted of a vast majority of Christians. Regardless of the leaders' beliefs, the rank and file were believers, and they were instrumentally when committing the atrocities in WWII.
Do two larger scale instances overshadow all of history? Or are those anomalies of modern times?