Re:VLC contributor living in Aleppo writing about the Paris ...
by bad_user on Tuesday November 17, 2015 @07:34AM
(#10580631)
We Christians are separated into multiple denominations as well. You've got catholics, protestants and eastern orthodox as the biggest ones. The break between catholics and eastern orthodox happened in what is called "the great schism" in the 11th century. It has been attributed to theological disputes by the church, but nobody believes that, as everybody knows the dispute was entirely political in nature.
And the blend of eastern orthodoxy from my country has its own flavor, compared to the the general eastern orthodoxy branch, as we've also picked up a set of local customs and traditions along the way. Consequently I think this is why, even though atheism is on the rise and even though I'm what you could call an agnostic, I happen to believe that religion is ultimately good, as it's a part of the local culture, the local culture being a huge part of our identity.
But speaking of Christianity, our local christians tend to be a little xenophobe. And this I never understood why it happens, because you know, Christianity being about the teachings of Christ above all else, with those teaching inviting us first and foremost to love our peers and to be more tolerant. Skipping over the obvious that sometimes Christianity has nothing to do with the teaching of Christ, I personally think it's more about the true human nature. I believe that in essence a large part of the population is xenophobe, fearing and hating what is different and the material is always there to be exploited by a capable leader that can canalize all that potential hatred towards a common goal that can blur our ethics. After all, we should always remember the nazis, as that's the history that shows us how an otherwise civilized society can turn overnight if you press the right buttons, the anti-pattern we should steer away from.
Which brings me to the point that I wanted to make. I see a lack of tolerance and hatred even in many atheists, having the same potential for evil as everybody else, atheists who otherwise claim to be more enlightened. Not all of them of course, just like how not all Muslims are jihadists. And so I don't think changing the naming would make that much of a difference.
And the blend of eastern orthodoxy from my country has its own flavor, compared to the the general eastern orthodoxy branch, as we've also picked up a set of local customs and traditions along the way. Consequently I think this is why, even though atheism is on the rise and even though I'm what you could call an agnostic, I happen to believe that religion is ultimately good, as it's a part of the local culture, the local culture being a huge part of our identity.
But speaking of Christianity, our local christians tend to be a little xenophobe. And this I never understood why it happens, because you know, Christianity being about the teachings of Christ above all else, with those teaching inviting us first and foremost to love our peers and to be more tolerant. Skipping over the obvious that sometimes Christianity has nothing to do with the teaching of Christ, I personally think it's more about the true human nature. I believe that in essence a large part of the population is xenophobe, fearing and hating what is different and the material is always there to be exploited by a capable leader that can canalize all that potential hatred towards a common goal that can blur our ethics. After all, we should always remember the nazis, as that's the history that shows us how an otherwise civilized society can turn overnight if you press the right buttons, the anti-pattern we should steer away from.
Which brings me to the point that I wanted to make. I see a lack of tolerance and hatred even in many atheists, having the same potential for evil as everybody else, atheists who otherwise claim to be more enlightened. Not all of them of course, just like how not all Muslims are jihadists. And so I don't think changing the naming would make that much of a difference.