[quote author=Snoopster link=topic=95947.msg620518#msg620518 date=1424454149]
Okay Maps, I promised to give you another of what I think is one of the worst ideas religion has unleashed/imposed on the world: The compulsory condition to love and yet fear God.
I find this idea to be the very definition of Totalitarianism. In North Korea the citizens of that country must show unreserved, unconditional, and unmitigated love for their dear leader. They must also fear his wrath and punishment should they dare to transgress him or his arbitrary rule and capricious laws.
Christianity says that for you to be redeemed you MUST love your neighbour even if that neighbour is a child rapist in which case you cannot possibly love him so you will always fall short and thus be found guilty. That you MUST love the supreme being but you MUST also be afraid of him/her/it. If you fail in this duty or come up short you are a wretched sinner.
If there was a god who commands and directs us to these compulsory conditions of love and hate then this is totalitarianism at its very core.
[/quote]
DAT IS INDEED A DAMAGING PRINCIPLE..LOVE THY NEIGHBOR LIKE ONESELF!
the only rational basis for anything like that is something the opposite of it. the way people actually are has been set up by being born insecure and individual and in competition for the means of subsistence. competitive and insecure life engenders greed, deceit cunning, murder..indeed extreme subjectivity as the way of life. a principle like love they neighbor backed by the authority of the religion adds a serious complication to survival because it could weaken individual defense and skill in survival in competitive society.
and it benefits the church at the heart of the religion greatly because it weakens the flock, robs them of their natural defense born of long social experience to the parasitism and social control of the church itself..to the exploitatin of the whole society/nation by its leaders, for such principle as you accurately point out is the frame on which the kings and politicians hang their exploitation
Okay Maps, I promised to give you another of what I think is one of the worst ideas religion has unleashed/imposed on the world: The compulsory condition to love and yet fear God.
I find this idea to be the very definition of Totalitarianism. In North Korea the citizens of that country must show unreserved, unconditional, and unmitigated love for their dear leader. They must also fear his wrath and punishment should they dare to transgress him or his arbitrary rule and capricious laws.
Christianity says that for you to be redeemed you MUST love your neighbour even if that neighbour is a child rapist in which case you cannot possibly love him so you will always fall short and thus be found guilty. That you MUST love the supreme being but you MUST also be afraid of him/her/it. If you fail in this duty or come up short you are a wretched sinner.
If there was a god who commands and directs us to these compulsory conditions of love and hate then this is totalitarianism at its very core.
[/quote]
DAT IS INDEED A DAMAGING PRINCIPLE..LOVE THY NEIGHBOR LIKE ONESELF!
the only rational basis for anything like that is something the opposite of it. the way people actually are has been set up by being born insecure and individual and in competition for the means of subsistence. competitive and insecure life engenders greed, deceit cunning, murder..indeed extreme subjectivity as the way of life. a principle like love they neighbor backed by the authority of the religion adds a serious complication to survival because it could weaken individual defense and skill in survival in competitive society.
and it benefits the church at the heart of the religion greatly because it weakens the flock, robs them of their natural defense born of long social experience to the parasitism and social control of the church itself..to the exploitatin of the whole society/nation by its leaders, for such principle as you accurately point out is the frame on which the kings and politicians hang their exploitation