What I realize is that it is disrespectful to religion and religion
deserves no respect. I am sorry, but it is hooey and it is just as much
hooey as it would be if I went around claiming that goblins are eating
the livers out of mongooses and if I did that I would be insulting the
intelligence of anyone I proclaimed it to just like I am having my own
intelligence insulted when someone tells me that a magical invisible man
in the sky created me. Furthermore, anyone who actually believes such
nonsense is disrespecting themselves far more than I am by pointing out
that such nonsense is hooey.
On 10/8/2017 9:13 PM, Miriam Vieni wrote:
Roger,
Do you realize that when you make such a statement, it is disrespectful toward people who have religious faith? You rightly resent it when people who are religious, try to convert you to their beliefs. What you are doing when you insist on your version of truth in the face of another person’s statement of belief is equivalent in emotional terms, to what a religious person does to you when he or she tells you that your atheism is wrong.
Miriam
*From:*blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On Behalf Of *Roger Loran Bailey (Redacted sender "rogerbailey81" for DMARC)
*Sent:* Sunday, October 08, 2017 7:52 PM
*To:* blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; MARY CONVY <CCRUSER@xxxxxxx>
*Subject:* [blind-democracy] Re: Jesus, Christmas and Donald Trump for evangelists
I would say that all spiritual systems share one really big thing in common. They are all, without exception, a big bunch of hooey.
On 10/8/2017 4:48 PM, MARY CONVY wrote:
Bob,
You say that every nation thinks it holds the truth at its hands.
True. But it just makes common sense that only one ultimate truth
can exist. Some people hold fast that their brand is The truth but
you can do this only through faith. None of knows with pure
certainty. My personal belief is that there is a core of ultimate
truth in all theories of our spiritual selves.
And humanity is as varied as the grains of sand on a beach. So
each expression of spirituality is just as varied. Details don't
matter and I think it is almost arrogant to question others
because that tends toward questioning for criticism, not
knowledge. And the details are as significant as whether you
prefer chocolate or vanilla ice cream.
For example, I believe Sunni's revere relics of the prophets and
kiss them. Kissing an object in reverence may seem odd to someone
else, but they nor you should care. It is your choice as a
spiritual practice and does not need to be denied nor approved by
anyone else. Let's worry about our own spiritual butts, so to
speak. And yet Catholics kiss the feet of Christ on the Cross on
Good Friday. We are all more alike than different.
So Christians and Jews all have a common faith but widely
different practices within that faith. You can pick any
individual practice and question it. But I think that misses the
entire point of developing our spirits. We should seek the
commonness we all share as humans.
In your original article you pose many questions about individual
Christians practices. I could answer them in a very historical
and logical sense. But then I would be going against my own
premise that those details don't matter. And can be dis-unifying.
When you ask why have Christmas during the time of earlier pagan
festivals it sounds to the Christian ear as critical. Yet I know
there are very basic societal and historical facts that answers
that question and that answer takes nothing away from the
religious importance.
I would ask you, despite all the surface differences, all spiritul
systems (as opposed to specific practices) share core values to
help us become better spiritual beings in this physical world. Do
you agree?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> on behalf of Bob
<ebob824@xxxxxxxxx> <mailto:ebob824@xxxxxxxxx>
*Sent:* Sunday, October 8, 2017 4:07 PM
*To:* blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Subject:* [blind-democracy] Re: Jesus, Christmas and Donald Trump
for evangelists
Mary, thank you for reading my piece and thank you for your response.
Each and every nation claims to hold the truth at its hand.
I represent my perspective as a devout Sunni Muslim.
I truly love and care for everyone.
I am surrounded by Christian fellows at work. Here, I live in a
complex owned by a Coptic family.
My best friend in the States is a Mormon girl called Alison.
Each and every sinner is penalised for what he has done.
But certainly, door of repentance is always open.
We do not intend to derogate sinners.
We just despise sinful acts.
I couldn't claim I'm absolutely redeemed, because I never knew
what my life will end with.
Similarly, this is how I look at people from all faiths and
backgrounds, even irreligious people.
You never knew what Allah plans for you.
You never knew what will happen tomorrow.
To all of us, life is just a mystery.
It gradually unfolds as time pass on.
Thank you, Bob
----- Original Message -----
*From:*MARY CONVY <mailto:CCRUSER@xxxxxxx>
*To:*blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Sent:*Sunday, October 08, 2017 9:42 PM
*Subject:*[blind-democracy] Re: Jesus, Christmas and Donald
Trump for evangelists
Bob, Can I ask what publication you wrote this for? And I
have another very sincere and honest question: why do you
care? Does Allah, most omnipotent, have tolerance for someone
who drinks alcohol or puts an evergreen up in a church? Or
does he punish them and you are worried for the souls of your
fellow man?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> on behalf of Bob
<ebob824@xxxxxxxxx> <mailto:ebob824@xxxxxxxxx>
*Sent:* Sunday, October 8, 2017 3:05 PM
*To:* "Undisclosed-Recipient:;"@freelists.org
<mailto:%22Undisclosed-Recipient:;%22@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Subject:* [blind-democracy] Jesus, Christmas and Donald Trump
for evangelists
Hello. This is Bob Evans. I'm the author of the editorial
attached below.
Please, read, fathom and if you wish, interact.
Bob Evans
______
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