Religious proliferation - natural?

[Mus Zibii]

Is it ever proper to begrudge successful proselytizing? What if its really really creepy? I keep hearing this demonic little voice saying, 'why, it'll only hurt for a bit, mwahahaha'.

Obviously, we all know about Osama bin Laden’s ambitions. And we are all aware of the loons of al-Muhajiroun waving placards saying ‘Islam is the future of Britain’. But these are all on the extremist fringe, representative of no one but themselves. Surely no one in Islam takes this sort of thing seriously?

http://www.spectator.co.uk/article.p...-07-24&id=4835

These are the best-selling novels for adults in the United States, and they have sold more than 60 million copies worldwide. The latest is "Glorious Appearing," which has Jesus returning to Earth to wipe all non-Christians from the planet. It's disconcerting to find ethnic cleansing celebrated as the height of piety.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/17/opinion/17KRIS.html

[Blue]

It's disconcerting to find ethnic cleansing celebrated as the height of piety.

It certainly is!

Proselytising any particular religion for whatever reasons, that may be considered good or bad by others, is in itself, in my opinion, wrong.

It is wrong because instead of just describing a personal faith, people are saying that they are privy to a 'truth' that is dominant over other peoples' 'truths' and they are here to proclaim the 'good news' that they and they alone have the 'answer'.

This is patently nonsense because all spirituality is an aspect of an individual's personal affective nature and nurture. They validate their spiritual beliefs for themselves. There is no validation beyond self in the material world. If there was there would be no necessity for an individual to use the word 'faith'. Faith is therefore always a subjective affective response in the form of an expression of the personal spiritual view of an individual. If there were proofs/validations in the external material and objective world beyond self, there would be necessity for the term 'Faith'.

What seems to go wrong is when a 'book' of ancient writings, fact or myth, is turned into a basis for a dogma and a set of doctrines in the name of a 'Religion'.

I have no objection about people telling me of their faith so that I may compare it with my own, and discuss it with them, but I do loathe them telling me I should believe what they say and join with them in their particular view of the 'truth'.

[Mus Zibii]

Its not the proselytizing, as much as the success. It seems like when violence enters into the equation the human races piles on too fast to gauge. They're (I'm not included of course, yuk, yuk) like sharks. They get a taste of blood and then rush in. Of late, I've had to just divorce myself from friends, family, and politics because its all just saturated in madness.

[Blue]

Originally Posted by Mus Zibii

I've had to just divorce myself from friends, family, and politics because its all just saturated in madness.

I have great sympathy with this view in perhaps the sense it is meant, but surely, divorcing oneself from 'friends, family' is not very good either?

[Mus Zibii]

Well, maybe I used the wrong word. There was a separation and my hand was forced. The ultimatum wasn't my design.

[mirrorinthefog]

What seems to go wrong is when a 'book' of ancient writings, fact or myth, is turned into a basis for a dogma and a set of doctrines in the name of a 'Religion'.

I have no objection about people telling me of their faith so that I may compare it with my own, and discuss it with them, but I do loathe them telling me I should believe what they say and join with them in their particular view of the 'truth'.

I couldn't agree more. People enjoy interpreting things literally, and limiting, even caricaturizing doctrine so it that corresponds with their limited understanding of the world. I tend to withdraw from discussion when someone dismisses everyone else's view but their own, or is not wiling to admit they might be mistaken or limited in their interpretations.
Belief is subjective. When we try to turn it into practical law, and impose it on others in a rigid, narrow-minded fashion, bloodshed occurs. Then again, as Mus said earlier, that seems to be one of the favorable side effects for fundementalists in all faiths; violence is glorified.

[ObeyTheCowGod]

It's disconcerting to find ethnic cleansing celebrated as the height of piety

Everybody who is a grown up and not a child can choose freely for themselves what they believe in. While it may be impolite for a person or group to attempt to impose their view, in most situations you are still free to walk away. Mus Zibii you must have a clarity of belief in order to forego the company of your family and friends to keep the integrety of your beliefs. I do begrudge people trying to impose their views on me and I don't care much one way or they other whether anyone thinks I should be more graceful about it. The fact remains I am the only person who can be held accountable for the correctness of what I believe in. As far as people or groups being successful at religious proselytizing it is everypersons right in a democratic society to preach whatever crazyness they like. My brother in law who is in the corpral Australian armed forces would whole heartily agree with the notion of using ethnic cleansing to solve problems in the mid east. Scary huh? True leadership is needed to promote an alternative to such madness.