Trader Pat wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 6:37 pm
greenmark wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 6:01 pm
Trader Pat wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 5:48 pm
Agnostic?! What a cop out!
Not really. Essentially protestant, swerved to Jehovah's Witness. Discovered JW local mentors wouldn't condone blood transfusion for a close relative. That was the end of that. I'm interested in religion and its sociological roots and impacts. And I'm agnostic because I can't look around me and believe this is all accidental. But I baulk at the concept of 2 places of heaven and hell that we go to. Or that there is an almighty power that will smite me should I transgress. But I also envy people that have faith.
I was always an athiest even as a kid, never believed any of it. I couldn't reconcile how you reach a certain age and are supposed to stop believing in the tooth fairy and Santa Claus but still believe in God just because a load of other people do.
Religion is obviously geographical so muslims, christians Hindu's etc... all believe their religion is the best and don't see any irony seeing it that way. I'd have more respect for someone who seeks out and looks to experience other religions like you're talking about but would never feel envy for somebody who has faith as you put it. I have faith too but in people not in deities. My mother has a deep faith and before lockdown I brought her to mass every Sunday so I'd never slag off somebodies belief in God because I can see the comfort it can bring.
Like most things in life I suppose its fine on a personal level but once you start trying to force your beliefs on others that where the problems begin.
Patrick, very few people of faith truly believe 'their religion is best'. Far from it, most of us view other religions as simply God by another name. As you openly accept, the values in most belief systems are generally charitable and loving.
With Freemasonry for example, any male of age, with a belief in a Supreme Being and good character can be considered for entry. Only last year I was present at a Sikh 2nd degree ceremony, where the chap swore on his own Holy Book, rather than the Bible. This is just one of many examples of people of one faith respecting the God(s) of others.
And to your last point, no-one here is trying to 'force their beliefs on others' we're simply giving a balanced view of Tiger Woods's behaviour and correcting those who think he's some kind of superhero. On the course, sure. In real life, as a human being? NOPE.
CS