Does religion divide or unite ??

1. 60

   rajivnandyposted 12 years ago

   What do you think ?

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      KateKarminposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Fragrance of a flower is its religion
      Sweetness of sugar is its religion
      Saltiness of salt is its religion
      Monsterity of a beast is its religion
      Humanity of a human is its religion
      
      Its our faiths based on our cultures, caste and creed which unites or divides us.

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   2. 62

      Mishaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      divide

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         Uma07posted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Certainly it divides.You voiced my thoughts Misha.

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      Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Is presently destroying humanity, never mind, dividing it.

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      SunSevenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Who cares

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         Beelzedadposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         The future of mankind?

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            SunSevenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Wow! Its already here? I didn't realize, I fade out.

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      snagerriesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It definitely divides... However it was originally coined to unite people..

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         SunSevenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I disagree

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            snagerriesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Please share your views then if you disagree..

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               SunSevenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               It was just a defence strategy, by those who were threatened,

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                  snagerriesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  Alright.

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   6. 50

      paarsurreyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Does religion divide or unite ??
      
      
      
      
      Hi friend rajivnandy
      
      Religion does not divide, it unites; it is the politicians and rulers who in the name of religion, democracy and humanity divide the people.
      
      Thanks
      
      I am an Ahmadi peaceful Muslim

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   7. 62

      Kimberly Bunchposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Of course it divides in a might blood shed always has and always will. It will probably bring about 'World War 111'
      
      All I can see with good ol' Christianity and the Quran is blood shed. A dripping bloody sword. How many thousands upon thousands of people have died over religion from day one until now?!
      
      So sad!!

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      1. 62

         Kimberly Bunchposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         That was a ((mighty)) blood shed!!! (I missed that typo)

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   8. 60

      mohitmisraposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Both.
      Initially they unite but with time the divide.

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         earnestshubposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         With more than 3,000 religions generated by only two books, I can safely say they divide.

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            mohitmisraposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Please expand earnesthub.

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               Mishaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ch … ominations
               
               38000 only for one book...

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                  earnestshubposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  Thanks Misha.

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                  mohitmisraposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  Thanks

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   9. 84

      Don Wposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Both, as I see religion as a group of people united in beliefs and practices.
      
      Creating a group is an act of unity and division. You can't have a group (any group) without having those outside the group . If there are no outsiders, that means everyone is in the group, so it wouldn't be a group, it would just be everyone. As soon as people are united to form a group, the people in that group also become divided from those outside the group.
      
      But that isn't peculiar to religion. We have a tendency to form social groups which I think stems from human nature. That nature is driven by survival. Uniting with others aids survival. Excluding others also aids survival (particularly where limited resources are concerned). Both are biological imperatives.
      
      Social constructs are a way of giving meaning and context to these imperatives. So a group united through shared genes becomes a "family". A group of families united through geographic proximity, a "tribe". A group of tribes united through a shared method of group decision making (politics), a "country" etc. This is how we rationalise what is essentially the animal instinct to survive through forming groups.
      
      In that regard, I think religion is an extension of those social groups. Indeed the religion a person subscribes to usually correlates to the religion of their family, tribe or country. 
      
      It's useful therefore, in my opinion, to look at whether religion unites or divides within the context of social groups as a whole, rather than in isolation. As some of the attributes of religion are simply attributes of social groups.
      
      An example is the idea of "sacrifice" for the group. It's just as likely to hear of someone willing to die for his family, tribe or country, as to hear of someone willing to die for his religion. I think that's because families, tribes, countries and religions are interwoven and form an important part of the social fabric. So it's not really possible to ask whether religion unites or divides without also asking if the concepts of family, tribes and countries unites or divides, as they are all essentially the same. The common denominator is human nature. Perhaps 'does human nature divide or unite?' is also worth asking.
      
      Of course none of that says anything about the truth or falsehood of religious belief, but maybe something about the nature of religion in a sociological context.

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       exorterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       I live in a small town, I have seen the division, takeing place in church, but it shouldn't. true christians wouldn't let different ideas interfer with the unity that churchs and religions have

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       the pink umbrellaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Well, i think as a whole, we are united withing our own beliefs amongst our fellow believers, but  as individual faiths, we are divided.

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       Don Wposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       In addition to my previous comment, I think it would be also interesting to be specific about the exact negative social impact  attributed to religion. 'Divide' seems a bit woolly. You could for example ask 'does religion kill?'. Then you might be able to look at some objectively verifiable data on the issue. It would be possible to compare crime statistics for the major cities in the world and calculate the percentage of murders directly related to religion compared to those related to (for example) race, gender, sexuality, money or drugs. I tentatively suggest such research would show the majority of homicides committed in 'developed' countries are not related to religion. If anyone does the research I'd be interested to know if that hypothesis is correct.
       
       In countries where there are inter-religious conflicts, the fact that religion is intertwined with family, tribe and country means religion can't be considered in isolation from those other social constructs which complicates matters greatly. Therefore suggesting 'religion divides' or 'religion unites' is a gross oversimplification of a complex sociological phenomenon.

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   Onusonusposted 12 years ago

   The concept of religion is to unite people with eachother and with their God for the purpose of spiritual refinement. Though a few recent trends in our socioty have condemned this method of worship as a inhibiter of free thought, I find it contradictory that the same crowd insists on gathering together in a similar mode of learning and development when they send their children to secular schools every day for the same purpose.

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      Mark Knowlesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Onousonsomoneelse's inability to differentiate between worshiping an invisible nonentity and going to school notwithstanding, this pretty much answers the question.
      
      Religion divides.

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         Joy56posted 12 years agoin reply to this

         it seems for once we would agree.  Do not attack me, i am in a religion that i was born into...........  i have looked around to find anything better, anything that gives me security that i seek and i have not found it any where else.  I love peace, and feel the message of the bible, and Jesus' life on earth eminates peace.    Any tomatoes ready Mark

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            Mark Knowlesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            You have everything you need inside you. Sorry to say - it is your religion that has convinced you that you need something outside. This is the message of the bible 
            
            No tomatoes this year - the wind killed everything last year so I am going with peppers instead. They are looking good.
            
            Do not attack me, like you usually do, because I do not believe.

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               Joy56posted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Mark i do not ever remember attacking you, because you do not believe, only because you can be so nasty to othere people .........   It is your choice to be a non believer, absolutely none of my business......
               
               
               What colour peppers, red, green, yellow, i like peppers,

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      2. 0

         Onusonusposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         On the contrary, I do see many differences between the two, however I also find many similarities to be striking. Perhaps in an ineffective manner, such as the way some people erroneously see a relationship between monkeys and people.

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            Onusonusposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Oh yeah, and whenever I set foot inside a church, (the denomination doesn't matter) I see a room full of people who have a single goal and an agreeable outlook on beliefs, thus for a small moment in time making them, in part, united.

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               exorterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               A Christian should take that unity they have in church and take it out into the world with them

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               Elpasoposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               THE CHRISTIANS THINK THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES GOING TO HEAVEN.
               
               THE CRAZY CULTS INSIDE THE MUSLIMS THINK THEY ARE GOING TO HEAVEN AFTER THEY KILL ENOUGH INFIDELS.(WHAT IS THERE REGULAR PHILOSOPHY?)
               
               JEWS THINK THEY ARE THE CHOSEN PEOPLE OF GOD.
               
               
               CAN EACH EXPLAIN HIS SIDE THE BEST HE CAN, AND TELL US HOW THEIR BELIEF HELPS WITH WORLD UNITY!

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                  brotheryochananposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  World unity? No such thing.
                  But the god of the bible helps this way:
                  7 houses on the street
                  muslim, islam, hinduism, chinese traditional, christian, buddhist and athiest.
                  
                  which one would you consider walking up to first to ask for help?

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                     earnestshubposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                     I'd def choose the atheist. At least he would know the difference between fantasy and reality!

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                        brotheryochananposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                        but how is that going to get you help? He might think your situation fantasy and in reality shut the door
                        
                        
                        as much as we are at odds, if you came to my door asking for help i would be so inclined as to help you, not because i am a great person but because gods standards ask me too. This was my point. The athiest has no other moral standard to go by than he might be a nice enough guy but there is no guarantee or impetus for him to do so.

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                           earnestshubposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                           He is the one least likely to think of fantasy, he is in the real world.
                           He isn't gonna see some invisible sky fairy who tells him to kill me because I "bear the mark" or some other dribble!

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                              brotheryochananposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                              so lame
                              
                              The mark is designated for some other guy this is obvious, you are not in the same category, not even close. And if you dribble well, the bible does not state "kill those who dribble".
                              im bustin a gut

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                                 earnestshubposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                                 No this is a much better def of lame!

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                                    brotheryochananposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                                    doubly lame. C'mon earnest think a bit. I better stop there before i put forth a judgment
                                    
                                    at least i can be funny
                                    im bustin a gut
                                    
                                    don't let me pwn you i couldn't afford the stitches to sew up my gut
                                    

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3. 71

   Joy56posted 12 years ago

   unfortunately it divides.....  The teachings of the bible can unite, and should but interpretation varies.  Most wars have been fought in the name of religion, even though the bible condems war. I know war is mentioned in the bible, but a peace loving person would never start a war.  This is a difficult subject to address, i really do not feel like an argument either, thanks

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4. 66

   pisean282311posted 12 years ago

   every religion started with nobel cause but later , most of them became a means to control human beings with set of norms , rituals and such things..it became means of gaining power in mid ages ..religion has done some wonderful things for human beings but at same time it has been responsible for deaths of lakhs ..religion and believe that 'my way or highway' has led to conflicts at many place , mode of discrimination in some..

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   SilentReedposted 12 years ago

   Religion is a just another form of belief albeit one base on faith. The question should be do religious leaders cause divisions?

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      Joy56posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      good point....... it is power that corrupts in every religion.  I am a Jehovah's Witness, i have found no better faith so have stayed with it.  We are being refind by god, all the time, i watch the elderly at work, with their rosary beads, they feel they are connected with god, and it gives them pleasure, however the younger people are questioning their religion because of what the priests have been doing.......

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6. 68

   aka-djposted 12 years ago

   Religions divide between each other
   They unite those within.
   Isn't that just a reflection of humanity
   just with focused on "religion".
   "Birds of a feather..." thing.
   
   It's like motor cycle clubs.
   do THEY unite or divide???
   Depends on which club you join.
   
   Add your own example, it still holds true!

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7. 58

   Beelzedadposted 12 years ago

   When it comes to doing good things, religions divide. When it comes to doing bad thing, religions unite.

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   zackecposted 12 years ago

   Divide.

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   Joy56posted 12 years ago

   had to go in to work, someone rang in sick, was hoping to carry on this discussion, lots of good points made here.

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10. 75

    getitriteposted 12 years ago

    Even when a religion starts out as a uniting force, it won't be long before the original splinters into factions.  Hence, the many(divided)denominations.

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    SunSevenposted 12 years ago

    When is the election in Singapore?

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       snagerriesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       According to Channel NewsAsia reports, Lee Hsien Loong, who is also the secretary general of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), said at the party's convention on Sunday morning that by 2011 or 2012, the country will have a full slate of leaders who can form a strong, clean and able government to take the nation forward for the next 20 years, and this would instill confidence in the country's future among investors and Singaporeans.

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12. 60

    Devanniposted 12 years ago

    Both, I think. 
    
    In the greater scheme of things, religion is - and always has been - a great divider.  From the dawn of religion, people have fought and killed mercilessly over their religious beliefs, and the so-called 'Holy' wars continue even in this supposedly advanced, civilized world.  Religion is destroying the underpinnings of moral, just, and rational society, and the people involved.
    
    And yet, at the same time, I can't help but think of the time I spent as a child over a few spring breaks living with a family in an Old Order Mennonite community.  In all honesty, I've been staring at that last sentence for at least five minutes, uncertain how to proceed and accurately convey the profound unity of these people.  They are an incredibly tight-knit people that take care of their own and are always there to lend a neighbor a helping hand, and yet also incredibly accepting and welcoming of outsiders.  They are down-to-earth, and some of the kindest, most forgiving people I have met, and pacifists to boot.  Yet it is their beliefs and values that bind them.

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    TruthDebaterposted 12 years ago

    Believers are rewarded with heaven, non believers are punished with hell. It is pretty clear cut I think that religion creates the illusion of unity to it's insiders while dividing those outside the belief.

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    earnestshubposted 12 years ago

    How are the odds of one of these religions being right?
    About 38,000 to one for just the bible, and then we hit the other book!
    Anybody got credibility problems yet?

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       brotheryochananposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Its not a question of being right. The aim of christianity is to get people saved. Saved by definition is believing in Him and yielding to His work in us. This is the whole point.
       here's where you got that statistic from most probably as i was looking at it, last week.
       http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ch … of_members
       
       If you examine the list you will find many churches named by the country they are in and that there are only 13 major categories.
       Now these are not all completely different unaffiliated churches with completely unique and individual beliefs. Some of these may even be extinct as wikipedia is not so much a terrific source when articles need citations.
       This is not as bad as the person who one lined it, makes it out to be.
       But it does show a lot of people getting involved in the sky fairies activities. For a 6,000 yr old religion i'd say it has stickability.
       
       Athiests seem to think there is only one category of them but they are all different because there are no set guidelines to follow just whatever the individual thinks, except that they believe 'there is no god'. Some call it divinity, self mastering, god force in us, law of physics even happenstance or chance, evolution.. i would say atheism is divided as well and since the guideliines for atheism are not set in stone the chances of categories may be more than christianity. Im bustin a gut

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    ralwusposted 12 years ago

    a question formulated for division which already exists.

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    TruthDebaterposted 12 years ago

    If religion was ever created to unite, I don't think the Muslims and Christians of today got the memo. They would rather have war than unite. Clear evidence that religion divides.

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    brotheryochananposted 12 years ago

    So many things in this world divide. Color and race. Ancestry. Wealth. politics. sports... hmmm time for a new question.. Does having ones own favorite sports team, divide or unite??  hehe.
    -----------------------------------------------------------
    religion divides.
    spirituality connects.
    
    by spirit we are connected to god.
    by religion we are divided by man.
    
    examples of religion: Catholicism, islam, and all other non jesus groups.
    examples of spirituality: being born again by the power of jesus on the cross.
    
    God says love one another (hes talking to the beleivers here) So god is concerned that we, the believers, be connected to each other and to him.. that is all.
    All the people who claim to believe in god and all the denominations of the world and all the false religions do not have to be connected to us at all.
    
    In fact, false religions will never be connected to god and this is gods words not mine.
    
    John 15:19 "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you".
    
      Luke 12:52   For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
      Luke 12:53 "The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law".
    
    Some things naturally divide.
    Ephesians 5:11 "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them".
    
    Suck it up! Its a way of life.

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    klarawieckposted 12 years ago

    In my opinion, religion unites people who think alike and excludes everyone else who thinks differently, unless they are willing to be brainwashed and join your group. The problem with this is that the more you practice the believe that "you're right and everyone else is wrong" the less tolerant you become when dealing with others. Religion is extremely dangerous. It has been the cause of all major massacres in our planet. Besides, they are completely unnecessary. God loves us inconditionally regardless whether you go to church or not, whether you belong to one religion or another.

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    Flightkeeperposted 12 years ago

    Both.

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20. 83

    LeanManposted 12 years ago

    Religion neither unites or divides, it is people!

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    SilentReedposted 12 years ago

    Stick around longer in this religion forum and you won't have to ask such a dumb question.

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    Jeramiposted 12 years ago

    klarawieckIn wrote   
    In my opinion, religion unites people who think alike and excludes everyone else who thinks differently, unless they are willing to be brainwashed and join your group. The problem with this is that the more you practice the believe that "you're right and everyone else is wrong" the less tolerant you become when dealing with others
    
      Jerami thinks ...
    
      This part of your comment fits the description of behaveior of just about every group of people.
      To expect different religions to be any different than the rest of society would not be a reasonable expectation.
    
      Maybe they should be dirrerent ??? ...  but they are not!

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       Mark Knowlesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       How many chess clubs etc need to go out and kill those who will not convert?
       
       How many knitting circles get tax free status?
       
       How many Judo clubs try and get the laws changed to suit wot their invisible super being wants?
       
       How many countries were founded to get away from the control of a rival soccer club?
       
       Odd you cannot see that the invisible super being makes religion nothing like any other group of people.
       
       Defend the Faith!!!!

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          brotheryochananposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          I think churches are quite docile considering what is around them. There was a 'forgiveness day in canada' last month. God kinda brought you christmas LOL.. hehe. There is Gay pride day, wars, social unrest, inequality in society, injustice, lack of compassion for the less fortunate (monetary banks don't fund food banks or disability access centers) that churches tolerate silently. We rather move about seeking people who need help in so many ways. Chess, judo, knitting aren't the same minded, in fact most clubs stick to themselves, majorly speaking. This was a hard post to answer because of the way it was worded, i found it unclear, confusing and kinda like comparing apples and the chrysler building.
          Have a great day

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       klarawieckposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       But religion is not created by God, but by man. It's like social security - you can't win!

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    Andrew0208posted 12 years ago

    Religion is the biggest disease amongst men. It's man made...Religion is neither God nor divinity.

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       Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Hey Andrew, you are correct religion is neither, because neither "god" or "divinity" actually exists.
       
       "god" is a metaphor, which I just said this same thing in another forum thread- it's about being a master of self.

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    aguasilverposted 12 years ago

    Of course religion divides, it separates the goats from the sheep, the wheat from the tares and those who believe from those who do not.
    
    The revelation of Jesus Christ states:
    
    Revelation 18:3-5 (King James Version)
    
    3For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
    
    4And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
    
    5For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
    
    It divides, you just need to chose which side of the divide you wish to stand, and from these posts, we all have done that.

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    knightstarposted 12 years ago

    Christianity, just as all religious traditions, are based on their holy books, supposedly divinely inspired. However, ALL religions in contemporary form, are corrupted due to misinterpetations of earlier accounts by recorders that did not understand the details of that which they conveyed. Even in its corrupted form religion has its good points in grounding Ones belief in something higher than themselves. Personally, I would never dissuade anyone from belief in God(s). If you look deeper you will find how every living thing is linked to the grand scheme of abundant life in the universe. I believe on or about December, 12, 2012 will reveal this ultimate truth to the world...

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       earnestshubposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Knowing a bit of psychology cures the god myth. Funny how all the wonderful born again stuff is no match for self knowledge and a little access to subconscious processes that allow one to see the god problem and it's link to the primitive part of the brain as a defence against inevitable death.
       I prefer to be less deluded and happily live my life in love and wisdom.
       Neither of which are promoted by the bunch of psychotic sexist old goat herders who wrote the bible, or practised by many of their preaching followers.

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          brotheryochananposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Got a proverb for that
          
          what did ya think of my reply to your 38,000 churches?

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             earnestshubposted 12 years agoin reply to this

             What do I think of it? Your assumption was wrong for the source for starters (Misha left a link if I recall correctly) I thought he may be right too as I know there are more than 30,000.
             
             What do you think of your chances of having been the genius who picked the right one?

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                brotheryochananposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                Is that all you got out of it? I checked for mishas link, couldn't find it. But the similarities may be noted as astounding. I bet it wasn't much different. Shame you overlooked what you didn't like to read.
                gimme my pearls back!

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          brotheryochananposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Its amazing how a bunch of psychotic sexist old goat herders wrote proverbs. Its equally more amazing how these same unskilled, unlearned people who accurately recorded a book that has withstood through the ages cannot even compare to your LITTLE bit of psychology.
          
          You are so way up there, id think you are shakin hands with god himself.

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       brotheryochananposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       What do you mean by this.. every living thing will reveal its truth, or the grand scheme of abundant life in the universe will show it is linked.. this is a vague sentence.
       

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          Rajab Nsubugaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Help me, I always dream in the name of religion!

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    ahorsebackposted 12 years ago

    Religion, town meeting , war ,poliics , football , the legal system , all invented by man .......and only man devides , for that is his purpose .The soul of man is devisive.......

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    JustForSissiesposted 12 years ago

    I know of no religion that says "Everyone is right.". When you label something or someone as "wrong", you've divided. There's no getting around that. Well...I suppose you could say that "Everyone, including me, is wrong." but then you're saying that anyone who thinks they are right is wrong so...same difference. We're divided by nature. We are individual human beings. We want what pleases us, as individuals. Even when we want something for someone else, we want it because it will make US feel better to see it. Perhaps we could be united in understanding that we are divided?

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