04-15-2021, 03:49 PM
(04-08-2021, 09:05 AM)GMDino Wrote: I know...yours is.
I've been doing a lot of reading and listening to podcasts on the birth and death of civilizations. Of course a lot of that involves foreigners coming in and bringing their culture with them. Especially when it is an invasion from outside the borders.
Most of human history is one group trying to take over another group because the first group wants "more" of something.
No matter what the reason for the initial contact eventually the conquering force imposes their own culture/religion on the people they have won against.
Made me wonder if any of these people ever stopped and wondered why their all-powerful god had never gone to these other places and appeared to them too.
I suppose one answer would be that the other people were too "backwards" or "unevolved" to understand the god of the conquerors. But they had a religion in all places and it seems the idea that it might be the same god just presented differently isn't acceptable and the new peoples had to change completely or, in most places, be killed.
When I read of the amount of human history destroyed because of religion it saddens me. I was taught that religion is to be used for good but the majority of our history it is being used as a tool to control people and to justify the overtaken of other people who were "different" in an attempt to "save" them.
Note: Before the usual responses start this goes beyond white/European history obviously. This is a human problem not limited to certain races or countries.
To me whatever religion fits an individual person is right if its right for them. The problem comes in when people use their religion to inflict force upon people. That has happened in about all religions through history but usually by people in positions of power or elites and not the regular guys and gals who believe in whatever religion they believe in. Freedom of religion is just what it is. People should respect peoples choices as long as they dont inflict harm on others. No brainer.
What amazes me is that you have people from all over the world, way before communication amongst far off countries were readily available, and almost all countries, tribes, etc have some form of a God. That is powerful and I think it is evidence that most people at least at one time believed in some form of intelligent design, or in other words creation by a God or higher being.
I respect all religions. I believe in God myself and consider myself a Christian. I majored in the sciences and believe there is more evidence for intelligent design than things like the big bang theory. All I ask in return is people to respect my beliefs and dont judge me by it, but rather judge me by how I treat others and the earth.
