It is worrying, I've always felt religion and politics shouldn't mix. I never trust any politician who openly refers to his religious belief (not that I particularly trust them anyway), but I am getting concerned by the growing trend of using their religions as a kind of unarguable justification for their actions. Something the current prime minister and GBJr has done on occasion.
On the issue of religions interfering in politics part of the problem is the need for religions in society isn't the same as it first was, but they don't seem to realise it. They were necessary in the early civilisations, and therefore gained a lot of power, but they have never wanted to let go of their power, or of the belief they hold a critical role in shaping the world. Yet where they do have a strong influence, like Catholicism in Africa, they to stick the rules that were written hundreds to thousands of years ago, instead of doing what will actually help. I've always felt that while the core principle of almost all religions (treat others as you want to be treated by them) is a good thing, the provisos they include with it cause too many problems.
I suppose that the kind of core of my personal beliefs really. I wouldn't say I'm a catholic, I think the phrase I came to was nondenominational christian, but to be honest I'm not sure I'm even that. What I've kept on believing in is a single God and that treating others as you want to be treated is the most important rule in life to live by. In fact I suspect that the only reason I believe in a single God specifically is that was how I was brought up, and it is a comfortable focus for my personal faith. In the end my beliefs were kind of defined while I was doing religious education in secondary school. I learned a lot about primarily the christian religion, and I found that while I agreed with the core behind the various religions out there (again the 'treat others as you want to be treated' principle), I had issues with all the, well, fine print is a best way I can describe it.
To cover the last point the only solution I can think of for the inter-ethnic hatred (short of banning all cultural and religious things) is a national identity. I was always felt it was the one thing the American's got right, not that it entirely works for the them, but it does make a difference if you give give everyone a feeling they belong. The lack of national identity seems to aggravate the ethnic divides and the anti-immigration feelings here, but it's not likely to change though. Did you know they can't even refer to the nation as a whole on TV when talking about the weather because its not politically correct? I always agree with Dad though, the people who migrate to this society, for whatever their reason, aren't integrated into our society properly, and that only enhances the kind of problems we have.
Anyway, we have a long time before we get a new pope. However it will be worth watching to see which of the cardinals are the likely candidates, and what their stand points are. It will also be worth seeing how the various political leaders act with regards to the final decision.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-04-03 05:51 am (UTC)On the issue of religions interfering in politics part of the problem is the need for religions in society isn't the same as it first was, but they don't seem to realise it. They were necessary in the early civilisations, and therefore gained a lot of power, but they have never wanted to let go of their power, or of the belief they hold a critical role in shaping the world. Yet where they do have a strong influence, like Catholicism in Africa, they to stick the rules that were written hundreds to thousands of years ago, instead of doing what will actually help. I've always felt that while the core principle of almost all religions (treat others as you want to be treated by them) is a good thing, the provisos they include with it cause too many problems.
I suppose that the kind of core of my personal beliefs really. I wouldn't say I'm a catholic, I think the phrase I came to was nondenominational christian, but to be honest I'm not sure I'm even that. What I've kept on believing in is a single God and that treating others as you want to be treated is the most important rule in life to live by. In fact I suspect that the only reason I believe in a single God specifically is that was how I was brought up, and it is a comfortable focus for my personal faith. In the end my beliefs were kind of defined while I was doing religious education in secondary school. I learned a lot about primarily the christian religion, and I found that while I agreed with the core behind the various religions out there (again the 'treat others as you want to be treated' principle), I had issues with all the, well, fine print is a best way I can describe it.
To cover the last point the only solution I can think of for the inter-ethnic hatred (short of banning all cultural and religious things) is a national identity. I was always felt it was the one thing the American's got right, not that it entirely works for the them, but it does make a difference if you give give everyone a feeling they belong. The lack of national identity seems to aggravate the ethnic divides and the anti-immigration feelings here, but it's not likely to change though. Did you know they can't even refer to the nation as a whole on TV when talking about the weather because its not politically correct? I always agree with Dad though, the people who migrate to this society, for whatever their reason, aren't integrated into our society properly, and that only enhances the kind of problems we have.
Anyway, we have a long time before we get a new pope. However it will be worth watching to see which of the cardinals are the likely candidates, and what their stand points are. It will also be worth seeing how the various political leaders act with regards to the final decision.