Religion
Related: About this forumJohn Kerry: "We ignore... religion at our peril"
One of the most interesting challenges we face in global diplomacy today is the need to fully understand and engage the great impact that a wide range of religious traditions have on foreign affairs. I often say that if I headed back to college today, I would major in comparative religions rather than political science. That is because religious actors and institutions are playing an influential role in every region of the world and on nearly every issue central to U.S. foreign policy.
In June, Pope Francis historic encyclical Laudato Si helped advocate for global measures to combat climate change. Religious advocacy groups have long raised awareness about famine and human rights violations abroad; Buddhist nuns in Nepal play a crucial role in natural disaster recovery efforts; and religious organizations have been essential to providing humanitarian support to Syrian refugees.
...
As secretary of state for the past two-and-a-half years, and before that as a senator for 29 years and also as a presidential candidate, I have met with religious leaders all across the world. I have also met with people of all religious traditions, life philosophies and belief systems. That experience has only reaffirmed my belief that there is much more that unites us, and should unite us, than divides us.
Amid the diversity of the worlds religions, there are common denominators; many are tied together by the Golden Rule. They share fundamental concerns about the human condition, poverty, human relationships and our responsibilities to each other. Many people talk about how we draw strength from the example of our religious communitiesbut too few actually translate those words into actions or policies. Leaders in public life need to recognize that in a world where people of all religious traditions are migrating and mingling like never before, we ignore the global impact of religion at our peril.
http://americamagazine.org/issue/religion-and-diplomacy
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)If you say so.
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)I can too. And mine move.
Please let me know when the Vatican's plan to tackle climate change and poverty gets beyond the "saying shit in front of cameras" phase.
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)I bought a fuel efficient car. I use low-energy light bulbs. I don't leave shit running in my house when I'm not using it.
Which is more than can be said for these guys:
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)Pretty simple, actually.
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)And deduce you have nothing to say.
Done and done.
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)Truth is a worthwhile thing to tell.
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)Yeah, good luck solving the problem that way.
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)Still, I don't blame you. I couldn't defend it if I tried either.
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)Pope Francis has been highly touted for his criticism of institutional evils that create poverty. But there is something deeply troubling about a church leadership that rails against poverty and institutional sin while using its resources to defeat civil laws aimed at alleviating the suffering of the poorest.
If the pope and his brother bishops are to be fully honest about roots of poverty, they must take an honest look at the ways in which the policies and agenda of their institutional church contribute to inadequate medical care for mothers, the starvation of families, the swelling of the slum population, the spread of HIV/AIDS, and environmental degradation.
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)Immune to facts. Responds with unrelated combinations of words.
I'm afraid you fail the Turing test.
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)I read Freud, too!
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)Your random insults and handwaving do not constitute a counter argument. Have a wonderful day. Have the last word if you like.
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)See the OP.
Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)YOHABLO
(7,358 posts)Iggo
(47,534 posts)Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)trotsky
(49,533 posts)Kerry actually said: "...we ignore the global impact of religion at our peril."
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)trotsky
(49,533 posts)He said we ignore its IMPACT at our peril.
Yeah, there's a difference in meaning. Sorry if you don't see it.
Rob H.
(5,349 posts)..is in the subject line of the OP, but you'll note that the people whose heads would explode if someone else were to do that--to say nothing of deliberately truncating a direct quote in a way that changes its meaning--haven't said a word about either.
JNelson6563
(28,151 posts)I see the harm it does every day, especially the privilege many religious feel entitled to. I find it pretty distressing.
I wish we could give all the gweat, gweat warriors of god a continent to occupy and they could go at it while leaving us innocent bystanders out of it.
Julie
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)I have yet to see any legitimate proof of religion in and of itself causing harm.
If there were no religion, we'd still have the problems we now have - but fewer people would have any motive for doing good.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)And the bad coming from religion is very, very bad, so the net result is good. Being good because you think god wants you to, is a very weak form of morality anyway.
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)...where they wouldn't otherwise have a motive.
One concrete, accurate example.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)You didn't provide a single reason why any of them weren't valid, you just ignored the list.
But here's another:
http://www.operationrescue.org/
They are motivated strictly by their RELIGIOUS belief that a fetus is a human being and abortion is murder. Now tell me what you're going to twist to try and claim Operation Rescue isn't religious. Go ahead, cue up your Jeopardy theme again.
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)Nor did you prove that any of them wouldn't have happened without religion.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)Too bad I don't have sound on my computer; that losing horn plays only for you. How appropriate.
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)trotsky
(49,533 posts)Of course, if you want to play this game, PROVE to me that religion was the motivator for something good and that no other reason could have possibly been responsible.
Cue up the theme (and the losing horn) again.
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)trotsky
(49,533 posts)There are many non-religious relief organizations. Clearly religion is not necessary to motivate people to help.
I guess I'm still waiting for an argument from you.
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)If you're still waiting for an argument from me, I'd suggest actually reading my posts.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)Unless you can read EVERYONE'S mind, you cannot prove that religion is a unique motivator.
Ultimate FAIL for you, it appears.
cleanhippie
(19,705 posts)When they do "bad", religion isn't a factor at all.
See how it works? At least that's how it does for dolts.
Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)expressed with such naive certainty. Usually the practitioners of perfidy couch their canards in clever constructions to avoid the glaring hypocrisy of attributing good deeds to religion while denying bad deeds the same attribution. It is like a breath of fresh air to see such honesty.
JNelson6563
(28,151 posts)Cause people need the "fear of God" and "heavenly hope" in order to do good, right? Otherwise what is to prevent us all from becoming terrorists and murderers?
Frankly, if we didn't have religion as one of the greatest dividers known to man I wager we might be a bit further along than we are.
Disappointing argument from you Scott, I guess I thought I knew you better than I do.
Julie
Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)Humanist_Activist
(7,670 posts)who glossed over, ignored or even defending someone who is against interracial relationships/marriages?
Now, how would that be any different if you substituted interracial with same sex?
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)Humanist_Activist
(7,670 posts)who are more likely to support someone for their faith regardless as to whether they would support your equal rights.
Obviously you identify more closely with your religion than your sexuality, perhaps you would feel better posting over here: http://spiritualfriendship.org/
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)trotsky
(49,533 posts)You had absolutely no problems with this guy doing exactly that - in fact you promoted him as a wonderful story about religion.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1218&pid=210644
Seems like Humanist_Activist...
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)trotsky
(49,533 posts)rug
(82,333 posts)cleanhippie
(19,705 posts)Just a dolt, so no worries.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)Must have a cloaking device. WTF, someone is upset that I think the religious dolts should have a special place to go fight each other and leave the rest of us alone?
cleanhippie
(19,705 posts)Next thing you know, you'll be a racist, too!
Seems like the dolts are getting desperate. Desperate Dolts. D.D.
Too funny.
rug
(82,333 posts)Surely you can say something besides "dolt". Can't you?
Starboard Tack
(11,181 posts)Kinda like Glock and Flock
I love watching them scurry after the crumbs
rug
(82,333 posts)Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)trotsky
(49,533 posts)Thanks!
Response to trotsky (Reply #59)
Post removed
rug
(82,333 posts)Starboard Tack
(11,181 posts)Wingman!