John Kerry: "We ignore... religion at our peril"

[UrbScotty]

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 world’s 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 communities—but 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]

1. #KnowYourEnemy

[UrbScotty]

5. Especially when your "enemy" is actually tackling issues like poverty and climate change (nt)

[Act_of_Reparation]

6. LOL

If you say so.

[UrbScotty]

7. :-)

[Act_of_Reparation]

16. Yes, yes, yes. You can copy and paste image URLs.

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]

18. Please let me know about the atheists' plan to tackle climate change.

[Act_of_Reparation]

25. Gladly.

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]

26. And how would you know what "these guys" do? (nt)

[Act_of_Reparation]

27. Observation and deduction.

Pretty simple, actually.

[UrbScotty]

31. Then try observing and deducing!

[Act_of_Reparation]

36. I observe you saying nothing.

And deduce you have nothing to say.

Done and done.

[UrbScotty]

37. Except that I'm saying things.

Truth is a worthwhile thing to tell.

[AtheistCrusader]

8. Tackling issues like poverty by opposing family planning?

Yeah, good luck solving the problem that way.

[UrbScotty]

9. Wrong again :-)

[AtheistCrusader]

10. You wish.

Still, I don't blame you. I couldn't defend it if I tried either.

[UrbScotty]

11. I couldn't defend falsehoods if I tried either.

[AtheistCrusader]

12. I know, right? Maybe you should drop it then.

http://ncronline.org/blogs/grace-margins/contraception-philippines-and-pope-francis-passion-poor

Although proponents of the reproductive health law say expanding access to contraception could significantly slow population growth, The New York Times reports that the Aquino administration believes the measure's primary purpose is "to offer poor families the same reproductive health options that wealthier people in the country enjoy."

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]

13. Drop what? LOL! Projection doesn't work (nt)

[AtheistCrusader]

14. Talking to you is like talking to a random word generator.

Immune to facts. Responds with unrelated combinations of words.

I'm afraid you fail the Turing test.

[UrbScotty]

15. LOL - More projection

[Act_of_Reparation]

17. LOL - More projection.

I read Freud, too!

[UrbScotty]

19. And you can copy and paste!

[AtheistCrusader]

20. You've been provided facts that support my original assertion.

Your random insults and handwaving do not constitute a counter argument. Have a wonderful day. Have the last word if you like.

[UrbScotty]

21. I've already provided all the facts I need!

See the OP.

[Act_of_Reparation]

24. I sure can!

[UrbScotty]

33. Then read it!

[YOHABLO]

2. the ''impact of religion''! yes we know quite a lot about that in the U.S.

[Iggo]

3. Yep, can't turn your back on that shit even for a minute.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. For many religious institutions the "Golden Rule" means "give us your gold". nt.

[trotsky]

22. Why did you edit the quote to change its meaning?

Kerry actually said: "...we ignore the global impact of religion at our peril."

[UrbScotty]

23. Not much change in impact at all, actually (nt)

[trotsky]

29. He didn't say we ignore religion at our peril.

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.]

70. And normally the title of the article

..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. I don't ignore religion & its impact on the world.

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]

30. Harm would happen with or without religion.

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]

34. But fewer people would have a motive to do bad.

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]

38. Go ahead - give me *one* example of religion giving someone a motive to do bad...

...where they wouldn't otherwise have a motive.

One concrete, accurate example.

[trotsky]

39. I've already given you 12 in a previous thread.

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]

40. I said *accurate.* You didn't prove that religion actually motivated any of them.

Nor did you prove that any of them wouldn't have happened without religion.

[trotsky]

41. OK, I see your inability to actually address any point continues.

Too bad I don't have sound on my computer; that losing horn plays only for you. How appropriate.

[UrbScotty]

42. Just because one does not see the point I'm making, doesn't mean I didn't make it

[trotsky]

43. Right back atcha.

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]

44. Checkmate:

http://www.crs.org

Still waiting for a solid counterargument.

[trotsky]

45. That doesn't prove anything.

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]

46. But religion does motivate people to get involved in this kind of work.

If you're still waiting for an argument from me, I'd suggest actually reading my posts.

[trotsky]

48. People are also motivated to get involved for non-religious reasons.

Unless you can read EVERYONE'S mind, you cannot prove that religion is a unique motivator.

Ultimate FAIL for you, it appears.

[cleanhippie]

47. C'mon, trotsky, when a religious group/person does "good" it's because religion

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]

54. It is rare to see the blatant doltery of religion can do no bad

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]

56. And there it is...

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]

58. Okie dokie.

[UrbScotty]

60. And disdain for religion sometimes compels people to call others a piece of shit (nt)

[Humanist_Activist]

64. And that is usually an accurate observation. For example, what would you call someone...

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]

65. You do NOT lecture a gay person about marriage equality.

[Humanist_Activist]

66. Oh please, cut the crap, that argument has no merit, particularly with you...

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]

68. LOL - you think you know everything about me when you've never even MET me!

[trotsky]

67. "You do NOT lecture a gay person about marriage equality."

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]

69. Uh, wrong again.

[trotsky]

32. I like your proposal. n/t

[rug]

35. Any other groups you'd like to segregate?

[cleanhippie]

49. Heads up! Bogey on your six!

Just a dolt, so no worries.

[trotsky]

50. Hmph. Nothing there for me.

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]

51. Apparently. Yet you're being represented as endorsing segregation.

Next thing you know, you'll be a racist, too!
Seems like the dolts are getting desperate. Desperate Dolts. D.D.

[trotsky]

52. LOL!

Too funny.

[rug]

53. What would you call it?

Surely you can say something besides "dolt". Can't you?

[Starboard Tack]

55. Rhymes with Colt, favorite idol of some of our self-described crusaders

Kinda like Glock and Flock
I love watching them scurry after the crumbs

[rug]

62. And like crumbs, it atracts pests.

[Warren Stupidity]

57. And a wingman to help it sustain an attack!

[trotsky]

59. Nice to get confirmation I'm still ignoring the right people.

Thanks!

[rug]

63. A self-descriptive post.

[Starboard Tack]

71. You are definitely the funniest!

Wingman!