Re: stop the spread of fundamentalism - shine a light on it
quote: "The increasing politicization of religion worries me, but I'm out of ideas."
K - Shine some light on it, and it will disapear
I like the idea of public awareness programs, and as a part of social-studies classes. There would simply be an outline of the various "factions" involved, with each of their platforms or agendas. That would "shine the light on them", and allow opinions to form.
As it is now, we have the situation where nothing is said, nothing is done, and it is allowed to fester and grow like a bad mould. Religious Groups grow and serve to divide Canadians amongst themselves.
Islam Vs Christian Vs Sikh Vs Hindu Vs athiests, etc etc., is a potential battle that is fed by questions like "what religion are you", a socially-acceptable standard of belonging to one of the primary religious groups. Its just so wrong, and smell of conspiracy.
The alternative that would be offered is this :
RELIGION IS A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, AND IT IS NOT ELEVATED WHATSOEVER BY RELIGIOUS GROUPS. ITS A PERSONAL MATTER AND MUST REMAIN WITHIN THE PERSON.
Is that too restrictive? In the face of WW3, religious wars, it would seem appropriate to dis-allow "public" religion. The groups can exist, but not practise publicly or recruit. Treat them like they are the KKK or any other cult who is not allowed to openly recruit.
Its time to tell religion that being "organised" actually distracts from relationships with god, that we have figured out religion is used for alterior purposes, fired with the maniacal devotion that only "faith in the unseen" can inspire, a willingness to give yourself to a belief tha is lacking when only reality is considered.
Karlin
