Consciousness and the End of the War Between Science and Religion

There is also a clear, logical pathway to each of those terrible things by any human being for other reasons. More people throughout history have died at the hands of secular leaders and countries than religious. The statement "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely" is true. Anyone with that much power over a group, army or country will use whatever tool he can to control the people.Religion is one of those tools.



A study of the Gospel of Jesus reveals much about the need to love, forgive and be tolerant. When followed, it leads folks to work together in peace. Much the same way peaceful Muslims are sometimes whipped into a fighting frenzy by corrupt men who do not live by the Koran, wicked leaders perverted the gospel and convinced people that the Crusades were justified. Of course it's much easier if you keep the people in poverty and illiteracy. Pol Pot, Stalin and many others used different tools with the same results.



The tools used are not the cause of the destruction. It's human nature that causes some to dominate and destroy others. They may employ religious fervor, bias, racism, or many other methods, but the cause is almost always the same... power and wealth. That's what leads members of Congress to pander to lobbies and turn their backs on the people, and dictators to abuse their citizens, conquer other nations and commit genocide. Not religion.
About Spirituality
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Spiritually Bankrupt

All it would have taken is concern enough for the victims to seek justice. Turn the offenders over to the law and cooperate fully. Instead they ignored the victims and hid, protected and reassigned the perpetrators. A few victims actually got settlements, but it wasn't given to them out of caring, rather to prevent more trouble and keep them quiet. Now they cover their considerable assets with bankruptcy games. You don't do something like this without an awareness of culpability.



Instead of doing the right thing they dug themselves deeper into the mire. Now that it's hitting the fan they act like victims and dig deeper in.



There are a lot of really good Catholics. It's some of their leaders that have serious problems. It'll be hard to lead their flocks from prison, and even harder to earn back the trust they should never have jeopardized. And the damage done to innocents and families will carry on for generations.
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Consciousness and the End of the War Between Science and Religion

You make a good point, and in some ways I agree. For example Prop 8, where rights had already been given yet many fought to take them away. That made me mad twice. First because so many felt justified in discriminating, and second when I got blamed for being a part of it simply because of my church membership. Another would be the recent news about id10ts changing the school curriculum to include only "science" based on a literal reading of Genesis and nothing about natural principles, evolution or other sciences.



Standards are set by a society. The founding fathers based much on their backgrounds of Judeo/Christian principles, but they wrote it in a more secular way to avoid one group control. Yet some keep trying. Whether it's fundies pushing their own standards, minority groups bucking the majority or individuals being squeaky wheels. Sometimes change is good, especially when it means greater rights for everyone. Sometimes we take it too far. For example, most Americans celebrate Christmas in one way or another. Carols, programs, lights, presents, it's a fun tradition for some and very meaningful for many. Inevitable you get a person or small group who complains, as if celebrating a holiday is somehow causing abuse. So we change the words, take down the decorations, silence the school concerts. What a waste!



We need to be able to discuss important changes and relax about other stuff. Be sensitive with others and less with ourselves. No more "us vs them".
About Spirituality
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Consciousness and the End of the War Between Science and Religion

There's a bigger picture here. This "war" isn't just about science and faith. It's what we do. Whenever there are differences, we take whatever side we're on, hoist it up on the truth pedestal and hurl expletives at the other side. If they have the nerve to hurl back it can get nasty.



Science and religion, party politics, race, immigration, standard of living, anything where our differences are either obvious or simply perceived triggers our ridiculous "us vs them" mindset and threatens a new civil war.



We live in a country where we are free to believe anything, or nothing, as we wish. But we forget these rights belong to ALL of us. We forget that we're all in this together... neighbors trying to live our lives the best we can. We forget the lessons we should have learned throughout our history. Tolerance is the way we've solved our problems. Intolerance makes everything worse. It threatens the very fabric of our nation.
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Consciousness and the End of the War Between Science and Religion

Interesting thoughts on one of the "us vs them" battles we continue to have. But any sense of objectivity you hoped to express was lost near the beginning when you casually dismissed one whole side of the equation, and then aligned yourself with the other at the end.



Science and faith are not an either-or situation. Neither has a monopoly on truth. Yet zealots on both sides insist they have all the answers. Not only is that a flawed position, it shows closed minds, which strangle the curiosity necessary for discovery. Real science and faith have a few things in common... the need to learn, to be open to change, to find understanding, to improve life.



I like to put it this way... science is studying the chemical reactions than make a firefly glow. Faith is spending an evening in a meadow, filled with wonder at the beauty of the flickering lights. Both activities are enriching and important. Neither debunks the other. Having both experiences can increase your understanding and joy, and refusing to acknowledge one limits you in ways you may not know.



Truth comes in many forms. Putting on blinders limits how much one can learn. Dismissing science, faith or anything else, and berating others for what they believe, or choose not to, belies a stunted growth, self-inflated ego, and is a good indication that there are experience we will never have with closed minds.
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Dick Cheney Hospitalized

Dear Lord,

Please keep Mr. Cheney alive long enough so we can find someone with the guts to prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law.

Amen
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Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of Former Enron CEO Jeff Skilling

Looks like the court needs a housecleaning as much as congress does. The voice of the people was sold by congress long ago to the lobbies. Not to be outdone, the less-than-supreme court has legitimized influence peddling, bribery, and now corporate fraud. Like their legislative counterparts, they've turned their backs on the people and snuggled up with congress inside the corporate wallet.
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Tiki Barber: I'm Broke

Money, fame, adoring fans, fantasy world. Now you get a little dose of reality and you're broke? Either you're a selfish j6rk trying to hide your assets & avoid responsibility or you lost your fortune, marriage, career, reputation due to severe lack of intelligence and character deficiencies. Either way makes for a pretty unflattering portrait.
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Arizona Wildfire Evacuations: Arson Suspected As More Than 1,000 Homes Evacuated

P1$$ off the population.... stoke the fires.

Next they'll probably outlaw water and firefighters from out of state to put those fires out.



On second thought, maybe it was PETA protesting the animals running the state!
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Clean, Baby, Clean

OilCo has been handing out bribes like candy and drugs since the first black gold came out of the ground. Most members of congress and the inspectors are easy targets. Those with scruples take more finesse and bigger envelopes. But everyone has a price. Thousands and millions are petty cash to the oil companies. Cheap insurance for the unencumbered race toward greater profits without regard for safety, environment, country, citizens, animals, law, morals and any other insignificant road bump.
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Tony Hayward REMOVED From Gulf Spill Operations, Carl-Henric Svanberg Says

It's so nice for him to get his life back. Just like all those fishermen, their families and the others whose jobs, homes and lives were ruined. And all those lovely animals covered in goo or floating to the bottom of dead zones.
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You Decide...

Utah Oil Spill (PHOTOS): 500 Barrels Spill Into Red Butte Creek After Pipeline Breaks

This is one of my favorite places to walk the dog. Almost uncountable ducks, geese and other birds call it home. In addition to the huge pond there are fountains, streams and little ponds, lawns, huge old trees, hills, an island gazebo, an aviary, rides and playgrounds, paddle boats, tennis, pool and a historical building/museum. From before dawn to late evening you'll find the park filled with folks walking, riding bikes, running, playing with kids and dogs, relaxing and all manner of fun activities. But even more, the birds are there 24/7, raising little ones, enjoying the clean water and lush grounds, living in peace among the people. Until now...



Thanks to the folks at Chevron, it's over. Poisoned. And the fowl who lived there in trust are fighting for their lives.



I know it pales in comparison to the gulf, but it's the same kind of destruction, the same death brought to us by the people who make more than any other companies in history. Greed is more important than safety, integrity, environment and lives.
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Arkansas Flash Floods Kill At Least A Dozen Campers, Dozens More Missing

With all our accomplishments, we think we're in charge of our world. Then Mother Nature gets angry and shows us just how helpless and insignificant we really are. Those who've felt her fury understand a bit of what these poor folks went through. Our hearts go out to them, and prayers for comfort and healing.
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