You’re right. It should say “most religions”. Jainists are the top example of a non harmful religion but very few Jainists exist. Sikhs do seem pretty cool but I haven’t done too much research on them. Buddhism is actually rife with violence and encourages masochism though the Zen sect is definitely better.
I think the real point though is that saying, “I’m religious”, should be an embarrassing and negative statement. Not something that means the person should automatically be given the benefit of the doubt because a minority of religious people are just harmlessly misinformed. It’s like saying, “I’m a cannibal, but don’t worry, I’m part of a special Zen cannibal sect that only eats people after they die of natural causes and consented to being eaten because we think that it really helps the circle of life and the environment”. It’s not technically hurting anyone but it’s still weird and when you hear cannonball in general you should still automatically assume that person is dangerous.
Different person sticking their nose in, but I really respect what the Satanic Temple is doing. Like in general, but also specifically their stance that religion should not be ceded as the territory of superstition.
Like it or not, religion is one of the fundamental building blocks of community. It provides gathering. At its best it encourages sharing, both of burdens and of blessings. Prayer is so often just meditation focused on helping one another.
I was raised in Christianity, and I am downright resentful of so much of what they did to me. But god I miss the community. Kink is the closest thing I have found in secularism.
No Satanic Temple near me unfortunately. I’d love to have something like that in my life.
You’re right. It should say “most religions”. Jainists are the top example of a non harmful religion but very few Jainists exist. Sikhs do seem pretty cool but I haven’t done too much research on them. Buddhism is actually rife with violence and encourages masochism though the Zen sect is definitely better.
I think the real point though is that saying, “I’m religious”, should be an embarrassing and negative statement. Not something that means the person should automatically be given the benefit of the doubt because a minority of religious people are just harmlessly misinformed. It’s like saying, “I’m a cannibal, but don’t worry, I’m part of a special Zen cannibal sect that only eats people after they die of natural causes and consented to being eaten because we think that it really helps the circle of life and the environment”. It’s not technically hurting anyone but it’s still weird and when you hear cannonball in general you should still automatically assume that person is dangerous.
Different person sticking their nose in, but I really respect what the Satanic Temple is doing. Like in general, but also specifically their stance that religion should not be ceded as the territory of superstition.
Like it or not, religion is one of the fundamental building blocks of community. It provides gathering. At its best it encourages sharing, both of burdens and of blessings. Prayer is so often just meditation focused on helping one another.
I was raised in Christianity, and I am downright resentful of so much of what they did to me. But god I miss the community. Kink is the closest thing I have found in secularism.
No Satanic Temple near me unfortunately. I’d love to have something like that in my life.