Are religion and violence two sides of the same coin?

[Fran Sheffield]

The following article is not entirely off-topic as it does mention and
consider homeopathy!

It also makes a fascinating and disturbing read that helps us understand
human behaviour a little better.

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/pro ... ce/5913444

Do we agree with it?

Fran.

[Roger B]

Religion and religious people span a spectrum all of the way from ISIS to Jainism, so I fail to see that the hypothesis is confirmed.

Roger Bird
________________________________

To: minutus@yahoogroups.com
From: minutus@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 11:37:41 +1100
Subject: [Minutus] Are religion and violence two sides of the same coin?

The following article is not entirely off-topic as it does mention and
consider homeopathy!

It also makes a fascinating and disturbing read that helps us understand
human behaviour a little better.

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/pro ... ce/5913444

Do we agree with it?

Fran.

[Soroush Ebrahimi]

On Minutus we do not discuss religion or politics - unless directly related to health issues or Homeopathy!

Soroush
From: minutus@yahoogroups.com [mailto:minutus@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: 26 November 2014 00:38
To: minutus@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Minutus] Are religion and violence two sides of the same coin?
The following article is not entirely off-topic as it does mention and
consider homeopathy!

It also makes a fascinating and disturbing read that helps us understand
human behaviour a little better.

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/pro ... ce/5913444

Do we agree with it?

Fran.

[Fran Sheffield]

Dear Roger and Soroush,

Did either of you read the article?

It was not about religions but the human need from the earliest of time to find a scape-goat or sacrifice as a way to relieve tension and anger within a community.

The article then went on to discuss how, with our increasing sophistication, we now try not to scapegoat but understand the other's point of view - but rather than this reducing violence, this empathy seems to suppress and then escalate it as there is no longer a vent.

The homeopathy comment within the article was in relation to how societies, by a small bit of violence driven by a 'them and us' mentality, are able to relieve the greater violence that otherwise breaks out if scapegoating is understood and done away with.

I know it is uncomfortable to consider that this may be true so censor if you must. In doing so there is the intriguing implication of that you are placing yourself into the scapegoating camp. Fascinating.

Fran.
________________________________

[Leilanae]

Hi Fran,

A thought provoking article!

Thanks for posting the link.

Atb,

Leilanae

[Hennie Duits]

Hm, are soccer fans and violence, or atheism and violence, or sugar (or
drug) addiction and violence, etc. two sides of the same coin?
And what about such a broad generalisation of 'religion'..
As if it would define how people act and behave.
There's no point in this, skip it.
Fran Sheffield FranSheffield@homeopathyplus.com.au [minutus] schreef op
26-11-2014 om 1:37:

[Fran Sheffield]

Exactly Hennie - but it appears you haven't read the article either.

fran.

[Dr. Joe Rozencwajg, NMD]

I have read the article.

The way I understand it, and I might have a bad hair day , brings up the questions:

- is it necessary to have some form of institutionalised violence to control and channel the innate one that is lurking in each of us?
- is it necessary to have some form of organised cruelty disguised as sacrificial and appeasing offerings to a deity ritualised under the name of religion to control and channel our innate cruelty?

We have that and humanity always had it in the form of competitive sports: "panem et circenses" of the Roman Empire to control the masses, the competitions between local sports club that often degenerate in some riots that are nevertheless controllable and circumscribed, etc,....
As for cruelty, just look at video games, theatre plays and movies....even the good ones are full of gore, blood, spilled guts and sadism, even if only by suggestion (read Shakespeare), even when the good ones win at the end.

So here is the problem: we ARE violent and cruel animals and this can be awoken in any of us at any time given the proper circumstances. Although many will vehemently (violently???) deny it, we like to participate in "violent" activities even if they are not physical.
One of the solutions is to acknowledge it and channel it...........

Dr. J. Rozencwajg, NMD.

"The greatest enemy of any science is a closed mind"

www.naturamedica.co.nz

[Leilanae]

Hi Dr. Roz,

"One of the solutions is to acknowledge it and channel it..........."

Any chance the "ten shall not's" are a (partial) solution?

Atb,

Leilanae

[Jean Doherty]

Have been trying to formulate a letter to the newspaper in my mind on how to channel the energy of disenchanted youth away from Isis to something noble and positive such as living in harmony with the earth . The mantra sustainability not growth. Anyhow one prays for all the beautiful children in the world, Jean