Reading religious forums like EH and WB makes me wonder what we
are trying to do or achieve from these constant exchange of views
on religious beliefs.
Christians/free thinkers/atheists question Buddhists about the
validity of their beliefs, thus Buddhists would have to try to
explain/refute those questions. This is also likewise for some
Buddhists in Christian forums, who may pose difficult questions to
Christians.
I'm not saying whether the above observation is good or bad, but I
wonder how many are honest and critical enough towards themselves,
on what they are really looking out for when they posed so many
debatable topics in either EH or WB.
Most of the time, Christians/free thinkers/atheists would still
remain unconvinced by any 'evidence' shown by Buddhists and vice
versa.
So how is this gonna end? What purpose does it serve for you, what
direction do you want to see ultimately, for yourself after all
these discussions and debates?
You ask so much, yet you hardly ask yourself what you really want.
Is it for personal reasons like 'I get a kick out of seeing that
people get dumbfounded when I corner them and take apart their
rationale or any evidence supporting their beliefs?
Perhaps you don't even know about this aspect of your true
intentions, therefore you can't possibly acknowledge it. Perhaps
you somehow know about it, but continue to question or challenge
vigourously in the name of freedom of expression, or helping others
to see how foolish they are, how deluded they are for believing in
superstitious or non-scientific things which you honestly believe
from the selective evidence you present or 'experienced
personally'?
I have one main reason for posting my questions on religion in
either EH or WB. To really want to know why certain groups of
people believe the way they did, what kind of experiences led them
to taking the first step to want to find out more about a certain
religion and subsequently, become a full-fledged member of that
religion or belief?
I hope that one day, I can put to good use from what I learn about
different religions and folk customs, I wish to contribute in one
way or another, to establishing common and objective religious and
belief education for all mankind. To establish a commom platform
for understanding and respecting each other's beliefs, despite not
being able to agree at all.
I know that this ultimately cannot be achieved on a wide scale, due
to various mental and emotional types of resistance posed by human
nature. But if no one wishes to bring the whole world together
through understanding, love and respect, what will be left to grow
in place instead? Segregation, isolation, hidden resentment and
deep-rooted prejudice..etc..
When the right conditions for confrontation appear, all surface
harmony and tolerance for each other will break down so quickly
that it almost seems to have never existed in the first
place.
The above is my greatest concern. For human history has
consistently shown us that human beliefs, when left inappropriately
and inadequately addressed, will at first lead to cold wars and
ultimately, actual wars of mass destruction between religious
followers of any race, language or nationality. Of course, both
scenarios can take place in any order or even at the same
time.
Is there anyone who cares enough to think about the future of
mankind? Can good political intentions and will alone be enough to
solve such fundamentally and deeply emotional issues?
I don't know about you, but I already have my own thoughts and
decisions about it.
Thanks for reading this long post.