Unaffiliated goes right along with public behavior these day.
Religion was a big help in making people behave due to peer pressure.
People being naughty would try to be sneaky about it to avoid that pressure.
Now without that chance of tsk tsked by peers, they're being naughty in front of impressionable youth
and setting a very low bar for public behavior. 

I'm not sure what their "Godrank(tm)" technology is based on.  "Lucifer" being the most popular Roman god implies it is just mentions, which would mean that stuff like mentions of the Tom Ellis TV show based on the Mike Carey comic based on the Gaiman comic based on folklore based on the Bible would count towards the Roman god of the morning star.

But Tithonus being ranked higher than Zeus breaks that theory.  Who mentions Tithonus?
 

Mithras is still being suppressed at this late date, appalling.
 

McCluhan: God of TV

griff wrote:

I wonder which gods are most venerated in the US?
Plutus: god of wealth?
Kratus: god of power?
Apate: goddess of deceit?

MAKE APATE GREAT AGAIN
 

The way I read the question is "What is the purpose of religion?"  Which includes (what I consider to be)  commandments that apply to all religions.    One problem with some branches of Islam (and some extremist Christian religions) is a need to impose their beliefs on all others.  The Mormons, for example, were (in some cases) victims of that hatred.  And, of course, Jews.

That violates, what I regard as, the underlying principles that apply to all religions.

Early power (success) of religion was to provide basic rules that made possible a civil society.  A set of rules so that all types of people could live and work together for the advancement of mankind.

One reason why Islam spread so powerfully back then even into Spain was the belief that other religions could co-exist.  Jews prospered under Islamic rule during that period.  All part of an underlying purpose: the advancement of mankind.

No matter what is a religion's god, its purpose remains (and maybe this contrary to what religions promoted) the advancement of mankind.  Some religions may consider this contrary to putting their god above all else.
 

Last edited by tw (11/07/2024 3:52 pm)

IC wrote:

I'm sorry...I don't believe that concept, so I can't address it with you. I would suggest that there is but one "race," the human race. 

Which is what I said.  So you do not believe the concept but agree with it?  The point is that racism is only about hate justified only by a first impression.   If a man wears a shirt, racism condemns him.  So many people have so much hate because someone might be transgender. And yet that is what many so called 'religious people' do.  Impose their religious beliefs on all others.  If god intended him to be transgender, then god would have born him that way.  Religious extremism.  Hate due to what all racism is based in.  Judging people only on first impressions.  Also called not thinking with a prefrontal cortex.

Religion is also based in faith.  IOW I will order you what to believe.  And then you have only faith to believe it.  No facts.  No justification.  No consideration for all others.  Just faith.  Because, as your religious dictator, I order you what to believe.  And you have faith.

That is also a violation of religions: a relationship only between a human and his god.  To never be imposed on anyone else.

So many variations.  Which religions are corrupt?  Those that impose their beliefs on others.

 

IC wrote:

Well, that's far too simplistic, I'm afraid.  There are a variety of reasons people choose to be antisemitic. 

They are not anti-other because some other group is also prosperous.  Why not also be anti-another because other people in your religion are prosperous.  The fundamental hate - racism - is because their religion (and how they live their lives) is not of your religion.  Judgement only based in first impressions.

Why anti-semitic and not anti-another?  Because the Jews are a different religion.  Then any more reasons to hate are justified.  Just another example of one's religious beliefs (or faith) imposed on another.

Again, nobody's religion should have relevance to yours.  You religion must always be restricted to a relationship between you and your god.  Nowhere else.

Even quoting the bible for political purposed makes one a religious racist. An extremist.  Quotes from the Bible are never imposed on anyone else - if one is a good and truly religious person.


 

That question is best addressed to the thread originator, xoxoxoBruce. He’s a longtime dweller and previous moderator. Nowadays, he logs in every few weeks or so with FYI information that he’s found interesting and decided to share for the sake of sharing, to possibly spark conversation; but, not necessarily to accomplish any other objective like making a point. Notice the dates on the first four posts in this thread (all by xob):

1. - 03/27/24
2. - 04/28/24
3. - 05/12/24
4. - 10/05/24

The date spread would seem to indicate that these follow the thread theme as independent tidbits for our consideration and not coordinated towards one objective. That’s my impression. You’ll have to wait until xob logs in again for a definitive answer. That can sometimes be weeks or months; but, maybe today!

But and again is a fundamental characteristic of every religion.  It is ONLY a relationship between one person and his god.  It is never imposed on anyone else.  And nobody cares what your religion is.

Anything that perverts or corrupts that relationship / that purpose is, in religion, called evil.   In advanced societies with just laws, ilegal.

A religion must not violate civil laws.  Designed so that all people live in an orderly, stable, and productive society.   Since that means a religious belief is never imposed on others.  Imposition must never be part of a fundamental and true religion based in high ideals.  A definition of the purpose, nature, and characteristic for acceptable religions.