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July 23, 2005
Polly Toynbee Says it Clearly - The Problem is Religion
Writing in the Guardian and with the recent London bombings as background, Polly Toynbee is straight and to the point,
In the growing fear and anger at what more may be to come, apologists or explainers for these young men can expect short shrift. This is not about poverty, deprivation or cultural dislocation of second-generation immigrants. There is plenty of that and it is passive. Iraq is the immediate trigger, but this is about religious delusion.All religions are prone to it, given the right circumstances. How could those who preach the absolute revealed truth of every word of a primitive book not be prone to insanity?
[snip]
See how far-right evangelicals have kidnapped US politics and warped its secular, liberal founding traditions. Intense belief, incantations, secrecy and all-male rituals breed perversions and danger, abusing women and children and infecting young men with frenzy, no matter what the name of the faith.
The only problem I have with this is that even rituals that are open and involve both sexes can "breed perversions and danger." The deadly disease infects both young men and young women. Religious delusion is not solely a characteristic of men.
She is completely correct about this,
It is time now to get serious about religion - all religion - and draw a firm line between the real world and the world of dreams.
The whole article is well worth the time it takes to read it. She draws out the implications for government policy, education, and the nature of leadership. While written from the prospective of the UK it has direct application to all countries including our own.
All the state can do is hold on to secular values. It can encourage the moderate but it must not appease religion.
President Bush, are you listening?
Via The New Humanist
Posted by Duane Smith at July 23, 2005 1:24 PM | Read more on Religion |
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