Horst, I’d say indoctrination, lack of education and intolerance are at the source of these terrible acts. At our very basic level, we seek to educate and encourage readers to think freely and not follow blindly what others say. I’m not a religious man but see nothing wrong with prayer, and find that associating religion with violence is an oversimplification that does no one any good. I pray that you go in peace all your life.
Horst, I respect your opinion, though I don’t agree with it. This is why your comment got approved by the moderator. I just want to say that humanity didn’t need religion to discover violence. The two World Wars, the bloodiest the world has ever known, had no religious cause whatsoever. And communism, an anti-religious line of thought if there ever was one, also caused tens of millions of deaths. And it is not because these murderers claim religious grounds that “it is religion’s fault”. If you look at Da’esh, you see a band of thugs who amassed billions of dollars in oil and historic artefacts, and who enjoy raping the women they kidnap. Doesn’t sound very religious to me. Similarly, the earlier terrorists in France all had prison records for various crimes. Again, desn’t sound very religious.
There, now you know how I feel, and please feel free to feel otherwise. Please note that the picture I chose is not just “any picture”, it is very “DearSusan”. We are a photo blog, after all. Peace!
Philberphoto, I respect your sentiment, though I don’t agree with it.
Instead of a lengthy disquisition, I’d like to point out the remarkable immediate response by Charlie Hebdo cartoonist Joann Sfar: https://instagram.com/p/-C-NNrHZXh/
Transcription:
« Friends from the whole world, thank you for #prayforParis, but we don’t need more religion! Our faith goes to music! Kissing! Life! Champagne and joy! #ParisisaboutLife »
But perhaps the most pressing message should be: civilised life is based upon agreeing to disagree. Peacefully. That is the absolute precondition of our continued existence.
Religion, or more precisely, a religious belief in a Supreme Being is not the problem. Belief in a Supreme Being is no more problematic than belief in a Big Bang. In this world there is a lot of violence committed that is totally independent of any religious affiliation. Atheists also commit crimes! Religion receives a black eye because many so-called religious persons have on idea what REAL religion is!
Orville, forgive me, but I think you have fallen for two grave fallacies:
1. Adhesion to the Big Bang theory does not entail belief. It is a physical hypothesis sufficiently buttressed by observable and measurable evidence, and having so far resisted attempts at falsification, that its epistemological status of theory is granted. No physicist I know holds it as an article of supernatural faith, and everybody in physics will feel elated the minute it is superseded by a better theory that manages to explain more. Can you say that about any belief in a supernatural deity?
2. The argument about “real” religion is a blatant example of the ‘No True Scotsman’ fallacy.
I find the appeal uplifting and hopeful. It is at times like these that humankind most needs God. There is only one religion that has multiple websites dedicated to cataloguing the violence its adherents reap. Christianity advocates love and peace. Yes, yes, I know the histories of the Crusades and the Protestant Revolution; I’m pleased to say that during the slaughter of the French Hugenots, one of my ancestors was the mayor of Berlin and offered sanctuary to the French. I’m saddened that an appeal to prayer is viewed as cynical and not what it is intended to be – a cloak of protection and healing.
Cynical and insulting,are your words to an act of prayer, ON A PHOTOGRAPHIC BLOG. Get real. Maybe if we send in a photo of a Cathedral,or the Blue mosque in Turkey,or the Buddah in Katmandu, or a Synagogue in the heart of Rome. Would you call these out if they weren’t in your religious belief? Go on a political site and get your rocks off.
This site, DearSusan is a heartfelt site for people who are passionate for the world of photos and the lenses that make them work.
A tragedy. Imagine the people who lost their son or daughter.
Pray for them.
My goodness.
Not only in respect of this comment, but in respect of several others, I don’t remember seeing such aggression, intolerance and misunderstanding expressed on a website blog before.
All of the major religions are based on values such as love, peace and tolerance of others – inclusion as opposed to exclusion – and all advocate, in some way, the act of quiet contemplation and reflection – the act of prayer performed in the home, on the mountain top or in the mosque, synagogue or church.
I read the title “Pray for Paris” as “Pray for all the peoples of Paris, regardless of their beliefs”.
No doubt, however, my comments will be misunderstood and the response to this will be more vitriolic bile.
There won’t be a reply. As much as I dislike the idea of filtering comments, the perspective of using any excuse to divise people rather than unite is even less pleasant. Particularly on a blog that’s meant to enlighten and share fun. So this will be the last comment on this page. It baffles me that a peace message – even one with a religious connotations – coming after innocent peple were slaughtered can lead anyone to agressivity. So that will be the final comment on this post. Apologies to other readers and to the author.
Religion is the main reason for this horrible islamic violence. I find an appeal to pray cynical and insulting.
Horst, I’d say indoctrination, lack of education and intolerance are at the source of these terrible acts. At our very basic level, we seek to educate and encourage readers to think freely and not follow blindly what others say. I’m not a religious man but see nothing wrong with prayer, and find that associating religion with violence is an oversimplification that does no one any good. I pray that you go in peace all your life.
Pascal
Horst, I respect your opinion, though I don’t agree with it. This is why your comment got approved by the moderator. I just want to say that humanity didn’t need religion to discover violence. The two World Wars, the bloodiest the world has ever known, had no religious cause whatsoever. And communism, an anti-religious line of thought if there ever was one, also caused tens of millions of deaths. And it is not because these murderers claim religious grounds that “it is religion’s fault”. If you look at Da’esh, you see a band of thugs who amassed billions of dollars in oil and historic artefacts, and who enjoy raping the women they kidnap. Doesn’t sound very religious to me. Similarly, the earlier terrorists in France all had prison records for various crimes. Again, desn’t sound very religious.
There, now you know how I feel, and please feel free to feel otherwise. Please note that the picture I chose is not just “any picture”, it is very “DearSusan”. We are a photo blog, after all. Peace!
Philberphoto, I respect your sentiment, though I don’t agree with it.
Instead of a lengthy disquisition, I’d like to point out the remarkable immediate response by Charlie Hebdo cartoonist Joann Sfar:
https://instagram.com/p/-C-NNrHZXh/
Transcription:
« Friends from the whole world, thank you for #prayforParis, but we don’t need more religion! Our faith goes to music! Kissing! Life! Champagne and joy! #ParisisaboutLife »
But perhaps the most pressing message should be: civilised life is based upon agreeing to disagree. Peacefully. That is the absolute precondition of our continued existence.
Religion, or more precisely, a religious belief in a Supreme Being is not the problem. Belief in a Supreme Being is no more problematic than belief in a Big Bang. In this world there is a lot of violence committed that is totally independent of any religious affiliation. Atheists also commit crimes! Religion receives a black eye because many so-called religious persons have on idea what REAL religion is!
Orville, forgive me, but I think you have fallen for two grave fallacies:
1. Adhesion to the Big Bang theory does not entail belief. It is a physical hypothesis sufficiently buttressed by observable and measurable evidence, and having so far resisted attempts at falsification, that its epistemological status of theory is granted. No physicist I know holds it as an article of supernatural faith, and everybody in physics will feel elated the minute it is superseded by a better theory that manages to explain more. Can you say that about any belief in a supernatural deity?
2. The argument about “real” religion is a blatant example of the ‘No True Scotsman’ fallacy.
I find the appeal uplifting and hopeful. It is at times like these that humankind most needs God. There is only one religion that has multiple websites dedicated to cataloguing the violence its adherents reap. Christianity advocates love and peace. Yes, yes, I know the histories of the Crusades and the Protestant Revolution; I’m pleased to say that during the slaughter of the French Hugenots, one of my ancestors was the mayor of Berlin and offered sanctuary to the French. I’m saddened that an appeal to prayer is viewed as cynical and not what it is intended to be – a cloak of protection and healing.
My heart goes out to everyone affected by this tragedy.
Thank you, Steve.
Thanks, Steve!
Cynical and insulting,are your words to an act of prayer, ON A PHOTOGRAPHIC BLOG. Get real. Maybe if we send in a photo of a Cathedral,or the Blue mosque in Turkey,or the Buddah in Katmandu, or a Synagogue in the heart of Rome. Would you call these out if they weren’t in your religious belief? Go on a political site and get your rocks off.
This site, DearSusan is a heartfelt site for people who are passionate for the world of photos and the lenses that make them work.
A tragedy. Imagine the people who lost their son or daughter.
Pray for them.
My goodness.
Not only in respect of this comment, but in respect of several others, I don’t remember seeing such aggression, intolerance and misunderstanding expressed on a website blog before.
All of the major religions are based on values such as love, peace and tolerance of others – inclusion as opposed to exclusion – and all advocate, in some way, the act of quiet contemplation and reflection – the act of prayer performed in the home, on the mountain top or in the mosque, synagogue or church.
I read the title “Pray for Paris” as “Pray for all the peoples of Paris, regardless of their beliefs”.
No doubt, however, my comments will be misunderstood and the response to this will be more vitriolic bile.
Bob
Thank you Bob.
There won’t be a reply. As much as I dislike the idea of filtering comments, the perspective of using any excuse to divise people rather than unite is even less pleasant. Particularly on a blog that’s meant to enlighten and share fun. So this will be the last comment on this page. It baffles me that a peace message – even one with a religious connotations – coming after innocent peple were slaughtered can lead anyone to agressivity. So that will be the final comment on this post. Apologies to other readers and to the author.
Pascal