Zealots
By Pose123
@Pose123 (21635)
Canada
December 9, 2007 8:16pm CST
By now most of you have heard of The British teacher who was sentenced to 15 days in jail for naming a teddy bear Mohammad. She was released after two Muslim members of the British House of Lords intervened. She was however, immediately deported from the country. There is more to the story however, apparently, thousands of Muslims including some of the clergy were calling for her death. A former Muslim of the Shia Darwood-Bohra sect, made the following statement about these clergy and the people who follow them: "There is nothing even remotely religious/spiritual about the clergy. The most realistic explanation would be to see these fanatics as someone with a psychological problem". Such people no matter what there religion are Zealots, a term going back to the days when the Israel was under the control of Rome and maybe even before. These people were the beginning of modern day terrorists. All of the major religions seems to at some time have had Zealots. To quote another who had studied the subject, " Zealotry seems to be more of a mental illness than anything else." My question is what is it doing in the world of the twenty-first century? There are Christian Zealots, who believe that every word of the Bible is true, and that we must follow it exactly. We have only to read the Bible to see what kind of society these people would like to see, and it's not a pretty picture. The root of the problem lies in the fact that each religion thinks that they alone are right. Well, wake up folks, THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT RELIGION. If you think there is, you worship a very small God. Ask yourself, why should I be right and everyone else wrong? Friends, its time we learn to say, "ours is a way, but ours is not the only way. Blessings.
3 people like this
7 responses
@rx4life (1930)
• United States
10 Dec 07
You are correct in that there are zealots in every religion..and everyone believes their religion to be the "one"...it is such a shame that so many people die in the name of religion, when the it seems to me that if you are truly a believer in a higher power ( whatever you label it) you would want to live a peaceful life and enjoy your own "benefits and blessings" without harming or forcing someone else to "believe or die".. I bask in the love of my higher power and feel very secure in my beliefs...although I enjoy the fellowship of those that have like beliefs, I also enjoy learning from others about their religion/belief system...I just see judging as a sin in itself...and see no benefit to filling my heart and mind with hate and discontent for anyone due to their relationship with their higher power. ( I use this phrase to hopefully avoid offending anyone who requires a specific name for theirs.)
We definitely are a world of different beliefs...all of which should include love rather than hate due to different interpretation and teachings. Peace...
@uath13 (8192)
• United States
10 Dec 07
I happen to like it & this would be the sort of thing you could hear from the wise old owl.
There are many paths to walk. Chose the one thats right for you & let your fellow man do the same. If they cross, welcome the company. When they diverge wish him good journey & show him no ill will for following his own route.
1 person likes this
@lancingboy (1385)
• United States
11 Dec 07
I loved your post! You are completely right about many religions are the "right way". I agree that zealotry is a mental illness, but it is passed down through relatives rather than in the mind (mostly). I think anyone who is controlled so easily is weak.
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
11 Dec 07
Hi lancingboy, thank you for your comment. It is time that we raised our children to think for themselves, instead of brainwashing them with what has been handed down for generations. I am not saying that we can't tell them about all we believe, and why we believe it, but we should make it clear that they are not robots and must choose for themselves. Unfortunately many don't realize what they are doing. If people were left alone to think for themselves, they would see how ridiculous all this bickering really is. Blessings.
@mustafabadri (178)
• India
10 Dec 07
hi pose!!what you have stated is partly right and partly wrong to.you cannot say that THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT RELIGION.you mean to say what you believe is not right to you? then why do you believe in something you think is not right!!or is it that you have searched for the right religion and you found it and you are following it? if you cannot find the right religion then simply say all the reion are right.why do you say THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT RELIGION!!or simply say that god is so great theat different people beleieves him by different names.
according to me what i believe in is right no meter what it is as you believe that your religion is right. the importent thing is not to fight in deciding who is right and who is wrong but to respect every ones believe! you respect the opposit relirion and they will respect yours.zealots are bad only if they hurt others and is against humanity.
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
10 Dec 07
Hi mustafabadri, Thank you very much for responding to this post. I believe our ideas are much the same. When I say that no one religion has it all right, I really mean that all have things in them that are right. You are right, the important thing is to respect each other and not fight each other because we believe differently. We must accept that we are all brothers and sisters, regardless of race creed or colour and always be willing to help not hurt each other. Blessings.
@thetekkie (34)
•
11 Dec 07
I am concerned that many of the respondees seem to have missed an important point. If we look backj into the history of Christianity, it is hardly free of atrocities far worse than locking a teacher up! The colonisation of Africa, the inquisitions, and the 'Holy Wars' to name but a few.
But there is the biggest point of all. As a rule, we see these things happen for one or both of two reasons. Firstly, a scapegoat is needed to distract attention away from a more pressing issue, and it is easier to pick on a foreigner or 'non-believer'. Remember Nazi germany?
And secondly, there tends to be a political reason for these things. As a UK citizen, I find myself asking what we had to do to secure her release. Governments can't take hostages, but political prisoners that are of another nationality seems to be the norm. I just hope that the price we paid for her freedom was not too high!
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
11 Dec 07
Hi thetekkie, Thank you for responding. You appear to have given this much thought, and what you are saying is no doubt correct. We cannot deny history. Far to often politicians have used religion when it's to their advantage to do so. Religious leaders and politicians are often one and the same. A very good reason for ordinary people of all faiths to start thinking for themselves. Blessings.
@jimbomuso (950)
•
10 Dec 07
Well said Pose123 ! I think people who take their religion as the ONLY form of moral conduct spoil and debase everything which is beautiful about there religion! It is as if they look at the world and have no answers, only questions and so they turn to the mandates/scriptures/codes/commandments within their religion and say that everything else is wrong! The problem is one or two malcontents decide to control the zealots and thats where the problems start(in every religion).I've always liked what Dave Allen the Irish comic used to say "goodnight and may your god go with you"
