What does religion have to do with God? Religion is one or two persons' religious experience past on to others who have not had a religious experience.
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You make little sense here,
A religion is based on a religious experience. Peter realizing just who he was following around and Paul on the Damascus road. These two religious experiences define all of the Christian religions.
I recall you saying that 'faith' hurts no one... well, here ya go... ;-)
Faith had nothing to do with the underwear bomber's actions. That was pure hate and brainwashing. The underwear bomber believes like you do, no matter what he says, in nothing.
your own god superstitions cemented into your brain?
I deni the words superstitions and cemented. My faith, as it is, is adopted my faith by me based on analysis of my doubts.
Thomas provided his doubts at a time when all the assembled had doubts and fears. Jesus Christ set him straight and then spoke to those who have not seen and heard; us. But, through all of these stories you will find the doubts that Jesus Himself had. Those doubts came to a head during His agony in the garden.
Yeah pretty sure his faith in what he was taught was a pretty strong motivator. Not sayin that what he taught was right or wrong, but you cannot dismiss his faith just because it produce horrible results.
>(Post 130) "Faith had nothing to do with the underwear bomber's actions. That was pure hate and brainwashing."<
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What? I also have to disagree with you here, TFC.
Not only should we dismiss Abdulmutallab's personal faith (his interpretation), but we should wipe it out.
His "faith" beliefs directly led to his behavior of attempted murder. Here is his guilty statement in court:
"In late 2009, in fulfillment of a religious obligation, I decided to participate in jihad against the United States. The Koran obliges every able Muslim to participate in jihad and fight in the way of Allah … As a result, I traveled to Yemen and eventually to the United States, and I agreed with at least one person to carry an explosive device onto an aircraft and attempt to kill those onboard and wreck the aircraft as an act of jihad"
>"Jesus himself was delusional by thinking that he was the son of the creator" (post 132)<
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Forgive my ignorance, but I question your belief. Where's the evidence on what JC said or believed? Many people don't think that Jesus thought he was "son of the creator" and a god himself. Unless, you were referring to the historical understanding that some religious people of those times thought their original (sin?) creator was their great-great-etc grand-"father" …
What that jerk was saying was repeating the rants of ignorant louts, who are out of work, out of luck, and out to lunch. The people who arm them are political wannabes who are hiding behind their lap tops using the rabble to accomplish their attempt to take over.
The jihad spoken about in the Koran is religious excitement, the boiling over of the inner person, the excising of the ego, thus the submission to Allah. Because you appear to think you know about Islam, let me ask you this one: Muslims prostrate themselves 5 times a day toward: 1) the east, 2) Mecca, 3) Jerusalem?
It has been interpreted as an internal struggle, a struggle for better Muslim society, and military struggle. And the don't prostrate themselves to any of those. They now prostrate themselves to the Kaaba, though originally they did point to Jeruselam. However, the fact that a person may be incorrect in their interpretation of their faith, ie young earth creationists, that does not invalidate their faith as you try to suggest.
>"What that jerk was saying was repeating the rants of ignorant louts"<
I do not pretend I know Islam beyond the obvious & basics. I do know Muslims point their heads toward Mecca when praying on their knees. I have first-hand experience with that when I toured Egypt.
What I observe and disseminate are usually facts (based on personal experience) or beliefs substantiated with logic or some kind of evidence interpreted from my own scientific viewpoints. It's clear to me that "jerk" had faith in his stated beliefs, regardless of religious indoctrination.
Without specific evidence, experience, or related logic, we all have "faith" in our beliefs.
Our behaviors often reflect these beliefs.
Of course, politics & economics are related to religion.
Indoctrination of the poor/uneducated by the rich & powerful 1% is an effective self-serving strategy.