"Religion" is, in essence, an ideology. A system of belief. And any ideology, if clung to rigidly, can poison one's life.
Put differently, religion can be good for "good" people and bad for "bad" people. It's not religion per se that is the poison, but those humans who use religion to justify, even sacralize, the most heinous of deeds.
So, for example, the Nazis rejected organized religion, but that didn't stop them from spreading their own poisoo, quite literally so with Zyklon-B.
If we humans could somehow eliminate religion, a utopia wouldn't follow.
Eliminating Religion ~ by itself ~ would not bring about a utopia, Bill.
But eliminating Religion’s [and their leaders’] ready and easy access to the police function, the legal power, the administrative authority, and, particularly, the spending capability and capacity of Government would be a big step in the right direction.
Particularly in those cases where a Religion’s goals and objectives could not because they Cannot be satisfied Without ready access to Government’s resources and assets: human, organizational, financial, and natural.
Particularly if a Religion’s goals and objectives are things like “liberating a promised ‘Promised Land,” a “Holy Crusade” or nine, and endless “Jihads.”
And that would go a long way toward eliminating Governments ~ and the people, group, and institutions that own, operate, command, and control them ~ being able to use “Religion” as a justification for all manner of Crime, and then War, and ultimately, War Crimes.
Defining POWER as the ability to force other individuals ~ and particularly, specific other groups of Human Beings ~ to do what You want them to do, regardless of what They may want or need to do; and...
Defining WEALTH as the ability to buy and sell POWER at and for a profit; then...
The most efficient and effective means, methods, and mechanisms that Human Beings have invented to most easily and successfully gain, expand and keep Power ~ and thus have access to gaining, keeping, and further expanding Wealth, and thus more Power, and thus more... ~ are RELIGION and GOVERNMENT.
Particularly when they are united in some sort of Quest.
In case you hadn't seen it yet, Chiquita just lost a lawsuit over their funding of far-right death squads in Columbia for years, resulting in the torture and murder of unknown numbers of workers and locals. It is the first time a US corporation has been found guilty in such a case.
This shows that the funding of right wing death squads was just as much of a corporate tactic as it was a CIA tactic. Chiquita's only response was they were going to shop around for other judges through appeal. Remember, Chiquita changed its name from United Fruit after things didn't go so well in the banana republic.
After the heinous evil criminal hostage rescue do you think that Palistinian civilians will take up arms to defend themselves? And can you think of any reason that they haven't already? Hamas doesn't have enough arms and ammunition perhaps?
Hamas is probably getting new volunteers. But arms and supplies are short. Israel, I think, has nearly total control over what goes in and out of Gaza. Hamas weaponry is sometimes captured from Israel, else it's smuggled in via tunnels and so forth. That smuggling has been greatly curtailed, I think, by Israel's destruction of Gaza.
Israel's goal appears clear: rendering Gaza Palestinian-free, then annexing the land for Zionist Israel.
Thanks for the answers. I would think that the tunnels would have been completely sealed off by now and the IDF would have taken possession and control of them. Israel has nearly total control of information coming out of Gaza so it's anyone's guess as to what is happening other than a slow slaughter. After 8 mos of being completely cut off from supplies Hamas must be throwing rocks. The goal seems to be not only Israel's but the US and UK as well. Does that translate to Exxon and BP? After all if Gaza were considered a state they would have the rights to the gas reserves. Glad the US is phasing out fossil fuels......
"... you hate the people you kill" ... yes, they hate them, and they want every piece of every part of all what they deem to be "greater-Israel" ... they don't want Palestinians anywhere in 'Israel'
Yes 3 of the 5 candidates for POTUS are sociopathic serial killers RFKjr has given his support of the continuous genocide happening in Gaza and surround...even surround nation states. So if you think genocide isn't the sol'n to Isreal and many other nation states vote Green....let's give peace a chance.nothing to lose much to gain in human lives and the lives of all the creatures on it.✌
it is like the abrahamic religions have, historically been a way to tap into henchmen, who unquestioningly serve powers they do not understand, by killing unbelievers. a clear pattern of this exists. https://odysee.com/@TheSearch4Truth:8/-460386239637524683:0
what if it is a repeating pattern in history? why should this, repeatedly being a willing tool of destruction, be so? (i am not saying they are the source, but they carry out the exclusivism and brutality, and never integrate where ever they go) then it gets again, hidden by the powers. https://odysee.com/@TheSearch4Truth:8/-460386239637524683:0
Levy along with Amira Hass have been telling the truth in Haaretz for many years. I have heard both of them speak when they have toured the US. I know that Levy has a bodyguard 24/7, not surprising.
The mass murder in Gaza would have ended in Oct 2023 but USA kept sending weapons and targeting.
not quite, rj; the supreme law for the zioisraelis was written by those who worship mammon.
"Religion poisons everything!" - Christipher Hitchins. Never truer words spoken.
Being proven in spades in 2024!
SIGNS of END TIMES is all codswallop Ray my friend!
And on the first day ~ man created "Gods".
And it has been all downhill since!
Apologists in a nutshell: "God is incomprehensible, now listen very carefully while I tell you all about him."
"Religion" is, in essence, an ideology. A system of belief. And any ideology, if clung to rigidly, can poison one's life.
Put differently, religion can be good for "good" people and bad for "bad" people. It's not religion per se that is the poison, but those humans who use religion to justify, even sacralize, the most heinous of deeds.
So, for example, the Nazis rejected organized religion, but that didn't stop them from spreading their own poisoo, quite literally so with Zyklon-B.
If we humans could somehow eliminate religion, a utopia wouldn't follow.
Also: The Nazis had there own religion: National Socialism with its own Prophet, Savior, Vision, Holy Book, etc, etc, etc.
As did the Communists with their Marxist-Leninist-Stalinists to the west, and the Maoists in the east.
Eliminating Religion ~ by itself ~ would not bring about a utopia, Bill.
But eliminating Religion’s [and their leaders’] ready and easy access to the police function, the legal power, the administrative authority, and, particularly, the spending capability and capacity of Government would be a big step in the right direction.
Particularly in those cases where a Religion’s goals and objectives could not because they Cannot be satisfied Without ready access to Government’s resources and assets: human, organizational, financial, and natural.
Particularly if a Religion’s goals and objectives are things like “liberating a promised ‘Promised Land,” a “Holy Crusade” or nine, and endless “Jihads.”
And that would go a long way toward eliminating Governments ~ and the people, group, and institutions that own, operate, command, and control them ~ being able to use “Religion” as a justification for all manner of Crime, and then War, and ultimately, War Crimes.
Defining POWER as the ability to force other individuals ~ and particularly, specific other groups of Human Beings ~ to do what You want them to do, regardless of what They may want or need to do; and...
Defining WEALTH as the ability to buy and sell POWER at and for a profit; then...
The most efficient and effective means, methods, and mechanisms that Human Beings have invented to most easily and successfully gain, expand and keep Power ~ and thus have access to gaining, keeping, and further expanding Wealth, and thus more Power, and thus more... ~ are RELIGION and GOVERNMENT.
Particularly when they are united in some sort of Quest.
In case you hadn't seen it yet, Chiquita just lost a lawsuit over their funding of far-right death squads in Columbia for years, resulting in the torture and murder of unknown numbers of workers and locals. It is the first time a US corporation has been found guilty in such a case.
https://consortiumnews.com/2024/06/12/chiquita-liable-for-banana-worker-murders/
This shows that the funding of right wing death squads was just as much of a corporate tactic as it was a CIA tactic. Chiquita's only response was they were going to shop around for other judges through appeal. Remember, Chiquita changed its name from United Fruit after things didn't go so well in the banana republic.
HEY, ELECTIONS ARE EXPENSIVE! SOMEONE HAS TO BRIBE OUR POLITICIANS!
Prof. Astore
After the heinous evil criminal hostage rescue do you think that Palistinian civilians will take up arms to defend themselves? And can you think of any reason that they haven't already? Hamas doesn't have enough arms and ammunition perhaps?
Hamas is probably getting new volunteers. But arms and supplies are short. Israel, I think, has nearly total control over what goes in and out of Gaza. Hamas weaponry is sometimes captured from Israel, else it's smuggled in via tunnels and so forth. That smuggling has been greatly curtailed, I think, by Israel's destruction of Gaza.
Israel's goal appears clear: rendering Gaza Palestinian-free, then annexing the land for Zionist Israel.
Thanks for the answers. I would think that the tunnels would have been completely sealed off by now and the IDF would have taken possession and control of them. Israel has nearly total control of information coming out of Gaza so it's anyone's guess as to what is happening other than a slow slaughter. After 8 mos of being completely cut off from supplies Hamas must be throwing rocks. The goal seems to be not only Israel's but the US and UK as well. Does that translate to Exxon and BP? After all if Gaza were considered a state they would have the rights to the gas reserves. Glad the US is phasing out fossil fuels......
"... you hate the people you kill" ... yes, they hate them, and they want every piece of every part of all what they deem to be "greater-Israel" ... they don't want Palestinians anywhere in 'Israel'
Yes 3 of the 5 candidates for POTUS are sociopathic serial killers RFKjr has given his support of the continuous genocide happening in Gaza and surround...even surround nation states. So if you think genocide isn't the sol'n to Isreal and many other nation states vote Green....let's give peace a chance.nothing to lose much to gain in human lives and the lives of all the creatures on it.✌
Love the expression "ethically cleanse." How fitting!
it is like the abrahamic religions have, historically been a way to tap into henchmen, who unquestioningly serve powers they do not understand, by killing unbelievers. a clear pattern of this exists. https://odysee.com/@TheSearch4Truth:8/-460386239637524683:0
what if it is a repeating pattern in history? why should this, repeatedly being a willing tool of destruction, be so? (i am not saying they are the source, but they carry out the exclusivism and brutality, and never integrate where ever they go) then it gets again, hidden by the powers. https://odysee.com/@TheSearch4Truth:8/-460386239637524683:0
w/ ineluctable and salient certitude, rj; your observations are a slam-dunk of commentary.
Good points, Bill. Linking once again @https://nothingnewunderthesun2016.com/
So true. Well said Bill. What is wrong with us humans???
Levy along with Amira Hass have been telling the truth in Haaretz for many years. I have heard both of them speak when they have toured the US. I know that Levy has a bodyguard 24/7, not surprising.