Will Albo kick Fatima out of the ALP

Originally posted by Taurisk: ↑

@Scott th Ratbag - I - hesitantly - came to the conviction that the various dress codes imposed by religions are just another way of indoctrinating believers. This is not the place to discuss the various neural pathways religion 'infects' or 'trains' etc. its believer to get them so tied up in knots that they believe non-observance will get them to hell, so they absolutely sing certain songs or mumble prayers, or recite whatever, always in unison with their fellows in church, mosque or temple - and have to do certain body movement in unison with other cult members to halt punishment - and that goes for Christians as well as Muslims as well as Jews. It also applies to soldiers and more radical political movements, like the Nazis were - the communal acting out of ritual and dress as well as the learning by rote of religious (or political) slogans impresses itself on the neural pathways of the 'believer' in such a way, that he/she experiences discomfort when not in the warm embrace of habit (and special dress!) and he/she responds to similarity in others with recognition and love and to outsiders with dislike and distrust, often hatred.
Now, if we as the total of humanity could develop singularity in dress, language, songs of praise, prayer - we would solve the problems of the world at one hit. But it won't happen as long as there are competing religions (who are very good at that sort of thing) in the world, kidnapping human hearts and: lets not forget also kidnapping their purses; there is a good living to be made from religions!
on a lighter note:
I guess we have achieved singularity in the wearing of jeans - now what else is there, to improve our genes?
Just IMO
Taurisk
❤️

Expand

g'day Tau..... your views on religion are similar to mine. the history of religions is rich and varied. Hindu, Buddhist and Taoist beliefs are filled with rituals and prayers too. just in my view, more formulaic and superficial in the Abrahamic religions. but thats just imo, my bias showing. the big difference is the "One God" of Abrahamic faith v. the multiplicity of Hinduism or the absence of gods in Buddhist/Taoist beliefs, which actually amounts to the same belief system with Hinduism.

religion is indeed a strange phenomenon in that they all contain deep wisdom and significant food for thought and development, but western (Abrahamic) religions are cluttered with social control mechanisms and punishments, fear of death and terrible consequences of "sinning", hence they are based on fear or reward for good behaviour. Eastern beliefs offer only guidance and self development using peaceful means.

there have been an abundance of wars fought over western religions while the only wars fought over religion has been between Hinduism and the invading Islamic empire building, a characteristic in common with Christianity. these invaders have been accepted quickly in the sub-continent and only in recent centuries become a cause of conflict and this is mostly due to human influence rather than actual conflicts between religions.

I've actually admired and respected western religious beliefs despite my own personal derision of such. I've often thought how much easier life would be to have all the answers given by a religion and not to need to examine life more closely asking many questions which have no chance of being answered.

religion and ritualised behaviours are comforting to the people who truly believe. these are so ingrained in our "collective unconscious" that even the strongest sceptic on nearing death, whether this be sudden of slow, revert to prayer and a belief in the punishment/reward nature of Abrahamic faith.

humans seem to be attracted to uniformity. its when everyone agrees on a view of life/death and so are communally reassured that death offers peace and reward for belief. rituals, seen in political rallies almost as much as religious observances, are comforting in demonstrating a certainty of conduct that will gain easy access to that reward. and avoid punishment. when examined closely we can see the correlation of child behaviour to appease the threat of a punishing parent.

religions, lastly, are also as you suggest, a great network for security of income. yep a great business. I've seen companies advertising their religious faith using symbols, such as Icthus and the crucifix, to enable ready recognition as part of the network and so enhance their business. and we all love to use networks hey.

yep even Jeans were a uniform back in the day. the belonging to the radical view of political religion hehheheaw.... and we thought we were so individual hey so unique..... but really we were simply adopting a new religion.

love chatting with you Tau.... you always raise such interesting perspectives. one fine day I would love to meet with you and have along discussion.