Many people are not able to keep their religion to themselves and seek to force it onto others. This was one of my biggest problems with Mormonism. I find the missionary focus very offensive. If someone chooses to live a certain way that is fine. However, when they begin abusing other people and attempt to force their views on others, then things have reached a danger point. That is one of the major problems when people think that god is directing their lives. They tend to develop a god complex themselves and begin dictating behavior. Tolerating intolerance is not tolerance at all.

"The harassment of an 8-year-old girl by ultra-Orthodox Jews in the Jerusalem suburb of Beit Shemesh is shaking Israel’s self image to the core, stirring nationwide outrage about escalating religious zealotry and creeping public segregation of women."

"For months, Na’ama Margolis and classmates at her school endured insults and spitting by the neighborhood's strict Orthodox Jews – known in Hebrew as "Haredi,'' or God fearing – who complain that they should dress more modestly. When their story was featured on a weekend news magazine several days ago, it ignited already simmering worry about efforts of the ultra-religious to exclude women in places like public buses or the army."

"I think the whole country needs to wake up … that it’s not just a corner in Beit Shemesh,’’ said Ailsa Coleman, a 42-year-old neighbor who volunteered to escort Margolis's classmates outside the school and was also spat on. "It’s happening everywhere."

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2011/1227/A-spitting-incident-sets-off-Israeli-frustration-with-Jewish-zealotry

That is the exact thing that stands out to me as what is wrong with religion and how it affects us as participants in the organizations. For some there is a rush to become extreem and orthodox in organizations and it leads to persecution of others who don't measure up.

That story could be told of Mormons, christians, Jews, or Islamic.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2012 09:50AM by upsidedown.

Yesterday on FB, a fundamentalist Xtian friend was complaining that "You can't take god out of politics because in encompasses everything about a person." To me, that's a bullshit defense.

People have every right to believe what they want, but when it's forced on others, it's not a right any longer- Iy's oppression, plain and simple.

which is then imposed on everyone and everything else.
These beliefs are so powerful, they can't be eradicated.

Some people do reject them, but they are the minority.

When you do, you can have BOTH freedom of religion AND free political thought and activity.

When they ride together, you lose both freedoms very quickly.

...that government and religion corrupted each other. Roger Williams? Thomas Jefferson? Thomas Paine?

Having religion is like having a penis. It's OK to have one and it's OK to be proud of it. But don't take it out in public and don't try to shove it down my throat!

This incident was horrible and the Orthodox Jews have too much say in what goes on, but they are a small minority of the Israeli population. Most Israelis are pretty secular.I doubt these guys are going to get their way.

Most are actually religious. The numbers break down like this:

20-25% Ultra-Orthodox or Orthodox
38% Tradictional religious or traditional

Only 42% of the population is secular and the percentage is actuall dropping.

The remainder of the population falls into a variety of other categories.

As of 2009[update], 8% of Israeli Jews defined themselves as Haredim; an additional 12% as "religious"; 13% as "religious-traditionalists" ; 25% as "non-religious-traditionalists" (not strictly adhering to Jewish law or halakha); and 42% as "secular" (Hebrew: חִלּוֹנִי‎‎, Hiloni).[6] As of 1999[update], 65% of Israeli Jews believe in God,[7] and 85% participate in a Passover seder.[8] However, other sources indicate that between 15% and 37% of Israelis identify themselves as either agnostics or atheists.[9][unreliable source?]

Israelis tend not to align themselves with a movement of Judaism (such as Reform Judaism or Conservative Judaism) but instead tend to define their religious affiliation by degree of their religious practice. Of the Arab Israelis, as of 2008, 82.7% were Muslims, 8.4% were Druze, and 8.3% were Christians.[2] Just over 80% of Christians are Arabs, and the majority of the remaining are immigrants from the former Soviet Union who immigrated with a Jewish relative. About 81% of Christian births are to Arab women.[10]

here it seems to say is that:
25% as "non-religious-traditionalists" (not strictly adhering to Jewish law or halakha); and 42% as "secular" (Hebrew: חִלּוֹנִי‎‎, Hiloni).[

thats 67% of the population right there...secular or non religious traditionalist...
thats a solid majority...majority doesnt always rule...so take it for what it is worth...and the actions of those people spitting on a little girl are abominable!!

just sayin...



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/07/2012 11:47AM by bignevermo.