Somali woman stoned for adultery

[Kshitiz_Indian]

Originally Posted by King Cricket

I was mainly talking about the "Atharva Veda", the whole of which is full of stupid spells and stuff like that. There's a spell named "Maran Uchatan" there, and according to the Atharva Veda, if someone directs this spell at his enemy, the enemy will immediately vomit to death. Then there's another spell, which once applied, will shield our house from theft and robbery forever. Dear lord! There's also details about spells, potions, etc etc relating to sorcery, witchcraft and what not! Then there is the "Rig Veda" which sanctions the barbaric custom of Sati, ie, the burning of the wife immediately after the death of her husband. Not to mention that the Vedas altogether put the Brahmins in an unfairly high social-position. It is these aspects of the Vedas that I'm against.

Dude, relax. All those spells, etc., are mythological works. At least they're not the cause of some inhuman act or whatsoever. Its your choice whether to believe in them or not.

I agree wholeheartedly with the Sati part though, but I still think its not possible a religious work advising such practices. I'd like to read it myselves but haven't got the time / resources for that sadly.

[pal]

lol, I think the Atharvaveda should be considered as little more than a historical document that describes the supernatural beliefs of early Indo-European cultures.

I don't think the Rig Veda condones the practice of sati. These are the verses in the Rig Veda that are often cited in reference to that point.

6 Live your full lives ap! find old age delightful, all of you striving one behind the other.
May Tvaṣṭar, maker of fair things, be gracious and lengthen out the days of your existence.
7 Let these unwidowed dames with noble husbands adorn themselves with fragrant balm and unguent.
Decked with fair jewels, tearless, free from sorrow, first let the dames go up to where he lieth.
8 Rise, come unto the world of life, O woman: come, he is lifeless by whose side thou liest.
Wifehood with this thy husband was thy portion, who took thy hand and wooed thee as a lover.

How can it be construed as condoning sati (suicide) when the verse before it commands people to live out their full lives? The final verse asks the widowed wife to return to the "world of life." I just don't see how any of this could be taken as sanctioning the practice.

[King Cricket]

Originally Posted by pal

lol, I think the Atharvaveda should be considered as little more than a historical document that describes the supernatural beliefs of early Indo-European cultures.

I don't think the Rig Veda condones the practice of sati. These are the verses in the Rig Veda that are often cited in reference to that point.



How can it be construed as condoning sati (suicide) when the verse before it commands people to live out their full lives? The final verse asks the widowed wife to return to the "world of life." I just don't see how any of this could be taken as sanctioning the practice.

Umm...just saw wikipedia. Yeah, it's confusing. I came across one type of translation in one part of the net, and another translation in another part! Guess some stupid sites misled me.

[Cricketman]

Yeah but Sati is banned, is a legal offense, whilst Sharia Law is the rule of the land in many places.

There are barbaric themes in every religion, which we should not accept today. We have to choose the best qualities from religion and just live life from there.

[jkartik]

Originally Posted by Cricketman

Yeah but Sati is banned, is a legal offense, whilst Sharia Law is the rule of the land in many places.

There are barbaric themes in every religion, which we should not accept today. We have to choose the best qualities from religion and just live life from there.

OR.....not follow any religion at all.....this way, you have no one to blame but yourself.

[Highlander999]

Nah, I'm with Rohit. End of the day, religion is a person thing, it is up to you what you want to believe from the religious texts

[Leggie]

My mother always told me, Health > Education > Religion. I think these principles are right. As Tom said, it's basically up to you where you draw the line in your religion.

[hMarka]

Originally Posted by jkartik

OR.....not follow any religion at all.....this way, you have no one to blame but yourself.

This! Religion is responsible for more murder and destruction that anything else in recorded history.

Originally Posted by Highlander999

Nah, I'm with Rohit. End of the day, religion is a person thing, it is up to you what you want to believe from the religious texts

Sure that is everyones right to do so, but when your interpretation of religious texts leads to suicide bombings, terrorism, murder of women for insignificant "crimes" etc then it is crossed some line.

Everyone should be free to practice what ever they want to as long as they do not infringe upon other peoples freedoms and right to life.

[Cricketman]

Whatever it is, I live by one rule. Keep it to yourself. Don't care if you are Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Athiest, Creationalist or whatever...just don't try to force your belief's down someone else's throat.

I think religion is a good thing. I always catch myself thinking of how life is so perfect - i'm not talking about the socio-economic problems we see in the world but how life in general...

The human body, for example. How everything works so perfectly, in such intricate balance, in such a complex yet beautiful series of processes to perform the simplest tasks like moving your hand. Nature - how we have time changing constantly, the change of seasons, how animals and humans alike learn to walk, communicate, to love, to live... I just see it as beautiful. It's all science. But what makes science so perfect? There has to be a higher, more definite something.

Moral of the story -
Follow a religion, if you choose to.
Don't nitpick at religion. Take in that there is a god, you can pray to the god, he'll help you, and stuff like that. No need to go in depth and go crazy and obsessive with it, an all powerful god would not want that.
Don't force it onto anyone else. Keep it to yourself, everyone is free to believe what they want to believe.
Dont be radical.

You are done!

[ste_mc_efc]

Originally Posted by Cricketman

Whatever it is, I live by one rule. Keep it to yourself. Don't care if you are Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Athiest, Creationalist or whatever...just don't try to force your belief's down someone else's throat.

I think religion is a good thing. I always catch myself thinking of how life is so perfect - i'm not talking about the socio-economic problems we see in the world but how life in general...

The human body, for example. How everything works so perfectly, in such intricate balance, in such a complex yet beautiful series of processes to perform the simplest tasks like moving your hand. Nature - how we have time changing constantly, the change of seasons, how animals and humans alike learn to walk, communicate, to love, to live... I just see it as beautiful. It's all science. But what makes science so perfect? There has to be a higher, more definite something.

Moral of the story -
Follow a religion, if you choose to.
Don't nitpick at religion. Take in that there is a god, you can pray to the god, he'll help you, and stuff like that. No need to go in depth and go crazy and obsessive with it, an all powerful god would not want that.
Don't force it onto anyone else. Keep it to yourself, everyone is free to believe what they want to believe.
Dont be radical.

You are done!

I think it's ace how in the first line you emphasise keeping it to youself, then spend 3 paragraphs giving your views, and then even pontificating one what what people should/shouldn't do.

Generally I find that people who readily share their views, don't won't to hear someone else's unless they are very similal.

[hMarka]

@ Cricketman
A bit easier to avoid it all together.

I think its fine to believe in a spirtual higher being, something greater than us that we do not understand. I just do not care for the human element that most religions incorporate.

[Cricketman]

Originally Posted by ste_mc_efc

I think it's ace how in the first line you emphasise keeping it to youself, then spend 3 paragraphs giving your views, and then even pontificating one what what people should/shouldn't do.

Generally I find that people who readily share their views, don't won't to hear someone else's unless they are very similal.

By keeping it to yourself I meant not doing any of this radical religious war business, going on conversion trips, and such.

I don't mind hearing someone else talking about their views. Everyone has a valid point and there is no way to prove what is really out there. What I DON'T like is people asking me to convert, or people challenging me to some sort of religious debate. There is a line.

Sorry if my post seemed contradictory, it wasn't my intention and I should have probably been clearer.

[metallics2006]

What is religion?

For noobs:

[Master Khan]

To be honest I like my religion because its keeps me away from bad things like
Gambling, Alcohol, and other sinful things.
and plus every year I must give money to the poor.. which I think is a really good thing.
Religion is a good thing if you fellow it propaly.

[ste_mc_efc]

Originally Posted by Master Khan

To be honest I like my religion because its keeps me away from bad things like
Gambling, Alcohol, and other sinful things.
and plus every year I must give money to the poor.. which I think is a really good thing.
Religion is a good thing if you fellow it propaly.

Gambling and alcohol aren't inherently bad. It's people who misuse/abuse them.

If mankind needs religion to be charitable we are in very bad shape indeed.

Originally Posted by Cricketman

By keeping it to yourself I meant not doing any of this radical religious war business, going on conversion trips, and such.

I don't mind hearing someone else talking about their views. Everyone has a valid point and there is no way to prove what is really out there. What I DON'T like is people asking me to convert, or people challenging me to some sort of religious debate. There is a line.

Sorry if my post seemed contradictory, it wasn't my intention and I should have probably been clearer.

Ah ok, fair enough.