Giving a hug to the members of this group.

[hrmjustin]

I appreciate all of you that post in this room and I am glad that we have this group to talk about religion in a positive way.

Despite the headlines and old prejudices on all sides, people of faith and no faith are good at heart and want to live in peace with one another.


So here is a hug to all the people who post in this room. I think we need it here this week.

[wryter2000]

1. K&R

Love this group, even though I don't post much.

[hrmjustin]

2. Well we are always glad to have you.

[ColesCountyDem]

3. I'm in complete agreement with wryter2000.

[hrmjustin]

4. And we are always glad you are here my friend!

[cbayer]

5. It's a good group and best when it stays away from talking about members

that don't post here. I like that this group takes the high road for the most part.

You are a great DU member, a wonderful participant in this group and the religion group and have functioned exceptionally as a host of this group. Your decisions have been thoughtful and, imo, correct.

My advice to you is to move along when you are being personally attacked, justin. You know who you are.

[hrmjustin]

6. Thanks Cbayer! always glad to see you here.

[kentauros]

7. Thanks, Justin.

It's amazing how people have gotten caught up in this, and it's truly polarized DU. It really is getting to the point of "You're either with us or against us."

And, just now, I tried to point out the problems with mocking versus criticizing, though it appears to be falling on closed ears. I'm going out for the evening, so if anyone wants to try and get my already overly-written point across, then be my guest

[carolinayellowdog]

9. "Resist not evil" is like a koan to ponder

Being neither a Christian nor the type that takes any "scripture" as infallible, I nonetheless find certain Bible passages reverberating as I try to make sense of encounters with what seems like evil. Of course one can immediately dismiss this commandment with a line like "either Hitler or Stalin would have taken over the world if people didn't resist evil." And yet, there is an aspect of divisiveness and negativity that resistance can only feed. Benign neglect doesn't seem to be appropriate either, so putting out positive messages feels like the right approach. Hence, I found this passage from the UU webpage inspirational:

We are creating a force more powerful than one person or one religion. By welcoming people who identify with Atheism and Agnosticism, Buddhism, Christianity, Humanism, Judaism, Earth-Centered Traditions, Hinduism, Islam, and more, we are embodying a vision “beyond belief:” a vision of peace, love, and understanding.

From a practical POV, in a country that is about 90% theist, it's a recipe for political suicide for the Democratic Party to become associated with militant mockery of all religion. From a spiritual POV, for a minority of a 10% or less minority to blame and insult 90% of the US population (or more than 80% of the world population) over murders perpetrated by three people in Europe seems like a contagious infection of toxic memes. But repeating those memes, even to refute them, seems to just help spread them. So-- hugs to all who are pondering the current situation and trying to come up with positive responses to a tsunami of stereotyping and scapegoating.

[hrmjustin]

10. It has been bad and i need a day but I am back.

No more giving in. My place is here posting.

[goldent]

8. This is always the first group I read, even though I don't post much.

[hrmjustin]

11. And you are always welcome here!

[hrmjustin]

12. and I appreciate thd othet hosts of this room.

I think despite the complaints of others, we do a great job.

[okasha]

13. You certainly do, every one of you.

And welcome back! Glad your break was a short one.

[hrmjustin]

14. Thanks. my place is here fighting the good fight.

Being in the shadows is not for me. If I need a. Break it should be unannounced and short.