Religion
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
From the latin root word 'ligio', which in English became 'ligament', the term means literally 're-binding'. As such, religion is something practiced by people who believe that they are seperate from ultimate reality, and wish to do something about it. Religion is generally something people partake in so that they can feel Important.
Religion usually catches the blame for many of recorded history's most gruesome wars and acts of gratuitous cruelty. There is some validity to this, but it is perhaps worth noting that most religions actually discourage this sort of thing. A much more viable theory is that wars break out in regions where the population contains a large percentage of sexually frustrated males. Religion and politics tend to provide a readily available justification for such ventures.
Most religions encourage people to follow the 'golden rule', that is, to do unto others as you would have others do unto you. That sounds great, but this researcher would be rather perturbed to encounter a masochist who followed that principle closely.
Religion usually catches the blame for many of recorded history's most gruesome wars and acts of gratuitous cruelty. There is some validity to this, but it is perhaps worth noting that most religions actually discourage this sort of thing. A much more viable theory is that wars break out in regions where the population contains a large percentage of sexually frustrated males. Religion and politics tend to provide a readily available justification for such ventures.
Most religions encourage people to follow the 'golden rule', that is, to do unto others as you would have others do unto you. That sounds great, but this researcher would be rather perturbed to encounter a masochist who followed that principle closely.
