Tan Tan Tan, unless you have a poor grasp of the English language, you would see that I was 1) replying to a person who said that Muslims are a backward people who destroy everything. I was showing that that person's comments were incorrect. 2) I am demonstrating that the history of the "Christian Church" is violent. They may not be crashing planes and using suicide bombers today but they does not remove what I said.

By using the Islamist's of old, using historical facts, does not mean that any religion is superior. I do not join myself with any religion whatsoever for I am spiritual, not religious.

My attack on world leaders is about how they are using religion to pit people against each other and from what I am seeing in many forums and chatrooms, it is working.

Spider,

Silly sweeping statements are just that, in any context.

All religions belong in the same 'domain'. It's not wrong to compare apples. Afterall, doesn't every religion regard itself 'superior', your spirituality included?

It is how a fair comparison is arrived at, that matters.

So typical of someone attacking Christianity to always mention the cliche of Crusades.

You need to understand the teachings of a faith and its ethos, not just pointing to the past. What is more important is TODAY, and the FUTURE.

Knowing Christianity, I can say it is okay today and in the future. (You only remember past bad)

As much, I'll say Hinduism, Buddhism are okay today, into the future.

But knowing the character of Islam, I will indeed say not only it must be bad in the past, it's not okay today and the future of humanity looks bleak because of it.

You're naive to say that world leaders are leading us into religious hatred and wars. The converse is somewhat true. I'm sure many people like me, correctly believe that something, some countries must be dealt with, and it's inevitable!

Even when they fail to do the right things from time to time, Bush, Blair and Howard are acting in response to the state of affair today, in the over-arching interest of freedom and democracy.

Given the constant bucketing from countless vocal politically-correct people, how come world leaders are effective (in your words) using religion to pit people against each other? Unless this is proof people like yourself are ineffective and/or have misread the world situation?

I certainly have not been influenced by any world leader. I'm simply glad some leaders are on 'my side'.

There are over 50 Islamic states. The harm was already done in the PAST, it is irreversible TODAY and looks set to get worst in the FUTURE.

Even so, here is someone who thinks that Christian faith is 'creating more harm than other faiths', thinking Cardinal George Pell is a source of evil.

I wear clear glasses that improve my vision. I don't know what type you're wearing!

Spider,

I quickly glanced over a few of your latest posts and noticed a consistency on what you wrote.

I realise you have experienced/seen sufferings under a religious regime and I can empathize with your emotions and expressions.

I normally keep emotion a great distance away from logical analysis.

I guess past experience means a lot more to some people.

Tan,

Why do you put aside emotion? Do you have no heart? There is no empathy with your comment. Amazingly, I don't sit here full of anger of the church but I do hold contempt for their wording of words such as; morality, values and more when in reality, they know nothing of it.

People turned their backs on Theocracy for the torture the churches inflicted upon the people. Amazingly, there are those who either think they won't do it again or would support them doing it again.

People have the right to practice their own faith. They should not compel others to follow theirs.

Spider,

U wrote: "Amazingly, I don't sit here full of anger of the church...".

Yes, I congratulate your forbearance.

As for me, I am not religious, neither am I spiritual. I am a 'logical' person foremost. I consider nearly everything (God, morality... you name it) through mindful reasoning. (What about love? Hmm... I'd have to think about this one.)

When I mention divinity, it does not mean I have a spiritual relationship with God. Strange perhaps, but then I am not emotionally affected, unlike most people.

But it does not mean I am emotionless. When I saw on TV a child forcibly separated from his mother by a Nazi soldier, tears instantly streamed down my face. Once I listened to a music (A theme from the silk road by Kitaro?), I was completely overwhelmed with emotion, my throat was choking and I couldn't even speak.

Emotion has got to catch me by surprise, when I am not thinking.

That's how it works for me.

Some thoughts:
Who is God?
God has no shape,no gender,is infinite and is not bounded by any faith.The concept of God starts where scope of science ends.That controller is said to be eternal, genderless, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, and ultimately indescribable in human language.
This definition[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahman#Conceptualization] is very close to my thoughts irrespective of my religious affinity.
He cannot be Human in shape because then it would be bias for other creatures!!He cannot be male because then it would be bias for those innocent creatures.!!It is pure being. It is the "world soul" which also can take many forms or manifestations of the thousands of gods.
The Brahman concept is very complex and hence for common man various forms/ faiths can be realized to conceptualize that complex concept[Brahman].
What is that faith?
Faith is a realization of that Brahman/God by all creatures.
Is Faith religion?
No. Religion is NOT faith.Faith is pure and above religion.It can be something very personal which would realize that God.
Then what is Religion?
Religion is man made.It is a social grouping by society for betterment of society .The concept of Hell to followers of other religion in NOT true .No religion should claim that it is the ONLY way to realize God because it is Faith and not religion which makes you realize God.God cannot be discriminatory on basis of religion.Those who claim that their religion is made by God are liars. More thoughts ..later :-)