| Apr 29 @ 9:25 PM |
Your Rights as a (Insert Religious Pursuasion Here)....
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Thor1960303
Posts: 3,345
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There's been alot of talk about who's rights are being stepped on and by whom, in this, what we would like to believe , is a civilized,free and tolerant society,and I thought this forum would be a good opportunity for all beliefs to cite their gripes.
Is anyone really being persecuted? Why and by whom? Are the rights of the religious really being threatened in the civilized countries?
Where should lines be drawn as to where religious rights end and public safety and self interest begin? As well as common morality?
The only bias I will state about common morality, is that I believe there are certain moral absolutes and they're based on survival instinct as a species. Certain things tolerated and even encouraged by cultural themes, often mixed with religious overtones, should, in my opinion be universally despised, such as genital mutilation ( female circumcision). This barbaric practice should be universally banned in my opinion, but there are those that cry cultural tolerance, even for such as that. 
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| Apr 30 @ 9:20 AM |
Your Rights as a (Insert Religious Pursuasion Here).... |
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beckyiv42000
Posts: 14,576
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The basic fact in life is no one wants to be harmed ..and if in practicing a religion someone is harmed in any manner then that religion is violating that... Imposing a belief on someone who does not wish to even hear about it is also violating that basic RIGHT that everyone has .. to live their lives as they wish.. without outside influences forcing them to believe or act a certain way.. as long as.. and this is the part that throws a monkey wrench in some peoples gears.. it does not harm another in the process . If everyone lived like this there would be so much more peace and openness to learning.. for as I have said time and again you cannot FORCE someone to believe it has to be something one does of their own free will otherwise its worthless.. The best way for a group or sect etc to garner followers is to show others by example that their beliefs are a better path or at least one worthy of investigating.. but badgering people is not the way to show that... condemning people is not the way to show that .. belittliing others beliefs is not the way to show that ...the old adage." more flies with honey than vinegar" rings true...all those who feel the need to impose their beliefs on others garner is contempt for them AND their beliefs no matter how wonderful those beliefs may be..
My rights are for none to harm me and in turn for me to earn that right I must equally harm none...
[Edited on 4/30/2009 10:05 AM]
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| May 7 @ 6:33 PM |
Your Rights as a (Insert Religious Pursuasion Here)....
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Deborah551
Posts: 1,015
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The only bias I will state about common morality, is that I believe there are certain moral absolutes and they're based on survival instinct as a species. Certain things tolerated and even encouraged by cultural themes, often mixed with religious overtones, should, in my opinion be universally despised, such as genital mutilation ( female circumcision). This barbaric practice should be universally banned
How about circumcision for male babies? I just couldn't do it to my son after he was born because of the horror stories I heard about how it's done. I think it's barbaric and unnecessary myself, although maybe not as harmful as female mutilation. Other moral absolutes are sexual or physical abuse of children, slavery of any kind, lynching and murder. Some things, such as stealing or killing may be okay depending on the condition they were conducted in.
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| May 7 @ 7:22 PM |
Your Rights as a (Insert Religious Pursuasion Here).... |
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eastham
Posts: 7,907
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I think it's barbaric and unnecessary myself, although maybe not as harmful as female mutilation.
Equating circumcision and female genital mutilation is a strawman argument. The purpose of female genital mutilation is to render the woman, wrongly because the brain in our biggest sexual organ, an unsexual being. That is not the case for circumcision.
There are 3 major forms of female genital mutilation: Sunna circumcision, which is the removal of the hood and the tip of the clitoris; clitorectomy; and infibulation, which is a clitorectomy combined with the removal of the labia majora and minora and the sewing together of what's left. 85% of all cases of female genital mutilation are clitorectomies. For a circumcision and a clitorectomy to be equal, a circumcision would mean the removal of the entire penis. Even in the case of Sunna circumcision, which is the least invasive of the three "procedures", it would mean the removal of the glans (head) of the penis.
Secondly, while male circumcision is often linked to religious practice (Islam and Judaism require it) for female circumcision is is mainly a cultural practice. Some people wrongly attribute it to Islam, but that is not the case. It is not in the Koran and not practiced in places like Indonesia, the largest Islamic country. In East Africa, female genital mutilation is cultural and cuts (pardon the pun) across all religious persuasions -- animist, Christian as well as Muslim.
Thirdly, there are demonstratable health benefits to circumcision, which are not documented in female genital mutilation. Many evolutionary biologists believe menstruation came about because it is a protective measure against infections carried in the foreskin. The inner layer of the foreskin, the preputial sac, is a repository for shed cells and ultimately infection.
And finally, not circumcizing your son is not without risk. Uncircumsized men have a higher incidence of penile cancer, unheard of in circumsized men. Since the federal government began collecting cancer data in 1932, none of the US cases of penile cancer involved a man who had been circumcized. The rates of cervical cancer and breast cancer are far higher in women who are partners of uncircumsized men.
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| May 7 @ 7:38 PM |
Your Rights as a (Insert Religious Pursuasion Here)....
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 18,610
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Thirdly, there are demonstratable health benefits to circumcision, which are not documented in female genital mutilation. Many evolutionary biologists believe menstruation came about because it is a protective measure against infections carried in the foreskin. The inner layer of the foreskin, the preputial sac, is a repository for shed cells and ultimately infection.
What she said - and if you read back on ancient history:
It has been suggested that the custom of circumcision gave advantages to tribes that practiced it and thus led to its spread regardless of whether the people understood this. [1] It is possible that circumcision arose independently in different cultures for different reasons. Biblical circumcision was an expression that a man had chosen to live his life for God and could control his own body. In the passing of time it has become isolated from this entirely, rather like infant christening.
The first written account was 2400 BC in Egypt. I'm not for it for religious reasons, but very much for it for health issues.
p.s. penile cancer is, like cervical cancer in women, caused by a very, very common virus - the HPV virus. It's not considered to be a risk factor for men in the USA because of the rarity of uncircumcised men.
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| May 7 @ 7:42 PM |
Your Rights as a (Insert Religious Pursuasion Here).... |
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eastham
Posts: 7,907
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And let's not forget that uncircumsized men have a higher HIV and STD transmission rate that those who are circumsized.
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| May 7 @ 11:26 PM |
Your Rights as a (Insert Religious Pursuasion Here)....
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carpediem48
Posts: 3,312
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Somehow the only term that I can think of that is synonomous with 'my rights' is HONEST disclosure
If my truth differs from yours,,,or my truth offends you,,,please,,,instead of withdrawing in hurt or frustration or anger,,,,or,,,attacking,,,,please,,,don't cut me off
SAY YOUR TRUTH WITH LOVE ,,,I like the 1st Corinthians definition of Love
It's 'Universal',,,and the first two items listed are PATIENCE and KINDNESS
Soooo,,,,the question is,,,,do I have the RIGHT to cut myself off from you either passively or agressively,,,IF,,,I you are receptive to my input.
I am you,,,and,,,,
You are me,,,,and
WE are WE,,,,,,,,,AND
WE ARE ALL TOGETHER 
Love and Blessings to ALL,,,,,
GROUP HUG  sorry if I left everyone out  ok,,,just to be on the safe side 
[
[Edited on 5/7/2009 11:35 PM]
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| May 8 @ 6:29 AM |
Your Rights as a (Insert Religious Pursuasion Here).... |
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eyesofastranger
Posts: 928
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My right as a (Jedi)
I believe all religion is a work of literature. In that understanding there are some storylines that have very powerful meanings and should be examined as such. I am looking forward to the new Star Trek as I understand how much the technical knowledge of literature has evolved in understanding, reinventing Kirk and Spock in this new understanding is something I am looking forward to.
I don't claim any rights as I am above being questioned about ancient understandings. If you have something toi teach me I am all ears. Know this, if you try to respond with condescension I will not be affected but will see an insecure outline of you and your beliefs. Kinda sucks don't it?
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| May 8 @ 7:51 AM |
Your Rights as a (Insert Religious Pursuasion Here)....
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CPUfan
Posts: 7,983
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 Eyes... As Becks says The best way for a group or sect etc to garner followers is to show others by example that their beliefs are a better path or at least one worthy of investigating.. but badgering people is not the way to show that... condemning people is not the way to show that .. belittling others beliefs is not the way to show that ...the old adage." more flies with honey than vinegar" rings true...all those who feel the need to impose their beliefs on others garner is contempt for them AND their beliefs no matter how wonderful those beliefs may be..
Yes who set who up as the Patron of Divinity? Nobody...  But if some self-appointed Patron wishes to demonstrate the fact by example that might constitute some sort of evidence. Any takers for the next Mother Theresa or male equivalent? 
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| May 8 @ 3:23 PM |
Your Rights as a (Insert Religious Pursuasion Here).... |
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Thor1960303
Posts: 3,345
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The purpose of female genital mutilation is to render the woman, wrongly because the brain in our biggest sexual organ, an unsexual being.
What kind of a sick mind dreams up crap like this? This should be something universally banned and enforced, carrying hefty penalties and prison sentences in my opinion. Normally I'm against organizations like the UN or other global organizations messing in a country's individual laws and such, but a barbaric practice like this needs to be stopped. There is absolutely NO justification culturally or religiously. Tolerance for other religions and culrtures goes only so far.
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