We've all seen many example of how religion can divide nations and incite warfare and unrest, but can faith provide unity towards ethnic groups and nationalities?

not in and of itself generally, no. race has always been a dividing line, as far as ive ever heard.

racial or tribal pride and ethnocentrism is to nationalism what adam smith is to capitalism: a pregenitor concept, sort of.

Religion unites people in someways, and divides them in others.

Its fundementaly flawed in this purpose from the start.

Were right and your wrong. Especially the jews christians and muslims. Since they have there wonderfull HELL. You cant be united with a group of people who you think are going to be punished by your creator. Well I guess you could, but its far from the best way to Unite people. Moderate religios could do it, but no better then non religious. Where as fundementalists couldnt. Can you picture evangelical christians preaching to Fundie Islamic guys. Fuck no, The muslim would see a fat american women not covering her face telling him he's going to hell unless he follows jesus and proceed to shoot her in the face.

Or did you mean uniting say nigger christians from cambodia and white nazi christians form alabama? Ya probably not.

Its fundementaly flawed in this purpose from the start.

Were right and your wrong. Especially the jews christians and muslims. Since they have there wonderfull HELL. You cant be united with a group of people who you think are going to be punished by your creator. Well I guess you could, but its far from the best way to Unite people. Moderate religios could do it, but no better then non religious. Where as fundementalists couldnt. Can you picture evangelical christians preaching to Fundie Islamic guys. Fuck no, The muslim would see a fat american women not covering her face telling him he's going to hell unless he follows jesus and proceed to shoot her in the face.

Or did you mean uniting say nigger christians from cambodia and white nazi christians form alabama? Ya probably not.


Actually i believe it's most likely because of people who think they're right and that it's a good reason to shit on other people's beliefs - as opposed to simply accepting people for who they are and trying to get along.

Fuck no. A lot of the major faiths believe theirs is the "only way".....*


*There are exceptions to this, such as Buddhism and Jainism etc.

Fuck no. A lot of the major faiths believe theirs is the "only way".....*


*There are exceptions to this, such as Buddhism and Jainism etc.

That's what it is that i'm focusing on; obviously the most vocal members of a collective organisation are the ones going to be listened to more often.

I'll guarentee that there are people of any religion who really don't give a shit about who has the 'stronger/better' God, and that their particular god is the god for them.

It's just a shame that these types are most likely the ones who keep quiet and commit to a life of peace and compassion, as opposed to trying to convert every single person he or she sees.

I dont think religion can really unite everyone though, there will always be atleast some people who will have different views, and thats the attempt religions such as christanity make by introducing hell and telling you if you dont believe your going to hell to suffer for all eternity. So if your saying faith in regards to religion, deff not. I think people should put more faith in themselves than hypothetical gods.

No. No single faith is right for every nation, or ethnic group. The only faith that's right for people, is the beliefs that their ancestors had. We are all different people, different blood, different back rounds. The right beliefs is the beliefs of our ancestors. If everyone just went back to these, and believed that their religion was right for their own people, and that other peoples religions are right for them, without anyone thinking that they're 'wrong' or 'false', with no one trying to convert anyone, everything would be alot more peaceful.

[QUOTE=MilkAndInnards;8718701]No. No single faith is right for every nation, or ethnic group. The only faith that's right for people, is the beliefs that their ancestors had. We are all different people, different blood, different back rounds. The right beliefs is the beliefs of our ancestors. If everyone just went back to these, and believed that their religion was right for their own people, and that other peoples religions are right for them, without anyone thinking that they're 'wrong' or 'false', with no one trying to convert anyone, everything would be alot more peaceful.[/]

AL lof our ancestors had no religion. I approve of this plan.

Well he said ethnic groups, I think it can provide unity for those. For example, a Hispanic man and African-American man having the same faith/beliefs. They wouldn't necessarily become best buddies, but most people like other people because they have the same interests and etc.

Actually i believe it's most likely because of people who think they're right and that it's a good reason to shit on other people's beliefs - as opposed to simply accepting people for who they are and trying to get along.



i think it is a good idea to shit on people who are wrong, especially niggers and christians

religion does nothing but divide.... I mean christianity, judaism and islam for all founded on the same concepts. now look at them. christianity has divided into catholics, protestants, etc etc...and those branches divide into even smaller sects. islam is divided into sunni and shiite. and they have even smaller sects....its just keeps dividing.

I think religion has the potential to do both. But as others have already said, religion is rarely if ever the only factor in situations of division or unity. Along side it, you have to consider economic, political, and social variables just to name a few. No one instance of religious division/unity is exactly the same as the next.

As far as examples go, religious differences in Northern Ireland only complicated an already tense situation and led to more violence. But in South Africa, on the other hand, Archbishop Desmond Tutu was able to successfully incorporate Christian theology into the policies of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee which heard cases of human rights violations and allowed perpetrators to come forward and confess their crimes in the hope of amnesty. Arguably, the theological inspiration for the Committee prevented a bloody civil war in that country.

[QUOTE=MilkAndInnards;8718701]No. No single faith is right for every nation, or ethnic group. The only faith that's right for people, is the beliefs that their ancestors had. QUOTE]

Which ancestors? I'm a mongrel--I idenfy myself as a member fo the Muskogee Nation, but my progenitors include Turks (Muslim?), white trash hard-shell Baptists, German Lutherans, and Irish Catholics.