I haven't been around much, and that's because I simply haven't found much on the forum lately that interests me, and with the shrinking numbers of posters maybe this is as good a time to start actively posting issues that I think are worthy of attention as any.
It occurs to me that in all the chaos of the recent Paris attacks and bad will towards Islam within the last decade or so, that religion in general is suffering. It doesn't matter if you are the most patient and practical Christian or the most insect loving Jainist, the recent spate of Islamic extremism is dirtying the name of religion. Secularists look at these attacks and while many acknowledge that it's an issue with a particular branch of extremism, many seem to group all religions in the same bucket. It seems to me that this is something that ought to be highlighted and discussed. Often times it seems in these situations that Christians are so busy pointing fingers at the violence inherent in the Islamic religion (and I believe rightfully so), that they miss the fact that the secular West is singing John Lennon's Imagine, with its desire for no religion at all. Are we, as Christians, not seeing this bigger picture and how Islamic violence impacts us all? Ultimately I believe that God is in control, still these are issues that it seems to me we ought to be more cognizant about.
This is an open discussion, but I ask ahead of time for some temperance in debate. Thank you.
It occurs to me that in all the chaos of the recent Paris attacks and bad will towards Islam within the last decade or so, that religion in general is suffering. It doesn't matter if you are the most patient and practical Christian or the most insect loving Jainist, the recent spate of Islamic extremism is dirtying the name of religion. Secularists look at these attacks and while many acknowledge that it's an issue with a particular branch of extremism, many seem to group all religions in the same bucket. It seems to me that this is something that ought to be highlighted and discussed. Often times it seems in these situations that Christians are so busy pointing fingers at the violence inherent in the Islamic religion (and I believe rightfully so), that they miss the fact that the secular West is singing John Lennon's Imagine, with its desire for no religion at all. Are we, as Christians, not seeing this bigger picture and how Islamic violence impacts us all? Ultimately I believe that God is in control, still these are issues that it seems to me we ought to be more cognizant about.
This is an open discussion, but I ask ahead of time for some temperance in debate. Thank you.
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