Can they co-exist, ultimately?

[traillius]

1. Catholics/Orthodox and other Christians?
2. Christians and Muslims?
3. Theists and Atheists?
4. Monotheists and Pagans( pantheists and polytheists )
5. Jews and their Enemies?
   Ultimately, nearer to the end of time, These pairs of groups will become more and more at odds, at least if relations thus far are any indication. So, when things get worse rather than better ( i.e. the ubiquitous 'end times prophecies ) what will happen between these various groups of people?
   Unity being unlikely, the alternative is inevitable division to the point of ‘head on’ conflicts, physical or otherwise.
   If this is in the wrong forum can a mod move it please.
   p.s. I don’t advocate violence, generally speaking. I just an acutely aware of the impossibility of perpetual peaceful co-existence, on the earth at least.

 

[CompSciGuy]

1. Catholics/Orthodox and other Christians?
2. Christians and Muslims?
3. Theists and Atheists?
4. Monotheists and Pagans( pantheists and polytheists )
5. Jews and their Enemies?
   Ultimately, nearer to the end of time, These pairs of groups will become more and more at odds, at least if relations thus far are any indication. So, when things get worse rather than better ( i.e. the ubiquitous 'end times prophecies ) what will happen between these various groups of people?
   Unity being unlikely, the alternative is inevitable division to the point of ‘head on’ conflicts, physical or otherwise.
   If this is in the wrong forum can a mod move it please.
   p.s. I don’t advocate violence, generally speaking. I just an acutely aware of the impossibility of perpetual peaceful co-existence, on the earth at least.

1 doesn’t seem like that big of a problem, not to the point of violence or serious conflict but mere disagreement.
2 already is more or less a problem in certain parts of the world; namely in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan where non-Muslims are heavily persecuted. What needs to happen there is the Middle East needs to be pulled out of the dark ages and the radical fundamentalist muslims will wake up and realize that they’re not the only religion in the world, as their brethren in the western world have discovered.
3. In much of the western world the theist vs. atheist disagreement hasn’t reached a boiling point yet; though I think it is very possible that there could be persecution in the future. There is much persecution in China over this matter.
4 is virtually nonexistent, except for the hindu nationalist groups in India that attack priests and whatnot.
5 Jews typically tend to leave people alone; the only major people group that still is violent toward the jews are the radical fundamentalist Muslims, and I’ve already talked about them.

 

[JonNC]

1. Catholics/Orthodox and other Christians?
2. Christians and Muslims?
3. Theists and Atheists?
4. Monotheists and Pagans( pantheists and polytheists )
5. Jews and their Enemies?
   Ultimately, nearer to the end of time, These pairs of groups will become more and more at odds, at least if relations thus far are any indication. So, when things get worse rather than better ( i.e. the ubiquitous 'end times prophecies ) what will happen between these various groups of people?
   Unity being unlikely, the alternative is inevitable division to the point of ‘head on’ conflicts, physical or otherwise.
   If this is in the wrong forum can a mod move it please.
   p.s. I don’t advocate violence, generally speaking. I just an acutely aware of the impossibility of perpetual peaceful co-existence, on the earth at least.

I think its a distinct possibility that, because of number 2 (and perhaps the extreme anti-christian secularists), the groups in number 1 will grow closer together out of necessity.

Jon

 

[Lokabrenna]

As a Pagan polytheist, I would say that yes, we can coexist. I think that we tend to focus on conflict among religious groups so much that sometimes we don’t really consider that we probably already peacefully coexist with people of many religions and just don’t realize it. In university, I had Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Sikh, and Atheist friends, and we were all able to discuss our beliefs like civilized human beings. Online, I’ve made friends with Wiccans, Kemetics, and Asatruar, and although we may disagree, we still managed to share the same forum space.

I think if we weren’t fighting over religious beliefs (or lack thereof), we’d find something else to fight over, and then we’d have threads that would say: “Can people of differing political affiliations coexist?”

 

[MaryandJoseph]

though I may not agree with his personal spiritual/religious views…Lokabrenna made alot of good points…but!!!..

Even though groups of people can and do co-exist in a peaceful way, I think the closer we get to the “end times”,when ever that will be and only God knows, tensions will continue to rise until…and please excuse my language,“When all hell breaks loose”.

I tend not to worry about it though,I will continue to live my faith and try to be a beacon of light that Jesus wants us all to be, and let God sort out all the details at the end of time.

 

[CompSciGuy]

As a Pagan polytheist, I would say that yes, we can coexist. I think that we tend to focus on conflict among religious groups so much that sometimes we don’t really consider that we probably already peacefully coexist with people of many religions and just don’t realize it. In university, I had Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Sikh, and Atheist friends, and we were all able to discuss our beliefs like civilized human beings. Online, I’ve made friends with Wiccans, Kemetics, and Asatruar, and although we may disagree, we still managed to share the same forum space.

I think if we weren’t fighting over religious beliefs (or lack thereof), we’d find something else to fight over, and then we’d have threads that would say: "Can people of differing political affiliations coexist?"

I agree with you on that point 100%. That’s always what I say to the brand of naive anti-religious secularists who claim that religion is the source of all the world’s problems. I maintain that religion is often used as an excuse but generally isn’t the ultimate cause of the conflict. The cause is almost always greed, or just plain hatred or distrust of another people group. Take away religion and they will find another reason to hate and kill each other. It is naive to think that if we get rid of religion then society will just automatically adjust and become immune to violence, racism, etc. And it’s also unjust to say that religion always leads to these things. Just look at the 20th century, when there were more people killed in the name of a strict secular worldview (communism) than any other cause in history.

 

[1voice]

As a Pagan polytheist, I would say that yes, we can coexist. I think that we tend to focus on conflict among religious groups so much that sometimes we don’t really consider that we probably already peacefully coexist with people of many religions and just don’t realize it. In university, I had Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Sikh, and Atheist friends, and we were all able to discuss our beliefs like civilized human beings. Online, I’ve made friends with Wiccans, Kemetics, and Asatruar, and although we may disagree, we still managed to share the same forum space.

I think if we weren’t fighting over religious beliefs (or lack thereof), we’d find something else to fight over, and then we’d have threads that would say: “Can people of differing political affiliations coexist?”

Discussions are one thing. There is no skin in the game. Where peaceful co-existence tends to break down is when people are forced to do things that are untenable based on their beliefs. For example: A Catholic doctor or nurse being required to perform abortions by the hospital that claims it is a human right…

 

[dzheremi]

1. Catholics/Orthodox and other Christians?

Yes
2) Christians and Muslims?

No, but not from lack of trying on Christians’ part.

1. Theists and Atheists?

In most modern cases cases, yes.

1. Monotheists and Pagans( pantheists and polytheists )

In most modern cases, yes.

1. Jews and their Enemies?

Probably? I’m not a Jew, so I don’t know.

The answers to questions like these are less about whether or not the groups will become more disparate (I don’t think that is the case, actually; barring some revolution in doctrinal understanding, they’ll stay exactly as separated as they are now, since the doctrine that has maintained their division is unlikely to change; it is the intra-_____ groups that will become more divided), but whether those who cannot accept the thought of a pluralistic world will come to develop different understandings than they currently hold. I don’t know how anyone could know that, but I do believe that some groups (again, within these religions, not across them) are more likely to develop in that way than others.

 

[GaryTaylor]

Because one sits at the college cafateria table or in your Living Area and has a civil conversation, doe’s not mean you are not at odds with reality.

The fact that we can get along in a social sphere when we choose, or when need be, has no impact on the overall picture. Its only an indication of what you Chose to do at the moment. If you continue to seek LOVE? You will continue to do this.

To invert come’s down to a simple logic of Good and evil. You are in that battle, pick a team. I have seen muslims who have choose Love and as a result are murdered for standing up for christians. So on a individual basis, anything is possible. We have seen all forms of very good people from different religious backgrounds who correctly chose LOVE. The variables have no meaning with the title on an individual basis. I have seen Christians murder Muslims, Christians murder pagans, Christians burn witchs, and visa-versa. And many have little to no use for atheists.

The point of it all is LOVE. If you buy into that concept you will not buy into the others. Not pleasure, not lust, or some ill contrived defination in your mind of love, but true LOVE of the Sanctity of Life. We as a whole are still chosing DEATH.

On an overall basis fact is this,…6000 years and 14, 000+ recorded wars that we “know” of. Of course that incease’s yearly. Where is Sanity?

Please explain to mean how that equates to Peace or LOVE? I’m not seeing it, I see good and evil, or…Sinners and Saints.

“Ultimately” as we see, its a resounding NO!