Do you support war and your religion? (Buddhism, beliefs, America)

[tom_mich]

Let me ask you a question?

Do you know your religon well if you can recite the stories and have memorized many passages and lines.....or......do you know you religion well when you understand the overall philosphy and aims of the founders and follow those beliefs, even if you don't remember the stories and details?

Let me ask you another question.

Did the events of 9/11 make you think,
1. Gosh! These terrorists are serious! We better leave them alone.
or
2. We will make them pay for what they did.

If you followed answer 2. Then how can you possibilty believe that killing 40,000 people in Iraq will reduce terrorism. Do you think people of the world will think...gosh!! The Americans are serious, we better not mess with them.

Or

Do you think Orphaned children, and widowed fathers in Iraq will think...I will make them pay for what they died.

It is an absolute undeniable proven fact that violence creates more violence.

Since nearly all religions support peace, love and tolerance, I would like to know how anyone could support the Iraq war, the increase of violence and terrorism around the world as a result.

By starting the Iraq war, the USA has set an example that it is ok to use weapons of mass distruction to achieve your goals. Hey....same goals as Osama Bin Laden.

[Engyo]

Buddhism is against war; war increases suffering of all who participate in it, whether voluntarily or not. Therefore, war is to be avoided.

[Faint]

Originally Posted by tom_mich

It is an absolute undeniable proven fact that violence creates more violence.

What makes you so certain? Let's say I don't think this "fact" is proven at all. What then?

Also, do you think that humans are naturally non-violent as a species?

[YamiB.]

I do think that violence often cause more violence, but I also think that war is sometimes nessecary. The only time I can really think of where I would support war is if the other country attacked first or if it is to stop a goverment endorsed genocide.

[tom_mich]

quote: Also, do you think that humans are naturally non-violent as a species?

Humans used to naturally eat each other 30,000 years ago. Should we still do that?

Because we have always warred....does that mean we cannot aim higher to prevent wars? At least not to start them!!!

Violence makes violence!!! Look it up! Did Hilters war make peace? Did the mongols invasion of China make peace? Did Japan bombing Pearl Harbour make peace?

You can argue wars bring peace after they have been won....but that is ignoring the price of war, and ignoring the fact that wars are started almost always by evil doers, power trippers or greedy leaders.

[tom_mich]

I also believe wars CAN be necessary. But my question is about THIS CURRENT UNNECESSARY war. The one Iraq that did not need occur if not for the will of the US government to attack a country that was no threat, and turn it into a whirlpool of chaos and death.

[Green Gaia]

From the words of Rev. William Sinkford, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association:

As a religious community, Unitarian Universalists do not say that war is never justified: we are not a “peace church.” But most of us view war as an absolute last resort, to be embarked upon only when all other avenues have failed, or when we have been attacked. Most of us do not believe this war met those tests. Many of us have written our legislators, some of us have stood vigil for peace, a few of us have protested. Almost all of us fear that this occupation will damage our credibility as a freedom-loving nation; almost all of us fear that we are, with our own hands, helping to birth the next generation of terrorists who will threaten our safety.

....

Perhaps our invasion and occupation of Iraq will have the beneficial consequences our national leadership claims they will. Perhaps democratic government will flourish in Iraq and encourage the spread of democracy throughout that region. Perhaps the lives of ordinary Iraqis will improve, after decades of suffering. Perhaps these developments will, in time, redeem the many lost lives and the heavy toll on our nation’s soul.

Like many of you, I find these outcomes unlikely. Before the invasion, we raised questions: did Saddam Hussein truly have weapons of mass destruction that threatened us? Would our troops be welcomed as liberators or reviled as occupiers? What role did the presence of Iraq’s oil resources play in our decision to invade, and who would control them once Saddam was gone? How could our nation embrace a policy of unilateral pre-emptive war?

My religion believes in the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equity and compassion in human relations; the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; and respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. I find it very rare that war and violence can coexist with those principles.

[Faint]

Originally Posted by tom_mich

Humans used to naturally eat each other 30,000 years ago. Should we still do that?

Wait--what? Where did you read this? When were humans ever primarily cannibals?

Originally Posted by tom_mich

Because we have always warred....does that mean we cannot aim higher to prevent wars? At least not to start them!!!

Yes, that would be nice. But that's avoiding my question. Oh wait...

Originally Posted by tom_mich

Violence makes violence!!! Look it up! Did Hilters war make peace? Did the mongols invasion of China make peace? Did Japan bombing Pearl Harbour make peace?

If you mean war causes violence, then yes--that is an understatement. War is violence. But does violence in general cause more violence? For instance, if two kids are fighting on a playground, does the whole school suddenly erupt into a riot? Is it a chain reaction? You ask me to "look it up!"--I will. Just as soon as you cite some credible source to back up your claim. Post a link or tell me what study you got this from (or is this "fact" of yours just an opinion?)

[Darkdale]

Originally Posted by tom_mich

It is an absolute undeniable proven fact that violence creates more violence.

This is not true. I would like you to give undeniable, comprehensive evidence for such a position.

We dropped two nuclear bombs on Japan and haven't fought them since.

[Mike182]

Originally Posted by tom_mich

Let me ask you a question?

Do you know your religon well if you can recite the stories and have memorized many passages and lines.....or......do you know you religion well when you understand the overall philosphy and aims of the founders and follow those beliefs, even if you don't remember the stories and details?

Let me ask you another question.

Did the events of 9/11 make you think,
1. Gosh! These terrorists are serious! We better leave them alone.
or
2. We will make them pay for what they did.

If you followed answer 2. Then how can you possibilty believe that killing 40,000 people in Iraq will reduce terrorism. Do you think people of the world will think...gosh!! The Americans are serious, we better not mess with them.

Or

Do you think Orphaned children, and widowed fathers in Iraq will think...I will make them pay for what they died.

It is an absolute undeniable proven fact that violence creates more violence.

Since nearly all religions support peace, love and tolerance, I would like to know how anyone could support the Iraq war, the increase of violence and terrorism around the world as a result.

By starting the Iraq war, the USA has set an example that it is ok to use weapons of mass distruction to achieve your goals. Hey....same goals as Osama Bin Laden.

wow, you confined my answer to only a few choices, and i felt like non of these

i love christian theology, i understand what i believe to be the basic beliefs, and i know several bits of scripture to support my views

on 9/11, i felt sorrow and pain and sadness. i did not suport the war in iraq, but i did not think we should leave them alone either. at this point in time i was not a christian, but i really felt that the world leaders needed some propper guidance and council, as they were f**king it up really badly

right now i prey that the whole situation will be lifted up to God, and that some good can come of it all - i prey for iraq to gain independance, democracy (true democracy, not the disillusioned and corrupt crap)

C_P