At the Pearly Gates
- Phil_J
- cmac29ca
- cmac29ca
- Phil_J
- cmac29ca
- Phil_J
- cmac29ca
- philc03
- Zanzi
- philc03
This archived discussion is "read only".
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» Phil_J - Re: Re: Re: At the Pearly Gates
In response to message posted by polymath22:That's the same view the German soldiers had. They fought on the side of the Axis, regardless of how 'undersirabel' the people they were helping were. That's the logical conclusion of what you wrote.
Not pickin' on yuh, just mentioning the fact.
-- posted by Phil_J
» cmac29ca - Re: Re: Re: At the Pearly Gates
In response to message posted by polymath22:it was very honorable indeed to fight against the third Reich. it is my opinion that these people did right because they were told to, or had a 'general sense' of right and wrong, not because they were christian.
What do you suppose "tells" people to do right or gives them a "general sense" sense of right and wrong regardless of what religion they practice? Why do you suppose so many others did not do the right thing during WWII?
i am an atheist, but i do live an honorable life. i help out those in need, i pay my taxes and don't break the law too often, i treat others as i would like to be treated, i go to work every day, serve on jury duty, vote, etc., and i would like to think that if there was a situation like WWII i would fight on the side of the allies, regardless of how 'undesirable' the people i was helping were.
Well my dad is an atheist or maybe an agnostic I am not really sure, but you sound very much like him in your thinking and he is a good man. In spite of his flaws as a human being (which he openly admits to) he taught me the things a parent is supposed to teach a child and I think I turned out ok for the most part LOL. 
I know many atheists like yourself who are good people. I may not share your view of God (or the lack of God as the case may be ) but I do respect folks who are decent people and live according to a personal code of ethics.
Cat
-- posted by cmac29ca
» cmac29ca - Re: Re: Re: Re: At the Pearly Gates
In response to message posted by Phil_J:That's the same view the German soldiers had. They fought on the side of the Axis, regardless of how 'undersirabel' the people they were helping were. That's the logical conclusion of what you wrote. Not pickin' on yuh, just mentioning the fact.
Where most of those solders Christians?? Just wondering as it seems that each side in war uses religion no matter what one they adhere to to justify their actions. Would you not agree that the notion that Christianity is right and all other views are wrong is the idea that allowed the German soldiers to justify their actions? Again this is not to say that Christians are the only religious group to have such a mentality... That might be the problem with most of the mainstream religions for that matter. What do you think?
-- posted by cmac29ca
» Phil_J - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: At the Pearly Gates
In response to message posted by cmac29ca:A WWII veteran of the Battle of the Bulge told me about collecting dead German soldiers and being impressed that they had pictures of their families and Jesus in their wallets.
I'm not trying to excuse any of the war activities of either side; but, the first victim of war is the truth. Simply put, we've been lied to by our leaders.
With all the B.S. about the Ten Commandments, isn't "Thou shall not lie" one of them?
-- posted by Phil_J
» cmac29ca - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: At the Pearly Gates
In response to message posted by Phil_J:"Thou shall not lie" is one as is "Thou shall not commit murder"... and yet these things happen all the time... As religious and spiritual people it is even worse when we allow our various faiths to be abused for such purposes wouldn't you agree? But it happens because too many folks buy into their religion's party line and actually believe that their way is the only right way to understand and connect with God. Personally I have come to see that all people are part of and connected to that which is divine that some call God...
Cat
-- posted by cmac29ca
» philc03 - Re: Re: Re: Re: At the Pearly Gates
In response to message posted by cmac29ca:****With regard to "Right or wrong", from a solidier's standpoint, in war it may or may not matter, that is up to the individual(s)conscience. Military training can create detachment that becomes almost robotic, part of that being the instinct for survival.Supposedly we fight/fought for what we believe(d) in, that as we know is/was not always the case. Good soldiers (it is said) do as they are told, without question. Right or wrong In the aftermath, to the dead, it doesn't matter who was right..or wrong.
-- posted by philc03
» Zanzi - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: At the Pearly Gates
In response to message posted by cmac29ca:As religious and spiritual people it is even worse when we allow our various faiths to be abused for such purposes wouldn't you agree? But it happens because too many folks buy into their religion's party line and actually believe that their way is the only right way to understand and connect with God
Perhaps. Personally, I believe such abuse (from the inside) happens when adherents to a faith only know their party line and not the actual tenets of the faith itself, or, conversely, seek to uphold the party line above the tenets of the faith.
From the outside, such abuse happens when folks who do not have a proper knowledge of the tenets of the faith criticize them nonetheless, usually on the basis of hearsay and the critics' party line.
I agree with you then, that we must not allow our faith to be abused; neither from the inside nor from the outside.
-- posted by Zanzi
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