World's religions seen as solving conflicts

[rug]

WASHINGTON -- Few would argue against the notion that to solve conflict created by religious intolerance, prejudice and discrimination, it is essential to understand how religion motivates believers and shapes their worldviews, that respecting all religions is not enough.

While religion can be a cause of conflict, it carries political leverage that many say makes it a source for solutions and a tool for peace building.

"We are giving a whole government effort to put religion on the table," said the Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook, the new U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.

The United States is "on the front lines of confronting conflict and urging and pressing governments" to fight for religious freedom, she told Catholic News Service in a phone interview.

http://ncronline.org/news/worlds-religions-seen-solving-conflicts

[LAGC]

1. You've got to convince all the "holier than thou" churches to be more ecumenical first.

Good luck with that.

[rug]

9. No I don't.

[LAGC]

10. Then "good luck" getting religion to solve any worldly problems. (n/t)

[rug]

11. Your comment should be directed to the U.S. Ambassador.

[LAGC]

13. What about YOUR role here?

I know how much liberal Christians like to criticize non-believers more than their fellow "my way is the only right way" sectarian Christians... but how can you really expect religion to effect any sort of real global change if it can't even get its act together and come united in a common cause?

Sounds like YOU have some work to do, if you really agree with the ambassador, which I presume you do, or why else would have you posted it?

[rug]

15. I don't work for the State Department, as referenced in the story.

Furthermore, I don't like mixing any religious action with any government action.

As to the rest of your post, you're making a lot of assumptions.

[LAGC]

16. My apologies.

I thought you agreed with the Ambassador.

[hty7645]

17. +1

[johnd83]

2. A lot of US churches

are very involved in Women's rights issues globally through the UN, I think it is UNIFEM. They have found that educating women tends to lower the conflict in a region. We never hear about the more moderate churches though because the are "boring news".

[izquierdista]

3. "can" be a cause?

The Crusades, the "troubles" in Northern Ireland, the tension between India and Pakistan, the Thirty Years War, the Taiping Rebellion, the Reconquista, religion IS the cause of much conflict. It is also bullshit.

[laconicsax]

5. Don't forget...

Al Qaida, genocides in Africa, and that whole Bosnian crisis.

[okasha]

25. Every one of those conflicts was also territorial and political.

He "troubles" in Northern Ireland were an extension of the question of whether there would be a 30- or 36-county Republic of Eire; the Requonquista would have happened if it had been the Catholic French rather than the Moors occupying al-Andaluz. Religion frequently becomes a part of natonalistic movements, but it seldom causes them.

[Taverner]

29. Not to mention 9/11 and the recent Norwegian Massacre

[laconicsax]

4. BWAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

If only religion could be brought into he conflicts in Northern Ireland and the Middle East--THAT'LL solve the problem!!

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Kurmudgeon]

7. Northern Ireland is no longer fighting and the Middle East is as much a cultural problem as anything

Perhaps your anti-religious bias has misled you.

[laconicsax]

8. And religion helped solve the problem, how?

Oh, that's right--it didn't. Rather, it was an instigating factor.

But that's ok, if you want to blame reality on my "anti-religious bias," go right ahead. It only makes you look foolish.

[Kurmudgeon]

19. The Catholics and the Protestants there finally decided to act like Christ taught?

Oh, but I see you had your knee jerk reaction.
Well, you got what you wanted.

[laconicsax]

23. Do you mean the teaching of Matthew 10 and Luke 12?

You know, the bits where Jesus said that he had come to cause conflict and violence.

But, since I know that most Christians are uncomfortable with those parts, I'll just assume that you cherry-pick the nicer parts like in Luke 2 or John 14. In that case, could you point me to where both sides came to peace because it was in accordance with Jesus' teachings? I'm willing to concede the point if you could just back it up.

[rug]

12. Tell Hillary she's wasting your money.

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/irf/

Or you can type more smileys.

[laconicsax]

18. If I felt that way, I might do that.

What the State Department is doing, by working for religious freedom, is laudable. The notion that religion solves conflicts however, is fucking hilarious, especially since religion can be used to start and continue a conflict.

[ladjf]

6. Nonsense. nt

[dimbear]

14. Seen as solving...by believers. Seen as causing...by skeptics.

By far the biggest problem: overpopulation. Ask yourselves where population is controlled and where it is not.

[rrneck]

20. Religion is a tool. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Crediting religion for "working for peace" is like crediting a wrench for fixing your car.

As it stands now using religion to solve social problems is like delivering meals on wheels in a stretch Hummer.

[rug]

21. That's a myopic and distorted opinion.

Your metaphors, however, are amusing.

[rrneck]

22. Please elaborate. nt

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

27. First.

[Ron Goetz]

24. How many of you took the time to actually read the article? Thanks for the link, Rug.

[rug]

28. Welcome to DU, Ron.

:hi:

[Iggo]

26. So they set 'em up, then they knock 'em down.

This is not news.