Originally Posted by
Taunton Blue Genie
While it is true that younger generation does tend loosen the cultural ties of their parents and grandparents the concept of apostasy is present in Islam. It will be fascinating to see how the struggle between religion and rationality play out in the long term.
Funnily enough, a Christian fundamentalist friend of mine (a wonderful chap and who really aspires to the better concepts expressed in his religion) has been rocked by the fact that his son, who is studying engineering and science, has rejected Christianity by applying the same sort of analysis to religion as he does to his studies.
As you most of you know, I have no time for religion but, it has to be said, Islam does seem to have a tighter control over its adherents that modern-day Christianity - you only need to visit a few countries in the Middle East to experience that.
Ironical really: the former seems to look more absurd as time goes on and the fact that the latter bows down to constant re-interpretation to survive say it all.
Religion is bunk but let's not demonise the gullible, the non-analytical and easily indoctrinated anywhere in the world as having evil DNA. The world's major religions are very new to the planet and homo sapiens supposed lived for at least 100,000 years (possibly 200,000 years) before those belief systems came about - although we know that, as is usual in the world of folklore, many earlier religions morph into later religions.
I would love to ask any believer what he or she thinks what they would have believed in 5,000 years ago and born in a different location......
If mankind doesn't realise that there is something more important out there than religious schisms and selfish interests we are going to hell (irony alert) in a hand cart.
End of sermon.