Who is kinder towards their fellow man.....Christian or Muslim?


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Rand_011 is offline Rand_011 Post #21  October 20,2009, 12:57pm
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dwreese182 wrote :
Too funny. LoL By chance, did he have any friends that were brain surgeons?
I have no idea ... My guess is that he didn't know any through work ... Just hazarding a guess that Boeing/Raytheon (or whatever company now owns them) doesn't have too many brain surgeons there, heh.

But, on the soccer team I coached last year, one of the fathers is a brain surgeon ... Though, I have no idea if he as the t-shirt about it.
 
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meri75 is offline meri75 Post #22  October 20,2009, 1:27pm
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dwreese182 wrote :
I would have to disagree again. Some cultures are simply friendlier to people as a whole. A good example would be the Native Americans, some tribes were very hostile and were always trying to obtain land, while others were peaceful and wanted to be friends and trade partners with other tribes and were found sharing land and resources and sometimes even sharing villages. I'm not a behavioral psychologist, but I think a study on personality vs location would be a very interesting read. I do believe religion has a part in the development a persons personality, while it is obviously not the only factor, it is a major one.

I just don't see it coming down to the "individual" as individuals are molded by a multitude of things including their surroundings, peers, culture, religion, social expectations, experiences and mental capacity to take events and learn from them, to name a few. If every person were to be isolated from the world at birth, then yes, I think it would be on the individual but since humans are very social animals, society plays a huge role in the development of a person.
Certainly. However, the individual and/or group choose to behave in a certain manner whether or not that behaviour is aligned with religious beliefs.

From a Christian perspective, the Bible teaches that we should be caring for those in our lives when required. But it requires an active choice on part. My faith and/or religious teachings are unable to sway me to behave in a certain way unless I choose to do so.

There are plenty of non-religious people in the world who treat others with the utmost respect, care and compassion.
 
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dwreese182 is offline dwreese182 Post #23  October 20,2009, 1:33pm
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meri75 wrote :
Certainly. However, the individual and/or group choose to behave in a certain manner whether or not that behaviour is aligned with religious beliefs.

From a Christian perspective, the Bible teaches that we should be caring for those in our lives when required. But it requires an active choice on part. My faith and/or religious teachings are unable to sway me to behave in a certain way unless I choose to do so.

There are plenty of non-religious people in the world who treat others with the utmost respect, care and compassion.
What the heck was this thread about again?

I was on Google for something to do with this thread, then wound up on Wikipedia, then I got distracted on one link, then another, then another. Eventually I found myself on the Periodic Table of Elements (how the heck you link from Honor Keelings to that I have no clue) and was looking at Tungsten (symbol W with atomic number 74). Then somehow got on Amazon and am now getting ready to buy a Tungsten ring. (Did you know Tungsten is the worlds hardest metallic substance known to man, with a hardness rating of 9 (compared to diamonds at 10)? It also has the highest melting point of all non-alloyed metals and second highest among all the elements behind carbon?).

Anyways, came back here and now I don't know what the heck I'm talking about. But hey, if you wanna know something about Tungsten, I'm your guy! Freakin' Wikipedia!
Last edited by dwreese182; October 20,2009 at 1:51pm.
 
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PR_Princess is offline PR_Princess Post #24  October 20,2009, 7:35pm
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dwreese182 wrote :
I will reiterate that religion and society (along with several other factors, some of which I mentioned earlier) can play a big part in the shaping of ones personality. From my experience, I have noticed that people of the middle east are more "giving" than their western counterpart. And honestly, I really don't think "sprituality" has anything to do with it. I think people are either raised kind giving people, or they aren't.

Now, I have some friends that were born in Iraq/Egypt/UAE and then moved to the US that are non-muslims and they too share the trait of being kinder and more giving, sometimes it is almost annoying at how persistent they are when you don't want/need something they want to give.

I can relate to this "shared experience" shaping people...there is a saying in Spanish that translates into the idea that if you truly are disgusted with someone you wouldn't even offer them water. I assume it's origins are from Spain as there are no deserts in Puerto Rico and you can probably survive on coconut water if you were desperate enough I am sure there would be more death than life if middle eastern people weren't more community oriented and generous with each other in order to live and survive in harsh conditions. There is also more emphasis on the importance of keeping good relations over material possessions.

I can also relate to the annoying giver custom as my mother would laundry list her guests with things that she could offer them to drink or eat. I had to beg them to pick one thing before she went through the list again because she wanted to make sure they were comfortable and not refusing something because they were shy.When I came to Islam I had to coach her not to look at anything in someone's house for too long or praise it too highly as she may end up walking out the door with it at the insistence of the hostess.This was a bit uncomfortable for me as she has this habit of praising people's children a little way too much (this is not only to make the child happy but also as a compliment to the parent) and I told her keep it under wraps because I don't think their parents want to part with their children
 
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dwreese182 is offline dwreese182 Post #25  October 21,2009, 12:54am
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meri75 wrote :
However, the individual and/or group choose to behave in a certain manner whether or not that behaviour is aligned with religious beliefs.
One thing people tend to forget about the middle east is that Islam IS the law, is the way of life and is the center for everyone and everything. In most countries there is no choice but to live the rules of Islam. If you doubt me, go ahead and try to drink that water or munch on that snack in a public area in their country during Ramadan and see what happens. Regardless of your religious preference you will be fined or thrown in jail.

Most of these countries have in their constitutions the freedom of religion, with the understanding that you will respect and abide by Muslim traditions. So in these places the religious views, laws and courtesies will be adhered to and absolutely do shape peoples behavior. So no, I do not agree with you on this statement when referring to the middle east. It might hold true in Western Culture, but definitely not everywhere in the world.

meri75 wrote :
From a Christian perspective, the Bible teaches that we should be caring for those in our lives when required. But it requires an active choice on part. My faith and/or religious teachings are unable to sway me to behave in a certain way unless I choose to do so.
Because that is what you have been conditioned to believe. Me personally, I don't need any book to tell me what I should do and what I shouldn't do. I don't need someone to say, be nice or you go to a really really really bad place forever and ever until the end of time. Common sense tells you, you should be kind and giving towards others. The Golden Rule, "Treat others as you would wish to be treated.". So no Imaginary Spaghetti Monster needed for this guy, no sir.

meri75 wrote :
There are plenty of non-religious people in the world who treat others with the utmost respect, care and compassion.
Agreed, and I have much respect for those that do it out of the kindness of their heart, compared to the doing it for the fear of not going to that imaginary bad place they have been conditioned to fear.

Someone sent me this quote and I have to post it.

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." : Mohandas Gandhi

The large majority of American Christians don't even come close to following the word of Jesus. I have not witnessed Christians anywhere in the rest of the world so I can't speak on them. For most, it is not a way of life, it is just a religion, it is not the center of their daily lives, unlike Muslims. I would guess that somewhere around 75 percent of self proclaimed Christians just claim membership to play it safe. The numbers are not nearly as high as the Church claims, all you have to do is go look at the turnout at your local Church. Maybe, and this is a big maybe, 10 percent of the self-proclaimed Christians actually go to church regularly. Pure hypocrisy.
 
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meri75 is offline meri75 Post #26  October 21,2009, 1:49pm
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Dwreese - I haven't figured out how to multi-quote, so hopefully you'll be able to follow my train of thought.

Yes, I'm well aware that different countries have different laws and what is free for me in Australia may not be the case elsewhere. Still: people do have a choice - with consequences. Whether that makes it much of a choice (obey or be imprisoned) is debatable.

No - that is your inference that is what I've been conditioned to believe. Your thread is comparing the kindess of Christians and Muslims and yet given you seem to be saying that one side have free will and choose not to employ it and the other side do so only because they are required to by law ... well, that kind of tells me that neither are kinder. Because neither motive appears to be stemming from a desire to be kind toward others.

According the 2006 Census, less than 8% of Australian citizens (of 64%) who checked Christianity as their religion also responded that they attend church regularly.
 
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dwreese182 is offline dwreese182 Post #27  October 21,2009, 2:05pm
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meri75 wrote :
Dwreese - I haven't figured out how to multi-quote, so hopefully you'll be able to follow my train of thought.
Just put a ]/quote[ after someones text and then start it with the same thing minus the backslash. Of course you have to reverse the little thingies. lol
meri75 wrote :
Yes, I'm well aware that different countries have different laws and what is free for me in Australia may not be the case elsewhere. Still: people do have a choice - with consequences. Whether that makes it much of a choice (obey or be imprisoned) is debatable.
But when you are conditioned from a young age to think that there is no choice then you are not aware of it. So you follow your religion more faithfully because that is the values you have been brought up with.When you are completely surrounded by it you really don't know any difference. So am I saying that they are more religious by choice? I guess not, but that's the way it is and doesn't change the fact of my original argument.

meri75 wrote :
No - that is your inference that is what I've been conditioned to believe. Your thread is comparing the kindess of Christians and Muslims and yet given you seem to be saying that one side have free will and choose not to employ it and the other side do so only because they are required to by law ... well, that kind of tells me that neither are kinder. Because neither motive appears to be stemming from a desire to be kind toward others.
They are not required to by law, they have a "choice" to leave their faith. When I was referring to the laws saying that I would be thrown fined or thrown in jail for not following their religious dogma (I might want to add, that's only while in public). I meant that non-muslims are expected to follow those rules.......agh, this is just going to keep going round and round and round.

Question: Have you been to the Middle East?

meri75 wrote :
According the 2006 Census, less than 8% of Australian citizens (of 64%) who checked Christianity as their religion also responded that they attend church regularly.
Curious what it would be for the states. I would guess about the same. Actually, maybe a little more with the rise in religious uber-conservatism in the US in the past 50 years.
 
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meri75 is offline meri75 Post #28  October 21,2009, 6:13pm
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I have been to Hawaii only. (And I completely forgot it is an American State - was walking around thinking 'wow, there are A LOT of Americans here!' Haha - I am such a silly at times!)

Yes, I can see what you are saying with regard to conditioning. What I am trying to say is that people grow up (I mean in age and wisdom and life experience) and then can see that they were being conditioned and make a decision to change the behaviour or continue with it. Perhaps it comes down to the fact I've been raised in a country where I have freedom (to a degree) to do as I please, the values I have, I have because I personally choose them. Not because of Christianity or laws or my peers tell me this is how I should live my life. For example, I use words which I do not consider to be swearing - quite sure my parents would have a very different viewpoint. If that makes sense?

Oh right - sorry, I did mis-interpret you there on that viewpoint.

May be a little larger since the US population is bigger?
 
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dwreese182 is offline dwreese182 Post #29  October 22,2009, 12:55am
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[quote=meri75;775445]I have been to Hawaii only. (And I completely forgot it is an American State - was walking around thinking 'wow, there are A LOT of Americans here!' Haha - I am such a silly at times!)[/qupte]

I guess when I went there it was national "Japanese take a vacation to Hawaii" week. Did you know the population of Hawaii was 45 percent Japanese prior to WWII? Japanese are somewhere in the range of 12 percent now a days and filipinos are just at 13 percent. It also has the highest Asian-American population of almost 40 percent.

meri75 wrote :
Yes, I can see what you are saying with regard to conditioning. What I am trying to say is that people grow up (I mean in age and wisdom and life experience) and then can see that they were being conditioned and make a decision to change the behaviour or continue with it. Perhaps it comes down to the fact I've been raised in a country where I have freedom (to a degree) to do as I please, the values I have, I have because I personally choose them. Not because of Christianity or laws or my peers tell me this is how I should live my life. For example, I use words which I do not consider to be swearing - quite sure my parents would have a very different viewpoint. If that makes sense?
Ok, but my only point was that Muslims follow their religion closer than most Christians. So conditioning is not really something that matters. The end result is still the same.

meri75 wrote :
Oh right - sorry, I did mis-interpret you there on that viewpoint.

May be a little larger since the US population is bigger?
I think the percentage might be slightly higher in the US in terms of regular church attendance due to the conservative movement that started somewhere in the 50's. Luckily these trends come and go in the US fairly quickly. I still wouldn't think it would be over 10 percent though.
 
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meri75 is offline meri75 Post #30  October 22,2009, 1:35am
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No, I didn't know that - how interesting. We went to Pearl Harbour, and after that I noticed many shop fronts had Japanese characters. I did find that a little unusual - we don't see a lot of non-English lettering except for in concentrated areas, such as Chinatown, here.

Yes, your viewpoint is entirely possible. I think that sometimes people say 'Christian' when perhaps they mean they believe in God as opposed to Buddha or another Deity?

Hmm - do you reckon it is likely the area I see mentioned here as the 'Bible belt' (never heard that phrase before I joined EHA) would have a higher rate of people regularly attending church and therefore lift up the Nation's average as a result?
 
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