Definition: Contradict - to be inconsistent with (a proposition, theory, etc.)
We've all seen these bumper stickers:
There is nothing more contradicting to promote. Here is what the symbols stand for:
The first symbol (moon and star) is an Islam symbol. Second is a Peace symbol. Third is some sort of male/female symbol (maybe homosexuality). Fourth is a Judaism symbol. Fifth (the "i" in the word) is a Wicca/Pagan symbol. Sixth looks like Taoism. Last is Christianity.
FIRST OFF!!!
If you claim to be a Christian and have this sticker, PLEEEEEEEASE comment and express WHY?
If you claim to be a Christian and have this sticker, PLEEEEEEEASE comment and express WHY?
Lets begin...
If an Atheist has this on their car, they are contradicting themselves because they aren't supposed to believe in anything. So why promote ALL religions in this statement?
If a religious person has this on their car, they are contradicting themselves because they are suppose to believe in ONE thing. By promoting other religions should be accepted, you are denying your own, falsifying it by even acknowledging other religions are legit.
You are religious or not religious. Don't know that there is an in-between place.
Believer or unbeliever, you are a contradiction to any statement you could be making by having this on your car (Read the above statements again. They are simple to understand). Take it off. Its just ridiculous. This offends Atheists and Religious figures. Its not supporting anyone. If you have this on your car... what are "you" besides out of your mind? You protest that you know nothing.
Plain and simple, who does this support? Why does the "Coexist" bumper sticker "exist"?
Comments please...
I disagree wholeheartedly. The symbols together represent the unity and harmony of diverse religions. It is foolish and presumptuous to believe that you're interpretation is the truth gir what it stands as. If you believe it is an offense and a contradiction then rightfully so. You're entitled to an opinion. However, mind you, this IS YOUR interpretation. Argue what you will. It represents peace and harmony and conveys the message of transcending religion to live together in peace.
ReplyDelete*for what it stands……
DeleteAs a religious believer, I do believe in peace and harmony and wish the world would get on the same page with each other on that aspect, but that will never happen. Although I passionately believe in peace and love, I do not believe in peacefully putting my faith aside to Coexist with other religions that attempt to disrespect and destroy mine. As many religions themselves contradict other religions, its impossible to Coexist. In some cases (or most), the goal of many religions is to fade out/overcome others.
ReplyDeleteFor example, someone who worships God and someone who worships Satan. The point of many religions (the purpose for it's existence) is to specifically "not coexist" with each other but to lead followers away to a new religion. It's like ice and fire, they can't coexist (figuratively speaking).
The reason we can't coexist (and that doesn't mean we should physically take action, I'm against violence in any nature), is because stepping aside and letting another religion grow diminishes your own religion in the end. If you allow that to happen, then you might as well not have a religion if you will aid in it's demise.
Many non-believers have told me that the reason for most war/crime is religion. Although I can think of several attacks that have a religious foundation, I can also think of several attacks that had nothing to do with religion at all. If a man in NY pulls a gun out and robs a woman, beats her senseless, rapes her, etc... I can guarantee that religion had no part in the matter.
In the end, some people will do bad things regardless of religion. In example, if you believe in God, you would say those horrible actions come from the devil. Thus we create religion and build structure on how to lead the world away from that type of lifestyle.
Some would say there should be only "one" religion or "no" religion. As religion gives us ethics and morals on a basic level to live by (not to kill, steal, lie, cheat, etc...), we do not need to do away with religion as it can keep the world a livable place. Thus, leaving the best solution to have a single religion.
You stated: "It is foolish and presumptuous to believe that you're interpretation is the truth for what it stands as." I see why "you" would say that. But to believe that a person is foolish for believing in something only proves that you believe in nothing. To believe an interpretation as a truth is what religion is all about. To deny believing in something is to deny religion. To deny religion would disqualify you from stepping into the realm of religions to make statements and would discredit your beliefs (as you think it's foolish to have any).
So once again, to promote Coexistence from a standpoint of religion, is to promote that you believe in nothing as the point of religion is to convert other religions, not hold their hands in harmony. We do coexist in the sense that we all "exist" on earth at the same time, but to coexist in religion would fade out religion altogether and without religion we lose our structure in life and whatever thread of sanity is left in the world would unravel even faster.
You completely missed the point. I said: It is foolish and presumptuous to say that your interpretation is the truth for what the symbols together stand as. Meaning that you're interpretation is the only interpretation. I never said anything about being foolish for believing in anything or being foolish for participating in a religion so you can calm down with your unnecessary defensiveness. That was uncalled for.
DeleteAnd who made it so that its imperative to convert others from one religion to another. Only a few religions dictate so. Some religions are mindful of the fact that others must find their own spiritual ways and don't mandate that they change. Coexistence is a concept that can be applied to everyday life. Transcending differences such as religion, race, gender etc.in order to live in relative peace and harmony. That's all it is. There's no need to start a war over it or cry injustice. It makes complete logical sense if you don't use your mind set of "my way or the high way" in a sense of conversion (for lack of a better expression).
DeleteHa ha. I'm not trying to start a war with you and I certainly do not use the mind set of "my way or the highway." If it's my way, then great. If it's not my way, then I'd try teach you my point of view instead of showing you the highway. It's the opposite mindset of "my way or the highway." I would welcome, not turn away.
ReplyDeleteI do think we should all coexist in the sense of getting along and stopping violence, but not in the sense of accepting our opposing religions that work hard every day to preach against what I or you believe in. If the bumper sticker is referring to "stopping the violence, etc..." then maybe it should say that instead of focusing on religion.
This conversation between me and you alone shows how coexisting in the sense of religion works out. This conversation would also be ironic/contradicting if you have this sticker on your car WHILE being the first one to step up and say how you disagree with my opinion and beliefs (that wouldn't be very coexisting of you to do).
I have no problem at all sharing this world with other people that have different beliefs. I think it's good, like you said, to find something to believe in if it makes you a better person and in a non-violent manner changes the world for the better. But if a religion attacks your religion (spiritually that is), we should stand idle for the cause of coexistence.
I think if the bumper sticker said "Coexist" and used different country symbols or flags, it would have made MUCH more sense and stated the overall purpose more clear. But focusing on religions doesn't make enough sense when you dig into it.
(On a serious note... and I'm being 100% serious here, thanks for posting on this... I love digging into things with other). Check out other blogs of mine, I'm sure there is lots to talk about.
I also appreciate the response. And yes I do have this sticker on my car. I didn't put it there. My parents did because the car was a hand-me-down. My only point and I suppose that this is just where we will agree to disagree, is that it's not the goal of all religions or even most for that matter to convert others to that religion. I think aside from Islam and Christianity, none of the religions up there on the sticker suggest strong evangelism/conversion by any means of fear or violence. I'm going to be honest here, I'm not a religious man. However, that doesn't mean I believe in nothing. If anything I believe that one should do whatever he or she can in life to make him or her happy without harming others in any way, shape, or form in then process. That's why I so ardently took up against you because I felt like one of the fundamental principles of my moral code was being attacked. It can be confusing to look at the sticker and see all of the religions together. I just think you should attempt to see it from my point of view and try not to offend others whom also bear this sticker on their vehicles. It's a sigil of unity and peace. It matters not the symbols chosen. Its just the idea that things so different and separate such as religions could be unified harmoniously into a single powerful word that makes so much of an difference. That's why I carry it. And that's why we all carry it. Its not to offend atheism or any other religion. Personally, I think if you take offense to this than you refuse to see it from multiple perspectives and fail to be open-minded in your conjecturing and thinking. That's people's number one problem with religion. It causes so much useless offense and fighting over misconstrued phrases and meanings and symbols etc. There's really no use for such trifles. I'm glad that you could see that its important for others to find their own way. And that's essentially what I believe. Give others guidance to the extent of what you believe but don't cram change down their throats. I just wanted to take the time to offer a little perspective and wanted you to see the bigger picture…
ReplyDeleteIn the end, it would just make more sense and be less offensive to religious people to simply put a peace symbol up rather than a coexist sticker. It means the same thing and offends less people. It's the nicer thing to do if you are trying to spread "peace" and not debate.
ReplyDeleteAnd you're saying that your moral code was being attacked, which is that "people should do whatever he/she can in life to make him/her happy without harming others", because I disagreed with the Coexist sticker?
"You", nonreligious, felt more offended over my comment on the religious-symbolized sticker than "me", a religious person? And you're not even religious.
Based on your moral code, you should be okay with my comment because blogging on that topic made me happy without harming others in any way, shape or form. So based on your moral code, you should stand behind me and be proud of me.
Your words: "If you take offense to this then you refuse to see it from multiple perspectives and fail to be open-minded in your conjecturing and thinking."
That can go both ways. Both ways except I can proudly say that I do not have an open-mind when it comes to other religions. Why? Because I'm religious. If I were open-minded to other religions, I wouldn't be very faithful to my religion. So stick to your code and be proud of me again.
To be even more closed-minded about it, if another religion is so open-minded that they don't care if people are converted to other religions that reach out to them, then that particular religion has no foundation to lean on. They are basically stating "I here for no reason. You can stay. Go. I don't care."
Your words: "That's people's number one problem with religion. It causes so much useless offense and fighting over misconstrued phrases and meanings and symbols etc."
It's funny you point this out as a "religious" flaw when "you" are the one that brought all of this up.
Guidance is all I offer to others but I don't cram it in. I respect you speaking up on this and posting. Well put... we will agree to disagree.