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Yeah the objective of the missions was primarily to convert people to Christianity, but the missionaries also provided other things like healthcare, language exchange, orphanges, teaching, cultural exchange, just to name a few.[/t][/font][/color]
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Well, ya know, Missions aren't really the best example to choose from.
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Maybe not for you. I'd like to specifically point out the Missions of California.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_missions_in_CaliforniaJust F.Y.I...and seriously F.Y.I. for you and anyone else that doesn't know.
San Francisco
San Diego
San Jose
Los Angeles
San Mateo
Santa Barbara
Just to name a few. These are cities named after or because of Missionary influence. Just in California. I suggest anyone to just read or look over that Wikipedia link by the way. And no, sorry, this isn't arguable.
My point is this:
There will always be the good and the bad in history. What's here is here, no matter what. You can't change the past. All that matters is what good you take out of it. And realistically, without that history some of us might not be here. You can list tons and tons of bad things religion has done. You can list tons and tons of of good things religion has done. But you have to know that as long as there are conflicting views and opposite religions there will always be a never-ending argument (thanks NightShade). So, if you're actually fighting about religion...or what religion is the best...or say, "Oh, I don't appreciate what you say about my religion," or go on any ends to prove your religion is better, you're contributing to that never-ending cycle of argument on which religion is better. That's why I only live out values in religion. Notice how I said in...I don't believe that religion gave us (humans) good values, but good values are found in most religion.
The World will keep spinning and time will keep ticking. Religions do die. According to our calendar, we've been living through 2000 years after Christ right? By the way, I'm trying not to single out any specific religion here. It just so happens that we count our years after Jesus of Nazareth's birth. Yes, he was a real person and it just so happens he is one of the most influential humans in history.
If you believe in natural selection and evolution and that stuff...according to science that has been proven over and over again, humans will evolve. Whether it's 1000 or 10000 years from now, humans will become smarter and live longer. And a religion (not naming any in particular) will either have significantly less followers, or become a dead religion. I'm a firm believer that a god didn't make man. Man made god. Religion didn't make religion. People wrote religion. And it's all based on what people learned. That people actually passed this knowledge down generation to generation. But wait, before you call me names...I can honestly say, almost religions offer great insight to life. Almost all are great ways and guides to live life. Even if a guide was all the wrong ways to live life -- one (good or bad) prevails. I am not a philosophy major or can even sound anything like an expert in philosophy, but according to John Locke, all humans are born clean and pure. I don't want to get into detail on this but I could discuss it with someone later.
So is it safe to say that we are born and nurtured into religion? To Zeld and other fellow Americans...we recite(d) the pledge of allegiance everyday or morning at school or periodically. Observations: "One Nation, Under God," and "In God We Trust" engraved on coins.
Zeld, on the situation being singled out because you aren't Christian...I'm going to have to remind you on what it means to be an American. You live in a free country. You're free to say what (as long as it doesn't violate anyone else's rights) you want, and practice whatever religion you want. This is really cliche in America, but it's fuckin' true. Stand up for what you believe in, and the rest will fall into place.
Take the good knowledge out of whatever religious belief you follow and spread it. Argue it. I believe that in the end, as long as you're doing it with good intentions, all of humankind benefits and we all win. But remember -- you choose to follow your religion and spread its values. No god told you to.
now wher all ma sardomins at
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