| A veil hides something. When something is hidden, we | | | | the divorce rate in America is highest in the most |
| can't see what it is or what it stands for. Therefore, | | | | religious areas, for instance in the Bible Belt, |
| when something is represented for something that it | | | | compared to the northeast. |
| is not (and many times is opposite of what it | | | | It is self evident that divorce almost always breeds |
| represents), then we can say that it is veiled; it's real | | | | hatred. If you have ever gone through one you will |
| nature is hidden. Religion, marriage and nationalism are | | | | understand. That means that about 49 out of 100 |
| represented as good, wholesome values. But is this | | | | marriages in America have bred hatred, not counting |
| actually true? | | | | the marriages still intact where people just can't |
| Isn't it the norm for an extremist religious person to | | | | stand each other but put up with it for one reason |
| be hateful towards those who don't believe, or | | | | or another. |
| believe differently? And that being the case, isn't it | | | | And similar to Religion and marriage, mention |
| normal for these people to then lack the capacity for | | | | nationalism and emotions immediately heat up. And |
| forgiveness, even though the veil of religion says | | | | this is the problem; emotions replace intelligence. |
| otherwise? | | | | Nationalism, per se, - that possessive feeling of "my" |
| And if we are hateful, unforgiving, doesn't that mean | | | | country - is all about feeling and never about |
| that we have no capacity for love, compassion, | | | | common sense. Discussing governmental policies or |
| gentleness, kindness and happiness towards others, | | | | what we should do as people living under certain |
| even though the veil of religion says otherwise? And | | | | customs, laws, traditions and mores is one thing, but |
| if this is the case, wouldn't one conclude that this | | | | to worship a symbol, be it some cloth that we have |
| kind of religion, which I posit is the predominate kind | | | | idolized as a flag, or an iconic image in our minds, |
| in America, be false and harmful to society? | | | | leads to emotional reaction, and emotional reaction |
| If religion, instead of making a person humble, | | | | always leads to actions that are fragmented and |
| accepting, kind and generous; makes one haughty, | | | | incomplete because emotion takes over when |
| conceited, all-knowing and controlling, what have we | | | | intelligence is exhausted. |
| as a society gained by religion? And what has those | | | | When we zealously, out of fear, advise a youngster |
| that are religious gained when they are veiled from | | | | to go and fight for his country, we are appealing to |
| their true actions and just kidding themselves? They | | | | his or her emotions so that they don't pause for a |
| have certainly not gained heaven or anything close to | | | | moment to consider all the political and economic |
| heaven, and maybe even gained hell. | | | | ramifications involved. This is justified if an enemy is |
| Religion is connected to marriage because marriage | | | | on our doorstep, but if the conflict is politically or |
| involves certain ideals such as love, truthfulness, | | | | idealistically generated, if the nationalism is just a ploy |
| fidelity, trust, and commitment. How many people | | | | to keep people confused and ignorant about the |
| can truthfully say that they are up to this? Maybe, | | | | economic unfairness and class injustices, then |
| like our respective religions, we live the ideals in our | | | | underneath all of the political manipulation of the |
| minds but when it comes right down to it, when the | | | | innocent in the name of nationalism is hatefulness and |
| rubber meets the road in a long and close relationship, | | | | fear, which is a veil of hatred. |
| things can and usually do change. The divorce rate in | | | | These three veils have caused humankind untold |
| America which is 78% Christian is 49 out of 100 | | | | heartaches, yet they project themselves in deluded |
| marriages. In Thailand, which is 93% Buddhist, the | | | | minds as iconic standard-bearers of all that we hold |
| divorce rate is 6 out of 100 marriages; the difference | | | | precious. Is it time to wake up to real human values |
| most certainly being how each country understands | | | | instead of veiled icons? Or will we remain asleep |
| its religious ideals, and actually practices them. Also, | | | | forever? |