When I was living in Malaysia, we would frequently go to Thailand to visit - several times a year. We'd stay in a hotel in Hatyai and, about the time mentioned this article, our hotel was bombed (fortunately, about 3 weeks after we left for the last visit). We never went back because of the violence that was not only endangering both nations, but also the entire area, both nations, both religions and both governments (Malaysia and Thailand - both Islam and Buddhism), both of which are still suffering (at least, in this area). The odd thing is, most people believe Buddhism is peaceful - much like they do Christianity (or used to). What I see, myself, is that there is a very dangerous parallel between the way Christians in America act and Buddhists in Southern Thailand act - in many cases, placing their religions before peace, compassion, the well-being of all humans and other pious graces which should be prevalent throughout all divine spiritual beliefs and attempting to defend them with great violence and threat of force, rather than attempting to peacefully find a solution. In this manner, they no longer become religions, but armies, warriors, terrorists and criminals. Because there is little or no difference between these allegedly faithful followers (and the same discord is apparent in many other religions, such as Judaism and so on), many others and I have long doubted the intentions of those who claim to be good, religious and/or spiritual people. What I believe is that people should get their priorities straight and picture their faith as an umbrella under which all other things are protected - by divine virtue of their religion and each one's devotion to its tenets and guidelines...rather than using nationalism, race, culture, politics, economics and other things (which vary by region) to defend their faiths at all costs - even the cost of other human lives. In this case, the umbrella under which all other things, including their faith (coming in second to the other things, thereby, putting it at risk of corruption) is where their religions are placed. When this is done, religion appears to be little more than an indefensible, unassailable 'shield' from which to wage political, economic, social and cultural warfare. I believe it is either this failure of priority...or a failure of each faith's followers' obedience to the guidance of that faith that has corrupted so many principles of various religions and turned them into tools that are used to manipulate people politically, nationally, culturally and racially. Whatever the reason, I am fairly sure it will destroy each religion through corruption and inability of those who subscribe to them by destroying their faiths from the inside out (and, in fact, has been doing so for a long time). In other words, I don't think it is others who have put religions at risk as much as those who belong to these beliefs failing to display their faiths in a positive light and destroying them from within. There is no future in that. Either it is done right, or it is not done at all. People are very alert to hypocrites and those who claim to belong to a faith but who do not aspire to follow its guidelines. In such cases, religion becomes an ever-expanding dichotomy. And this is where we are today. There are religious faithful who are often thought of as 'ridiculous' by those who are not, even if they are devout...there are 'religious people' who clearly do not follow their faiths and use it as a tool to grant them acceptance in society...and there are people who do not believe - of many versions, from anarchists and Atheists (many of whom are a result of the failure of religion to provide reason and a pious example)...and scientific-minded people who realize that virtue is attainable without guidance from a church, faith or other 'ruling class or authoritarian belief'. If the faithful want the rest of those people to accept them, they should probably do a better job of promoting virtue, rather than defending opinion at all costs...and base their faith on something substantial and realistic, rather than providing poor examples while defending themselves with what appear to be fantastic stories that, it seems, they don't even believe themselves. I am not demeaning or diminishing anyone's beliefs. I am just offering some well-contemplated experience and insight, for those who may want to look at this tangled mess of a world from another angle... And, for the record, I am more inclined to trust Buddhism than any other faith, if I did have to choose (which I don't), since it is all about self-empowerment and is not an authoritative framework for those who are unable to manage deep thought and self-discipline. But, to be fair and honest, I had to post this article. My religion is 'truth'. ^_^

When I was living in Malaysia, we would frequently go to Thailand to visit - several times a year. We'd stay in a hotel in Hatyai and, about the time mentioned this article, our hotel was bombed (fortunately, about 3 weeks after we left for the last visit). We never went back because of the violence that was not only endangering both nations, but also the entire area, both nations, both religions and both governments (Malaysia and Thailand - both Islam and Buddhism), both of which are still suffering (at least, in this area). The odd thing is, most people believe Buddhism is peaceful - much like they do Christianity (or used to). What I see, myself, is that there is a very dangerous parallel between the way Christians in America act and Buddhists in Southern Thailand act - in many cases, placing their religions before peace, compassion, the well-being of all humans and other pious graces which should be prevalent throughout all divine spiritual beliefs and attempting to defend them with great violence and threat of force, rather than attempting to peacefully find a solution. In this manner, they no longer become religions, but armies, warriors, terrorists and criminals. Because there is little or no difference between these allegedly faithful followers (and the same discord is apparent in many other religions, such as Judaism and so on), many others and I have long doubted the intentions of those who claim to be good, religious and/or spiritual people. What I believe is that people should get their priorities straight and picture their faith as an umbrella under which all other things are protected - by divine virtue of their religion and each one's devotion to its tenets and guidelines...rather than using nationalism, race, culture, politics, economics and other things (which vary by region) to defend their faiths at all costs - even the cost of other human lives. In this case, the umbrella under which all other things, including their faith (coming in second to the other things, thereby, putting it at risk of corruption) is where their religions are placed. When this is done, religion appears to be little more than an indefensible, unassailable 'shield' from which to wage political, economic, social and cultural warfare. I believe it is either this failure of priority...or a failure of each faith's followers' obedience to the guidance of that faith that has corrupted so many principles of various religions and turned them into tools that are used to manipulate people politically, nationally, culturally and racially. Whatever the reason, I am fairly sure it will destroy each religion through corruption and inability of those who subscribe to them by destroying their faiths from the inside out (and, in fact, has been doing so for a long time). In other words, I don't think it is others who have put religions at risk as much as those who belong to these beliefs failing to display their faiths in a positive light and destroying them from within. There is no future in that. Either it is done right, or it is not done at all. People are very alert to hypocrites and those who claim to belong to a faith but who do not aspire to follow its guidelines. In such cases, religion becomes an ever-expanding dichotomy. And this is where we are today. There are religious faithful who are often thought of as 'ridiculous' by those who are not, even if they are devout...there are 'religious people' who clearly do not follow their faiths and use it as a tool to grant them acceptance in society...and there are people who do not believe - of many versions, from anarchists and Atheists (many of whom are a result of the failure of religion to provide reason and a pious example)...and scientific-minded people who realize that virtue is attainable without guidance from a church, faith or other 'ruling class or authoritarian belief'. If the faithful want the rest of those people to accept them, they should probably do a better job of promoting virtue, rather than defending opinion at all costs...and base their faith on something substantial and realistic, rather than providing poor examples while defending themselves with what appear to be fantastic stories that, it seems, they don't even believe themselves. I am not demeaning or diminishing anyone's beliefs. I am just offering some well-contemplated experience and insight, for those who may want to look at this tangled mess of a world from another angle... And, for the record, I am more inclined to trust Buddhism than any other faith, if I did have to choose (which I don't), since it is all about self-empowerment and is not an authoritative framework for those who are unable to manage deep thought and self-discipline. But, to be fair and honest, I had to post this article. My religion is 'truth'. ^_^ - Westerners think that Buddhism is about peace and non-violence. So how come Buddhist monks are in arms against Islam?