by Stephanie on Thu Feb 06, 2003 11:29 pm
[s]Al wrote on 23:19, 5th Feb 2003:
If you have a religion and you're partial to it, why would you want to change it?
I stand by my point. Barring religions that require alteration or mutilation to the body for a person to become a convert, it is no more difficult to change religion than hair colour.
[hr][i]"Oh sing sing sing
For the dying of the day
Sing for the flames that will rip through here
And the smoke that will carry us away"
[/i]
You seem to believe that religion is some kind of club one joins. While one might be fond of that club, they can always switch to a different club if they feel like it. To believe that changing religions and dying one's hair take the same energy is ridiculous. For many people their religion is the core of their life philosophy. Because it is at the core of their being, nearly everything they do involves their faith. To state that changing one's hair color and changing one's religion are similar is an insult to all those who have been persecuted and killed because of their belief system. One can change their hair color and still be the same person, as hair is an external trait. Yet, it is impossible to change one's religion and still be the same in personality, as one's beliefs are intrinsic to their very being. This is why people die for their beliefs, because to them it would be impossible to live without their faith. A person's religion cannot be taken away from them. Whereas, anyone can dye their hair at the drop of a hat.