religion
Out of context: Reply #2641
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- Chimp9
I really disliked organised religion but after a volunteering trip to Kenya I could see it does have some positives.
We volunteered in a rescue centre for young girls that had been raped, some had HIV, some were mentally disabled and others had children even though they were only 14 years old themselves.
Every night they read parts of the bible and reflected on it. I could see how this gave them something to hold on to and guide them.
I'm still very critical of religion but now my view is more nuanced. Could there be another way of guiding these girls without region? Maybe. Does religion cause massive problems around the world? Yes. But with the little tools the rescue centre had and the local culture it seemed like a net positive. Especially seeing first hand how these girls benefited from it, one girl even went on to be a programmer.
This is a toothbrushing workshop we did with them.
- This is a video of the songs they sang every night after preyers. https://imgur.com/3V…Chimp
- Hitler built hospitals and schools. john wayne gacy entertained children. does it excuse any of the horror they perpetrated?scarabin
- +1 for volunteering though matescarabin
- It was a fantastic experience and really put things in perspective.Chimp
- Funny how the most religious are the biggest enemies and obstacles to underage pregnant women in the US.monospaced
- Faith is a really good way to deal with trauma. I know of people who had their children taken off them as teenagers by the church and put into adoption...PhanLo
- Yeah, the church has done some terrible things. The whole point of this to show another side. And how in this case in Kenya it was a net positive.Chimp
- ...and even though they lost their child for nearly two decades, their faith was unshakeable.PhanLo
- Props on going out there and making a difference to peoples lives.PhanLo
- As I said, I just wanted to show another specific side where I thought it helped, keeping in mind it doesn't erase the other terrible things.Chimp
- My wife's mum fainted at church today. She's only been up here for a year since joining. They were super helpful, called my wife and drove her mum home.PhanLo
- could still do it with out the religion.
+1 for volunteeringpango - In this case the religion helped the girls but in general there should be something better to replace it.Chimp
- Religion (as a community group) provides a lot for many people. Society and most of our ancestors benefited from it, on average.nb
- It gets a bad rap because there are shitty people who exploit it for themselves. But it can be a force for good.nb
- just like so many thing in the world.pango
- +1 for making changekoma_