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As Dr. Margret Thaler Singer points out in her research, Cults ( thought cohesion groups) rely on this ambiguios umbrella of" religious tolerance".

I will look up a few articles from her.

My opinion. Religious people follow a divine intervention after death. So many people follow the best way to get to whatever they think they are going. If you analyze religion, there are not a "bad" religion. The problem arise when people try to induct others to their believe. Now, for me Cults are not religious, reason, they don't follow an entity like a god or a interventionist after death. Most of the Cult that I do know, use their power to oppress their follower. That can be done through a major brain wash. Always there is the benefit of the creator, can be for money, sexual or just pure power.

This is a very touchy subject (as not all will agree). Personally, if it's within the limits of the law and no one is being abused (anything against their will) in any way, all religions should be respected.

Yes Mark, and that is why I stated it as I did.

To often I see people ( believers) expound on some proclaimed experience
to nonbelievers ( skeptics) only to be hear " I would question that experience." The believer then screams persacution.

Experiences, are not a tenet of belief, even believers are leery of claimed experiences. The person is thus claiming convction by observation, the senses can be fooled. Cults use such fabricated experiences, and interpretation of mundane physiological occurances to persuad, and suduce
seekers.

I find better company with friends who limit their spiritual communion to
times when they are in ( as even the Bible states) " The company of three, or more."

Being confrontational, and blunt with ones belief is socially offensive, weather political, philosophical, or religious. To blurt out an affront, and then
pull the " Religious immunity card" is rather old hat.

When individuals personally ammend established faiths to cater to their pet beliefs, and to better graft to other established practices, it becomes suspect
intention wise, as this even sparks debate from fellow believers.

Concerning this subject I really think Napoleon said it best *people can live without God but not without religion* He meant that a 'real' god isn't nessesary but rules of worship are. He said this after the fall of the monarchy and beeing witness to the killing of priest and burning of churchs.

So all religions should be equal within a legal context. Now their "devine context" can be whatever, since it all comes down to faith for every religion. And for an outsider it is easy to ridiculize this divine context. I saw once a small child get in so much trouble from his parents when told the story of Noah and his ark.

The child (using his child logic) simply asked ' what about the ducks, they float'.

My point is that all religions are equal when it comes to being subject of mockery. However all religions should be equal when it comes to their responsobility to society.

It's subjective. You could say 'yes', they are equal, according to law- but in your heart believe 'no'- and believe it because you're being loyal to your chosen path.

It depends on what your belief is. Some spiritual paths put a focus on equality, but that is rare on the grand scale of religions.

All religions should be disbanded. faith I have no problem with.. but on the whole religious zealots and bigots bring our society naught but ill.

Yes, I do believe all religions should be the subject of ridicule and condemnation.

Furthermore, I'd like someone to explain why we can all roll our eyes at those Watchtower people who come knocking at our doors, but no one raises an eyebrow with the Mormons.

Personally, some days I really enjoy a good watchtower conversation. Their excitement over a potential recruit is invigorating, even while I'm trying to figure out how to get closure w/o hurting their feelings.

Most are equal in a sence that people like to make money off of worship.
Gods don't need money.Faith needs no money.
Humans..but some other being need to think that
there is a reason for 'being'.Like a higher level creature
that made everything.
I don't know why.

Yes, I defend Christianity and Satanism alike. You have to carefully craft your words... "in my opinion" "I believe that", not make statements that flat out say a certain group of people are definitely *insert whatever negative things you think about them here* for believing what they believe.

You can say things like, "I don't believe in this because in my opinion 'such and such' doesn't work for me."

There is a way to communicate in this forum. And I have never seen anyone post threads here trying to defend rapes, sexual abuse, or mutilation in reference to a religion.

It's really simple 'use your brain' and be tactful kind of stuff here. If you have a hard time with that regarding spiritual beliefs, you'll have a hard time in this forum.

Religion itself is quite a complicated thing, since most religions plagurise one another and are taken from one anothers philosophies and or integrated to create their own religious idealisms... Virtually based off of other religious idealisms.

In my research I had come to the conclusion long ago that all religions are virtually the same, save for a select few that I will not name here. If the individual were intelligent enough and had done their research they would know which select few I were talking about.

As for religion being equal, I think I about summed it up here. Since most religions are virtually plagurised between one another then I would say that yes, those religions would be equal in each other.

Now as far as harm to others, certain religions would not be equal in the aspect of respect... Mayhaps ridicule, but this would be individual choice on how to judge them. If the religious fanatics saught out the "darker" religions just for the sake of ridicule in the name of their religion, then they would in turn be humiliated and ridiculed for persecuting said "darker" religions and would be deemed hypocritic based upon their beliefs of "judge not."

All in all, it may just end up on a "personal choice" level of judgement. That is unless it were in the "name of" said religion. Then it would be an entirely differant matter.

No, I don't think that all religions are viewed as being equal. I suppose though, some of the things you mention are often more likely to be part of a small religious cult rather than a large mainstream religion. Beliefs and practices in religions have of course changed alot over the centuries, as everything does.
It is my personal belief that religion itself is all utter tripe, but people who are religious do not see eachother as equals. There is alot of hostility, and people are not willing to accept other religions into their community, country, or even world.
For example, it is fine for Muslims to come to Britain, America etc and build mosques to worship in. We accept them. However, how many Christian churches are there in the middle east, hmm?
The ridicule and disrespect can do one way but not the other.
I don't think that it is right to ridicule another for anything, but if there is something seriously wrong with what they are doing, or they have outlandish beliefs that will harm others, then something should be said or done. Often people just use religion as an excuse to rape, murder, molest etc.

No not all religions are equal.

Individuality, Intent, Personal Beliefs, Religious (forced) beliefs, and natural needs and desires, practices, philosophies, ideologies - all need to be contemplated before anything is thought to be equal.

But be careful what you wish for.

Not all the religions are the same, but at the end they all lead to one or more superbeings. They only have a different name.

As most religions do say all paths lead to Deity.

When some members present their beliefs here on VR there is an air of adaptation, almost secularism, of religions.

A very common behaviour of people who are social butterflies.

They want both believers, and skeptics to resign to " Unknowism".

Religious tenent are respected here, it is the piety that gets targeted for ridicule, and that is by both more othodox members, and skeptics alike.

It just becomes a matter of pushing the envelope to spark debate, usually allowing the believer to proclaim persacution.. while indifference is not equal to " bashing".

If I had a nickle for every believer that defaults to " Your just closed minded", something they say to everyone who points out the inconsistancy
in testimony of " near devine experiences". Piety has no place, in religion, or
reality.

On Vr I think all facts of religions based should be considered equal in nature and thought, for each holds the beliefs that help with their lifes and such ridicule can harm those. yet we say that belief can be blind yet opionions are just opinions is all. I take no offense of others beleifs and do not accept others pointless statements towards mine.

Any religious sector that deliberatly engages or causes physical, emotional or mental harm towards another person, for most children; should not be treated equal and should be abolished as well as held accountable for their actions.
Those that participate as willing consenting adults at free will, should have equal rights of religious beliefs.

Right to assemble is often taken for granted as an umbrella by religions.

Practice, and belief being the key discerning factors.

Even other believers tire of piety.

Those who blurt out contradictions, and pet ammendments to established beliefs often retreat to the very" pews" of the faith they are likely to be suspected of being heritic to, one can only take so many liberties with a belief..

So here at the rave, people claim to be Christian Satanist.. so is it not suspect that they will be questioned? Questions that will incite the cliché, " Thats what I believe.

Religion becomes a convient pretense for " you have to except me."

Religion is based on the faith of an individual and does not need to be accepted by others who beliefs vary from theirs. All beliefs are crucial to the culture and community. it is what makes us uniquie in this diverse world.

I do not use faith to have someone accept me, but as a guide in my life is all.

All religions are equally stripped, and adapted to worthless here on VR.

We have many " DIY" believers, believers who just want to be accepted as " High Exaulted". They are not interested in what others believe, but what others think about their beliefs, some even confront the sensible devotes believers.

Let's try to not turn this into a bashing of Vampire Rave. Let's just steer away from that right now, or this thread will be closed, because it will serve no purpose but that of trying to perpetuate site negativity.

Dabbler, you can message me personally if you have a question about it.

No. I do not believe that all religions are equal. Furthermore, I do not believe in egalitarianism in any experiential sense. Not even death provides such personal equality, as once you are dead, you are now worth less than the living, in any case. It is not a secret in this place that I advocate against repressive religious paths, and I do include Christianity among them. I also recognize, however, that what works for me might not be so well suited to anyone else, much less everyone else.

In the Terms of Service all users accept the fact that they "..may be exposed to Content that is offensive, indecent or objectionable."

It is also stated immediately after that all users agree not to use the service in a manner deemed in .."VampireRave.com's opinion to be unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortious, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous....hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable..."

That first bit is crucial. The opinion of VampireRave.com, and thus that of it's owner, Cancer, is the only deciding factor. That in mind, all policies and rules stated elsewhere are extensions of, and are enforced by, the TOS. The Forum Guidelines given in the VR Manual fulfill this relevant function quite well. There is no democratic process here. All users, paid or not, Whelp or Master Vampire, are merely guests, and should act accordingly. I would hope that members should be in agreement that ridicule, which is different from criticism, should not be allowed in the public area of the site. People are allowed a voice, for good or ill, but when staying somewhere at the grace of another, it is best to respect their rules.

The best place for opinions which might awesomely offend someone is in a journal, not pressed into someone's face in the town square. Though you have been careful to state that you are not debating the rule, the posts motives are questionable, as it does indirectly debate the rule, and I'm afraid my dancing shoes are worn out. The Dominars and other Administrators with editing access to the forums should be contacted if someone feels that a post violates to Terms of Service. The Terms themselves, however, are beyond questioning. Rules are rules.

I am closing this now because I do not believe it has the potential to do anything but degenerate. And since the poster was so kind as to refine his question so that it only related to matters concerning Vampire Rave, it has no reply value as the question has been adequately addressed. In summary, it's a dead end.

- D