Society & Politics

Defending your religion


Defending your religion



Can I share an insight that I had today? I was reading Nicoletto Giganti’s “The School of the Sword” translated by Aaron Taylor Miedema. Yes I read combat manuals while taking the bus to work, doesn’t everyone? Anyway I came across this quote: “…the obligation of anyone who practices, is to be served on four occasions. Firstly, for the faith. Secondly, for country. Thirdly, for the defense of oneself. Finally, for the maintenance of honour.”


And first it stuck me how different this was from the rules of engagement I was taught nearly 38 years ago in my first Karate class. This is from memory, and it is as I understand it today:


First is defense of yourself, second is to defend someone unable to defend themselves, third is to defend your land, property, country or Dojo, and lastly is for honor (this includes the right to fight in tournament, etc.)


And the difference is the right to fight for religion. To defend your faith. And this has got me thinking, is defense of religion moral? This is so timely with ISIS and its ilk trying so hard to convert by the sword. Throughout history there have been many attempts to convert people by force, and often people of many faiths have chosen to die rather than convert, also virtually every faith has at one time of other tried to convert others through violence or threat of violence. some religious wars


I am a practicing pagan in America, we have a sacred grove we are building in our back yard. If the local Jews, Christians, or Muslims (all three have edicts to destroy pagan temples as an example) come to burn out our religious grounds do I have the right to defend it? I think I do. What do you think, especially you who are atheist. Do I have the right to defend, with steel, my beliefs?


Defending your religion


Defending your religion
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