Quote:
Originally Posted by Gozer
Personally (this definition cannot stand up universally) I think the religion derives its legitimacy from the quality of its teachings.
Teaching you to love your brother, be kind to others...etc denotes legitimacy.
Teaching hatred and intolerance does not.
Thus Trekkies and Jedi are more legit in my eyes than hardcore Nazism or Islamofascism (Islam and the teachings of the Koran, from what I understand, do not have the same violent leanings).
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It's an interesting criteria but immediately I wonder about religions that teach love and kindness but it's followers are known to skew the teachings to suit their own intolerant feelings. I would say Christianity is at it's heart a belief system built on love and compassion yet it's not hard to find followers of Christianity that have extremely intolerant attitudes. Many people that fall into this category have destroyed my view of Christianity.