The influence of religion in my country

[Ari HR]

Comrades, sorry if my english isn't perfect but in my country, Croatia, we learn it only in school. I want to tell you about how Church in my country holds a giant influence. It is generaly in service of a wealthy upper class and rigid right-wing politicians. It is also slowing the improvent of my country and it's cooperation with the rest of Europe. I would be very glad to hear what do YOU think about it.

[suffianr]

I don't really think I know enough about what's happeneing in Croatia to say anything credible. Why don't you tell us more? :)

[Ari HR]

I will gladly tell you more. My country is now trying to join the EU. To do that my country neeeds to asociate with tribunal in Haag. However the situation in my country is very tense. Some extremly right-wing politicians are threatening with the civil war if anyone tries to capture an old general who fought and commited crimes in the last war. they have barricaded his house (better to say a castle) and the goverent is to weak "fight back". This is not a good example beacouse the Vatikan (i'm not sure I spelt correctly but that is the little country where the head of Catolic Church is stationed) already warned them becouse they are always meddling in politics. A better example is last election when they actively supported and even TOLD people to vote for right wingers.

[hawarameen]

first of all your english is very good indeed, better than many others posting here.

secondly i have always thought that all religion be it the cristianity, islam judaism is corrupt.

religion is like a multi national corporation trying to win votes, trying to make themselve look more worshipable

[Navid Communist]

yeah your english is good.

I read lite about that for a time ago. The People must stand up and fight down the right-wingers with help of the goverment. The Pope is a fag, no offence

[ratm545]

i dont think all religion is corrupt, yes every religion has people in it that are corrupt. but the heart of it, what it's meant to be and used for are pure and very good hearted.

anything can look bad because of corruption, but you have to look deeper

[Blasphemy]

i don't think religon itself is corrupt, i think it's the religous leaders.

in israel, for example, we are heading towards the elections now. the spiritual leader of the sepharadic religous party, ovadia yosef, said that every person who votes for his party will go to heaven. this is a coarse abuse of his power as a well known rabbi to make people vote for his party. sickening...

[Guardia Bolivariano]

No religion is corrupt or evil,only the people that interpret It.

(Edited by Guardia Bolivariano at 7:11 pm on Nov. 17, 2002)

[Partizan]

Hello zemljak!! i'm from bosnia but i feel as yugoslavian( but it doesn't matter now)
i think that the influence of catolic church has increased since the independence of croatia, the same as ortodox church has more influence in serbia and islam for muslim bosnians...
after a war that is what usually happen...

sorry for my VERY bad english :)

[Floyd.]

I would agree with your statement with perhaps the right-wing part could be a slight exaggeration. With the fall of the Communist empire their was a ripple effect felt throughout the world and yes especially in Croatia. The problem is that the Church acts as a governing body over the people and induces guilt through morals and sin. Also a lot of mis-truths are taught by the church and it still has a heavy if not dominant influence on the peoples lives and the politicians decisions. The impact this has on the Children are evident in the USSR leg of the documentary "Seven Up" once the children have reached 14. Take note of a girl called Olga, this is the damage of the church.

(Edited by Comrade La Vista at 11:26 pm on Nov. 17, 2002)

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

You do not seem like a very religious person so I will speak my mind, If you are, please do take this in an offensive manner.
Religion is a tool of repression, sexual and social. It is normaly manipulated by corrupt peoples so I can see how the right wing of Croatia would benefit from some aspects of Religion. I can also see how it would bruise the realtionship with the rest of the ever-changing nations of Europe which are no longer controled by christian doctrine. I feel that this is likely to change soon, yet is a negative asset to your country.

[IRANeAZAD5]

brother never let religious leaders gain power in your country

[Sinistra]

Victorcommie .

i would like to say to you that relegion is not any kind of toll ...etc . relegion is a way of live , like commonism . like socialism , fascism ... .
second of all , i would say that the curption in relegion , is not the relegion it self , but the leader of the relegion .

p.s : croatian boy , your english is excelent .

[hawarameen]

religions follow the same slogan of "worship my god and you will go to heaven" this is no different from vote for me and you will go to heaven, the fact that this promise was made 2000 years ago or 2 years ago is irrelevant.
religion is corrupt from the outset, heathens, blasphemers will all go to hell there is no two ways about it. if god is all mighty why are people making decisions for him on earth condemning others to hell before so called jugdment day.
what makes a christian or a jehovas witness try so hard in converting others to their faith, FEAR, fear that if they do not try and spread the word of their god they too will go to hell. what does anybody care that i dont believe in jehova or god or allah.

[Ari HR]

Thank you for your opinions, comrades!
I appreciate that someone has listened to what I had to say. You are a true community and I am proud to be a part of it!

[Floyd.]

I was raised in the different factions of Christianity so I could "make up" my mind as to "which one to join" according to my mother. It is knowledge and the ability to learn that has allowed me to turn my back on religion altogether. I believe so strongly in my atheism that if there is a god I hope I go to hell. Christianity is the only religion I know of that does not work on a reward scheme but one of threat. If you do not do certain things it is not a case of missing out but being punished for inaction. I proudly turn my back.

[RedLight]

Hi Aki! I'm from Croatia too.

Church in our country has strong influence. A priest Z.S., who has stigmas and can heal (??), has great influence on people and during masses he used to preach who to vote for.

Singer M.P.-T., right-winger. His songs are all about war (which finished 7-8 yrs ago) and r-w politics. He had 3 concerts last month with 40000 people each. He wears crosses, dresses in black and promotes black legion and ustase (croatian fascists). The worse thing is that he has influence on young people. For exemple, my neighbour (13 years old) came home from school with his friends and asked his mum: 'Am I ustasa?? They say that I'm not, but I am... Am I??'

They maybe have strong influence, but lately some good things happened too. November 9th, there was protest against fascism. Less then 1000 people came. Not much, but still, it's a start.

[Ari HR]

I guess you are right, comraade RedLight. Sadly, most of our people don't see how difficult the situation in our country realy is.