Does the French ban on face veils raise larger questions about the unreasonable demands of organized religion?

I grew up with friends from several faiths. I learned a lot about Mormon beliefs and many other religions. I educated myself, read books, went to everything from Krishna, chanting and dancing; Catholic, ended up being told I should go up for communion, was told to push the wafer to the roof of my mouth and spent the rest of the service trying to pry it off with my tongue; Lutheran, Buddhism, Methodist, you name it.

I ended up being very discouraged and confused myself. But eventually, I realized that my relationship with God, was exactly that, MINE, between God and myself. I have adopted beliefs from many religions, the idea that Family is a priority, that a congregation should ban together to help those who need it.

In the ward near me, many families lost homes, but the church made sure they didn't become homeless. Buddhism teaches you to live in the moment, that all sorrow or pain or anger comes from being to attached to irrelevant or temporary things and or people. I refuse to believe in a God that punishes his children because of who they love, and rewards the idiots who stand outside courthouses where gay and lesbians are married only scream words of anger, hate and tell them they are going to hell.

God is about love. Forgiveness, Service, Kindness and Peace. Find a group of people who make you feel comfortable with and can learn without fear of judgment.

Relax, pray and remember, the minute you have the expectation that everyone (or any particular) person is going to think, act or do things like you would, is the day you start building a life based on resentments. Be accountable for you and only you, in spite of what others do. Eventually the light will come one and you'll know what beliefs are right for you.

God Bless.

It's exasperating when people ask complete strangers, "Why does this cheese me off / make me angry etc" You are the only person who knows why! And then you proceed to answer your own question! Next time you want to ruminate upon yourself in public, at least have the consideration to ask, "Would you agree with my reasons for.....?" Then we can actually answer your question with a Yes or a No.

Yes, lots of people will feel the same as you do. Either for the same or similar or totally different reasons. But this site is not for people having a mutual back-slapping exercise.

It's for asking questions that the rest of us can answer, so that the asker is helped to understand a matter better. Have another go and ask a proper question, please!

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.