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   %RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE TEACH DOGMA SCRIPTURE FRUITS 930605

     We  may  know  whether or  not  religious  doctrines,
teachings,   dogma  and/or scriptures  merit  respect  and
support  by  observing whether or not they bear  sweat  or
bitter fruit.  As regards religious doctrines,  teachings,
dogma,  and/or scriptures;  do a large proportion   of the
people who  earnestly affirm, support and respect them:

     1.  Use  them  to  justify  many deliberate  acts  of
violence which lead to  easily  anticipated  personal  and
communal disintegration.

     2.  Pervert them to use them in the dishonest service
of  collusive games of mutual self deception,   addictions
and supportive codependent patterns of behavior.

     3.  Act  in ways which are obviously contrary to  the
spirit of them,  and engage in elaborate  rationalizations
of   their  contrary  behaviors  and  the   disintegrative
consequences which flow from them.

     4.  Show little  concern  for the  evils of  personal
rejections,   shunnings,   excommunications,  banishments,
alienation,    estrangement,   misunderstanding  and   the
associated disintegrations of persons and communities.

     5.  Take  alienative  pride  in their own  excellence
compared  to  those other people who do not  as  earnestly
affirm,   support  and  respect  the  "proper"   religious
doctrines, dogmas, teachings and scriptures.

     6.  Seek  personal perfection in their support of the
religious doctrines,  dogmas,  teachings and scriptures at
the   price  of  the  disintegration  of  their   personal
relationships with those people who do not support them.

     7.  Try  to fix,  control,  manage or otherwise  take
charge  of certain aspects of  the  lives of people who do
not   respect   and  support  the   particular   religious
doctrines, dogmas, teachings and scriptures.

     8.  Worship  them as having ultimate value and  merit
regardless  of  the  disintegrative human  costs  of  that
worship.

     9.  Refuse to participate in open and honest dialogue
with  people who do not support or  respect  the religious
doctrines, dogmas, teachings and scriptures.

     10.  Actively  promote   the use of dishonesty, fear,
shame,  guilt, confusion,  humiliation and low self esteem
as tools useful in the manipulation of other people.

     Religious doctrines, teachings, dogmas and scriptures
which lead people into  disintegrative  attitudes, thought
patterns,  decisions,  and actions---bear bitter fruit and
do not merit respect, support or worship.

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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