I stumble across a instagram post recently which stirred some emotions in me. This is so baffling and tragic. >> Link <<

Warning: The following image is not for the faint hearted. View at your own risk. But I'll paste the description the post has. It describes the image too.

And that's one reason why I do not follow any of the "big" religions. They all scare me for one reason or another.

What makes me wonder though is that the post only talks about women and children...?

Extremist Buddhists. Never knew such a thing existed. Just goes to show that anyone can label themselves religious and not adhere to what their teachers say.

Not that I agree with "non-harmful" actions in every case, because I do believe in capital punishment and justice (like YHWH defines). So for instance, someone sheds innocent blood, thus making them a murderer, and justice requires the murderer die if it was pre-meditated malice i.e. Numbers 35:20-21, and there's no chance of rehabilitation e.g. unlike apostle Paul, who was saved by Jesus, and his sentiments changed entirely i.e. Acts 9).

After a careful investigation, if two to three witnesses can confirm the alleged murderer committed the crime, and they're truthful witnesses, then the murderer should be eliminated. And if the witnesses were false, they get eliminated instead (i.e. Deuteronomy 19:18-19). Fair. No playing around when accusing people of committing crimes because the consequences are dire. And murderers eliminated from society (either through their death or rehabilitation).

"Harmful" actions are sometimes required to deal with a necessary evil and save the group at large. So, I'm not a Buddhist. I'm a Christian/Israelite/worshiper of YHWH. His ways are the perfect balance of justice and mercy. Problem is, those laws can't be in effect in a country that hasn't agreed to submit to him or has abandoned him. Watch capital punishment stop happening in the USA one day. They've already started denying His laws, even the Christians themselves.

But my point: religious people do not always adhere to what their religion teaches. It's getting pretty trendy nowadays. Don't fear them, learn what their holy texts say so you can differentiate between the fakes and the truthful ones (the ones who are accurate representations of their faith and the ones who are not). It's not difficult to understand the bible once you know the Laws YHWH gave to Moses.

As it relates to the groups mentioned in this instagram post, really, their meddling around in other spiritual disciplines is a waste of their time because they can never rid the sinful desires of the flesh (the hatred and rage our human nature has against others, that is akin to murdering them in our hearts [it's the same sentiment a murderer has while literally shedding a person's blood]; or the lusting after people we're not married to, akin to cheating on our spouse in our hearts and/or whoring around), thus we need to be born-again and this flesh dominated by the Holy Spirit. That's only promised by Jesus Christ. I mean no disrespect by saying this, but they're wasting their time following regimented, ascetic lives when their emotions and desires, in the inner-man, are still rage-filled and out of control, whether in extremist moments like these, our out of annoyance when we react to the common people around us.

Matthew 5:22 (NIV)

22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister[a][b] will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’[c] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Footnotes:

a. Matthew 5:22 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a fellow disciple, whether man or woman; also in verse 23. b. Matthew 5:22 Some manuscripts brother or sister without cause c. Matthew 5:22 An Aramaic term of contempt

We all need Jesus.

Galatians 5:19-25 (NIV)

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Yeah, it's not really surprising, but it is sad.

Myanmar has been hosting a genocide for quite some time now, and the government either ignores it or assists and often isolate the minority in camps, even during the time that US President Obama went in person to congratulate Myanmar on its fine democracy.

The refugee (not "migrant") crisis is finally receiving some attention, at least, even if the genocide is still going largely unacknowledged.

Wait wait wait...Buddhists murdered them?! I thought..Buddhists..were all about 'live and let live'. superconfusedface

But whoever did it, it's just...sickening. Disgusting. Inhuman. I can't think of a word bad enough. Can't we all just agree to disagree and go about our lives? Why do we have to fight and murder over religion? It's ridiculous. Let whoever believe whatever they want, so long as they don't act in a way that hurts someone else.

Extremist Buddhists? That sounds like an oxymoron.

This is really sad. This is why I hate religion.

I think part of the disbelief here is why it has been examined so little. People are more concerned with the stereotypes, than what really is...

This is very sad indeed, and very confusing too. It certainly goes against every piece of Buddhist wisdom I was taught. I wish I could understand what aspect of their faith allowed them the cognitive dissonance to commit and justify these brutal acts. I suppose we must remember that it is not an isolated case, and that Islam, Christianity, and any number of other peaceful, loving faiths and philosophies; have had atrocities committed under their banner. I suppose that even Buddhist faith does little good as a preventative against the awful nature of humans. EDIT: the best we can do is not allow these acts to hide under religion. Religious extremists who hurt other people are just bad people looking for an excuse to justify their behaviour and give them glory while they fulfill their own selfish, violent desires. I guess what I'm trying to say is, religion doesn't kill people. People kill people. And hiding under religion in this way is disgustingly cowardly.

I confess I find this extremely confusing. I'm Christian, but I've always had great respect for the Buddhist philosophy. The thought of Extremist Buddhists who kill is...mind-boggling.