Mr. Savage wrote:
I think it is narrow minded that someone leads their life based on what a religion tells him to do and what not.
Guess what ? This is 2008 and dogmatically modelling your life after writings that are over a 1000 years old is not necessary anymore.
Whatever religion is to you, so be it. -- I respect your views, as you seemingly do mine. -- But, your "analysis" is narrow minded; criticizing why one should or shouldn't follow religion?
But, if one's following something because he/she
heavily believes in it and everything surrounding it, then that is his/her choice and we follow what's being told to/for us because they are reasons behind doing and not doing certain things.
Drinking is one of them in my faith, and something I'm not permitted to do, and I'll abide by it till I leave this earth. -- They are good reasons for it, as they are for everything in life.
I don't despise religion at all. I actually think religions nowadays still have a lot of practical things to offer. But on the other hand they also provide a lot stuff that nowadays is just utter Bull****. A lot of BS that does not have any practical value.
You're generalizing religion to vaguely, because everyone that does follow a faith has a very good reason behind it, and use it in their everyday lives; from getting up in the morning all the way to coming back from work or whatever you want to think of. -- Yes, they are some things that don't make sense, but I wouldn't say that it's BS or anything like that. -- You have to understand what's being said and then go on from there.
Imagine if we'd still live in a world dictated by stupid religious based rules like this one. That would be one terrible world.
Dubai and the UAE is in essence,
in a way, following Islamic Law (Shariah) IISC. And, they're one of the most
successful places in the world! -- You consider that backwards, terrible and stupid?

Same with the people that don't drink or don't eat pork.
There is just no practical reason not to drink or eat pork.
YES, there is! -- Look up the reasons before making false claims; it's easily accessible. -- Scientific research says otherwise, specfically about the consumption of pork based products.