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I was watching a show about the people of Haiti, in particular a mother and her two daughters. They were on the brink of starvation. The fact that the mother was constantly praying to god for deliverance for her children made me sad but I really couldn’t blame her , what else does she have , I asked my self.

Outsideit67 7 Apr 8
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It's a powerful fantasy for sure. It's Disney-like in the thinking. Wouldn't it be incredible if we all had a fairy godmother that was looking after us and as long as we lived up to expectations, everything would be taken care of and we could live happily ever after... The idea of god is just that on an incredibly grander scale... And when all else seems lost, what else do these people have to cling to for hope?
I read a really interesting blog about who poor people smoke years ago that aptly pointed out the fact that when you have something that (in your mind) relaxes you, or helps you to feel better, even if only for a second, it's better than the alternative... I feel religion offers similar spikes in hope.

Absolutely, hope is a powerful energy , thought or driving force . I have seen how this particular mentation has sparked me on as I have encountered tough experiences in my life .it is sad thing but I have delved a little bit into the history of Haiti and it has the characteristics of a typical colonized people where the majority of the indigenous people are all but wiped out , mixed in with those who conquered them and other group(s) of people. Re- li - on is exactly what it is cut out to be . Causing on to look outside of self for answers

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I just don't get why they don't understand that the same god put them in the horrible position they are in

lerlo Level 8 Apr 9, 2019

They have been conditioned at this point too believe what has been passed down. Systematically over time you erase ones culture and replace their history and origins with something that helps you to maintain control ? it’s no different than what happened in the United States.

@Outsideit67 yes, all "religious" people have been conditioned, usually by their parents, to "what has been passed down." They must also believe that it's "god's plan"for Haiti to get ravaged by hurricanes time after time. And they like this god why?

@lerlo part of the answer may lie in what they believe their value is in relation to the god they have been taught to worship . From colonial point of view it is the perfect scenario to keep people in subjugation to them so they can continue the exploitation of the people. I have empathy for the people of Haiti ?? because they are merely regurgitating behavior that is imprinted into their culture at this point.

@Outsideit67 yes, but god isnt the one exploiting them

@lerlo exactly

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I've done some volunteer work in an orphanage in a Kenyan slum. The children there have nothing. Literally. No families, no possessions beyond what they can fit in a cardboard box, no tangible hope for their futures, no home outside of the cramped space they share with 200 other children, but they have one helluva strong faith in God. One of my most vivid memories there is how one evening, after we'd spent the night celebrating with music and dancing and sweets, they went to close the night with prayer. I found myself standing there with 200 children who all began praying. Out loud, passionate, pleading... I couldn't understand much of what was being said, but I stood there for what felt like eternity, moving my eyes from child to child, absorbing the ecstatic energy in the air, trying to imagine what they might be praying for. I do not believe what they believe, and I don't believe in prayer, but in that moment, I was strangely grateful that they had something, anything, from which they could grasp hope.

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Well when you have a pattern of this stuff being passed down generationally, and at the same time you systematically wipe out people’s identity, you can program future generations to come . That happened in the United States, and I have to do more research on the history of Haiti and it’s people’s origins as well as culture.

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This place can get pretty miserable sometimes. So I don’t waste time judging people for praying or doing any other harmless ritual that brings them hope or peace.

I wasn’t judging her , I was just sad because of the fact that this type of belief system gets passed down generationally and with the system that they give their energy to; their situation will not change.

@Outsideit67 Oh, sorry. I did not want to imply that you were judging. I think you made that clear with “I really couldn’t blame her”.

@indirect76 all good , I didn’t take offense, I was merely reclarifying my feelings is all.

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I buy lottery tickets on occasion. They aren't my only hope, or my retirement plan, but I can understand wishful thinking. It's horrific when that's literally all you've got left.

Absolutely!

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