Have you walked the Via Dolerosa and visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?

Nope, I sure haven’t.

I have, but do nit share your feelings of depressiveness.

When you say ‘walked’ do you imply something more special than just walking?

Yes I have, although our guide tried to keep us out of the Muslim quarter. I found it amazing. Even if you can’t appreciate the spiritual significance, you would be ignorant not to recognize the historical significance of the old city of Jerusalem.

@whitenoise – no walked means walked, I say what I mean. Why would you even ask that?

@Judi – Yes, this is an area of major significance to Western society. I do understand and acknowledge that. I just feel that it’s influence has been mainly malign.

@gmander are you speaking of your desire to end your religious belief or all religions belief throughout the world?

Well, I was just wondering why it made you depressed. I thought maybe you participated in one of the passion walks.

Anyways, the place to me was a place of great historical and cultural impact. I was never a believer in the factual base for the bible, so it did little to me from that respect.

I also didn’t need to visit that particular spot to feel very saddened by all the pain and suffering people have inflicted upon others in the name of religion.

So from that respect I don’t share your feelings. Overall I was very happy to have been there and I feel it has given me more of a cultural understanding of that part of the world and all of its tensions. I live in a Muslim (Middle Eadtern) country now and again I’m saddened by the inequality in the world and the unnecessary hatred that goes around. Especially in the Middle East.

I’m with @Judi – I loved Jerusalem and loved the historical/ancient feel of walking the Via Dolorosa. I also loved the open markets near there – the spice markets especially in Jerusalem..it was easier to imagine how life might have been 100s of years ago or more.

@whitenoise People would have found other reasons to inflict pain and suffering on one another if religion never existed. It just provided a convenient excuse.

@supermouse – I have no religious belief. I didn’t when I was in Jerusalem either. I would have been about 8 or 9 when I gave up my religious beliefs.

@gmander so you are wanting to see all religious belief throughout the world go away?

@tedd what is your point? Do you want to derail this focussing into a pro- / anti-religion thread. Don’t do that.

I didn’t say that religion was the cause of the violence, I said I hated violence in the name of religion. As you might be aware, the story that is toed to this road is a clear example.

I would say that everyone should ve appalled by violence in the name of religion. Especially those whose religion is being (ab)used in that sense.

@whitenoise Not at all. I was just pointing out.

No, I haven’t. Would like to, just for kicks.

No, I haven’t, but I think it would be an amazing experience.

@SuperMouse – I don’t know them all, so obviously no. Although, I’ve yet to come across one that I liked.

@gmander a religion you like or a religious person that you like?

I visited the Church of the Holy Sepulcre. Although I am not a Christian, I was moved by the experience. The visit really immersed itself in all of my senses. As I walked in, bells were tolling so loudly that I could feel them in my body. I could smell incense. A procession of clerics in robes paraded past me and I had to step back to get out of their way.