Islam has been a staple of the news cycle for quite a while now.
Whether it is the killings in Europe of the satire magazine editorial group, ISIS, or the general paranoia that Islam is "taking over". It has been a fear-fest and makes for a boon for all news outlets. But some of the loudest voices here in the US are conservatives, which I find a bit amusing. Let me explain.
Whether christians or muslims want to admit it, they do worship the same god. It is just a matter of semantics really. Both religions cite old testament prophets as being the ancestors of their religions, it is just who they see as being their own prophet being the main divergence.
Conservatives are not given to seeing rights for women as being important or needed really. They view women's rights, particularly reproductive rights, as being too important to be left up to the individual woman. They claim some sort of biblical basis for this ideology. Yet the bible is very non specific on many issues, yet with so many words it is possible to shoe horn something to fit any shoe. Yet many conservatives remain quiet on this subject when their political or religious leaders make blatantly sexist or idiotic remarks regarding "the place" of women.
Take this catholic bishop from Ireland, Kevin Doran. This is his opinion of what a woman who is raped should do if she becomes pregnant.
“Well, the child is still a human being”, he responded. “That’s the issue - you don't destroy a life in order to get back at the mother's rapist."
Todd Akins saying in the case of legitimate rape the woman's body will block pregnancy.
John Foster saying rape is not an excuse for abortion.
The list goes on, and on, and on ad-naeusum
Yet it does not stop these conservatives from saying idiotic and blatantly erroneous statements. Why, because their followers believe what these people say. I have no idea. I have theories, but most involve a lack of independent or critical thinking capacity and/or a blind acceptance of biblical scripture. Both of which are a real problem in a modern society.
But I find it interesting that conservatives view islam as being the new communism. Yet the similarities in the real world of ideology are very similar. Both down grade the importance or women, a hysterical distrust of homosexuals and a rabid distrust of those who do not share their views. Granted that last is a hinderance to them seeing eye to eye.
Conservatives view god and country as being of utmost importance. And that may have been just fine in the 1940's or 50's, but the world is changing. It is not practical to have such a narrow world view anymore. Nationalism is becoming an anachronism. The world is truly becoming smaller, and like it or not every country does rely on many other countries to survive. And as far as religion, my views on that subject are no secret. Fundamentalism is a cancer on humanity. Be it islamic, christian or any other religion. It stifles thought processes, narrows views, discriminates against people and cultures and is just plain wrong.
So is there a true difference in how fundamentalist christians and islam behave? In a general view, not really. They advocate much the same bigotry, they share a narrow world view and force a fictional world view on others.
Showing posts with label Fundamentalist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fundamentalist. Show all posts
Friday, March 13, 2015
Monday, August 20, 2012
Purpose (hoped for purpose)
Is there christian persecution in the Untied States of America?
That is a question that is asked frequently, but seldomly directly. In the US there is something called the separation of church and state. Depending on who you talk to, this could mean many things depending on your agenda or purpose. Historically it is meant to keep government out of religion and vice versa. The United States is the most religious of any Western nation in the world, not because we are a "christian nation", but because the people have the freedom to worship how they choose.
At the time of the writing of the US Constitution, what would become the Untied States, the vast majority of the population was protestant. They left Europe, in part, because of catholic prosecution. So when the time came to write what would become the basis of the government of the United States, they added the separation of church and state. Its intent was to keep the government from intruding on the religious freedoms of the people. But it was also intended to prevent the intrusion of religion into government. In effect to prevent a state sponsored religion.
The Founding Fathers were children of the Enlightenment. They were raised in christian nations, by christian families, because that is how life was at the time. I was raised by a christian family and taught christian beliefs, but that does not and should not qualify me as a christian. The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution as a secular, or non religious foundation for the new nation. There have been many who attempt to claim that Jefferson, Adams, and others were christians. Jefferson was not a christian as it is viewed today. You simply have to read the Jefferson Bible to understand that. An author by the name of David Barton has written and spoken frequently about Jefferson being a christian. He has been promoted by christians and news outlets all over the US for years. Yet in July, I believe, of 2012 the publisher of his book "The Jefferson Lies" the book for inaccuracies. David Barton is hailed by many fundamentalist christian as being the truth.
-Newt Gingrich said Bartons work was "most useful" and "wonderful"
-In 2004 George Bush campaign hired him to do out reach to clergy. 1
-And Glenn Beck, more on him in a bit, said Barton is “the most important man in America right now.”
-Mike Huckabee stating "every young person in America would be under his tutelage, and understand who we really are as a nation. I wish there would almost be a simultaneous telecast, and all Americans would be forced, forced at gun point no less, to listen to every David Barton message..." LINK
It was announced that Glenn Beck, another one of the pillars of truth from Fox News, will be publishing the discredited Jefferson Lies himself!
This does not sound like persecution to me!
The Untied States of America IS NOT a christian nation. Because the majority of the population is christian does NOT make the government christian. The threat to the Constitution is from those very fundementalists who do not understand history, who do not understand the true intent of the Founding Fathers, and willfully seek the destruction of the United States.
Beware of Dominionism
That is a question that is asked frequently, but seldomly directly. In the US there is something called the separation of church and state. Depending on who you talk to, this could mean many things depending on your agenda or purpose. Historically it is meant to keep government out of religion and vice versa. The United States is the most religious of any Western nation in the world, not because we are a "christian nation", but because the people have the freedom to worship how they choose.
At the time of the writing of the US Constitution, what would become the Untied States, the vast majority of the population was protestant. They left Europe, in part, because of catholic prosecution. So when the time came to write what would become the basis of the government of the United States, they added the separation of church and state. Its intent was to keep the government from intruding on the religious freedoms of the people. But it was also intended to prevent the intrusion of religion into government. In effect to prevent a state sponsored religion.
The Founding Fathers were children of the Enlightenment. They were raised in christian nations, by christian families, because that is how life was at the time. I was raised by a christian family and taught christian beliefs, but that does not and should not qualify me as a christian. The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution as a secular, or non religious foundation for the new nation. There have been many who attempt to claim that Jefferson, Adams, and others were christians. Jefferson was not a christian as it is viewed today. You simply have to read the Jefferson Bible to understand that. An author by the name of David Barton has written and spoken frequently about Jefferson being a christian. He has been promoted by christians and news outlets all over the US for years. Yet in July, I believe, of 2012 the publisher of his book "The Jefferson Lies" the book for inaccuracies. David Barton is hailed by many fundamentalist christian as being the truth.
-Newt Gingrich said Bartons work was "most useful" and "wonderful"
-In 2004 George Bush campaign hired him to do out reach to clergy. 1
-And Glenn Beck, more on him in a bit, said Barton is “the most important man in America right now.”
-Mike Huckabee stating "every young person in America would be under his tutelage, and understand who we really are as a nation. I wish there would almost be a simultaneous telecast, and all Americans would be forced, forced at gun point no less, to listen to every David Barton message..." LINK
It was announced that Glenn Beck, another one of the pillars of truth from Fox News, will be publishing the discredited Jefferson Lies himself!
This does not sound like persecution to me!
The Untied States of America IS NOT a christian nation. Because the majority of the population is christian does NOT make the government christian. The threat to the Constitution is from those very fundementalists who do not understand history, who do not understand the true intent of the Founding Fathers, and willfully seek the destruction of the United States.
Beware of Dominionism
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