I think this other thread has some very pertinent comments that relate to this thread just the same. I made my thought there and hope that you will all take a minute and think about my one in a million comment I made.

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?...?threadid=28107


Please, I encourage all Americans to trace their heritage/roots. Our great nation is a melting pot of every conceivable race, religion, and culture that commands us to respect our individual freedoms.

God bless American and all of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for this fine nation.

 

JRM -

I have never seen you so upset before in the past your posts always seem so deliberate, something i have always respected even when we agreed to disagree.

I'm sorry that Richard pushed a button...

This tragedy is starting to divide us already

Melting pot or tossed salad????

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by tmkarab
[B]JRM -

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JRM
[B]I heard Jerry Falwell stick his foot so far down his throat last night that it would have taken a crane to pull it out.

 

Personally, I think these attacks have more to do with the politics of envy rather than religion. Religious fervor is what stirred the terrorists to action, but it's not the reason these crimes occured.

America will always be the envy of the World, with its wealth, power and freedom. Those countries, that for whatever reason, cannot be like America, seek to destroy it.

 

You know this thread is a perfect example of what our great nation stands for and the influence it has internationally. We say exactly what we want, what's on our minds, and our opinions with no sensorship.

Look at those who join in, we are gathering around the world here on this site. God what great thing. An opportunity to listen to all and learn from one another. Respecting the others opinions and voicing our own, I love it.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by reserves
[B]Mingster, no one has died under the "name" of Christianity in the way that you are implying.

 

Yes -- you are quite right, Mingster, the Christian church has sponsored its own atrocities.

However, what I don't understand in this reasoning is how people can overlook the element of time. That is, WHEN was the Christian church doing these things?

Hundreds of years ago.

What phenomenon has happened since?

The division of church and state.

Despite Western governments often invoking the name of God, they are secular.

In the West, religious zealots can no longer monopolize the resources of state to carry out their religious agendas.

Imagine had the West not long since undergone a division of church and state. Imagine if guys like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson (and their acolytes) held positions high in government and were allowed to enact policies based on their own particularly whacked-out interpretation of scripture.

Church and state are indistinguishable in among even moderate Middle Eastern states.

Therefore, Islam is still carrying out its own Inquisitions today and will continue.

The particular religion or race that is predominant in these states is not important.

What is important -- terrifying in fact -- is that these states are run by religious fundamentalists.


[QUOTE]Originally posted by Roceye
[B]As soon as you start believing your religion is the "only" one, the problems begin. I also believe that almost all religions have had bloodstained hands at one time or another but this is the religion that allows so many extremists to exist in it's ranks*. Remember the Islamic " Pope" (Ayatolla) condones violence against the infidels. Infidels being us.

 

Yes, it was! This was way out of line.

 

We may very well have our own would-be Mullahs. Here, we can laugh at them, and so far, they haven't asked their followers to go out and kill.