imported post
swillden wrote:
Sheldon wrote:
the real problem is the hate mongering radical extremist that want any one not of theirMuslim sect dead
Religion has nothing to do with it.
Really. It doesn't.
It's just a classification. The problems in Northern Ireland weren't really about protestantism vs catholicism, the fights between Sunni and Shiite in Iraq have nothing to do with tiny doctrinal variations, the horrors of the Spanish Inquisition had nothing to do with dogma and heresy, etc., etc.
Religious differences fall nicely along cultural difference lines, because religion tends to follow culture, and all of these battles are cultural and political issues. Political in the broadest sense of a battle between parties who self-identify for some reason.
Religion is a convenient hook to hang the rhetoric on, because it's powerful, and it's a useful tool for manipulating populaces for the same reason. That doesn't mean religion is bad. Any force can be manipulated into doing damage, and the more powerful the force, the more damage it can do. Hitler largely ignored religion, he grabbed nationalism, aka patriotism, as his tool of choice. As a result of that, many people in the last 60 years have decried the evils of patriotism. The reality is that whatever the group of people, as long as they self-identify deeply with the group, there will be some core thread of common belief that can be used to manipulate them.
It might seem that religions that preach an afterlife are particularly useful if you're trying to convince people to risk their lives, but even purely atheistic groups can be manipulated just as effectively through an appeal to the good of the group, or the legacy of the individual. Men who have no belief in an afterlife can still be convinced to give their lives if it means they'll be remembered with honor, and their sacrifice will serve some higher purpose. Note that the higher purpose doesn't even have to be real.
Arguably, Christianity
should be darned near impossible to turn to evil purposes, given the core message of love of all men. History has showed ample proof that Christianity can do great evil. It follows that if it's not reasonable to attribute the violence of Christians to Christianity, or patriots to patriotism, then it's not reasonable to attribute the violence of Muslims to Islam.
I agree to a point and I'll expound (pontificate? -lol) a bit. I think religion has everything to do with it. Religion is supposed to speak to the core of whom and what we are. Just as with any authority in the hands of imperfect man,it is only when religions are corrupted or are inherently corrupt that we find most all of the problems throughout history. After many years of readings and research, I do not personally believe Islam to be a religion founded on the principles of Love or Peace.
I wouldsubmit for all toponder, that Christianity itself was neverturned to evil as that is in itself impossible. No matter how hard you try, will or wish, or how many words you re-define, you cannot turn good into evil. A person cannot have the Love inside for their fellow man turned into fear and hatred. They are two opposite forces that are at odds and cannotcoexist in the same space at the same time. As with a glass full of water, you cannot change the water into oil in the same glass. You must first empty the glass of the water THEN replace it with the oil. Make sense? They are two separate things always and forever.
Would you call a glass that has 90% water and 10% oil a glass of oil? No, it's a glass of water with a bit of oil. Would you call a glass with just 10% water and 90% oil a glass of water? No, it's a glass of oil with a bit of water. The glass is known by what fills it. As are we.
Through deception and manipulation of the weakness in the equation (we humans) we can be made to first to abandon the good, and then embrace the evil. That's called corruption and it is the oldest story known to man and is indeed our originalsin. Corrupt is defined as to change from good to bad, to degrade, to alter from original or correct form. Once corrupted, it is no longer the same. But the more good you have in you, the less corruptible you are. It's like our"Spiritual Immune System". IF you cannot corrupt the water, you can only add so much oil to the glass.
It was not the strict followers of Judaic Law that crucified Jesus, butthose thatCORRUPTEDthat law to maintain their control andpower. During later years, it most certainly wasnot Christianity itself that did any evil against the Jews, but rather a CORRUPTED version that was replaced because it again best suited the needs of those in power.
It was not patriotic Germans that truly loved their country as we do ours that created World War II. It was the manipulation, deception and corruption of that patriotism by those who would rise to and maintain power over them that did so in their attempt to rule the world.
It is the
corruption of power (abuse of position and power) in any form that has caused the strife in the world at nearly any given time in recorded history! That is EXACTLY why our genius founders designed our noble government and nation as they did!
President Abraham Lincoln spoke to that very principle when he said
"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time." Replacingthe word fool with"corrupt" and I believe you have a more accurate reflection of the picture today and what Mr.Lincoln was really trying to say:
"You can corruptsome of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not corrupt all of the people all of the time." Strength in numbers is the key! Even if you manage to fool all of us, it won't be for long asthis sleeping giant will awaken when necessary.
By putting the power of rule andof government INTO the hands of the very people meant to be governed, they created a GENIUS plan that was not only never before heard of in all of history, but is perhaps the best system devised far into the future! And to make it even easier, it was easy to recognize that only a thief and an enemy of the people would ever attempt to wrest the power out of the hands of the people! Easy to operate, easy to maintain! But here's the catch...if it succeeds, it's because WE SUCCEEDED! If it fails, it's because we failed. Either way, it then becomes the will of the people. If our economy is failing today it's because each and every one of usfailed to put our foot down. If our social justice system is failing, it's because each and every one of usturned a blind eye to injustice and rally more around animal rights than we do self defense against murderers. If our foreign policies are failing, it's because each and every one of usfailed to let our elected officials know what WE think is the best course of action.
The problem is the oldest story known to man. People ARE corruptible. Even en masse. Folks would rather sit in front of a TV than open a book. They would rather read the National Enquirer or any other gossip rag than pay $50 per ticket and $8 per beer at a baseball game to be entertained than to be[/i] The People. People worthy of the care and responsibility of this amazing nation that was designed for us. People worthy of the title American! Folks, it's not supposed to be easy being an American citizen nor was it meant to be. But it was meant to be the most noble and worthy title any person can proudlybear! A title that once drew respect and admiration from around the world, rather than the scoffs and indignationit now does.
Anything that turns you away from Love is evil. Period. Anything that turns people away from their responsibilities as Americans, that distracts them from taking part in their government, that causes them to delegate their God given power and rights to anyone other than themselves is anti-American andcorruption of our original design and of our American principles pure and simple. You cannot lazily delegate away your responsibilities as Americans. As I've said many times before, your responsibilities do not begin and end at the voting booth!Communication is key in any relationship. A relationship without communication is dysfunctionaland today far too many Americans currently do NOT have a healthy relationship with theirgovernment.
It was not the pure original design of man that failed, but rather the corrupted version in the Garden of Eden. It was not Judaic Law that crucified Christ, but the corrupted version that kept the rulers in power. It was not a patriotic German heart that tried to take over the free world, but a corrupted one. It will not be the pure and noble design of anAmerica full of active citizens partaking in their government that fails herpeople, allies and neighbors, but a corrupted one.
Believe what you will, but ask yourself who is it thatfirst corrupted man? Who is it that seeks power over all? Who is it that makes men lazy? Who is it that creates lies, deceives and usurps? Decide for yourself asI already know.
You cannot destroy evil with a greater evil. Ever.Only Love alone can conquer evil. That alone is the reason I have come to conclude that Islam is not a religion of Love or Peace. Even when left alone, it will split and attempt to devour itself. A house divided against itself cannot stand.
CHOOSE to be incorruptible. CHOOSE good over evil. CHOOSE Love over fear and hatred. Want to change the whole world? It's so easy and simple. Start with yourself and work outward from there.
God Bless You All.
