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Rickard Roentgen
Renaissance Punk
Join date: 4 Apr 2004
Posts: 1,869
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11-18-2004 21:16
From: Juro Kothari This is sort of a strange time in all of lives right now. Christian-bashing has become commonplace, and I'd like to share my theory why. Please note, this is just my thoughts and nothing more. I think that Christian bashing is, to some degree, a reaction to the 'religious right' trying to pass laws that are inline with thier moral beliefs. Faith-based initiatives, women's rights, gay rights are just a few areas that have come 'under attack' by the far right in the last decade or more. Attempts to legislate religous morality is another example of what could be percieved as a push to bring religion and government together. I think this is at the core of the issue. Not everyone feels that all Christians are bad or out to force thier beliefs on unwilling participants, but you must admit there is a large, vocal group who puts on a face that, possibly, more moderate Christians dislike. Anyway.. that's my theory.  religion isn't bad. facism that uses religion is bad. |
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Isis Becquerel
Ferine Strumpet
Join date: 1 Sep 2004
Posts: 971
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11-18-2004 22:32
Political families who were party to the eugenist movement, buddies with Mcarthey and then go on to create a politically driven, seperatist form of religion far removed from the ideologies of christianity or any other form of religion specifically for the purpose of creating division among the people are the problem. When religion is used as a propoganda machine which then twists and contorts the morals and parables to serve less than spiritual purposes, that is a problem. When an irrational fear that the heathens are going to take over the world of the sanctified is the political dogma which causes rights to be given up freely and without question, that is a problem. Religion in and of itself is not a problem. It is a sacred and individual right not a political and universal mechanism for control.
Rush said it best today when he stated one of the fundamental planks of the Republican party is to destroy the Democratic party. Doing so through fear mongering of the basest sort seems to be the modus operandi. The neuvo-christian/conservative motto "Democrats are babykilling, sex fiend, heathens who want terrorists to blow you up" is the by far the most irrational insane idea I have ever heard but to many it seems true. Why would the president lie to them? After all look at everything happening that goes against the fundamental ideology of christianity: abortion, sex on television (violence doesn't seem to be a problem, tis only a lib issue), profane language used in mainstream media, anti-war activism, the tearing down of biblical quotes from state offices, the lack of prayer in secular education and the fight against the pledge.
To some in the religious arena these all pose serious threats to their power. But really where should the power lie...in religion or humanity? Many people wish for the right to think on their own without the government mandating right and wrong. Churches exist as institutions to further their own causes, putting the government in the equation is unnecessary and tamps out the freewill of the people to choose their own boudaries. We are still allowed to change the channel, choose life over abortion, read the 10 commandments to our children, support the war and say the pledge. The fact that we do not have to shouldn't be the issue.
On the other hand I do not know of one libertarian or democrat who is pushing for an end to all religion. Not one is trying to close down churches or disenfranchise church schools, not one is fighting to force churches to pay taxes on income. Many of them attend church themselves but they do not want the government to have influence on their church so they do not want to influence the government. A hand is never extended solely to give or solely to recieve the act is always reciprocal whether or not we choose to acknowledge the exchange.
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Pepper Monde
Bazooka-man
Join date: 23 Jun 2003
Posts: 91
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11-20-2004 17:27
From: someone I feel the need to point out that morals are not religious. The word morality doesn't have a religious definition. I do not lump anyone with morals into a religious group, because morals do not in any way depend on religion. The belief that non-religious people are somehow less moral is false, and is the product of a kind of indoctrinated bigotry that's been going on for so long that most people see morality and religion as one and the same. They are not. Most atheists that I know are extremely moral and eithical people who hold themselves to high standards of behavior... and very often a higher standard than religous people do because we believe that the buck stops with us. Once again, Chip writes something very good. I'm agnostic and I totally agree with you and I'm a "fairly" moral person with ethics. However, most "good," moral and ethical people I've met have been Christians. Also, all those Chrisians killing people deserve to go to the hell they believe in. But, these are isolated incidents--most Christians do not condone such actions. How did I suspect someone was going to call me stupid??? From: someone IMO one of the biggest human failings is our complete inability to learn from history. Aww man. . .I'm a history major.. . From: someone But to say that those on assistance or those who are homeless or poor are of lesser intelligence or lazy is narrow minded and blind. If I seem like a cold uncaring person, I'm not. I work in an inner city school where I interact on a daily basis with kids and their parents. I see some hardworking parents and the only reason they're in poverty or just barely making it is because they're illegal. Other hardworking parents had kids when they were too young but they're trying hard to get out of the neighborhood by going to school or starting a business. On the other hand, I see others who could care less. I see them or their kids everyday and they're just fine living in a tiny, roach infested apartment and sending their kids to school with dirty clothes. They're on welfare and they're not out hustling to find a job. I also see parents who can barely write a sentence or a paragraph. These parents are not bright (I'm being blunt but it's the truth) or have a learning disability. I don't see them as dirt it's just that for most of them there is very little chance they'll improve their situation unless their kids grow up and create a better situation for themselves and help their parents. Lastly, let's face it: there will always be poor people. From: someone Gloat all you want though some of us are out there with hammers and nails trying to peice it all back together again. Together again?? Hey Isis, we will never be a perfect nation and there will never be one. I'm not sure what you're doing (hopefully something honorable like working with the poor)but I've joined the Marine Corps and I believe I will be doing my part in serving and preserving this greatest nation on earth.
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I'm so glad I'm not a two-bit or a monkey.
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Garoad Kuroda
Prophet of Muppetry
Join date: 5 Sep 2003
Posts: 2,989
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11-21-2004 00:41
Pepper, you're a marine?? (Or going to be?) Thank you for your service in any case, that's great.
Icon...
"From this electronic vote, I've speculated that enough questionable votes were received but unverifiable that could've made a different candidate win the vote. However, since no paper trail exists... it's not possible to audit anything..."
Speculated that enough questionable votes were received? Could you elaborate...? Not trying to give you a hard time but this business of getting the courts involved with elections is getting a little ridiculous. It's not that hard to push the button next to the name of the guy you want, and hit the red "cast vote" button. If someone IS too stupid to figure out how to do that and they vote for the other candidate still, perhaps we're better off with the candidate they didn't want. hehe
Do you really think the FBI is like that Icon? They don't replace entire organizations when another president is elected, it's the same people there mostly... it's a little hard to believe.
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BTW
WTF is C3PO supposed to be USEFUL for anyway, besides whining? Stupid piece of scrap metal would be more useful recycled as a toaster. But even that would suck, because who would want to listen to a whining wussy toaster? Is he gold plated? If that's the case he should just be melted down into gold ingots. Help the economy some, and stop being so damn useless you stupid bucket of bolts! R2 is 1,000 times more useful than your tin man ass, and he's shaped like a salt and pepper shaker FFS!
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