Thank god for organized religion...

[Brad Hutchison]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/11 ... index.html

[Lynn Farris]

Well we might not like the Sudanese - but look at what our alies do to women.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/opinion/article3207728.ece

WWJD?

[Stephen Eisel]

Well we might not like the Sudanese - but look at what our alies do to women.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/opinion/article3207728.ece

WWJD?

WWMD?

[Brad Hutchison]

It's not the Sudanese, the Saudis or Muslims I have a problem with -- it's theocracies and crazy religion-based laws.

[Lynn Farris]

I'm not sure it is religion so much as man's or governments interpetation of religion.

JMHO

[Brad Hutchison]

But isn't that, by definition, religion? Religion, spirituality, faith -- whatever you call it, it's nothing if not humanity's interpretation of the natural world. Which, to me, is what makes it so sad that we (all humanity) base so much violence, anger, hate, intolerance, and crazy legislation on it.

[Steve Hoffert]

But isn't that, by definition, religion? Religion, spirituality, faith -- whatever you call it, it's nothing if not humanity's interpretation of the natural world Which, to me, is what makes it so sad that we (all humanity) base so much violence, anger, hate, intolerance, and crazy legislation on it.

I totally agree.

Organized religion is more the use of fear (of the unknown), manipulation and intimidation in order to exert control over a large subset of people. Furthermore iit divides and separates people based on different dogma.

We all live in a theocracy. The christians exert their control over our laws just as the muslims do in other countries. If this were not true our laws would be based on "no harm no foul" instead of "do as I say, or else".

[Brad Hutchison]

Indubitably, religion has been a force of good at times, just as there have been good, decent religious leaders. But there have been just as many instances of religion as justification for bad deeds by bad rulers throughout history.

The problem lies in identity. Whenever we choose to define ourselves as members of a group, that inevitably creates "others" who aren't in the group. Add to the group a dogma that generally proclaims the "group" as superior and the "others" as inferior, and there will be conflict. Add a dash of self-righteousness and a pinch of manipulative, exploitative leader and you have the recipe for a lot of what ails the world. But, alas, this is human nature.

The best we can hope for is to expand the group identity to encompass everyone. The United Nations? The EU? The Amero? Are these political institutions the answer? Can politics cut down the barriers between religions?

The Rag Tag Bunch of Literates should have a good discussion of The Faith Club...

[ryan costa]

Well we might not like the Sudanese - but look at what our alies do to women.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/opinion/article3207728.ece

WWJD?

that is pretty insane. what was the point of invading Iraq if this is what our allies are? Our own leaders must have been thinking ahead. It was a clever idea to co-opt Iraq and train them to respond to some eventual revolution or civil war in Saudi Arabia. Or something.

[Stephen Eisel]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id ... _article=1


15 days in the pokey

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

The Saudi's are known for things like this.

I have friends from neighboring countries that have driven through Saudi Arabia and said it was a nightmare. Saudi Arabia is hated by true muslims who stick to the true teachings of their religion.

This calls for a separation of church and state. It won't happen because their police is a "religious" police. This is a horrible case of what happens when there isn't separation of church and state.

That line of separation is being blurred a bit here (in my opinion) but the Saudi's take it to an extreme. The US government just pushes the envelope a little bit to get people to think.

Horrible story.

[Brad Hutchison]

Is 15 days better or worse than 40 lashes?

What happened to Muhammed (the bear)?

[Stephen Eisel]

Is 15 days better or worse than 40 lashes?

What happened to Muhammed (the bear)?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6JbT6DPLps

[Bret Callentine]

Just think, had she simply spelled the name Mahammed instead of Muhammed, she could have saved herself a lot of trouble.

This has nothing to do with 'religion' and everything to do with power and control.

Faith cannot be experienced by force.

[Brad Hutchison]

Thanks, Stephen. Poor, poor Mohammed.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/11 ... index.html

What about the masses in the street chanting for her execution? Are they fueled by power and control?