Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Hope on March 10, 2011 at 1:23pm

Wow, really interesting charts Nelson,

Maybe I thought that way because I'm surrounded moderate Muslims..

or because I didn't met extremist Muslims before.

Thank you.

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Permalink Reply by Ryan E. Hoffman on March 10, 2011 at 1:46pm

It is the right for every person in this country to practice peacefully. 

 

I am a very harsh critic of Islam, and all abrahamic religions, but I do not think it is correct to marginalize people in this way. It's religious favoritism. If Mr. King were a non-believer who did not give verbal support to the Irish Republican Army along with who knows what else, maybe nothing (although I don't believe it), then I would be a little more willing to listen. But seeing as he's a Christian Republican hypocrite (as if there were any other kind of Christian Republican), I prefer to think of him has Charlie Brown's teacher: *womp womp womp womp womp*

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Permalink Reply by Sophie on March 10, 2011 at 11:12pm

I prefer to think of him has Charlie Brown's teacher: *womp womp womp womp womp* lol so true

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Permalink Reply by andrew j van der veen on March 10, 2011 at 2:18pm

here's my take ,

Theism is on its  way out globally , hurrying the process  or otherwise fueling controversy will " rock the boat" . Let's focus on what muslims can bring to the table as well as other religions to impact our  world positively . Help me help you . It would behoove an atheist to be openminded  to coverage . Theist of any kind are shooting themselves in the foot daily , let's hope  reporters stay eloquent and atheist in thought and action.

leaving footnotes in no uncertain terms seems the least controversial response currently .

One people (...) oi!

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Permalink Reply by Lindsey on March 10, 2011 at 2:56pm

I think that if they insist on this course of action, they also need to have a hearing on 'radicalized' christians. There have been far more "domestic terrorists" out of the U.S. that identified as christians than there have been muslim ones.  Its unfair to single out Islam when Christianity is just as violent.

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Permalink Reply by Alejandro M on March 10, 2011 at 9:10pm

Er... Lindsey, you'll find that currently Islam is a *bit* more violent than Christianity. I am "violently" anti-theist, but you *cannot* put both religions side by side when it comes to violence. One prescribes violence and holy war; the other one doesn't (that some fanatics have done it in the distant past in its name is not the same).

 

Pls read the charts posted above in this discussion. Islam is the most violent religion. Period.

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Permalink Reply by Lindsey on March 10, 2011 at 10:23pm

Maybe christians aren't as violent in America and not at this point in time, but historically, christianity was every bit as violent as islam. Just look at the crusades, the inquisition, witch burnings, and the genocide of native americans. And you don't even have to go that far back - it wasn't the muslims who where lynching african americans in the bible belt.  And even today, in other countries where there are not as many restraints put on religion, christians still murder freely and without hesitance.  Just look at the situation in Uganda with gays and lesbians being put to death.  The only difference between christianity and islam today is that most christians live in countries where people are no longer allowed to committ violent acts in the name of religion, and the level of religiosity in many western nations has dropped significantly.

 

And the charts went up after I posted my reply btw. Yes, they are disturbing, but just because christianity has changed and Islam hasn't as much doesn't mean that they aren't both just as violent at their core. Just read the bible.  Its full of genocides, murders, and holy wars.

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Permalink Reply by Alejandro M on March 11, 2011 at 12:08am

Lindsey, as you I am an atheist, and moreover an anti-theist. That said, there is such thing as relativism when talking about this kind of stuff. Putting these two religions in the same foothold is like saying that just because Ronaldinho and myself are worse than Messi playing soccer, I play exactly like Ronaldinho.

There were PEOPLE and even WHOLE POPULATIONS who were evil (and some still are) based on Christian religion. But Islam is by definition more violent than Christianity because it accepts all the Old Testament as correct (where *most* violence of Christianity resides), AND adds the Koran on top (nice cherry for the icing!). And as we all know, the Koran is really peaceful... not.

This is why one has to be vigilant against all religions, but against Islam... doubly so.

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Permalink Reply by Arcus on March 11, 2011 at 12:41pm

I agree with some of your ideas, but I think you miss the mark a bit. Christian violence was reigned in as our societies grew in wealth and education and strong and fairly uncorrupted governments were built. Islam is a religion which predominantly covers the poor regions of the world. Violence is prevalent in societies where has poverty and lack of education combined with weak institutions - which are the hallmark of most Muslim countries.

You can see the same thing within Christianity: Catholic countries are generally poorer and has more violence than protestant countries, poor protestant countries (i.e. Congo, Uganda, Nigeria) are much more violent than rich protestant countries (Scandinavia, Germany, Canada).

Different religions may have different suitability for economic growth through the values they instil in the population (thereby supporting your argument), but i think it works through poverty rather than religion. 

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Permalink Reply by Kelin420 on March 11, 2011 at 3:58am

I whole- heartedly concur- just read a little history of Crusades, Inquisition and all the other atracities commited in the name of religion of all stripes- read the books they believe- horrendous load of violence sanctioned by the diety they believe in---- Religion is dying slowly but not nearly quick enough- Now we have 21 century weapons with 2000 year old sheep shagging belief systems-

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Permalink Reply by Albert Bakker on March 10, 2011 at 3:36pm

King as a staunch supporter of the IRA in their heyday and only had second thoughts when they Irish weren't that enthusiastic about the massacre of primarily citizens by the US empirical troops in Iraq. Meaning he can't be that serious about terrorism, if that means not actively promoting it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_T._King

The fact that such pathetic scum as Rep King can get anywhere near a position of power and actually stay there paints a very clear and bleak picture of everything that's wrong with democracy, as it is a selection procedure for exactly those characteristics in democratic representatives that are normally considered to be the worst of the worst of human vices.

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Permalink Reply by Robert Karp on March 10, 2011 at 5:02pm

I agree with everything you said except "what's wrong with democracy". It's not democracy that's the problem but rather a reflection on the middle-ages-view of the way society should be, which is an opinion of half of the citizens of this country. It reflects more much poorly on the USA then is does on democracy. If anything it's a failure of capitalism which puts the power to control and influence so many in the hands of very few i.e. Beck, King, Palin and others. They are making this country walk backwards and they won't be happy until the second coming and "end of days". It's all about fear and again religion. I don't know which is worse, the fear mongering and end-times talk of Christianity or the violence of Islam. So glad to be an atheist!

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