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This just goes to show that we (along with other countries) also have
our own fanatics. One has to wonder that if there truly is a God
entity, why does he/she/it allow atrocities like this (and so many
others throughout history)? Why does he allow killing in his name?
In Christianity, isn't it supposedly because Eve ate that apple? So
what's the story in other religions?
It's been said that one of the goals of these terrorists and this
atrocity was hope that it would help their particular brand of
religion extend its reach in the world, by killing infidels. Many
non-Muslims are or are becoming fearful of the Moslem religion,
seeing it as controlled by fanatics of one sort or another, just as
many were fearful of Christianity (and rightly so) in the Middle
Ages. The Middle Ages are long gone, but sadly, we still have the
likes of Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson trying to point fingers,
fire up people and spread their own brand of extremism.
What scares me most about religion is the religious establishment and
their supporters who attack others over differences in beliefs.
Throughout history, much strife and conflict has been caused by
religious differences. Religion has surely been the root of more
killing and torture that any other single cause. A while ago, I was
watching the CBS 60 Minutes segment on Pakistan when one of the
Islamic interviewees flatly stated that "God had commanded them to
build nuclear weapons"! Say what? How exactly did their God
communicate this message to them? Were there some stone tablets
involved? Some potent hashish? Was there a dream? Or did God just
send an email? Whew...
Strangely, most religions preach peace and good will to others. So
how does this basic message get corrupted? And why do so many people
succumb to negative messages from religious extremists instead of
rejecting them outright? What are they groping for? I believe the
that they are searching for protection from fear - fear of people
different than themselves, fear of beliefs different from their own,
fear of skin colors, habits and mannerisms different than their own.
I'm confident that religious beliefs were the basis for what might be
called "the first gang", a means for a group of people to find like-
minded individuals and hopefully bond safely together.
But can religion provide any real protection from the evils around us
in these modern times? Given the abject failure throughout history
of the world's religions to prevent strife, torture and killing in
the name of their favorite God, perhaps the future would be better
served without religion. Either that or else maybe we can all agree
on one religion to adopt and practice.
Since either of these occurrences are unlikely anytime soon,
religious based taunting, warfare, killing and justification in the
name of some God will continue going forward (try giving a listen to
Bob Dylan's poignant "With God On Our Side"). Politicians will
continue to play the religion card. Many people will continue to
search out a supposed safe haven by being part of their particular
religious group, hoping for protection from the world and those
around them. And we will never truly be one society, one world,
despite the current pap about a global society.
___
JW
--- In realtraders@xxxx, Ira Tunik <irat@xxxx> wrote:
> Television evangelists Jerry Falwell and Pat
> Robertson, two of the most prominent voices
> of the religious right, said liberal civil
> liberties groups, feminists, homosexuals and
> abortion rights supporters bear partial
> responsibility for Tuesday's terrorist attacks
> because their actions have turned God's anger
> against America.
>
<snipped>
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