The Muslim Jesus...

[Xue Sheng]

Many of you are of the cultural equivalence, moral equivalence, "can't we all just get along" school of thought. I believe that to be a huge error. I also find it interesting that several of you "respected members" have resorted to personal attacks, vomiting up the old standard liberal line of "if you don't like cultural equivalence, moral equivalence, and Muslims you must be a racist or a dumbass or both." Our country has raised a generation or two of pampered, passive, "peace at any price" hand wringers who will let the country go Communist, Socialist, Muslim or to Hell as long as they can have all the video games, techno-toys, music, dope, and sex they can get. I see that group is well represented here.

In Georgia, they grow us at least bright enough to know who the enemy is...the enemy within and without. Nations fall because nobody wants to be bothered with the unpleasant realities of history.

One of you punks referred to me as a "tough guy." I am not posturing. I am simply stating straight-forwardly what I see to be a real problem for our culture and our nation. We have become so soft, so negotiable, and so relativistic that we no longer have the political courage to do the necessary things to survive.

I believe, unapologetically, that Western, Judaeo-Christian culture (Yes, Virginia, there is Judaeo-Christian culture) is the superior culture on the planet and perhaps in history. It is threatened by guilt-ridden, self-hating, angry liberals who feel responsible for everyone in the world but themselves.

Now, everybody, on three...wring your hands, run in small circles, cry "EWWWW Hitler, Hitler!! Nazi!!! Nazi!!!!" Then run for a moderator like the kids in school who used to tattle to the teacher when somebody talked.

yup that about sums it up for me and tells me all I need to know... nice talkin' to ya... gotta go.

 

[Bob Hubbard]

So then such a person will receive a private reprimand from the staff, or a general warning will be posted. Meanwhile, a call for genocide (or similar) will remain on this site unanswered for as long as MT remains in business and Google keeps a cache. Such an action can only lend the impression of acceptance, or at least casual disregard.

It's your party obviously and I can't change how you've chosen to run things. I just hope you can see how such a policy might look to people surfing through here. There are real names with real reputations attached to this site, after all.

Just to add a small tangent here.... We remove very few posts. Some of those we could remove, we leave. Our policy is to hold people accountable, and when one puts their foot in their mouth up to the hip, over and over again and is later banned as a result, it often saves us from having to answer the "why'd you ban so n so, all their stuff I read was good." as the reasons become apparent with a little digging. We can discuss that though more, elsewhere.

 

[cstanley]

In Georgia, they apparently raise them to relate hate on behalf of a path named after a man who preached love for ALL, not just those who followed him. They apparently teach followers to be intolerant, in the name of a country preacher who publicly chastised the religiously intolerant of his own day (Pharisees, or something like that). They raise their young to spit epithetical vitriole towards other nations in the name of a philosopher and mage who loved so much and so deeply, he allowed himself to be tormented and executed in the one of the worst possible ways concieveable at the time.

So, cstanley, praise god and pass the intolerance. Show us the love of Jesus Christ through your actions, by calling for the decimation of people He loves, and -- according to your religion -- died for. Show us Gods will by demonstrating hate for people he's died to embrace. No, seriously. Keep it up. You're doing a wonderful job of demonstrating the sort of dogmatic thinking that Islamic Extremists used to justify their terrorist acts. Only you're fixin to turn the table, and make them the victim of terrorist acts committed by good, god-fearing Western Judeo-Christian extremists. I suspect you hate what you see in them, because you see the same in your self.

Let's see...fruits of the Spirit:
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindess, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control...nope. Nowhere in there does it say nasty, mean-spirited little intents towards folk of opposing race, color or creed (look up "creed" if you're stuck there...it relates to your anti-islam sentiments).

Let's try this (again, from your own holy book) "For God so loved only non-Muslims, that he sent his only begotten Son...". Wait, that's not right.

"And Jesus said, "Of all the commandments, the greatest is love...except for muslims". Oh. Nope. Sorry again. Didn't say that either.

Maybe this one: "Beloved, let us love one another. For love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God, for God is love...except for Muslims". Sorry. Wrong again.

Funny how the inclusive nature of positive messages from sacred texts can only be construed to be intolerant if we tweak it, take it out of context, or change it completely to make it say something it doesn't.

My word...the smarmy self-righteous is really impressive. Don't you have some snake oil to sell?

 

[Darksoul]

-Wow, its just so easy to hate. I figured out years ago, when I was younger, (and I like to think good parenting and common sense) that labels are meaningless. Someone here seems very intent to paint all Muslims with a coating of evil. How can you believe in this? The actions of a few always put the world at large in danger. Meaning the relatively small group of Islamic-Fascists go well out of their way, albeit probably not intentionally, to make the millions of peaceful Muslims in the world feared by others. This is silly. These small groups of loud extremists believe in something that puts them well away from people of faith. The same can be said of Christians, Pagans, Jews, all spiritual paths. There will always be a small group bent of using something inherently good to ruin the lives of others.

-I do not understand how this is constantly rolled over by many. Maybe a part of it is not wanting to look in the mirror. Well I do look in the mirror, physically, mentally and spiritually. And I understand that it is the person, not the faith, that needs to be held accountable for his or her, or as a group, their actions. I hold myself responsible for my actions, for my thoughts but I certainly have no interest in controlling the lives of others, only defending myself, my family and friends, my nation if needed.

-Not expecting a perfect world, or a new prophet, or any rapture of taking place. Yeah, some of us believe in peace, but we're not naive to think it will happen all over. However, there is so much we can do to bring peace to our lives, to our little part of the world, and it does start by taking a step back and looking inside. The millions of Muslims today don't know me, don't want to kill me, don't want to convert me. But I will forever consider them brothers and sisters of HUMAN origin and live with the intent of bettering our world for everyone.

-Wow, that sounds so nice and simplistic, its a wonder flowers aren't falling from this sky, music playing from the heavens, and the various gods and goddesses aren't giving the Earth a giant bear hug.

But hey, its better than hating.

Andrew

 

[JadecloudAlchemist]

I really enjoyed that. It is always nice to see unity and some sort of common ground of a shared belief. I think finding this unity and common ground between religions is one of the main essence in which religion is about.

 

[Ray]

Why should only Christians have belief in Jesus? Would this apply to Mormons? Certainly they are Christian, but their faith tradition developed differently then many of the more common Christian faiths.

Speaking as a Mormon who has read the Koran (and needs to re-read it), I think it is important to note that the those of most religions who live the standards of their religion continually do good.

Helping the poor, for example, is something common in the Christian, Jewish and Muslim sects. And, some atheists also do good - and that is indeed a good thing -- and it is their right to be atheists. As long as my rights are not infringed upon then everyone should believe as they will and be encouraged to do good and cease from evil.

It's good to know what others believe and to not get upset with people who don't believe as you do. It's good to know that people from different cultures express themselves differently than you might.

Time to get off the soap box.

 

[MBuzzy]

I spent a lot of time in Iraq and Kuwait - two VERY muslim countries...and I have to say that Kuwait was filled with what I consider to be the most polite, thoughtful, and kind people that I have ever encountered - in all my travels. The Iraqis who were NOT insurgents of course were the same. I never went into the office of an Iraqi who did not offer me food, drink, and kindness - whether it was my position or not....I've never encountered that in the U.S. Not that Muslims are better, but after spending a lot of time around them, I can say that we have no reason to hate them as a people and culture.

 

[Edmund BlackAdder]

People who haven't read the books of other cultures, who haven't lived among them, nor interacted with them are often ill equiped to judge them, and ill advised to open mouth lest they dine on shoe pie.

I see some has already been served here. I do so hope he had washed them first.

 

[tellner]

It reminds me of a discussion I've had with Christians and Muslims about Sodom and Gomorrah. The Christians who are not well educated in their faith say the sin of those cities was a willingness to attach the dongle to the wrong port. Jews, Muslims and more informed Christians either get it reflexively or have read all the way to Isaiah. It was cruelty to strangers and breaking the sacred laws of hospitality.

Yes, even in the so-to-speak "Old Testament" to be kind and welcoming is one of the most important, non-negotiable core values. The Gospels are full of admonitions to be kind and generous "to the least of these". The Quran, Sunnah and Hadith are explicit and uncompromising on the importance of charity and hospitality.

cstanley, saying "There is so a Judaeo-Christian tradition" doesn't make it so no matter how loudly you yell it. And if you're going to use a term at least learn how to spell it correctly. The adjective is "Judeo". Jews and Christians have very different religious beliefs and vastly divergent ways of looking at the world. I know that's not what they tell you at the Megachurch. But it's true as a few hours with a knowledgeable Jew would clearly show.

Wiping foam from one's lips with grace and dispatch is not a substitute for actual data and logic. You have been presented with those from all quarters. I count Jews, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Atheists, Sikhs and probably a couple other flavors among the participants. Your arguments have run aground on all of these and have devolved to a distressing type - increasingly loud assertion, ad hominem attack and the equivalent of "La! La! La! I can't hear you!"

Everyone is due a certain amount of human consideration and respect. You're using up your share increasingly quickly and not bothering to replenish it. If you insist on whipping facts and reason together from the Temple nobody will want to talk to you. You may feel vindicated and victorious in your isolation. It will be a mirage.

 

[Carol]

Perhaps, if nothing else, this thread can shine some light on why religous batltes are so much more than "fighting over a book". There is so much more to it than choice of scripture.