While I acknowledge that there are many religious people (Muslims and other religions alike) who do not condone such violence, religion is a common theme in a lot of terrorism. Yes, there is terrorism that is specifically political, but religious zeal accounts for a huge part of terrorist acts. In this vein, it would seem that atheism is the only true answer to such acts. I feel torn, because I do not necessarily think we should eradicate all religion from the world--to a great extent, I believe in 'to each his own.' However, at the same time, even moderate and liberal religions perpetuate the fallacious logic that keeps these religious kooks going.

It was Islamic terrorism. The "Islamic" part pretty much covered it.

(November 7, 2014 at 2:51 pm)JonDarbyXIII Wrote: Yes, there is terrorism that is specifically political, but religious zeal accounts for a huge part of terrorist acts. In this vein, it would seem that atheism is the only true answer to such acts.

You're probably not very familiar with the terror of the German RAF or the Italian Brigade Rosse. When I was growing up, they were considered just as much of a thret to society than the muslim fundamentalists are now. Been there, done that.

Point is, they were atheists. They didn't commit their acts in the name of atheism to be clear, but they also had their ideology to follow, which was some sort of anarchistic communism. Religion is an ideology too, probably the oldest, but getting rid of religion gets you nowhere, since there will always be people following some perceived ideal. And some of them will always resort to any measure to force their ideas down the throats of everybody else.

(November 7, 2014 at 3:10 pm)abaris Wrote: Point is, they were atheists. They didn't commit their acts in the name of atheism to be clear, but they also had their ideology to follow

I certainly concede that; however, I would also say that in a lot of those cases, the ideologies come very close to those that are the foundation for religion. One person is the supreme authority. Defectors are the scum of the earth. Knowledge is verboten, etc.

(November 7, 2014 at 2:26 pm)abaris Wrote:

(November 7, 2014 at 2:18 pm)Parkers Tan Wrote: That was certainly the fallout. Of course, throughout the 20s and 30s we weren't shy about throwing the Marines at any Caribbean government that tried to tax the plantation-owners.

Yeah, you're right of course. I mixed that up with what's called the banana wars, which was a series of small conflicts in the interest of fruit companies.

Oh, I wasn't trying to correct you. There was pressure from both the big fruit companies and the Hearst empire, each for their own business reasons, to initiate that war.

(November 7, 2014 at 2:18 pm)Parkers Tan Wrote: That was certainly the fallout. Of course, throughout the 20s and 30s we weren't shy about throwing the Marines at any Caribbean government that tried to tax the plantation-owners.

But none of them flew planes into buildings.

---

(November 7, 2014 at 3:10 pm)abaris Wrote:

(November 7, 2014 at 2:51 pm)JonDarbyXIII Wrote: Yes, there is terrorism that is specifically political, but religious zeal accounts for a huge part of terrorist acts. In this vein, it would seem that atheism is the only true answer to such acts.

You're probably not very familiar with the terror of the German RAF or the Italian Brigade Rosse. When I was growing up, they were considered just as much of a thret to society than the muslim fundamentalists are now. Been there, done that.

Point is, they were atheists. They didn't commit their acts in the name of atheism to be clear, but they also had their ideology to follow, which was some sort of anarchistic communism. Religion is an ideology too, probably the oldest, but getting rid of religion gets you nowhere, since there will always be people following some perceived ideal. And some of them will always resort to any measure to force their ideas down the throats of everybody else.

The "German RAF"? The Germans were mostly not atheists, so what exactly is your misinformed point?

(November 8, 2014 at 11:29 am)Chas Wrote:

(November 7, 2014 at 2:18 pm)Parkers Tan Wrote: That was certainly the fallout. Of course, throughout the 20s and 30s we weren't shy about throwing the Marines at any Caribbean government that tried to tax the plantation-owners.

But none of them flew planes into buildings.

---

Pretty sure a closer reading of my posts would reveal that I didn't claim that. Pretty sure that I was perfectly clear that the Marine deployments were in support of business, not religion, for that matter.

Of course, you're welcome to link and quote the post you have in mind; I'll be happy to parse it for you, if need be.

(November 8, 2014 at 11:29 am)Chas Wrote: The "German RAF"? The Germans were mostly not atheists, so what exactly is your misinformed point?

He's referring to the Red Army Faction, a German terrorist movement of the 70s and 80s.

Ironically, one of its Marxist founders is now a Neo-NaZi.

(November 8, 2014 at 11:29 am)Chas Wrote: The "German RAF"? The Germans were mostly not atheists, so what exactly is your misinformed point?

How about you inform yourself before you go on the attack on something you clearly haven't understood?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Army_Faction

I grew up during these years, in this region.