Muslim Child Abuse

[Judas BentHer]

I think you may have assumed that I was defending polytheism as a better way. I was only arguing that in that one regard, and for that one individual I cited, a religious tradition can be civil. Polytheism is not in any way better, but at least there is more than one choice. Monotheism, in contrast, is absolute. Again, I was merely arguing against the statement that religious tradition cannot be civil. I think that Julians rule does stand as a sort of interesting backdrop in that regard, to what came before and after.

I understood your point of view and my apologies if I gave the impression that I thought you were defending polytheism exclusively.

However, with regard to my former statement that religious tradition is not civil-ized, while I understand your reference to Julian it is not a fair and accurate representation of his rule to assume that during his reign as Caesar that his was a polytheistic empire that ruled as a tolerant open society that afforded more liberties than did monotheism.

Monotheism refers to one god, as we know. And yet, in the history of polytheism and Julian's version included, absolutism was not at all absent. While Rome may have absorbed the god(s) and goddess(es) of it's conquered so as to afford a veritable pantheon of supreme beings the world over, that inclusive doctrinal impression was not the lay of the land prior to nor post Julian era.
Rome, even under Julian, did revere many Deities welcomed into a veritable global pantheon amid all the lands Rome ruled. However , there were Deities of State and religious doctrine that was deemed "officially Roman" and as far as they were concerned there was elitist exclusivism. So while inclusive polytheism was tolerated as a matter of political expediency, it was not tolerated as a matter of official Roman religiosity in matters of State.

The Romans figured it was easier to tolerate the conquered people's worship and Deities because it kept the peace and made for far less conflict in the challenge of overcoming a people coupled with attempting to enslave their minds, hearts and souls to one doctrine. So as long as the conquered knew and kept their place, they were fine. They could worship as they saw fit and yet, the supremacy that was afforded the Roman pantheon was absolute. The other god's and goddesses of conquered people were tolerated however, they were not construed as bearing equal footing to those of the Roman pantheon. Which can be construed to be reflected in today's theme attending the American Senate chamber.
Where the first amendment insures freedom of all religions, on the wall of the Senate chamber is written in brass letters; in god we trust.

That is in reference to the Christian deity. And while polytheism is an inalienable right afforded all citizens in the U.S. the implication, the inference that causes conflict often enough on the subject and is what inspires many Christians to imagine this is indeed a Christian nation, is that that affirmation on the wall of power governing this country (and on our currency and elsewhere) is that the god of the Christians reigns in the halls of power.

So is it any wonder that when secularists proclaim Christian Theists imagining that is true on all fronts in this country are met with opposition in insisting on the separation of church and State that often enough their rebuffed by those in political power?
It wasn't any different when it came to the Roman Senate, wherein the American gleaned it's model.

We all want to feel comfortable living in a world that looks and feels the way we need it to in order to feel safe and free. We can claim we're tolerant of all and yet, when it comes to down to brass tacks we find that's not only not the case but it's impossible. It's what makes for conflict between atheist and Theist.

Freedom of and freedom from are and were two different things. No matter how many Deities are present because the real life players are the human ego's that give life to the belief that one way or the other, Theist or atheist, it all comes down to who's right.


*edit missing words*