Lighter Skin = Better?

[Rahul]

The whole monotheism thing became a distinct problem when the Jewish cult of Christianity gained popularity. Jews has occasional difficulties with the Romans (in places like Alexandria), but they were smart enough (and well-established enough) to get by. Christians, though... not so smart.

Yeah, what's up with that? Why are Muslims and Christians so dumb and Jews are so smart?

[Red Celt]

The whole monotheism thing became a distinct problem when the Jewish cult of Christianity gained popularity. Jews has occasional difficulties with the Romans (in places like Alexandria), but they were smart enough (and well-established enough) to get by. Christians, though... not so smart.

Yeah, what's up with that? Why are Muslims and Christians so dumb and Jews are so smart?

Jews are generally happy to keep their religion to them self. Christians are on a constant recruitment campaign and keep insisting that everyone else's life is run by the same "standards" as their own. Much the same can be said about Muslims.

The sole reason for me being a vocal atheist is found in the above. Whatever belief you have, if you keep it to yourself rather than shoving it in my face... I have no problem with your choice of crutch that you use to get through life. It's your choice. Just make sure that you don't try and make it my choice, as well.

[Anomalocaris]

The whole monotheism thing became a distinct problem when the Jewish cult of Christianity gained popularity. Jews has occasional difficulties with the Romans (in places like Alexandria), but they were smart enough (and well-established enough) to get by. Christians, though... not so smart.

Occassional difficulties? The bar kokhba revolt was easily the most serious native armed uprising against Roman rule in the history of the early Empire and took 40% of the entire Imperial army to crush. Prior to that, hardly anyone notice the christians besides the christains. The christains were dismissed as just another weird and obnoxious Jewish sect.

It was only after Rome eventually crushed the Jews utterly, executed most of the entire Jewish priesthood, and drove remaining Jews out of Palastine as punishment for this rebellion that early Christians found opportunity to profiteer from the misfortune of their recent fellow Jews by turning their cult from still largely a Jewish affair to something with a decidedlt antisemitic tone in order to cash in on the feverish pitch of Roman anti-Jewish feelings.

[Red Celt]

Jesus fuck, you don't get any brighter, do you?

That was a war of conquest, with local resistance to an invading military presence. It wasn't about Judaism, or the plurality of religious observance among the Roman people.

[Anomalocaris]

You wouldn't have any room to get any dumber or any more ignorant, would you?

The Bar Kokhba rebellion was decidedly about Judiasm. It was instigated when Emperor Hadrian offered to pay for the rebuilding of Jeruselum as a gesture of reconciliation 50 years after Titus sacked it and burned the temple, but insisted that his statue be placed in the sacred Jewish temply precinct for the Jews to give thanks to. It was whipped into feverish pitch by the appearence of this man Bar Kokhba who was seen as the true Jewish Messiah (not the lunatic Jesus) who would liberate the Jews from heathen domination, and the Jews become moved to follow him with biblical ferver. From beginning to the end it was about the stand of old temple based Judiasm against encroachment of Roman influence.

[thesummerqueen]

Well...this is interesting.

[Red Celt]

You wouldn't have any room to get any dumber or any more ignorant, would you?

The Bar Kokhba rebellion was decidedly about Judiasm. It was instigated when Emperor Hadrian offered to pay for the rebuilding of Jeruselum as a gesture of reconciliation 50 years after Titus sacked it and burned the temple, but insisted that his statue be placed in the sacred Jewish temply precinct for the Jews to give thanks to. It was whipped into feverish pitch by the appearence of this man Bar Kokhba who was seen as the true Jewish Messiah (not the lunatic Jesus) who would liberate the Jews from heathen domination, and the Jews become moved to follow him with biblical ferver. From beginning to the end it was about the stand of old temple based Judiasm against encroachment of Roman influence.

What, you mean that it was a "disagreement" between the locals and the occupying forces? Why, yes, that has everything to do with the discussion about religious pluralism.

[Brian37]

Yeah, what's up with that? Why are Muslims and Christians so dumb and Jews are so smart?

Jews are generally happy to keep their religion to them self. Christians are on a constant recruitment campaign and keep insisting that everyone else's life is run by the same "standards" as their own. Much the same can be said about Muslims.

The sole reason for me being a vocal atheist is found in the above. Whatever belief you have, if you keep it to yourself rather than shoving it in my face... I have no problem with your choice of crutch that you use to get through life. It's your choice. Just make sure that you don't try and make it my choice, as well.

Stop right there. No religion can keep to itself, to even just maintain it status it has to assert its place in the social structure.

Jews don't get a pass. It still amounts to a stupid religion centered around the idea that a comic book super hero "CHOSE ME".

Once you start claiming that shit, you perpetuate human tribalism based on a fictional character. Jews should not get a pass anymore than Islam or Christianity because all of them claim "daddy loves me the best".

[Anomalocaris]

No, it was disagreement a genuinely inclusive creed, and a rabidly exclusive one.

[Red Celt]

Do you have a relative that regularly checks their horoscope? It is a superstition that helps them. It does me no harm... unless they insist that I govern my life based on my own horoscope, or campaigns for the government to instill astrology in the laws that govern all people.

Life can be difficult. Many look for props to help them live it. They are free to follow their own path in life up until the point when their freedoms prevent others from following their own freedoms. This is a simple concept in a liberal society. As a liberal, I'm happy for people to do as they want. There is no room for any kind of Thought Police™, regardless of how crazy the thoughts of others might be.