Our server costs ~$56 per month to run. Please consider donating or becoming a Patron to help keep the site running. Help us gain new members by following us on Twitter and liking our page on Facebook!
Current time: November 28, 2024, 5:17 pm

Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Islam, a growing threat to the free world?
#41
RE: Islam, a growing threat to the free world?
(September 30, 2010 at 9:20 am)DeistPaladin Wrote:
(September 30, 2010 at 7:58 am)A Theist Wrote: Until now, your posts "seemed" to me, that you were dismissing the Islamic terrorist threat.
These are the events as they unfolded on the morning of 9-11...

For the second time, the part about the "rabid dog" that's still running free flew over your head?

All religions that preach a holy struggle against an imaginary devil, that imagine a horrifying "Hell" to save souls for all eternity from, are inherently dangerous. Terrorists, inquisitors, crusaders, jihadis, etc are all the inevitable result of the continued existence of these false, terrifying ideas of how the universe works.

Bottom line: It's not just Islam that's the problem. It's Islamo-Christianity.
Would the discussion of Islamic terrorism been more valid had an atheist raised the issue? Are you saying that I don't have the right to raise concerns about terrorist attacks by Muslims because there's violence in Christian history? What if you and I were both the victims of a terrorist attack, wouldn't I be just as affected as you? I say your anti christian sentiment is causing you to down play the Islamic terror threat. What about the terrorism that has come from your side?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_Und...anization)
"Inside every Liberal there's a Totalitarian screaming to get out"

[Image: freddy_03.jpg]

Quote: JohnDG...
Quote:It was an awful mistake to characterize based upon religion. I should not judge any theist that way, I must remember what I said in order to change.
Reply
#42
RE: Islam, a growing threat to the free world?
(October 1, 2010 at 5:53 am)A Theist Wrote: [quote='DeistPaladin' pid='96633' dateline='1285852847']
[quote='A Theist' pid='96625' dateline='1285847905']
I say your anti christian sentiment is causing you to down play the Islamic terror threat. What about the terrorism that has come from your side?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_Und...anization)


I like you, you're funny.
[Image: mybannerglitter06eee094.gif]
If you're not supposed to ride faster than your guardian angel can fly then mine had better get a bloody SR-71.
Reply
#43
RE: Islam, a growing threat to the free world?
(October 1, 2010 at 6:10 am)Zen Badger Wrote: I like you, you're funny.
Thanks mate.


"Inside every Liberal there's a Totalitarian screaming to get out"

[Image: freddy_03.jpg]

Quote: JohnDG...
Quote:It was an awful mistake to characterize based upon religion. I should not judge any theist that way, I must remember what I said in order to change.
Reply
#44
RE: Islam, a growing threat to the free world?
There is no such thing as islamic terrorism - those are just unconnected words thrown together to reinforce a construct. You could do the same with atheist terrorism if you wanted, the Red Army Faction come to mind. The big religions and the big ideologies don't terrorise, people do, usually in small, alienated groups. To defend itself a society must either tackle the alienation politically (the Northern Ireland approach - eventually) or determine to defend itself directly against individual terrorists and put society beyond harm when they are caught. Extending the blame for the actions of 20-30 people to another 1.6 billion stretches credibility, to say the least. We also have to ask what is terrorism? Does the bombing and killing of civilians in Afghanistan count? If you were on the receiving end of that, you would say yes. The niceties of claimed legal legitimacy would be somewhat lost on you if you witnessed your family and neighbours being killed by a NATO aircraft. The best thing I would have said would be to put an end to all militaristic and terrorist killing. The west has a long history of sending its "legitimate" armies to suppress peoples. These conflicts did not suddenly start in September 2001. The west was hardly a peaceful and honourable force for peace before then.
Reply
#45
RE: Islam, a growing threat to the free world?
(October 1, 2010 at 8:43 pm)Existentialist Wrote: There is no such thing as islamic terrorism - those are just unconnected words thrown together to reinforce a construct. You could do the same with atheist terrorism if you wanted, the Red Army Faction come to mind. The big religions and the big ideologies don't terrorise, people do, usually in small, alienated groups. To defend itself a society must either tackle the alienation politically (the Northern Ireland approach - eventually) or determine to defend itself directly against individual terrorists and put society beyond harm when they are caught. Extending the blame for the actions of 20-30 people to another 1.6 billion stretches credibility, to say the least. We also have to ask what is terrorism? Does the bombing and killing of civilians in Afghanistan count? If you were on the receiving end of that, you would say yes. The niceties of claimed legal legitimacy would be somewhat lost on you if you witnessed your family and neighbours being killed by a NATO aircraft. The best thing I would have said would be to put an end to all militaristic and terrorist killing. The west has a long history of sending its "legitimate" armies to suppress peoples. These conflicts did not suddenly start in September 2001. The west was hardly a peaceful and honourable force for peace before then.

It's worth making the point that the 9/11 attacks weren't against christianity or any other religion.

They were against the three symbols of perceived American imperialism.

That Osama binliner is a muslim is a minor point that the US gov used to focus the hatred.
[Image: mybannerglitter06eee094.gif]
If you're not supposed to ride faster than your guardian angel can fly then mine had better get a bloody SR-71.
Reply
#46
RE: Islam, a growing threat to the free world?
(October 1, 2010 at 5:53 am)A Theist Wrote: Are you saying that I don't have the right to raise concerns about terrorist attacks by Muslims because there's violence in Christian history? What if you and I were both the victims of a terrorist attack, wouldn't I be just as affected as you? I say your anti christian sentiment is causing you to down play the Islamic terror threat.

I admit I find hypocrisy distracting, even if I agree with the message being preached.

It's like the drunkard who, while intoxicated by his liquor, rails against the dangers of drugs. I agree that taking drugs is a bad idea but shouldn't you sober up first before you get on your soapbox about them?

As Jesus said, pull the mote out of your own eye first.

Quote:What about the terrorism that has come from your side?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_Und...anization)

Why is this "my side"?

Quote:You could do the same with atheist terrorism if you wanted, the Red Army Faction come to mind.

Is there a cause/effect relationship at work? Does not believing in God or in any religion inherently promote violence?

Quote:That Osama binliner is a muslim is a minor point that the US gov used to focus the hatred.

I would agree that America and the West have done much that is wrong in the Mid-East. However, have you read Bin Laden's manifesto? What angers the radical Muslim world is the encroachment of secularism and the threat that has for their way of life.
Atheist Forums Hall of Shame:
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
...      -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
...       -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
Reply
#47
RE: Islam, a growing threat to the free world?
Quote:
Quote:You could do the same with atheist terrorism if you wanted, the Red Army Faction come to mind.

Is there a cause/effect relationship at work? Does not believing in God or in any religion inherently promote violence?

Believing in God or religion, and not believing in God or religion, are equally non-causal of violence. Violence is perpetrated by people, for humanist reasons: alienation, resource deprivation, resistance to oppression. Whatever the apparent reason, only the individual can take responsibility for their violence.
Reply
#48
RE: Islam, a growing threat to the free world?
Ah... but there are countless instances of religion inspiring people to commit violence... for solely religious reasons. The guide books of the major religions do recommend violence in certain circumstances and, while the people committing said violence are responsible for their own actions, said violence may not have happened had their religion not given them justification.
Reply
#49
RE: Islam, a growing threat to the free world?
(October 2, 2010 at 10:02 am)DeistPaladin Wrote:
Quote:What about the terrorism that has come from your side?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_Und...anization)


Why is this "my side"?



No need to speculate. Here's a group of Christian terrorists who were stopped before they could do the "Lord's work":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hutaree
This isn't "my side" either.

"Inside every Liberal there's a Totalitarian screaming to get out"

[Image: freddy_03.jpg]

Quote: JohnDG...
Quote:It was an awful mistake to characterize based upon religion. I should not judge any theist that way, I must remember what I said in order to change.
Reply
#50
RE: Islam, a growing threat to the free world?
It all boils down to extremism. Extremism exists on all sides, but right now, at this point in history, Islam is the most actively and effectively extreme. Are these extremists a threat to the 'rest of the world'? Yes. 'Other' extremists (and extremist organizations) still exist, but Islam is currently the most prolific.

^ My 2 cents.
Reply



Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Whats your view on Threat Actors Woah0 12 1291 August 29, 2022 at 8:57 am
Last Post: Jehanne
  The United States and the growing divide zwanzig 73 5865 September 24, 2021 at 10:42 pm
Last Post: TaraJo
  Trump's Base is Possibly Growing Yonadav 66 5229 February 25, 2019 at 6:04 pm
Last Post: Athene
  AP: Obama's nose is growing John V 113 11759 September 17, 2018 at 6:26 pm
Last Post: Amarok
  Are Muslims the real threat? stupid rightist propaganda WinterHold 73 18410 November 1, 2017 at 9:09 am
Last Post: vorlon13
  The dangers of growing corp monopolies...... Brian37 1 576 January 30, 2017 at 12:34 am
Last Post: The Industrial Atheist
  Trump and Conservatism As A Threat: What Should Be Done? Secular Elf 106 17189 January 19, 2017 at 2:03 pm
Last Post: Pat Mustard
  The end of free speech and free protest in the UK Gooders1002 3 1506 January 31, 2014 at 1:43 pm
Last Post: Minimalist
  Growing Orthodox influence in Russia jonb 15 3990 August 18, 2012 at 8:18 pm
Last Post: jonb
  US response to China "Threat" darkment0r 21 7778 April 22, 2012 at 3:58 pm
Last Post: 5thHorseman



Users browsing this thread: 3 Guest(s)