Ahmadinejad allies charged with sorcery

[jackoroe]

Kinda makes you miss the Shah, doesn't it?

 

[EwanSF]

Nope, it makes me miss the regime that we helped you guys depose to put that nasty piece of shit in place.

 

[BostonPirate]

religion is a great tool to manipulate the masses.

That is the corespondence with the MUllahs of Iran and the "christian coalition" of the right.

They seek to manipulate the mythology and fears of man to their own pathetic need to stay in power.

the comparison is very apt. At a Bachmann sponsored high school event, a man told the students there that The Muslims were better at following the word of god than christians were because they put gays to death there still.

There IS an association, or at least an unmistakeable comparison that you have to be pretty intellectually dishonest not to point out and it is more than passing, it is systemic and ongoing for years.

 

[JB3]

religion is a great tool to manipulate the masses.

That is the corespondence with the MUllahs of Iran and the "christian coalition" of the right.

They seek to manipulate the mythology and fears of man to their own pathetic need to stay in power.

the comparison is very apt. At a Bachmann sponsored high school event, a man told the students there that The Muslims were better at following the word of god than christians were because they put gays to death there still.

There IS an association, or at least an unmistakeable comparison that you have to be pretty intellectually dishonest not to point out and it is more than passing, it is systemic and ongoing for years.

There isn't much of a correlation, besides for those that wish to somehow link the religious right with the fanatical Islamists in Iran.

That you or anyone else would think that they're remotely comparable is ridiculous.

 

[Kulindahr]

There isn't much of a correlation, besides for those that wish to somehow link the religious right with the fanatical Islamists in Iran.

That you or anyone else would think that they're remotely comparable is ridiculous.

Having spent more than a few years associating (and entangled) with the religious right, I think you're turning a blind eye. Wishing the law would allow them to just grab some kid caught in premarital sex and drag him out to stone him was common -- and the same for gays. They long for a country where the law endorses their theocratic impulses, where they could storm gay bars and drag out the occupants to be stoned to death. These are people who sincerely believe that "freedom of religion" means freedom to be one or another sort of Christian, and nothing else.

 

[TheFireGod]

Can't help it, damn mention of a djinn (or Genie) in that article got that song "Never had a Friend Like Me" from Disney's Aladdin now stuck in my head.

 

[JB3]

Having spent more than a few years associating (and entangled) with the religious right, I think you're turning a blind eye. Wishing the law would allow them to just grab some kid caught in premarital sex and drag him out to stone him was common -- and the same for gays. They long for a country where the law endorses their theocratic impulses, where they could storm gay bars and drag out the occupants to be stoned to death. These are people who sincerely believe that "freedom of religion" means freedom to be one or another sort of Christian, and nothing else.

Oh I spent several years with them as well. But as bad as they are (and they're pretty awful), its still a huge stretch to compare them with the fanatics that make up the Iranian religious edifice.

 

[EwanSF]

Why? The only difference so far as I can see is that the Iranians had a revolution. Their christian counterparts would do the same given the chance.

 

[JB3]

Why? The only difference so far as I can see is that the Iranians had a revolution. Their christian counterparts would do the same given the chance.

If you believe that, then you don't know anything at all about either religion.

 

[Kulindahr]

Oh I spent several years with them as well. But as bad as they are (and they're pretty awful), its still a huge stretch to compare them with the fanatics that make up the Iranian religious edifice.

Only on the surface -- the Talibangelicals would be delighted to have a setup like the imams have.

Why? The only difference so far as I can see is that the Iranians had a revolution. Their christian counterparts would do the same given the chance.

Not quite; they balk at violent overthrow. But give them actual control of Congress and the White House, and they'd churn out theocratic bills like a Pelosi working for a Roosevelt... on steroids.

 

[Dolmance]

If you believe that, then you don't know anything at all about either religion.

A single word proves you woefully wrong: Uganda.

 

[rareboy]

^ this.

Well done.

'Christians'.

 

[Telstra]

A single word proves you woefully wrong: Uganda.

Yes, Christianity is no better.
The only thing that Christianity is tamed in the west is wealth.

 

[Dolmance]

Yes, Christianity is no better.
The only thing that Christianity is tamed in the west is wealth.

That's deeply unfair; there are Christians and Christians. Those responsible for this atrocity are a particular strain of Fundamentalists who happen to be politically active and socially vociferous in U.S. society. The problem is not Christianity or religion in general; the problem is the base tribal inclinations that these all too often reflect. Condemning an entire swathe of people who happen to adhere to a similar label is absurd; they have no more responsibility for what these lunatics are doing than I do as a British person for what our Nationalistic thugs do.

That said, I would certainly like to see more in the way of active condemnation from other Christian churches for these atrocities, as well as a concerted "YOU DON'T SPEAK FOR US!" message sent to the fundamentalists and evangelicals.

 

[BostonPirate]

There isn't much of a correlation, besides for those that wish to somehow link the religious right with the fanatical Islamists in Iran.

That you or anyone else would think that they're remotely comparable is ridiculous.

Bachmann to raise funds for anti-gay public school ministry

that is a hotlink, not just an underlined quote....

here is what happened.

On Nov. 12, Rep. Michele Bachmann will be the headliner at a fundraiser for You Can Run But You Cannot Hide, an anti-gay ministry that has positioned itself to have access to students at public high schools around the Midwest.

sound familiar?

what did they say to those high school kids????

http://freethinker.co.uk/2010/05/26...mericans-to-behave-like-muslims-towards-gays/

Dean said:
Muslims are calling for the executions of homosexuals in America. This just shows you they themselves are upholding the laws that are even in the Bible of the Judeo-Christian God, but they seem to be more moral than even the American Christians do, because these people are livid about enforcing their laws. They know homosexuality is an abomination.
He added:
If America won’t enforce the laws, God will raise up a foreign enemy to do just that. The bottom line is this … they [homosexuals] play the victim when they are, in fact, the predator.
Dean then made a claim that has no basis in fact:
On average, they molest 117 people before they’re found out. How many kids have been destroyed, how many adults have been destroyed because of crimes against nature?

are ALL christians calling for the death of gays? no.

are ALL muslims calling for the death of gays? no.

BUT

From both religions, there is a radical element that wants gays to be put to death for merely being gay.

 

[Kulindahr]

Yes, Christianity is no better.
The only thing that Christianity is tamed in the west is wealth.

That's deeply unfair; there are Christians and Christians. Those responsible for this atrocity are a particular strain of Fundamentalists who happen to be politically active and socially vociferous in U.S. society. The problem is not Christianity or religion in general; the problem is the base tribal inclinations that these all too often reflect. Condemning an entire swathe of people who happen to adhere to a similar label is absurd; they have no more responsibility for what these lunatics are doing than I do as a British person for what our Nationalistic thugs do.

That said, I would certainly like to see more in the way of active condemnation from other Christian churches for these atrocities, as well as a concerted "YOU DON'T SPEAK FOR US!" message sent to the fundamentalists and evangelicals.

That last, especially. More and more, I see that the Talibangelicals are antichrist, turning Jesus' message on its head, making Him nothing more than a political figure. They do not know Him.

 

[EwanSF]

If you believe that, then you don't know anything at all about either religion.

Aw, and I always thought I was fairly well read. You've clearly proved otherwise, with one vague, uninformative sentence. Enlighten me then. I was about to tear you to pieces for making such a moronic statement, but I've been beat to it by about three different people. You tell me how there's any difference.


And Kuli, I doubt all of them would balk at violence. The rhetoric I've heard from some of these folk would suggest otherwise.

 

[White Eagle]

Bachmann to raise funds for anti-gay public school ministry

that is a hotlink, not just an underlined quote....

here is what happened.



sound familiar?

what did they say to those high school kids????

http://freethinker.co.uk/2010/05/26...mericans-to-behave-like-muslims-towards-gays/



are ALL christians calling for the death of gays? no.

are ALL muslims calling for the death of gays? no.

BUT

From both religions, there is a radical element that wants gays to be put to death for merely being gay.

Would someone explain this to me?

“Do you not understand, enemies of God, [that] you are cursing yourselves?” said Dean. “This secular government is giving them rights? They are talking away their life is what they are doing. What’s the average age of a homosexual?”

McMillian chimed in, “A homosexual male? 42 is what they live to be.”

I'm 68.

 

[JB3]

Aw, and I always thought I was fairly well read. You've clearly proved otherwise, with one vague, uninformative sentence. Enlighten me then. I was about to tear you to pieces for making such a moronic statement, but I've been beat to it by about three different people. You tell me how there's any difference.


And Kuli, I doubt all of them would balk at violence. The rhetoric I've heard from some of these folk would suggest otherwise.

How about you read about Islamists and their worldview and get back to me. Because its clear you haven't.

 

[EwanSF]

How? Expand a bit further on that one, because, as it turns out, I'm extremely well versed on the ins and outs political Islam, both shia and sunni. Just as I am well aquainted with the theological and political leanings of the christian extreme right in the west. So please, enlighten me as to what led you to this clearly incorrect conclusion. Or say something that's at least of a bit of interest or fucking relevance.