Religion
Related: About this forumFor Christ’s Sake
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/02/republican_reaction_to_obama_s_prayer_breakfast_many_conservatives_don_t.htmlSome Republicans would rather defend Christianity from all criticism than stand clearly against religious violence.
By William Saletan
FEB. 9 2015 3:29 PM
Rick Santorum, speaking here to guests at the Iowa Freedom Summit on Jan. 24, 2015, in Des Moines, is among the past and current GOP presidential candidates who have attacked Obamas National Prayer Breakfast speech.
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
A few days ago, at the National Prayer Breakfast, President Obama asked people of all faiths to reflect on the perils of religious arrogance. He began with terrorists who professed to stand up for Islam. But he cautioned his fellow Christians:
Obama continued:
This message of humility has infuriated the GOP. Several past and current Republican presidential candidatesRick Santorum, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, Jim Gilmorehave attacked the speech. So have dozens of conservative commentators. They reject the suggestion that Christianity has anything to apologize for. Many go further. They claim that Islam sanctions violence, that Islam is our enemy, or that Christianity is the only true faith. In issuing these declarations, Obamas critics validate the propaganda of ISIS and al-Qaida. Theyre not just pandering to the Christian right. Theyre aiding the Islamic right.
Conservatives are correct that were in a global struggle over Islamic violence. But the struggle isnt between Islam and Christianity. Its between people who want religious war and people who dont. Al-Qaida and ISIS cant conquer the world with 19 hijackers or 20,000 fighters. They need the worlds 1.6 billion Muslims. Thats why Osama Bin Laden always framed the conflict between al-Qaida and its targets as a war between Islam and Crusaders. Its why George W. Bush always stressed that Islam wasnt our adversary. And its why todays conservatives, with their anti-Muslim rhetoric and their excuses for the Crusades, are doing the enemys work.
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jwirr
(39,215 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)The Emperor's New Clothes.
Their denials of history are rather stupefying.
Leontius
(2,270 posts)okasha
(11,573 posts)Leontius
(2,270 posts)Maybe the hive can help.
okasha
(11,573 posts)and Santorum & Co. pretty much on the same level.
Fred Sanders
(23,946 posts)It is still the same struggle between science and superstition, now with a well funded superstition side and a choked science side.
longship
(40,416 posts)Notably at the conjunction of science, religion, and government .
When these issues arrive in a courtroom, religion often loses.
Those fighting the battles and winning are:
National Center for Science Education
Freedom from Religion Foundation
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
American Civil Liberties Union
And others.
The religious kooks may have many adherents, but the courts regularly side with the secularists. Their religiously based lunacy cannot stand up against rationality, especially in a court of law.
That's why:
1. They lose.
2. We need to make sure that judges on our courts will not place religious belief above the law.
The best way to insure these things is to elect Democrats to office at all levels. BTW, we are currently losing that battle at all levels.
Or, as Major Kong once said: Now let's get this thing on the hump. We've got some flying to do!
okasha
(11,573 posts)see Chief Justice Roy Moore of Alabama. He's a repeat offender.
longship
(40,416 posts)Like a rubber ball.
Bouncy-bouncy!
okasha
(11,573 posts)I think of him as the Hill Country cedar (actually Ashe juniper) pollen that every bit of a north breeze deposits on us every Dec.-Feb. Makes millions miserable.
Are you doing okay up there in the Frozen North?
longship
(40,416 posts)I've only had to be plowed out three times. Last year it was once a week or more all winter. I don't mind the cold as long as my old furnace keeps working and there's enough fuel oil to keep it burning. This year the price of fuel was about $1.50 / gallon cheaper, so I bought extra. Still might not make it through, but I have enough cash saved to add more.
Now if only the snow stays away...
Sunny today, but -- BRRRRRR!
Hope you are well, good buddy.
okasha
(11,573 posts)We have a saying about South Texas weather: febrero loco, marzo tampoco. (February's crazy; so is March.) It can go from 90's one day to snow the next.
Doing good. I'm taking the plunge into oil painting, and have some really sharp beginners in ceramics.
Keep warm.