Beyond Belief, by Chris Floyd

[The2ndWheel]

http://context.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2006/07/28/120.html

The history of almost every religion is a tragedy of betrayal: the betrayal of the radical, egalitarian vision of its founders by generations of powerful elites, who twist and pervert the original principles in order to augment their own status, wealth and dominion. It has always been thus, but is nowhere more marked than among the "People of the Book" -- Christians, Muslims and Jews -- whose elites have for centuries led their followers away from the sparks of light that shone in the beginning, dragging them deeper into darkness and error, until today the world finds itself mired in a new Jahiliyyah, or time of ignorance.

We are not suggesting a precise equivalence here, of course. The blood-curdling depredations of those who claim to be Christians have, in sheer numbers over the course of history, far outweighed the atrocities committed by those who claim to be Muslims. And the number of crimes committed in the names of both of these sects dwarf by several magnitudes the outrages perpetrated by those who claim to follow the paths of Rabbinic Judaism -- although the latter are certainly making a game bid to catch up.

The degeneration of these faiths into aggressive obscurantism should of course be a matter solely for their adherents; why should anyone else be concerned with the feverish hair-splitting, manic control-freakery and sexual obsessions of rabid fundamentalists? Unfortunately, these now-degraded sects dominate the lives of billions of people. Professed believers -- or, even worse, sincere believers -- from the three "Abrahamic faiths" control the governments of many nations, with bristling nuclear arsenals under Christian, Jewish and Muslim command. The fundamentalists' stunted, ignorant and at times demented interpretations of ancient texts, dubious traditions and their own blood-soaked histories cannot be ignored. They are the driving force behind every conflict today that threatens to wrap the earth in flames of literal hellfire.

[papau]

1. A bit of cover for the oil companies and their control and their wars? n/t

n/t

[Boomer]

2. It's really not that hard

"What is hateful to yourself, do not do to others. That is the whole law; the rest is commentary. Go and study."

How come we can't get it right?