religious extremists

[sntaylor]

Firstly I just want to point out a few things.

Yes, I'm not religious, but have family who are born again Christians. I have nothing against any religion,I have friends of many religious backgrounds and support their right to follow and believe whatever they wish.

This thread is about extremists who kill in the name of their God,who go to other countries and tell them what to do or think and if they don't change it, they will attack.

Most recently, on my birthday, across the water, Charlie hebdo offices were attacked and 12 people killed, others injured and many more emotionally scarred for life. All because the magazine refused to bow to extremist pressure and they posted pictures of Mohammed, mocked terrorists and stood up for the freedom of speech we are all entitled too. They didn't just set out to annoy extremists, they have for decades, poked fun at religious leaders from all around, politicians, business leaders and just general people, celebrities or not. It was their right, it is ours.

The killers were heard saying.

" we have avenged the prophet! We have killed Charlie hebdo"

It is for this reason people are saying/posting je suis Charlie.

It is up to you how this thread follows,I don't want it poking fun at religion and how or why everyone else wrong but your right. It's about the extremist element and what we can do about them whilst maintaining the higher moral ground, not back lashing because at ordinary people in street who are Muslim just because some bad guys are, that'd be hitting out at all people with prosthetic legs because Oscar pistorius shot his girlfriend!

So, what is the answer to the problem?

 

[dynomot]

Do you know, this is my umpteenth attempt before I hit "post reply" in this thread. I get to end of this first paragraph, read what I've written after and delete it. You ask a really excellent question, and I have come to the conclusion, I really don't know. I don't think any one does, and that in itself is part of the problem.

Religious fundamentalism although abhorrent is a right. Murdering or doing anything that hurts individuals who disagree with your fundamentalism is not.

I think given that in western liberal democracies the above paragraph is true, we have to be clear what constitutes "hurt". Feelings, to my mind, donot count and cannot. To be flippant I really think as a society as a whole we must agree the old adage (attributed to Voltaire) that, and I paraphrase : "I may not agree with what you say, but will die for your right to say it" must be true and must be believed by the majority or our hard won freedoms, so valiantly defended by previous generations will be lost and we, as a liberal democracy will be no more.

 

[dan330]

religion in itself is NOT the problem. just a set of beliefs/faith.. to live a good life by.

the problem is when NUTJOBs and CRAZIES.. buy into a set of beliefs/religion but try to interpret the loosely worded guidelines to fit into their broken brain! then you ad into these individuals some intelligence and charisma.. the ability to talk and manipulate others. Sprinkle on some weak willed, low intelligent, lost, or generally angry people (not happy with the life they have, for what ever reason). this creates a ticking time bomb... looking for a reason to explode.
any fuuuckking reason! any place... at anyone!
because it is NEVER my fault.. so it must be the them that caused my sorry life!

there is always going to be these types of people.

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but can someone stop these others on bikes
from knocking on my door
and trying to change my mind and agree with them about their beliefs?
grrrrrr!!!

 

[Gmash]

This is why I don't like religion. I am agnostic, whatever may be out there, I don't know, but organized religion is made by man, to control man. Killing and centuries old blood feuds in the name of fairy tales. Rational thought goes out the window when people think the magic man in the sky is telling them what to do. And my magic deity is better than yours. So let's be mortal enemies and kill each other.

 

[no one]

If you believe your god is telling you to kill in its name, it's time you find yourself a new god. I am more than certain that whatever is, that created everything that there is, does not need anyone's help, with anything, ever.