Religious fundamentalists are united by fear. Whether they are Christian, Muslim, or Jew, fear is the common denominator. They fear change, modernization and loss of influence. They fear that the young will abandon the churches, mosques and synagogues for physical and material gratification. They fear the influence of mass media and its ability to subvert the young with song, dance, fashion, alcohol, drugs, sex and freedom. They especially fear education if it undermines the teachings of their religion. They fear a future they can鈥檛 control, or even comprehend.
Perhaps it鈥檚 not surprising to realize that it is fear that also connects the myriad of nationalist, separatist and independence movements who also engage in political violence. Although experts, academics and analysts hypothesize about a multitude of causal effects that lead to violence and terrorism, fear is the underlying motivator.|||Religious fundamentalists are the ultimate bigots. It matters not what their "faith", denomination, or whatever is, they all live by the belief that if you are not like them, you are evil. Not a Southern Baptist? You are doomed to hell. Not a Catholic? Well, there is no hope for you. Etc., Etc.
To consider the power of religion in the United States, consider this question: Would an atheist have a chance at winning an election? At any level of government? I think not. And that is a shame, as there are a lot of very capable, very intelligent, individuals out there who happen to be atheist.|||I think you hit the nail on the head. Fear destroys logic and reason, and people do crazy things to defend themselves against threats, whether those threats are real or imagined.
To answer your question, we got to this hateful climate because both sides moved away from the middle and to the extremes. There were (and are) many, many reasons for the move - technology, gap between rich and poor, shift in global economic power, etc.|||As dangerous as panic could be...|||What hateful climate?
I don't see hate, I see a world controlled by fear. Fear of and by the Government. Religious extremists have been among us for millenia. There is nothing new about that. What has changed today is the general response. In a world afraid to allow nail clippers into a courtroom, it is idiotic to blame religion for the overblown reaction CAUSED BY THE MEDIA you so admire. Religion isn't about fear. That is merely the response of those without access to their Creator. Religion doesn't spread fear, secular society does.|||I think Evangelical Christians are more dangerous than Islamic fundamentalists, because they put Bush into power and he has made terrorism more common throughout the world, and he destroyed what was the most powerful country in the world.
But yes, they are all extremely dangerous...Whether they are trying to force people to follow their religion (potential ban on abortion), or killing the non-believers, it's all bad.
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SSENDRAWKCAB|||1. Muslim terrorists have been trying to destroy Israel for over fifty years.
2. The Muslim Taliban in Afghanistan harbored and protected Usama bin Laden and al-Qa鈥檌da until recently and the remnants are still trying to create havoc and destruction.
3. In the southern Philippines, Muslims terrorize Catholics and kidnap foreigners.
4. In East Timor, Muslims have endorsed the regime's attempts at ethnic cleansing against Christians
5. Algeria is wracked by bitter fighting between Islamic Fundamentalists and the military.
6. Nigeria is in the midst of a civil war between Muslims and Christians.
7. In Kenya the Islamic Party has declared Holy War on the government.
8. In Turkey the secular Muslim government is being challenged by the militant Refah Islamic Party.
9. Christians in Lebanon have largely fled as a result of Muslim persecution.
10. A civil war rages in the Sudan between Muslims in the north against the Christians in the south.
11. A war also rages between Muslim Eritrea and Christian Ethiopia.
12. The result of fighting between Muslim Azerbaijans and Christian Armenians was 35,000 casualties. Armenia was shrunk because of territory "gained" by the "breeding-with-a- vengeance" Muslim population.
13. In Europe, Muslims encourage Radical Islamist separatism in Bosnia and Kosovo, and now in Macedonia.
14. In Russia, Muslims call for the violent secession of Chechnya, and Dagestan.
15. In Egypt, Radical Islamists persecute the Copts
16. In Pakistan, Muslims promote Jihad to sever the multi-ethnic province of Kashmir from India.
17. In Indonesia, Muslims routinely assault the native Christians, particularly in the Moluccas.
18. In America and Europe, Fundamentalists have taken over the leadership of the growing Muslim communities to radicalize them and pave the way for Radical Islamist political action in the service of a global Jihad. Muslim terrorists based in Canada have made a number of attempts against the United States. Muslim terrorists based in the United States carried out the September 11th attack against the World Trade Center and The Pentagon.
19. Turkish Muslims committed mass Genocide against Christian Armenians murdering over 3 million.
20. The Arabic Muslim states in the Middle East are actively acquiring, harboring, sponsoring, aiding, abetting, and deploying terrorists and terrorism, through state sponsorship with the goal of obtaining three major types of Weapons of Mass Destruction--Biological, Chemical, and Nuclear--which they will indiscriminately use against the Infidels.|||Religious factions are no more dangerous than any other group. However, an agenda of violence against those with opposing points of view is where the danger lies.
Tie it to religion, like mindedness, ignorance, poverty, idealism, tradition or whatever you prefer.
However, it should be said that it has been quite some time since the Jews, Baptists, Methodists or Catholics were in the news for torturing or executing non-Jewish or non-Christians. In fact, I don't think we should be too concerned about that happening any time soon.
I know several Baptist extremists. They don't scare me.... unless they get to the lunch buffet before me.
Something to think about....|||You bring up a great point, but I would extend it to ALL extremists, not just religious.
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