Radical religion

Submitted by J.K. Spivey (United States), Jan 24, 2004 at 14:39

What kind of faith would urge its followers to kill children?
What kind of faith says God will spread human waste on people's faces?
What kind of faith tells its people "curse your dad and your mom will be killed'?
What kind of faith commands its flock to take their rebellious children to the town to be stoned to death?
What kind of faith gives tacit approval for cannibalism?

My points (and there are a few) center around not going to extremes in characterizing issues. Any history teacher that does not teach the formation of the world's major faiths and their impact on people should be summarily fired. Similarly, any government that forbids the same should be rebelled against, but that is not what our government (under this or previous administrations) is tell us. One CAN say "God", "Christ", "Muhammad", "Allah", "Buddha", "Zoroaster", "Jehova", etc in school. One CAN believe in the faith of their choice and attend public schools (though many that are outraged about perceived discrimination would, I believe, only like their personal faith tolerated... and forgive me if I'm off base).

The boundary that cannot and must not be crossed (in public schools) rests at the border between allowing people to believe and convincing them to believe. That responsibility rests SOLELY with the family and the individual. If I found out my kid's classroom instructor was trying to get them to come to a different religious faith, you can bet I would be at the school demanding satisfaction. I would also be in the principal's office if I discovered that teacher was forbidding discussions of faith and ideologies.

My point regarding my initial statements are this: the answer to all of those questions is "Christianity." According to the Pslams 137:9 Malachi 2:3, Leviticus 20:9, Deuteronomy 21:18-21, & Deuteronomy 28:53 all command these things of its followers. Naturally, these could be taken out of context, JUST LIKE the Koran and be taken out of context. Similarly, both books were scribed by people with political motives who wanted these words to control the people.

It seems that all followers of all religions should just practice the goodness that is found in their faiths. Islam no more preaches violence than Christianity. Which was worse: 9/11 or the Crusades? Furthermore, why should anyone compare them in such a way? Bad is bad. Fanatics are fanatics. Preachers of hate and intolerance know no single denomination.

I have no grand unification theory of this whole thing, but I do know knee-jerking when I see it. And I feel much better for pointing it out. Thanks, and fire away.

JK Spivey

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