What Atheists Like Bill Maher Have in Common with Medieval Christian Crusaders

[steeltoes]

Nope.

You confuse skepticism and factual accountings with blatantly obvious witticism and sarcasm.

Not everyone takes your concerns all that seriously, which is most often the point.

I have no idea if I'm "old", "ancient", "contemporary" or "new(neo)" atheist...or just a boring and plain everyday atheist.

I have ample reason to question ANY religious fundamentalism, regardless of source, belief, or faith...especially any that retain no sense of humor about themselves or their religion. Most especially when the most vocal credo is..."convert or die". I really dislike those sort...

...anyway...

Frankly, I tire of any religious fundamentalist ever moreso the louder they shriek in some protest or claimed offense. Still just a guess, but I suspect the largest wails originate from "true believers" that still fail to grasp any sustained group of people that pay no attention to faith-based insistence's that "something" can/must be "TRUE".

I don't care. Get real, or go squabble in secluded silence amongst yourselves.

*yawn*

I don't blame the despicable behavior of ISIS on their religion, I think other obvious factors are involved.

 

[steeltoes]

So far as I know, it is very seldom that actual scientists consider the results of a signal scientific study to be either conclusive or exceptionally compelling. That Werkeman tries to fob off the study as conclusive and compelling says very little in favor of his intellectual integrity, and that you would follow him in that perhaps speaks to your naivete.

"The findings of the Flinders University study are supported by the research conducted at the University of Chicago’s Project on Security and Terrorism, which was partly funded by the Defense Department’s Threat Reduction Agency. The authors, Robert A. Pape and James K. Feldman, examined more than 2,200 suicide attacks across the world from 1980 to present. Their research reveals that more than 90 percent of suicide attacks are directed at an occupying force." Why Do Some Leading Atheists Abandon Reason and Get Bloodthirsty About Mideast Terrorism? | Alternet

 

[outhouse]

I don't blame the despicable behavior of ISIS on their religion, I think other obvious factors are involved.

I do.


While not a 100% responsible, it is far from innocent.

 

[Sunstone]

I don't blame the despicable behavior of ISIS on their religion, I think other obvious factors are involved.

So do you believe religions have no influence on people, or merely that they have no negative influences on people?

 

[Sunstone]

"The findings of the Flinders University study are supported by the research conducted at the University of Chicago’s Project on Security and Terrorism, which was partly funded by the Defense Department’s Threat Reduction Agency. The authors, Robert A. Pape and James K. Feldman, examined more than 2,200 suicide attacks across the world from 1980 to present. Their research reveals that more than 90 percent of suicide attacks are directed at an occupying force." Why Do Some Leading Atheists Abandon Reason and Get Bloodthirsty About Mideast Terrorism? | Alternet

I wouldn't trust an Alternet interpretation of a study unless I knew the Alternate author rather well and had observed them to have more intellectual honesty than is typical for Alternet and its authors.

 

[atanu]

I think any truly balanced account of the Middle East would take into account the role religion plays in the conflicts there, and not pretend, as the Alternet article seems to, that the conflicts can be explained entirely in secular terms.

That is reasonable. Yet, eventually, it boils down to politics and wrong application of religion.

On both sides, there are overwhelming religious teaching for peace, but man's (ego's) nature is to rationalise violent and aggressive nature in terms of some externality ... and religion comes handy.

Fire cannot be controlled by return fire, IMO. And this hatred and war like mentality is just unstoppable. Wars, aggression, oppression etc. are integral part of life.

Religion just teaches to get over this sense of otherness and hatred at individual level first ... and that works wonder.

My opinion only. YMMV.

 

[steeltoes]

So do you believe religions have no influence on people, or merely that they have no negative influences on people?

Religion is not the root cause of the formation of ISIS, a long brutal U.S. military occupation of Iraq is the root cause of its formation. Religion may now impose its influence on ISIS, but it had nothing to do with the reasons ISIS exists.

 

[s2a]

I don't blame the despicable behavior of ISIS on their religion, I think other obvious factors are involved.

"....of which, I don't care to share..."

Very brave, or just empty impotence.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[s2a]

Religion is not the root cause of the formation of ISIS, a long brutal U.S. military occupation of Iraq is the root cause of its formation. Religion may now impose its influence on ISIS, but it had nothing to do with the reasons ISIS exists.

If you say that one hundred times under your breath...it still won't be true.

I know it's rude to just pick at an old scab in a crowd, but jeez...

 

[YmirGF]

Religion is not the root cause of the formation of ISIS, a long brutal U.S. military occupation of Iraq is the root cause of its formation. Religion may now impose its influence on ISIS, but it had nothing to do with the reasons ISIS exists.

Clearly, your knowledge of Geo-politics and Islamic fundamentalism could be placed on the head of a pin.

 

[Nakosis]

Religion is not the root cause of the formation of ISIS, a long brutal U.S. military occupation of Iraq is the root cause of its formation. Religion may now impose its influence on ISIS, but it had nothing to do with the reasons ISIS exists.

The problem is, people use their religion to justify their actions. However religious belief cannot be accepted as an excuse for a person's action. If fact, religious should not be considered at all. A person's actions are their responsibility regardless of what they believe. Society, civilization, governments have to deal with the actions, not the belief.

People will find any reason to justify their actions. We all are influenced by numerous ideas. None of those influences matter. What does matter is what we do. A crime is a crime. That is what society has to deal with. Regardless of any cause or justification.

Even if they justify their actions by their religious beliefs, it is the action we have to deal with, not the religious belief.

If my religious belief was that it was ok to murder infidels. It would not matter if I never acted upon it. It I did act upon it, it would be the action that society would have to deal with. Everyone could speculate what the influences were. However none of the speculation matters. Only the actions of the individual do we have any right to concern ourselves with.

 

[s2a]

The problem is, people use their religion to justify their actions. However religious belief cannot be accepted as an excuse for a person's action. If fact, religious should not be considered at all. A person's actions are their responsibility regardless of what they believe. Society, civilization, governments have to deal with the actions, not the belief.

People will find any reason to justify their actions. We all are influenced by numerous ideas. None of those influences matter. What does matter is what we do. A crime is a crime. That is what society has to deal with. Regardless of any cause or justification.

Even if they justify their actions by their religious beliefs, it is the action we have to deal with, not the religious belief.

If my religious belief was that it was ok to murder infidels. It would not matter if I never acted upon it. It I did act upon it, it would be the action that society would have to deal with. Everyone could speculate what the influences were. However none of the speculation matters. Only the actions of the individual do we have any right to concern ourselves with.

*ding*

 

[WhatGod]

What Atheists Like Bill Maher Have in Common with Medieval Christian Crusaders | Alternet

I found no analysis in the article to support its claims. It was just some one whining about their sensibilities being trod on.

I don't always agree with anyone, but when I disagree and especially with I disagree with some one of well established intellectual capacity, I need sound reasons for that disagreement and none were presented in that article.

 

[WhatGod]

What does matter is what we do. A crime is a crime. That is what society has to deal with. Regardless of any cause or justification.

So you dismiss any importance of intent and all mitigating circumstances? It all boils down to simple legalism no matter how unjust the law or what the context or circumstances might be?

So fine. Whose law then?

 

[WhatGod]

I don't blame the despicable behavior of ISIS on their religion, I think other obvious factors are involved.

I don't think the other obvious factors would result in public beheadings or the other extreme applications of their religious beliefs without those religious beliefs.

 

[WhatGod]

Religion is not the root cause of the formation of ISIS, a long brutal U.S. military occupation of Iraq is the root cause of its formation. Religion may now impose its influence on ISIS, but it had nothing to do with the reasons ISIS exists.

These bloody disputes go back before the founding of our country, before the European discovery of the new world, before western Europeans started getting embroiled in the middle east via the crusades, back to as soon as Mohammad was cold in the ground. We aren't even a blip and long after we get tire of it and go home; they will still be killing each other for their religion of peace.

The only real reason any one cares is to take their oil. That should become a moot point in the next 50 years and we can let them go back to killing each other in obscurity.

 

[s2a]

These bloody disputes go back before the founding of our country, before the European discovery of the new world, before western Europeans started getting embroiled in the middle east via the crusades, back to as soon as Mohammad was cold in the ground. We aren't even a blip and long after we get tire of it and go home; they will still be killing each other for their religion of peace.

The only real reason any one cares is to take their oil. That should become a moot point in the next 50 years and we can let them go back to killing each other in obscurity.

WWIII will be about potable water.

Religion will then no longer be a viable subject of debate.

I'll be dead, so ya'll have at it.

 

[WhatGod]

WWIII will be about potable water.

Religion will then no longer be a viable subject of debate.

I'll be dead, so ya'll have at it.

People who actually need potable water are too busy for nonsense like war.

War requires a certain amount of leisure.