Yes, for fuck's sake, we all know radical Islam is a huge problem. Add it the list, if you'd like. I only have so much space, there is a word limit and thought it obvious.
How many Muslims do you think subscribe to Wrong Speak? If you just want fresh meat it can be found elsewhere. It is easy to change the subject- a little too easy.
Interestingly enough - you say nothing of the radical Muslims that believe ‘their’ god has given them the right to real estate also - and to take it by any means. Along with the religious right to kill zionists - and all the other “infidels” - one of which by the way - is you. Where is your take on this? Does anyone remember 911? Seems most of your comments are directed to the American Christian population who believe in God. I have no problem with you Not believing in God. Why do you have a problem with those who do?
Well put. There're also those who state their "Christian" beliefs yet tell those in other Christian denominations don't believe in God correctly. Love your last 2 sentences.
He totally left that out of the Israeli/Palestine conflict. Why do they do their attacks on Israel? It is because of Muhammed's teachings about killing all non-believers/infidels. Being a non-believer by their definition doesn't save you from their designs. You notice no one ever writes about all the Christians getting murdered in Nigeria by Muslims.
I appreciate your column on this issue. Unfortunately, the comments to it are exactly the kind of comments I figured it would garner. To all the incensed and outraged believers out there, I'm curious - which part of the column says you can't believe in your god? "What about, what about, what about..." The deflection is so fucking obvious to everyone but yourselves.
We seem to have bandied these concepts about a few times now, with this and earlier articles you've written, as well as some of my own, on religion and God's role in politics:
Of course, even if one assumed that there is indeed a higher power, unless there were many gods competing for CEO, most religions would be wrong. Your observation about the Hebrew god and the Torah as being the foundation of this belief that a people are entitled to swaths of land is obviously true, but so is the alternate perspective - the enormously greater number of people who believe in the Koran who feel the opposite, and are willing to pursue any destructive means to achieve it.
The facts remain, as you've noted, that human interpretation of "what God wants" has been the driving force behind more current and historical suffering than all other issues combined. Whatever someone believes, they can't get around that.
I thought I’d throw it in. A bit of historical education for the lack of-you know, the idiocy of religion and conflicts-where DID they start. I once asked my close friend whose father was a professor in N. Viet Nam(French communist of course-no judgement-just curiosity) when you take religion away as the USSR did, and other countries, I said you would have to replace it with something, like taking a toy from a child, putting it out of sight while another “something” is given. You have to give these people something back, hopefully a healthier replacement, as religion is their only comfort(not speaking of spoiled US-ers, who advocate war and female spousal obedience(Vance’s ilk), but the globally downtrodden, poor, weary, suffering. She said she had never thought of that. I personally have no answer. We are globally spoon fed all religions at our mother’s breast or it is beaten into us thru fear. Rare that someone is able to open their eyes, like you JSV, and see even without understanding… why, this demented hubris ongoing for millenniums of Plato’s Cave scenario’s blind beliefs has continued to be perpetuated on other humans, our brothers and sisters, our planet Gaea, incessantly. At 7 no child needs a book to understand murder, killing and cruelty are bad. And btw, the “god” in the Old Testament murdered an entire planet…. An ENTIRE planet minus one fam. Insanity. Who wants that as a path to worship and follow. 50% of USers apparently. from Paris, em.
Thanks for more out-of-the-box thinking shared here. Help me with a question though; You say we are not necessarily in control of what we believe or we dismiss. You also say you don't believe you could be a 'believer' even if you wanted to. Explain that. I understand that some of our beliefs are intuitive and not deeply thought out, but don't we have pretty much total control once we identify that belief? To investigate, , debate, support, reject, etc.
On a side note, I agree that God isn't American (He kind of precedes the USA by a bit) but I'd guess He can speak English. Why not?
Yes, for fuck's sake, we all know radical Islam is a huge problem. Add it the list, if you'd like. I only have so much space, there is a word limit and thought it obvious.
How many Muslims do you think subscribe to Wrong Speak? If you just want fresh meat it can be found elsewhere. It is easy to change the subject- a little too easy.
Interestingly enough - you say nothing of the radical Muslims that believe ‘their’ god has given them the right to real estate also - and to take it by any means. Along with the religious right to kill zionists - and all the other “infidels” - one of which by the way - is you. Where is your take on this? Does anyone remember 911? Seems most of your comments are directed to the American Christian population who believe in God. I have no problem with you Not believing in God. Why do you have a problem with those who do?
Well put. There're also those who state their "Christian" beliefs yet tell those in other Christian denominations don't believe in God correctly. Love your last 2 sentences.
He totally left that out of the Israeli/Palestine conflict. Why do they do their attacks on Israel? It is because of Muhammed's teachings about killing all non-believers/infidels. Being a non-believer by their definition doesn't save you from their designs. You notice no one ever writes about all the Christians getting murdered in Nigeria by Muslims.
I appreciate your column on this issue. Unfortunately, the comments to it are exactly the kind of comments I figured it would garner. To all the incensed and outraged believers out there, I'm curious - which part of the column says you can't believe in your god? "What about, what about, what about..." The deflection is so fucking obvious to everyone but yourselves.
Hey Jud!
We seem to have bandied these concepts about a few times now, with this and earlier articles you've written, as well as some of my own, on religion and God's role in politics:
https://zephareth.substack.com/publish/posts/detail/138175774?referrer=%2Fpublish%2Fposts%2Fpublished
And on God's role in the assassination attempt:
https://zephareth.substack.com/p/searching-for-a-different-perspective
Of course, even if one assumed that there is indeed a higher power, unless there were many gods competing for CEO, most religions would be wrong. Your observation about the Hebrew god and the Torah as being the foundation of this belief that a people are entitled to swaths of land is obviously true, but so is the alternate perspective - the enormously greater number of people who believe in the Koran who feel the opposite, and are willing to pursue any destructive means to achieve it.
The facts remain, as you've noted, that human interpretation of "what God wants" has been the driving force behind more current and historical suffering than all other issues combined. Whatever someone believes, they can't get around that.
Great article. ZL
Great post—the comments say a lot about the hold that mysticism has on people (outrage and false attribution are the marks of strong exposition).
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXfuqUhzESg
Part One.
I thought I’d throw it in. A bit of historical education for the lack of-you know, the idiocy of religion and conflicts-where DID they start. I once asked my close friend whose father was a professor in N. Viet Nam(French communist of course-no judgement-just curiosity) when you take religion away as the USSR did, and other countries, I said you would have to replace it with something, like taking a toy from a child, putting it out of sight while another “something” is given. You have to give these people something back, hopefully a healthier replacement, as religion is their only comfort(not speaking of spoiled US-ers, who advocate war and female spousal obedience(Vance’s ilk), but the globally downtrodden, poor, weary, suffering. She said she had never thought of that. I personally have no answer. We are globally spoon fed all religions at our mother’s breast or it is beaten into us thru fear. Rare that someone is able to open their eyes, like you JSV, and see even without understanding… why, this demented hubris ongoing for millenniums of Plato’s Cave scenario’s blind beliefs has continued to be perpetuated on other humans, our brothers and sisters, our planet Gaea, incessantly. At 7 no child needs a book to understand murder, killing and cruelty are bad. And btw, the “god” in the Old Testament murdered an entire planet…. An ENTIRE planet minus one fam. Insanity. Who wants that as a path to worship and follow. 50% of USers apparently. from Paris, em.
One more comment. The title should reasonably be "The Entitlement of Some of The Idiots Who Call on God". God isn't playing their silly games.
Thanks for more out-of-the-box thinking shared here. Help me with a question though; You say we are not necessarily in control of what we believe or we dismiss. You also say you don't believe you could be a 'believer' even if you wanted to. Explain that. I understand that some of our beliefs are intuitive and not deeply thought out, but don't we have pretty much total control once we identify that belief? To investigate, , debate, support, reject, etc.
On a side note, I agree that God isn't American (He kind of precedes the USA by a bit) but I'd guess He can speak English. Why not?