X-Message-Number: 19849
Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2002 08:59:04 -0500
From: Jeff Dee <>
Subject: Re: CryoNet #19836 - #19847
References: <>

John Grigg wrote:

 > .. please do not simply group every religious group
 > into the same category as certain religiously inspired
 > terrorist organizations.  For instance, there is a big
 > difference between the Methodist denomination and the
 > Taliban.

Is there?

Both believe that the proper rules of behavior are whatever is dictated 
by their divine lawgiver. Both have myths which show that their lawgiver 
is not averse to changing the rules. And both rely on "revelations" by 
their prophets to tell them what kind of behavior their lawgiver 
currently says is necessary or acceptable.

NEITHER can prove that their lawgiver actually exists, that proper 
behavior is that which conforms with their lawgiver's edicts even IF he 
exists, or that anything their "prophets" say represents their 
lawgiver's actual views on behavior even if those views are important.

Whenever the followers of such religions feel like lashing out, all it 
takes is for a "prophet" to arise and tell them that the lawgiver says 
it's okay to set aside the prior rules of behavior. And that is a RECIPE 
for atrocity.

The difference between the Taliban and the Methodists is not that one 
prevents its adherents from committing atrocities more than the other. 
The difference is that one group of adherents currently feels less NEED 
for atrocity than the other. If we put a bunch of Methodists into the 
kind of horrible situation the Afghan Muslims were in, and let 'em stew 
for a few decades, we would see a Methodist analog of Osama Bin Laden 
rise up and tell them that God has new instructions.

And don't tell me that Methodism isn't capable of inspiring irrational 
acts, because ALL these religions are based upon the practice of 
indoctrinating their followers into irrationally believing unproven 
claims. That is why religions are a threat to humanity that we would all 
be better off without.

-Jeff Dee

-- 
"It is as morally bad not to care whether a thing is true
or not, so long as it makes you feel good, as it is not to
care how you got your money as long as you have got it."
-Edmund Way Teale, "Circle of the Seasons", 1950

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* * * AA #1355 - Knight of the BAAWA since 10/26/99 * * *

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