Fundamentalism

[Slim]

Awww, your feelings are hurt! Gee, and after all the times I gave you the benefit of a doubt in the past few days...

Heh, sorry to disappoint, but I'm fine. But thanks for the concern.

So I'm trying to figure out what significance your last post has, other than to incite and provoke a reaction. Clearly it has nothing to do with the topic of the discussion. And then I realized its just Jeff trying to get in the last word, or final shot as the case may be. Then I looked at the dead threads here in the politics area, and guess what....you, Jeff, top the charts as the person most likely to get in the last words in a thread! Coincidence? I doubt it.

Congrats and keep up the good work.

Slim...out!

[jeff]

If that's your attempt to keep me from posting, then too bad. As usual, you're wrong anyway, and I see 'last posts' distributed over several of the "usual suspects".

You can't figure out the relevance of my last post? Well, I can't be bothered to explain it to you.

Feel free to post something of your normal caliber after this so you can have the 'last word'. It's not something I give any though to.

[Have At You]

The fundamentalists that really irk me the most are the secular fundamentalists, who insist on stripping away all things spiritual from public life, and who denigrate the spiritual beliefs of others when those beliefs are deeply held, while painting those believers as somehow evil. This is a cause of great concern for me, as their successes cheapen and dilute our culture and community. My two cents (and I am not religious or even all that spiritual, btw).

I agree with you and JBirch. This is a point that needed to be made.

[esskreemr]

I am probably least threatened by Christian fundamentalism. I don't know any Christian fundamentalists, and they don't have much presence here in Manhattan.

Islamic fundamentalists have this thing about New York. I don't know why, but they do. So they are somewhat of a threat. Though they don't pose any more risk than taking the subway or crossing the street, taking into account all the probabilities.

As a resident of New York, you definitely have a reason to consider Islamic extremists as the greatest threat.

The fundamentalists that really irk me the most are the secular fundamentalists, who insist on stripping away all things spiritual from public life,

There's a BIG difference between 'stripping' all things spiritual and removing relious symbolism. Does calling a Christmas tree a Holiday tree affect how you celebrate Christmas? Please list and explain other 'strippings' that have affected how you affect your spiritual/religious beliefs.

and who denigrate the spiritual beliefs of others when those beliefs are deeply held,

I disagree. I think it is those individuals who wrap themselves in a cloak of false spirituality that denigrate and do the most damage to religion. By spewing their diatribes of hatred, intolerance, and violence, they hijack the religion for their own personal gain. They do far more damage than the secularists who insist that the US Government at least give lip service to the idea of objectivity.

while painting those believers as somehow evil.

I have no problem with people who have deeply held spiritual beliefs. Unfortunately, if they are the majority, they are the silent majority while the loud and vocal minority spews its filth into every crevice of our society.

This is a cause of great concern for me, as their successes cheapen and dilute our culture and community.

Religion itself has created one of the greatest divides in our society. You make it seem as though religion is a huge unifier of men and women, that just simply isn't true. Take a look at the number of denominations just in the Christian religion. There is a HUGE difference between spirituality and religiosity.

The Christian religion was born of suffering, grew during suffering, and perpetuates the importance of suffering. It allows the practitioners a glimmer of hope, a thread of light that they can cling to during dire times of need. The problem is that when Christians aren't suffering, the religion falters and the charlatans step in to use it for their own personal gain.

As I said, I go to church regularly (unlike the majority of Americans who identify themselves with Christianity). I'll be damned if I'm drinkin' the Koolaid though...

My two cents (and I am not religious or even all that spiritual, btw).

Could you make that a nickle next time? A penny just doesn't go as far as it used to any more.

[gojujay]

(1) Well, we have to differ here. It looked pretty clear to me that's what he did. I await his rejoinder to my pointing out his bumper sticker makes him a candidate for the same.

An agreement among gentlemen, then.

(2) I don't disagree. It's still a matter of speech, not violence. Perhaps while tackling that, the University could address proselytizers trying to convert those around them by letting them all know that their religions are bunk or obsolete (remember the old D'artagnan poster on this board - long gone - who used exactly that word?) Religious respect cuts in more than one direction.

The University has the advantage then, as it's sanctioned by the State.