I'm sure he didn't mean to criticize all religions per se...

Maybe he was afraid to outright critcize Islam. After all, the lefties would jump all over him and call him a bigot.

It is pure idiocy to compare the state of current day Islam to any other religion.

Until there is a mass global reformation in Islam it will always be a huge problem. That's a fact of life and people better start realizing it instead of always sugar coating its problems.

At any given time there are roughly 20 something wars or conflicts going on in the world. Over 90% are because Muslims cannot live with any other kind of people. Some conflicts are them killing each other. We may see some of that in Iraq.

But hey.. Isn't multiculturalism wonderful?

Funny, I am atheist but by no means selfish or greedy. How can I be that way and be an atheist? How is it that I am able to be caring, grateful, humble, etc. without the taint of religion? I love my wife, I am faithful, I am responsible, blah blah blah, yet I am not religious? I am quite sure there are many many more who fit the role even more so than I, yet they are probably very good people... I think religion just like race, etc.. is a hurdle we need to overcome. Religion whether you practice it or not, is not crucial to the betterment of our society as a whole. I truly believe that... I am not saying it should be outlawed, you do what makes you happy, but it should not come up every time a society impacting issue arises....

edited to add - sorry for the late reply, I had to drive to New Jersey for the week, and I am now in my hotel room At least they gave me free high speed access while I am here.

Very well put!! Religon is doing more evil today than it is doing good. Muslims wanting to kill americans so they can die as martyrs, Catholic priests molesting young children, the Jews and the Palenstinians taking turns bombing each other and bull-dozing down houses, religous freaks kidnapping young girls and trying to make them their brides....ect..ect..ect.. Actually, when has religon done more good than bad?? I don't need it thank you!

it's such ashame religion has been hijacked by idiots. and why is it so easy for them to use politics in the name of religion. fear? power?

the problems of the world today are not caused by spirituality and faith in something, they are caused by people who inflict their will on others in the name of "religion".

if you believe in the concept of heaven/hell, i think it is easy to imagine where these 'leaders' will be going. if for nothing else than their gross hypocrisy.

hate and striking out against others are purely non-spiritual in any religion. always.

Very true, and it's not just Islam that has its idiots, Christianity has the KKK and Jerry Falwell. Ask any muslim in america if he thinks it's ok to murder. I'm sure the answer is no, even outside the US almost all religious people think that killing is wrong no matter what the reason. But you get a few maniacs screeming for American Blood and suddenly a whole religion is "Evil".

Funny this kind of ties in with the Bush/Hitler thread in the "Club House", you get a few charismatic people to get a mob going and the rest will follow.

But when the mob dispurses(sp?) people go home and think, "Why did I say kill america? I'd never do anything like that."

Well that's my $.02

Kinda like at a Quiet Riot reunion tour at a state fair . . .

The crowd of people gets into it, next thing you know, you're banging your head and screaming, "Metal health will drive you mad!! Quiet Riot rules!" . . .

But the next day, when your neck is sore, you realize, "Wait . . . what was I screaming last night? Oh, man, that's not right . . . "

Mob mentality is weird . . .

Just as a parting shot about religion and how it interacts with government....

Here are a couple of examples of secular governments that suppress all religious input.

1) The Soviet Union
2) China

Hmmm. Not exactly utopian societies, right?

Then we have some religious states.

1) Iran
2) Afganistan

Hmmm. They aren't much different are they?

The only flaw I'd say is that China and the Soviet Union attempt(ed) to suppress religion in everything, not just government. Religion *should* be supressed in government activities. Personal activities it should not - it's up to individual.

China and Russia didn't suppress religion or abandon totalitarian religious rule, they disguised it.

In Iran and Afghanistan, the Ayatollah rules according to the will of Allah . . .

In Russia and China, the Politburo rules according to the will of Communism . . .

The State is the godhead in Russia and China. People worship the state.

Yeah, its kinda like... Everyone has their own God. Whether it be a Jewish guy on a cross, the pyramid on the back of a $1 bill, communism, or Atheism. So , #1, how can you totally eliminate religion from government? #2, aren't you just replacing the "christian" religious influence with the fanatical "Athiest" religious influence? And #3, How far do you go to eliminate religious beliefs in government?

If you have a moment, please peruse the following article and tell me how the school system can be justified. Teacher cannot wear cross necklace to school. They might have a point if this chick was dragging a 4 foot cross to work with her every day. But shit... I know people who think quartz crystals will give them power and feed their auras. They wear quartz pendants around their necks all the time. That's religion. Shouldn't schools suspend or fire them as well?

It's an example of the sad state of American education. It's controlled by psychotic liberals.

If that teacher brought in deviant sex manuals or copies of the Koran she would have been applauded by school officials.

We live in a sick world.

That's fucked up.

Its a sad fucking day when the right of people to "not be offended" supercedes the right to free speech. News flash, there is no right of people to not be offended.

I'm offended by the notion of there being a right to not be offended... I think I'll sue. :rolleyes:

Do you remember the story about the girl who got sent home because the rosary was viewed as a gang symbol at the school?

That in itself, I wouldn't know. But the funny thing is, this girl argued it was a part of her religion. OK...so she's Catholic.

But she was WEARING the rosary as a necklace. Any Catholic can tell you the rosary is NOT to be worn as a necklace.

No ... don't remember that particular story.

Everyday there are stories about fucked up school administrators making ridiculous decisions. They should concentrate more on education and less on PC.

This is a good site to read some of these stories:

http://www.tonguetied.us/

You are right. The rosary is never meant to be worn around the neck.

Good point! ... take care over there and I hope to go wheelin' with you and the rest of the crew when you get back.