Today Russia, tomorrow the UK?

[elSicomoro]

Originally Posted by Griff

I do believe that Christianity is superior to Islam

Why?

[Catwoman]

Originally Posted by Griff

I do believe that Christianity is superior to Islam

Originally Posted by sycamore

Why?

Because Griff is a Christian? Because the suicide bomber who thinks Islam is 'superior' to Christianity is a Muslim? Because the fanaticist Protestant train bomber believes Catholicism to be inferior?

Jag is right in his condemnation of religious extremism. For as long as these militant purveyors of theocratic bullshit exist this 'war on terror' will never end. Because terror is not the issue. Religious intolerance is. Terror is merely a voice for their prejudice.

I have never been religious for that very reason. Apart from obvious fallibility issues anyone of some intelligence will understand, it causes such unecessary conflict - and no matter the religion. War and terror is not unique to Islam. Western (Christian) governments have been terrorising dissidents since the invention of the wheel. And all because 'my god is better than yours'.

With any high profile (or otherwise) terrorist situation, understanding is called for. Not the kind of caring, empathetic understanding you think we mean, lookout, but true understanding and knowledge that provides us with a backbone for discussion and a point to resolve. An event such as this, or any militant action, does not stand alone. You need to understand the motivation, purpose and reason in order to procure a logical response. Maybe then our underhanded propogandic war-hungry 'civilisation' will start to make some progress.

[Griff]

Originally Posted by sycamore

Why?

Because western civilization, which we (most Cellarites) enjoy the fruits of, developed along with Christianity. Contemporary Islam has no such fruit. That said, fundementalists like Bush do not appreciate liberal western society and its focus on individual rights and responsibilities. Mostly though, I said it to head off our right wingers who always try to claim God for their side, reasoning that if they know God they know his will. My fellow Catholics know that the Pope opposed the War in Iraq while some of the bishops in the states tried to obsolve individual Catholic soldiers of responsibility for their actions, shifting it to their leaders. This was a Church failure. We are all responsible for our actions whether we are under arms or not. I may not be the best Catholic, but I have developed that thing which the Church is so good at developing, a conscience. We can fight about the flip side, guilt, another time. (I also carry the gift of sanctimony as I've been reminded a time or two.)

Something I was trying to get at is that one thing that has threatened western civilization for the past century is totalitarianism. The total state has advocates on the left and the right and they are both trying to end the progress of our civilization by controlling the progress of our civilization. The Republicans have jettisoned all their morals on this issue. If only the Democrats had the moral authority to step up.

[elSicomoro]

Originally Posted by Griff

Because western civilization, which we (most Cellarites) enjoy the fruits of, developed along with Christianity. Contemporary Islam has no such fruit.

I don't know if that's as much an issue of Islam/Christianity as it is of certain cultures.