The biggest threat to peace is religious fundamentalism

and effectively what this administration has done in Iraq is encourage Islamic fundamentalism

Before this is over what the morans will have effectively done is converted Iraq into a Shiite fundamentalist state aligned with Iran

Where are the repukes who gave * and company a free pass to do this?

Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist...it matters not the parent religion. Any overzealous fundamentalism is dangerous. We can witnes this now. To help end Muslim fundamentalism, America is being turned into a Christian fundamentalist state.

What does that look like?

I would have to say that any religion can grow to a certain point, then have an extremely conservative and reactionary movement to get back to its fundamentals. Look at Christianity. Revolves around a "prince of peace." There are few religions who have as many blood stains on them like Christianity does.

. . . look where it started and spread to. It was assimilated by the Roman empire and made a tool for the imperialistic methodology of Rome. Then it spread to Europe via the (un)holy Roman empire. That whole part of the world (not counting the Druids and some others) was amazingly cruel and barbaric to start with. The real message of Christ was lost and subverted to allow for the crusades, the inquisition, etc. Not a whole lot has changed.

The inner original message, that of "the Kingdom of Heaven is within" changed to one of trying to create the kingdom of heaven without. So there is in general a great absence of inner contemplation. What inner contemplation there is in Christianity involves listening for the voice of God. We can easily see in the fundamentalist movement that the voice of god that they hear has nothing to do with the voice of God that Christ was speaking of.

Contrast that with the contemplative religions like Buddhism where internal silence, opening the way to real inner peace is the goal. As long as this is truly practiced, we're not going to see Buddhist fundamentalists killing others for their beliefs simply because belief isn't important and is recognized as just another level of the chatter of the mind.

Every religion has its fundie crazies. But few nations outside of Afhganistan and the United States take the trouble to elect them into the highest offices.

for a few years........

"My Mantra is better than your Mantra."

Without question. Heading there? No, we have arrived.

used the phrase "Talibornagain" a few months back....... I think it's pretty apt.

and I think it has ALWAYS been the biggest threat to peace.

I just finished reading a book called "The Kite Runners" and getting just a bit of insight into the Taliban. Very frightening stuff.

I know our American RW is nowhere near that level, but the seeds are there. I wonder what leads those "seeds" to blossom into hell flowers?

the writer weaves an amazing story, and how it comes back full circle

The religous right , here in the US, wants to create a Taliban like theocracy. The signs are everywhere.

Granted, in the Middle East this is a different matter, but the world has never known a force as destructive as nationalism.

EDIT: Now I do agree that religious fundamentalism is always a threat to peace and freedom since it tends to be totalitarian, but I think in the modern world the evidence is that nationalism is a larger threat in the world.

Generally I am concerned when people have any fervor for anything. That's a bad sign. People will always find some outlet for this. They have for the longest time and continue to do so.

They are a huge problem . They want control they have made no effort to hide that fact.

It really does muddy the political waters in so many ways. I have Christian republican friends who think the lib/dems just hate them. That we want all religion gone. I don't think we draw a dark enough line in explaining it is the fundamentalist we are worried about and not christians in general.

I am also the only atheist many of my Christan friends know. It is normal to fear what you don't know. I even had one argue with me that I could not possible be atheist because I was to nice and held many of same values she did.

Maybe the more secular people need to be more out there in there own communities. We really don't have much of voice ...everybody puts women, blacks and other minorities into cabinet possitions..where are the atheist?

religion is man's attempt to get to God. Relationship is God's attempt to reach mankind. Religion is what the evil one uses to control men.

just my two cents worth of understanding.

"belief" crosses into all sorts of things and race, nationality, economic or social staus, politics... all sorts of things can be used to rile people up. Many people will have their unshakable beliefs about many, or all, of these things. That's pretty much just the way it is. Irrational and unshakable belief is not limited to the right, or to the religious, btw.

It's the leadership of these groups who are to shoulder the blame for using the people for their own ends.

Fundamentalist Christians might be blamed for much, but they also have have organized and supported charities, fought slavery, fought for universal suffrage, fought for unions and other forms of economic equality, argued against war...

You just don't hear much about those fundies when the Robertsons and Dobsons of the world own the microphone. Dobson does not by any means define Christianity, but he does get his message out enough to make it seems like he does.