tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24213446.post8133404237890135057..comments2024-03-24T06:12:51.173-05:00Comments on jobsanger: Religion Kills A Few Hundred MoreTed McLaughlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15035498835671628943noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24213446.post-41075885253022912082008-12-02T22:55:00.000-06:002008-12-02T22:55:00.000-06:00I have no doubt about it at all.I have no doubt about it at all.Ted McLaughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15035498835671628943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24213446.post-71832575501606142492008-12-02T20:53:00.000-06:002008-12-02T20:53:00.000-06:00Why would you defend those who wish to force other...<I>Why would you defend those who wish to force others to believe as they do (whether thru violence or force of law)?</I><BR/><BR/>Why would you infer that I do?<BR/><BR/>As a Baptist, having lived for a year in a country that's 98% Roman Catholic (Poland), I witnessed first hand the concern my fellow Baptists had about a proposed law introducing religious education in public schools. Three guesses whose religion would get preferential treatment under those circumstances (and the first two don't count).<BR/><BR/>There are, however, some "religious beliefs" that are so universally accepted they must be imposed through force of law - Thou Shalt Not Steal and Thou Shalt Not Murder come to mind. <BR/><BR/>But as Mike Huckabee recently said to Bill Maher on Huck's TV show, God doesn't force us to love Him, because forced love isn't love at all - it's rape. That drew a rather surprised look from Bill Maher!<BR/><BR/>As a Christian, I believe that faith has to come from the heart, out of free will. I can't "make" anyone put his or her trust in Jesus Christ, though sadly, throughout the centuries many have tried. <BR/><BR/>If you still think there are "millions" today in this country who want to force their religion on you "thru violence or force of law," then I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.Curious Texanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07236663132181855501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24213446.post-14035074960464916522008-12-02T16:41:00.000-06:002008-12-02T16:41:00.000-06:00Why would you defend those who wish to force other...Why would you defend those who wish to force others to believe as they do (whether thru violence or force of law)?Ted McLaughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15035498835671628943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24213446.post-68107599717478484522008-12-02T16:37:00.000-06:002008-12-02T16:37:00.000-06:00I never said anything about equating Christian Ide...I never said anything about equating Christian Identity with mainstream christianity. My post was talking about religion in general - not any particular branch of it. You are the one trying to equate the two.<BR/><BR/>Yes, Stalin was a bad man. Again, I never said he wasn't. But he killed to hang on to power - not to make others accept his spiritual beliefs (or lack thereof).<BR/><BR/>The fact that I believe many (even millions) would be happy to force others, even thru violence, to agree with their beliefs, does not paint you with a broad brush unless you are one of those people.<BR/><BR/>There are 300 million people in this country. Even if millions believed as I said they did, that still leaves many millions that don't (probably from all religions and beliefs).<BR/><BR/>I never said in the article that EVERY religious person was bad, but I still believe that many are.Ted McLaughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15035498835671628943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24213446.post-21165298944106924872008-12-02T16:18:00.000-06:002008-12-02T16:18:00.000-06:00"There are millions in America ..."There are an es..."There are millions in America ..."<BR/><BR/>There are an estimated 50,000 members of the Christian Identity movement. A troubling number to be sure, but nowhere near millions.<BR/><BR/>"...who would love to force others to accept their beliefs, even to the point of violence."<BR/><BR/>The Christian Identity movement is indeed violent, but the goal of that violence is not "to force others to accept their beliefs." As I understand it, their violence is directed toward people of color, certainly not to proselytize (since they believe that only whites are the chosen people), but rather to eliminate, or at least intimidate those whom they consider inferior. <BR/><BR/>Implicit in your "millions" comment, as well as WhosPlayin's response, is the near "article of faith" among many on the Left that the vast majority (if not all) Christians in the United States are the moral equivalent of radical Islamists in the Middle East. The "Christian" Identity movement has about as much in common with classic Christianity as "fire"flies have in common with fire.<BR/><BR/>Stalin was an atheist, as were his henchmen, and they butchered millions of their own people. Yet I wouldn't even think of painting you with the same broad brush, or any other American atheists, for that matter.Curious Texanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07236663132181855501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24213446.post-44788301571873482472008-12-02T09:09:00.000-06:002008-12-02T09:09:00.000-06:00CT-I don't know what your silly challenge is suppo...CT-<BR/>I don't know what your silly challenge is supposed to prove, but why don't we start with any three members of the Christian Identity movement.Ted McLaughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15035498835671628943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24213446.post-56499077900956532742008-12-01T13:16:00.000-06:002008-12-01T13:16:00.000-06:00There are millions in America who would love to fo...<I>There are </I><B>millions</B><I> in America who would love to force others to accept their beliefs, </I><B>even to the point of violence.</B> [Emphasis added]<BR/><BR/>Name three.Curious Texanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07236663132181855501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24213446.post-27330311972691539772008-11-30T08:50:00.000-06:002008-11-30T08:50:00.000-06:00sad but true. I've always thought we could end up...sad but true. I've always thought we could end up with a Christian version of the Taliban here in this country very easily if not for our vigilance.WhosPlayinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18435724934459153270noreply@blogger.com