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Cubby-hole thinking
This weekend, Jon Stewart is holding "a rally to restore sanity" on the mall, two months after Glenn Beck's religion-infused "Restoring Honor" rally. Beck said he was called by God to hold the rally. Now atheist groups are planning to use Stewart's event to promote "reason." Are "reason" and "sanity" the opposite of religious belief? Is taking religion out of the political debate the answer for restoring reason? Or do we need more faith?
The purpose of any system of belief -- whether it is called religion, philosophy or world-view -- is to make sense of and give meaning to life. Good people can disagree on perspective and live together in constructive relationships; that is pluralism. All it requires is mutual respect.
When a person who has a non-theistic perspective accuses a believer in God of lacking reason or sanity, or a religious person accuses a secularist of lacking faith or reverence, it is the accuser who lacks the imagination to consider the genuine capacity of the human mind and heart. As if it were possible, the presumption is that someone can make their way through life with a gaping hole in an otherwise functioning existence. Better to say your opponent lacks a liver or a muscle tissue, yet not only lives, but thrives.
The upcoming dueling rallies are meant as satire, not of "religious folk" but of intolerant people with cubby-hole minds. If a self-impressed entertainer like Glenn Beck should not be taken as a serious arbiter of public opinion, then neither should Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, who are happy just poking fun at the limitations of imagination.
By
Jack Moline
|
October 26, 2010; 9:08 AM ET
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Posted by: woodstock-41 | October 28, 2010 11:00 AM
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All it requires is mutual respect.
If one tries to make sense of the world, the story that is completely unsupported by evidence is of less value than the model that is developed from the evidence that has been gathered and tested.
Yes, our country is an incredible mix of people and cultures, but not all attitudes are equal. Some points of view deserve nothing but the most outspoken condemnation whether or not the person espousing those views claims that they are from his religion. Views that justify treating others badly or destroying the liberal society that supports a wide range of views need to be strongly condemned. There can be no respect for those who teach that they do not respect others.
Posted by: david6 | October 27, 2010 3:39 PM
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Oye...!
i[WE] was wondering when "onfaith" would entertain the Freudian Slip of a Big-Mouth Cathoholic Bishop (an Arabous himself who's drunk under the influence of the (un)Holy Eucharist [eating Rabbi Jesus/Yashua's/Jehova's Flesh in effigy & Drinks his Blood in effigy]. So,
Since ONFAITH has blocked me Moniker [woodstock-41] at "GUEST VOICES", and other threads here:
IN RESPONSE to:
ATTACK on the legitimacy of the JU-state demands pope's response"
By Rabbi Cooper & SANHEDRIN (in Eretz & out)
___
In the 'eyes of the Lord' (if any) That to place a "Kvitte" [NOTE] within a hole/crack of the wall or the the Temple Mounts is O.K., BUT but to Reveal to the World what the {"GOY", aka Kefir, aka Untouchables) Austrian Pope, where me JU ancestors was born but dragged off to premature Death, had to say to the Maker/Creator, aka Almighty which was in all reality was supposed to be a silent/private & secret thing} is BLASPHEMY!
Fact: When ANY-1 places such a Note, includes Obama, Bush's, Clinton, or Even Jesus, or Moses or Gautama or Vyasa or Muhammad or Confucius, or Nanak et al; that what is [humbly] said in that little piece of parchment/paper to GOD or their holy Geist, is Not the Business of Any Human Being.
Sooo, WHY Does the World Need to know what the POPE said to His Romulus "god" or Rabbi Coopers burning-bush "G-d"? {Not to OUR "G_D" aka the eponymous EKLAHt-iON "IT" of our Holyi NEBULA & our GEOiD's miraculous Magmapercolation effect}??
REALITY (Opposite TRUTH): The MODERN SABRA-STATE of Eretz" today is already the THIRD(3rd) TEMPLE! Why Con't YeYo see this or Admitt to This O' WORLD!? So
In a Way The 'Bishop' & CO. was right! The WEst should 'turn there Cheeks' to the JU-STATE of Israel; not the [Secular SABRA-State of yo'Israel that i[WE] once Knew & loved] and born there! Hence
Their "LEADERSHIP(s)" (i.e. God Player 'BiBi' et al Chommore's/JockOss's) deserve to be openly criticized, or ostracised or what ever!
Pleazza, Don't call US APOCALYPTiC-ON's bigots, Anti Semetic lalala. That song is from Ye/Yo PRE-Apocalyptic-OFF's is a getting old
Israel's Sandedrin [All Rabbinate on Earth, not only all Priests & Imams etc..] ALL still have "Religious Jealousy Psychosis's & "Pre-Apocalyptic SiNdrome's & play with their "POLY Standard Psychos's"!
FACTS: There is NO such a god, as humans want to or can perceive aka MONO god (by any name)!!! All JU's, Ishlami's, Xrstiani's, Hinduni's & Buddhisti's et al All worship and have POLYtheo SYSTEMS [Man-Made; Zero OUR "G_D" (EKLAH) Made!
OUR "IT" aka EKLAHt-i is neither a HE/HiM nor a SHE/HER only being "iTSELF" in and out of US-ALL. Includes every & any GOD PLAYERS! Please STOP being in Denial to Selves & Others. Please, STOPa DOING-then-aDENYiNG, ora DENYiNG-thena-DO. Oyevazemeer. Oye MISHIGINA COEP's!
May xtra-PHOTONS shine on OUR Forefathers (NOt Moses & Co) but BEN GURION{pnuh}, ALBERT EINSTEIN{pbuh}, GOLDA MER.. HAGANNA-URGooN-PALMACHs{pbu Them}...