God is weeping as we slaughter in his name

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram (a.k.a. "StartleGram") ^ | March 3, 2002 | Bob Ray Sanders

[MeekOneGOP]

	Posted on Sun, Mar. 03, 2002
	God is weeping as we slaughter in his name Heaven surely is in mourning this day as it witnesses humanity turning on itself. In the name of God, Jehovah, Allah, can't we stop the slaughtering of people in the name of religion? Cannot that religious fervor be harnessed and used in a more productive way, benefiting humankind as opposed to destroying it? Though not a new phenomenon, for untold numbers have died in various armies of God through the years, it is most distressing to see these latest episodes of people being burned, shot down, blown up and beaten to death because they believe in a religion different from their assailants'. It seems the more "civilized" humans become, the more barbaric and intolerant we get. The more religion we get, the more hatefully we act. Look around the world and take note of a few of the war zones: Christians versus Muslims; Muslims versus Jews; Hindus versus Muslims; Catholics versus Protestants. Is there no balm on the earth that can heal this sickness - this madness? In India, the spirit of Mohandas Gandhi has surely been troubled over the recent violence in his beloved homeland. The death toll is rising there as Hindus and Muslims clash in some of the most vicious fighting in years. Muslims attacked a train filled with Hindus returning from a religious mission Wednesday. A train car was set ablaze, killing 58 people, mostly women and children. That "mission," by the way, was to erect a Hindu temple on the site of a Muslim mosque destroyed by Hindus in 1992. A spark from 10 years ago is causing raging fires in India today, all in the name of religion. In retaliation for the train attack, mobs of Hindus in Ahmadabad went on a rampage Thursday, setting fire to Muslims' homes and businesses, killing more than 100 people. After the 1992 incident, riots occurred throughout India. We can pray that this latest violence is contained soon and does not spread beyond Ahmadabad, a city of 5 million, but it is almost certain to continue. Hatred can spread like a fire out of control, and it seems that when that hatred is rooted in religious bigotry, it is acted out more savagely. I've never understood how people can think that they please God by murdering men and women in their sleep or killing children at play. Maybe there is no way to stop this insanity as long as we have religious and political leaders intent on making holy books their texts for intolerance and their manuals of war. Perhaps we've grown tired or complacent, or we have simply accepted what may be regarded as the inevitable - that human violence is as natural as a calamity caused by the weather. We really can't stop it. I don't want to accept that, but I certainly don't know how to put an end to age-old hatreds and feuds, especially those based on religious beliefs. With all the injustice and destruction in the name of the Creator, it is no wonder that more and more people are turning their backs on organized religion. Still, all over the world people are crowding into churches and temples and synagogues and mosques to worship God - a God who has to be disappointed in our inability or our unwillingness to halt the violence, a God who most certainly is weeping for his children. Bob Ray Sanders' column appears Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. (817) 390-7775 bobray@star-telegram.com

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© 2001 startelegram and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
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[MeekOneGOP]

Easy Link
http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/columnists/bob_ray_sanders/2782745.htm

I just happened to find this while perusing the "StartleGram" and thought FReepers might be
interested in this article. I'm interested in your comments. Thanks!...........

[browardchad]

Moral equivalence: one religion believes, as part of its credo, that infidels must be slaughtered. When members of other religions retaliate, or defend themselves, they are as much to blame. Yes, there are factions in every religion that are intolerant and violent, but none but Islam has as its stated aim the establishment of an Islamic world state by force.

This "we are all to blame" argument is getting tired.

[stuartcr]

People have been saying this since religions were invented. I doubt it will stop because people are people. I believe this behavior is inherent in humans, otherwise, by now, it probably would have stopped.

[Lazamataz]

people are people

No they're not.

[js1138]

but none but Islam has as its stated aim the establishment of an Islamic world state by force.

Until proved otherwise, this is my understanding also.

Certainly there was a period in the Old Testament in which Jews were told that God required them to commit genocide. This, however, was not a permanent injunction.

Christions have committed atrocities in the name of God, but they have absolutely no authority in the words of Jesus.

Either Islam has, as GW says, been kidnapped, or Muslims must openly and loudly renounce holy war as an institution.

[stuartcr]

People act like human beings, some good, some not good. How can we act otherwise?

[stuartcr]

Didn't mankind have the same problems prior to the beginning of Islam?

[M. Thatcher]

The Rodney King mindset: "C-c-c-c-can't we all just g-g-get along?"

Jejune.

[js1138]

Didn't mankind have the same problems prior to the beginning of Islam?

If you mean war and murder, then certainly. I personally believe that killing for God is more dangerous than killing for greed. The victims are equally dead in both cases, but one infection is (as they say in medicine) self limiting.

[HELLRAISER II]

I for one don't think we are fighting on behalf of Religion although the Muslims obviously do. We fight for justice/revenge/payback, whatever you want to call it. Bottom line is the S.O.B.'s deserve to die for what they did and It doesn't bother me at all, it's time to pay the piper.

[stuartcr]

I was referring to the second line in the article about...slaughtering in the name of religion...

[Lazamataz]

People act like human beings, some good, some not good. How can we act otherwise?

Concentration and a good serve.

[stuartcr]

How many warriors/military leaders throughout history have prayed to God to help them be victorious on the field and kill their enemy? While many may not be fighting in the name of religion, many wars have been conducted by people believing God was on their side, and they were right.

[r9etb]

With all the injustice and destruction in the name of the Creator, it is no wonder that more and more people are turning their backs on organized religion.

Mr. Sanders (under whose name a certain Mr. Pooh once lived) failed to make a certain vital point:

Namely, that these acts occur despite the fact that they are contrary to the precepts of most of the religions they're done in the name of.

It seems the more "civilized" humans become, the more barbaric and intolerant we get. The more religion we get, the more hatefully we act.

Ahhh, but by far the biggest killers have been non- or even anti-religious movements.

Which is another way of saying that the problem is not religion, but with people.

Of course, since Mr. Sanders is paid by the word, and he's apparently mostly concerned with wringing his hands about religion, I suppose it doesn't particularly matter that his column says nothing new or helpful.

[lavaroise]

This "we are all to blame" argument is getting tired.

You got that one right. It's one definition just as disgusting as any other definition of religion or God out there, including Bin Laden's.

Take this part:

our unwillingness to halt the violence, a God who most certainly is weeping for his children.

For sure, what kind of trashy individual is Sanders to blame one's jurisdiction of violent self defense? His take is no better than muslims' who back the Koran's bid to take over jurisdiction of all spiritual and daily life of people of this Earth.

Someone needs to tell Sanders that it is not the deed itself that is blamable, if not we might as well all return to zealotry, it is the take over of jurisdiction. When self defense is involved, it only is an assertion of rightful jurisdiction, whatever violence it requires, violence is not the problem.

PC kills.

[lavaroise]

Of course, since Mr. Sanders is paid by the word,

THat is exactly it. This guy is paid to spew out hateful propaganda, words, labels and definitions out of the hateful a$$ of his and those he works for. It's no different than Bin Laden defining things as he wishes.

[r9etb]

I personally believe that killing for God is more dangerous than killing for greed. The victims are equally dead in both cases, but one infection is (as they say in medicine) self limiting.

Oh, please. This just a silly comment. Completely useless, not to mention demonstrably wrong.

[Psalm 73]

the war zones: Christians versus Muslims; Muslims versus Jews; Hindus versus Muslims; Catholics versus Protestants.

Catholics versus Protestants in Northern Ireland is NOT about religion - it is about POLITICS.
But you may notice a common denominator between the other three examples.
When your raison d'etre is world domination, it is only natural that you would instigate war against all who are not like you...

[lavaroise]

I personally believe that killing for God is more dangerous than killing for greed.

I sense the fascist there. Wasn't Hitler who blamed religion and rallied the rich in Germany against it? Enticing them to steal the Jews' money? From communism to Nazism, things are getting weird in the liberal world.

[js1138]

many wars have been conducted by people believing God was on their side, and they were right.

You are really scary. It is one thing to assert that God allows self defense, quite another to say that God takes sides in wars. I cannot think of any war in which all the people on the losing side were at fault.