Professor weighs in on religion [9-11, extremists and religious right among topics addressed ]

Charlotte Observer ^ | 04-30-2007 | TIM FUNK

[bedolido]

Wake Forest University religion professor Charles Kimball, an ordained Baptist minister whose books include "When Religion Turns Evil," spoke Sunday at the Levine Museum of the New South in uptown Charlotte.

Here's some of what he said:

• "It doesn't take many (religious fanatics) in our increasingly interconnected world community to wreck havoc ... A small number of people don't just affect a small number of people. Now, a small number of people can literally change the world."

• "The vast majority of Muslims throughout the world are as horrified and offended by the acts of violent extremists as we are in this room. The behavior of people on Sept. 11 that we so vividly witnessed represents only a tiny fraction out at the end or on the fringe of the larger Islamic world."

[bedolido]

"I've heard major (Christian) religious leaders on national television say, `If you're working for peace in this situation, you could be working for the Antichrist.' So, the Sermon on the Mount -- `Blessed are the peacemakers' -- apparently just falls on deaf ears."

this is war! maybe the last war. liberal professors are sooooo ignorant when it comes to religion.

[E Rocc]

It's not that complicated: religion turns evil when religious people attempt to use the force of government to make their faith, or at least its specific rules, mandatory.

The Framers dealt with that in the Constitution.

-Eric

[csn vinnie]

Only a tiny fraction of Muslims are terrorists. Only a tiny fraction of terrorists are anything other than Muslim.

And these people wreak, not wreck, havoc.

[svcw]

“The vast majority of Muslims throughout the world are as horrified and offended by the acts of violent extremists as we are in this room.”

I keep hearing and reading this statement from liberals but have not heard ONE muslin actually say they are horrified or even condemn what is happening. It is always excuse after excuse after excuse and dancing around saying who these people really are.

[pgkdan]

"The vast majority of Muslims throughout the world are as horrified and offended by the acts of violent extremists as we are in this room.

There goes his credibility with me. The vast number of muslims in the world would be unlikely to blow themselves up, but they support those who do so. There's tons of polling data that says so and the evidence of our own eyes..if only we'd open them.

[viper592]

“The vast majority of Muslims throughout the world are as horrified and offended by the acts of violent extremists as we are in this room. The behavior of people on Sept. 11 that we so vividly witnessed represents only a tiny fraction out at the end or on the fringe of the larger Islamic world.”

This statement alone proves

1) This professor is liberal
2) He is out of touch with reality
3) Doesn’t know what he is talking about as no real Baptist or Muslim believes that the vast majority of Muslims are horrified by what happened on 9/11. If they were, we would see them protesting Bin Laden instead of holding Death to America parties.

[Always Right]

"The vast majority of Muslims throughout the world are as horrified and offended by the acts of violent extremists as we are in this room.

Someone needs to inform the vast majority of Muslims about this.

[CeasarsGhost]

""The vast majority of Muslims throughout the world are as horrified and offended by the acts of violent extremists as we are in this room. The behavior of people on Sept. 11 that we so vividly witnessed represents only a tiny fraction out at the end or on the fringe of the larger Islamic world."

Not many people are buying this garbage anymore. We don't see any muslims walking around looking sorrowful and "horrified" by acts of terrorism. In fact, many of them rejoice when they hear about an act of mass murder committed against "infidels" by one of their islamic brethren. To support a worldwide terror network like al Quaida you need to have a vast amount of supporters and sympathizers. The supporters do the bloody work, the sympathizers support that bloody work by keeping silent as the terror networks are set up all around them. Their bloody consciences are eased because their 'holy book' supports acts of murder against 'infidels'. They can try to push the "religion of peace" tripe all they want, the fact remains that islam is a cult of murderous devils.

[griswold3]

The Reformists’ are out there. But most fear for their lives from the ‘Inquistion’ occuring.

btw, i watched CSpan’s atheists forum this weekend. Where are the Radical Religious Right folks at? You know, the ‘American Facists’?

[Beckwith]

The vast majority of Muslims throughout the world are as horrified and offended by the acts of violent extremists as we are

That is a damnable lie!

[Capt. Tom]

What an ass this so called religious professor is.

"The vast majority of Muslims throughout the world are as horrified and offended by the acts of violent extremists as we are in this room.

Why would any Muslim be horrified over an Infidel being killed.
If you are a secular Muslim (heretic) and are bothered by Infidels getting killed, you should get out of the religion. The "violent extremists are following the religion to the letter as written in the Koran and Hadiths.

"Anybody who thinks they've got God in their pocket or that they know exactly what God wants for you and for everybody else is a disaster waiting to happen, potentially. None of us sees the world with the mind of God."

If you believe there is only one God and Muhammad is His prophet you know what God wants done. The Koran and Hadiths tell you what is expected. Subjugate , kill or convert non- believers.(Infidels)

• "(Christian leaders who claim Muslims worship a different God) are playing to people's ignorance and fears and trying to dehumanize (Muslims) to make it more acceptable to fight and kill others `who really aren't like us.' "

Is this Prof so ill informed that he does not know Muslims and Christians worship different Gods?

Christians worship Jesus Christ as the son of God.
Christians believe there are 3 divine persons, Father Son and Holy Ghost.
Muslims don't believe any of that>
It is clear in the Koran and Hadiths, that Jesus was a mere mortal like the rest of us, and a mere mortal like Muhammad, and was not to be worshiped- tom

You can't say `I love God' and fly an airplane into a building."

Probably not for your God; but for Allah it is a different situation. - Tom

[weegee]

“The vast majority of Muslims throughout the world are as horrified and offended by the acts of violent extremists as we are in this room. The behavior of people on Sept. 11 that we so vividly witnessed represents only a tiny fraction out at the end or on the fringe of the larger Islamic world.”

Odd. There were muslims in Egypt, Palestine, and elsewhere celebrating in the streets.

There was a photo of a young man wearing an Osama shirt (like a basketball star t-shirt) during that famous tsunami disaster.

There are large pockets of muslims who support these actions and are quite public about their support. It is foolish to pretend that they don’t exist and don’t pose any harm.

[onedoug]

“Cry havoc! And let slip the dogs of war.”

[weegee]

“(Because they believe Jesus is returning soon) the people who have been the most vociferous in their opposition to any kind of initiative that might bring peace and hope to the Israelis and Palestinians have been people on the religious right in the United States ...”

The AntiChrist has to come before the Second Coming, according to prophecy. I don’t know of anyone who’s pushing for the arrival of the AntiChrist.

Of course, Mohammed the warlord, is AN anti-Christ. His is the only major world religion (Islam) to acknowledge the existence of Jesus while at the same time denying His divinity, His death, and His resurrection. Mohammed leads the flock astray and millions kill and enslave in his name.

[weegee]

You’d think that atheists would be more cautious about Islam which has established theocratic rule in nations around the world and sets fewer rights/protections for non-muslims in those societies and has a death penalty for muslims who convert away from the faith.

You’d think they be cautious about those same nations engaging in state funded missionary expansion of Islam into the US.

But they see the Christian Right as the “threat”.

[Tahoe3002]

Totally agree with your comments, Capt Tom.

It is really simple: either the Bible is TRUE; or the koran is true. One cannot accept the tenets of Christianity as being true, and also accept the koran as true. There are too many inconsistencies, the key ones you mentioned.

I am taking my stand with the truth of the Bible.

[redgolum]

They view the islamics as an ally in taking out the Christians.

[E Rocc]

Is this Prof so ill informed that he does not know Muslims and Christians worship different Gods?

Muslims generally consider Christians and Jews to be worshippers of the same God as them. It's also the official view of the Roman Catholic church. I'm not sure what the various Protestant faiths say on the subject.

Christians worship Jesus Christ as the son of God.
Christians believe there are 3 divine persons, Father Son and Holy Ghost.
Muslims don't believe any of that

Neither do Jews, but I doubt anyone would try to make the claim that Christians and Jews believe in different Gods. Especially since Jesus of Nazareth was an observant Jew and Christianity was considered a sect of Judaism during his entire life and for years afterwards.

-Eric

[E Rocc]

But they see the Christian Right as the “threat”.

Worldwide, you're right.

However, in the US most Muslims are either native born or de facto refugees from the fanatics in the Middle East.

Domestically, it has to be kept in mind that there are very few if any laws based on Islam....but in parts of the country there are laws based on fundamentalist Christian doctrine (Sunday closing and "dry counties" come to mind).

-Eric