Posted on 05/28/2005 7:21:59 AM PDT by voletti
In Europe religion doesn't rise to the level of burning away “in the open air”; in fact, it barely smoulders. Most European politicians would rather talk about sexually transmitted diseases than their own faith in God. The hugely bulky European constitution doesn't mention Christianity.
America's policymakers, by contrast, don't seem to talk about anything else. Look at the issues that have dominated the past week.
America's religious wars are only going to intensify. Fourteen moderate senators averted a nuclear explosion over conservative judges this week; but explosions over the issues which made those judges controversial seem all but inevitable. Just wait for the next Supreme Court ruling on abortion. Or for the next vacancy on the court to open up.
Forget today's crowing about the ceasefire in Congress. America's wars of religion will get a lot nastier before any long-lasting peace can be declared—if ever.
(Excerpt) Read more at economist.com ...
Not any to my knowledge. There is just something about masked raving lunatics wearing diapers on their heads tied on with fanbelts ( to borrow a description from a certain US congressman ) killing thousands of our people and swearing to do more that makes it very hard not to start a war.
I think we'd kill them just the same if they were athiests or even Christians. You start killin us we kill you.
Having read the article, it seems that they use "wars of religion" as a euphemism for our "culture wars."
That said, reaction to European "wars of religion" seems to have destroyed religion there.
I'm not religious in the least, and I find both immoral.
We've never had a war of religion you dumb_$$
(Directed at the article writer, and not yourself, unless you agree with him.)
I thought it was a good article which described the culture conflict well.
I guess we should have let that religious fanatic Adolph Hitler pulverize Great Britain into oblivion.
This is simple bull-s**t. It is the EUROPEANS that have a history of endemic religious wars! Hell, many of the colonists that came to North America were FLEEING the European religious fanaticism. Our founders were more than aware of this, and sought to allow for a yeasty exchange of religious ideas - yes in politics - because it is only in an open forum of debate/persuasion, and competition that actual social violence can be avoided. The libs want you to think that it is necessary to REMOVE the religious from the public square to avoid conflict, but in truth it is the opposite. Again, just look at European history. It was during the 30 year war that persecutions resulted when competing religious views were pushed underground resulting in a pressure-cooker of eventual violence.The Europeans have NO moral authority on this subject.
well said
That said, THE ECONOMIST is pretty dense with articles and, unlike US mags, light on advertisements. Its 'take' is definitely European. Its okay if you take it with a grain of salt and realize where its coming from, literally AND figuratively. It will keep you more informed about World Affairs better than any domestic rag. Subscription is expensive though.
"Most European politicians would rather talk about sexually transmitted diseases than their own faith in God. The hugely bulky European constitution doesn't mention Christianity."
Europe has become 'a-God' to a large degree. Neither God, nor God-given values enter into much of what happens politically in Europe today. The European politicians and 'religionists' would impose their 'values' on us in the USA and continuously attack us for whatever faith in God remains in this country.
As to wars, Europe and the Middle East are the only parts of the world that have a continuing history of 'wars of religion'.
On, this forum? Definately. Views other than Christianity are not accepted well.
I think the reason this nation hasn't had an all out religion war is because it tries so hard to be tolerant.
I think we have had minor religion wars for some time now. I think abortion is a religion war. The right of a woman to murder her baby vs. G-d's Commandment against murder.
Another religion war is the war between homosexuals and G-dfearing society.
Granted the only major bloodshed thus far would be the blood of the unborn (and that's no small number), but I think it's only a matter of time. Remember, the United States is an extremely young country when compared to Europe, Asia or the Middle East.
Looks like wishful thinking, doesn't it?
In America, the relationship among the various religions has never been more harmonious, i.e. amoung the various Christian religions, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddahism, New Ageity, et al. Catholics, Protestants, and Jews get along very well and tend to be mutually supportive.
It is true that anti-Muslim sentiment, in various levels of intensity, is present. This too was non-existent before 9/11.
The real conflict in America is between the American people and the Left.
Secularism--or whatever you want to call it--is the religion of the Left. It is a sinister religion (by definition), based in large measure on atheistic Marxism and offering nothing but half-baked ideas, platitudes, confusion, decadence, a peculiar form of materialism, and suicide.
Maybe that's what these people at The Economist mean by America's intensifying religious wars.
Maybe that's what they're rooting for.
As an atheist righty, I strongly disagree. And I'm getting heartily sick of my opinions being labeled as religious by people who want the freedom to dismiss them out of hand. Abortion is wrong because a just society doesn't kill people without a good reason. No old guy with a white beard who lives in the sky is necessary to tell me that.
Secularism--or whatever you want to call it--is the religion of the Left.
I think that is exactly what they are looking at. The leftists have been trying to remove G-d for many years. If that doesn't constitute a war against religion, what does?
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