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The panelist are talking about how backward the Muslim world is, how barbaric it is to go after other religions and that is the difference between the west and the world of Islam.
But what they glossed over is it was only just a little over 100 years that Christians were killing the infidels all over the world, went out on Missionaries to convert the infidels.
Don't gloat about how modern we are when just a few hundred years ago we were burning witches at the stake or dunking them in water or driving people out of town who didn't believe in god...
CaliforniaPeggy
(151,743 posts)We aren't as far removed from these actions as we might like to think.
I suspect the veneer of civilization is just that......a veneer.
ohheckyeah
(9,314 posts)to always talk criticize the actions of the party of the first part before you can criticize the party of the 2nd part. No, 100 years over the course of history is not a long time, but it is more than a lifetime for most people.
Zen Democrat
(5,901 posts)Fundamentalist zealots all.
demosincebirth
(12,730 posts)WCGreen
(45,558 posts)is a little disingenuous.
It wasn't until the free flow of information gave people many different views and many different options that our society started to look inward. When life is brutal, the tendency grows for escapism and that first avenue of escape is usually centered around a Deity.
demosincebirth
(12,730 posts)Smilo
(1,950 posts)their way today, they would still be killing infidels unless they converted. How inconvenient for them that "modern" laws are against taking another's life.
Whisp
(24,096 posts)Confusious
(8,317 posts)Maybe 300 years ago, but 100? 1912? WW1 was Christians killing Christians, if you want to put it that way. But it would be stupid, since WW1 was about nation states, not religion.
Once you get past the enlightenment, 1812, it was more about nation states then religion.
Please clarify your remarks.
PS. The wars between Islam and Christians wasn't always instigated by Christians. Most of the time, it was because Islam was forcibly conquering Christian territory.
WCGreen
(45,558 posts)A lot of it was to bring Christianity to the infidels. At least that was how they defended it back home.
The whole Stanley expedition was about opening Africa to Christianity.
And what about India where the British basically outlawed Hinduism all the way into the 20th century.
Confusious
(8,317 posts)Most of the middle east was ruled by the Ottoman empire at the time.
They invaded Egypt, yes, but that was competition for Empire, more then Religious reasons.
Don't see "religion" there, unless it's a conspiracy.
Nice quote from Napoleon:
Africa, "white mans burden." To bring "civilization" to the "savages." more about gold and Empire, not Religion.
The British outlawed the practice of sati and a couple of other customs, not Hinduism itself. Look it up if you want to find out why. (Just as a side note, Hindu reformers instigated and supported those "things" being outlawed.)
Your examples are examples of competition for empire, not Religious.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Confusious
(8,317 posts)and they hardly qualify as "all over the world."
I'm sure you can find all the "Hindu killing Muslim," "Muslim killing Hindu," "Muslim killing Christian" and "Christian killing Muslim" news you want these days.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Or even the Mennonites.
unc70
(6,319 posts)It is unusual, but even the Amish.
WCGreen
(45,558 posts)The above link includes a links to more of the beard cutting incident.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)From a guy named "Mullet"???
PossumSqueezins
(184 posts)Muslim extremists are willing to blow themselves up to make a point. Michele Bachmann only wants to blow up other people.
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pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014240382
CNN: Decrying attack, protesters overtake Islamist group's HQ in Benghazi
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Protesters ask troops to take control of an Islamist group's HQ, a general says
"I am sorry, America... This is the real Libya," a protester in Benghazi says
Hundreds take over the Ansar al-Sharia group's headquarters without firing a shot
That group is tied to an attack last week that left 4 Americans dead
updated 1:31 AM EDT, Sat September 22, 2012
Benghazi, Libya (CNN) -- Ten days after four Americans were killed in their Libyan city, hundreds marched in Benghazi and took over the headquarters of a radical Islamist group tied to the attack.
Thousands of protesters had taken to the street earlier Friday, loudly declaring that they -- and not those behind last week's deadly attack -- represent the real sentiments of the Libyan people.
"I am sorry, America," one man said. "This is the real Libya."
...
VIDEO at link:
http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/21/world/africa/libya-benghazi-counter-protest/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
phascismisphun
(5 posts)and tell me how it is different than the ME.
Having been to both the Middle East (Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Afghanistan, UAE, just to name a few) and all the states in the south, I can tell you there is very little difference between the places except one place is Islamic and one is Christian.
Both places are run by backwards assed people who want to run their lives and lives of others according to books of mythology.
justiceischeap
(14,040 posts)Conservative U.S. Christian groups are setting up fronts in Africa to fight for anti-gay and anti-abortion legislation to promote their fundamentalist convictions, a report by a Boston research group said Tuesday.
It accuses evangelical stars such as Pat Robertson and Rick Warren as well as Catholic and Mormon groups of setting up institutions and campaigns in Africa that are "fanning the flames of the culture wars over homosexuality and abortion by backing prominent African campaigners and political leaders."