General Discussion

malthaussen

(18,573 posts)

66. But there are parts we suppress.

Mon Nov 30, 2015, 03:52 PM

Nov 2015

For example, Greek "democracy" was based on a vast underclass of slaves and serfs with few rights, which would be anathema to our system today, but fits right in with classical "oriental despotism." Grecian attitudes towards women and paedophilia would not fit in well with what we are pleased to call "Western" values, but again are right in tune with the "oriental" ideal. How's that poem go? "There's a boy across the river/with a bottom like a peach/and alas, I cannot swim." (Of course, "Oriental" culture also officially makes paedophilia anathema, but depending on whom you believe, this is an anathema honored more in the breach than otherwise) However, point taken, the ancient Greeks did see themselves as separate from the "oriental" cultures, whether they were or not, and we have taken that differentiation to heart as one of the foundations of our culture. too.

-- Mal

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

120 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Fundamentalists Believe They Will Take Over Government And Rule By The Bible. [View all] TheMastersNemesis Nov 2015 OP

YEP the nutsos are out there dembotoz Nov 2015 #1

The Handmaids Tale procon Nov 2015 #7

I never understood the need to control women. rusty quoin Dec 2015 #104

The Truth is DUG! Rockyj Dec 2015 #96

But, but, but... longship Nov 2015 #2

And we continually ignore these warnings. Baitball Blogger Nov 2015 #3

We do have an extremist element that is very troubling el_bryanto Nov 2015 #4

something something Margaret Atwood.... phantom power Nov 2015 #5

Extremists are rising in influence everywhere in the world. Kablooie Nov 2015 #6

...and most are heavily armed. nt 2naSalit Nov 2015 #22

Why do so many around the world seem to embrace religious extremism? smirkymonkey Nov 2015 #24

Good question Ahpook Nov 2015 #46

Don Henley said it well..... lastlib Nov 2015 #93

Simple answers that require no thinking. hifiguy Nov 2015 #68

Thanks for the recommendation. I've seen Dennet but haven't read him. nt haikugal Nov 2015 #80

He's an exceptionally clear hifiguy Nov 2015 #89

kind of like you, then? grasswire Dec 2015 #101

Aww, thanks. hifiguy Dec 2015 #116

Anything that happens is Allah's will... Kablooie Nov 2015 #88

NO!! DU assures me religion can never be damaging or dangerous whatthehey Nov 2015 #8

Exactly. Missn-Hitch Nov 2015 #55

And we must respect it at all times because most people are religious and Arugula Latte Nov 2015 #61

Ever read Daniel Dennett's "Breaking The Spell?" hifiguy Nov 2015 #69

I haven't, but thanks for the rec. Arugula Latte Nov 2015 #75

He gave a lecture a U of Edinburg under that title Oilwellian Dec 2015 #112

The best of the Four Horsemen books. longship Dec 2015 #106

I think more highly if Harris than you do hifiguy Dec 2015 #115

We must respect the right TO a religion, but not necessarily the religion. nt Bernardo de La Paz Nov 2015 #86

Agreed. People have the right to believe what they want, even if it Arugula Latte Dec 2015 #118

Why do people persist in the insane idea of "always" and " never"? uppityperson Nov 2015 #83

Because it's an easier means of arguing. kentauros Dec 2015 #98

Excellent observation. kwassa Dec 2015 #119

Dunno, but then again religion and nuance are never all that comfortable together whatthehey Dec 2015 #114

Thank you for providing such a good example uppityperson Dec 2015 #117

My grandfather's funeral reeked of Christian Nationalism Pacifist Patriot Nov 2015 #9

And GOP pres candidates are among them - nearly every one Panich52 Nov 2015 #52

These crazy, well armed folks are not really there to stop a "government takeover". jalan48 Nov 2015 #10

Exactly. jwirr Nov 2015 #27

That's my take as well. haikugal Dec 2015 #99

Religion--the quickest way to turn someone utterly loony. nt valerief Nov 2015 #11

They also believe their religious teachings kairos12 Nov 2015 #12

check the internet for "norwalk prayer in school" erlewyne Nov 2015 #13

Unless you are the one they are praying against. jwirr Nov 2015 #28

+1 !! exactly. lunasun Dec 2015 #95

And we will beat and imprison you until you see we are right. alfredo Nov 2015 #33

Do I get some hand maidens and concubines then? SHRED Nov 2015 #14

Ask Betty... KansDem Nov 2015 #17

"the military should police a woman's right to choose" eggplant Nov 2015 #15

Will that be the "Buffet Bible?" KansDem Nov 2015 #16

Warren Buffett wrote a Bible? Oh, maybe you mean Jimmy Buffett. tclambert Nov 2015 #56

No, the cook at a Golden Corral in Broken Arrow, Okla. did. KamaAina Nov 2015 #72

and all tax exempt.. meaning we're all supporting this crap. mountain grammy Nov 2015 #18

Another reason to TAX THE CHURCHES! SHRED Nov 2015 #19

Taxing them will only drive them underground. jwirr Nov 2015 #29

Okay then... SHRED Nov 2015 #32

It is them that will go underground. Liberal churches will jwirr Nov 2015 #34

I don't have a problem with that Proserpina Nov 2015 #74

Oh I agree with you. But fading away into the background jwirr Nov 2015 #76

I do not fear Muslim terrorists. Moostache Nov 2015 #20

Every church that does this needs to be reported SHRED Nov 2015 #21

Here's an often forgotten phrase everyone 2naSalit Nov 2015 #23

They've convinced themselves the Constitution Mariana Nov 2015 #44

The Bible refers to the separation as in Faith and Law. And that Faith and Law will remain DhhD Dec 2015 #113

and these are the same nutbars who scream about "sharia law" niyad Nov 2015 #25

Sharia law and Mosaic law, same shit, different package. alfredo Nov 2015 #35

and yet, when we point these things out to them, they are completely outraged--and in complete niyad Nov 2015 #36

They need to read the Old Testament, then the Koran. alfredo Nov 2015 #42

Well, be fair. Their objection is not to religious law... malthaussen Nov 2015 #38

I know, how very silly of me. niyad Nov 2015 #39

i am so close to finding a bumper sticker retrowire Nov 2015 #26

Which would be, essentially, Christian "Sharia." Lizzie Poppet Nov 2015 #30

They also believe MynameisBlarney Nov 2015 #31

one of my favourite quotes about the bible: "it is amazing to me how white europeans and niyad Nov 2015 #37

Kind of like how we appropriated Ancient Greece... malthaussen Nov 2015 #41

But Mal. . . ProfessorGAC Nov 2015 #47

The point being, we disclaim its origins. malthaussen Nov 2015 #51

We Agree Completely ProfessorGAC Nov 2015 #63

The Ancient Greeks wrote extensively defining themselves in contrast to "orientals" though whatthehey Nov 2015 #64

But there are parts we suppress. malthaussen Nov 2015 #66

Suppressed is a bit strong. De-emphasizerd I'd buy, but we do that to all progenitors whatthehey Nov 2015 #71

35-40% of the populace hifiguy Nov 2015 #40

That was the stated goal of the Christian Coalition. alfredo Nov 2015 #43

There are various versions of the Bible keithbvadu2 Nov 2015 #45

They want to rule based on what they THINK is in the Bible. tclambert Nov 2015 #48

Yep. Well said. Now, if we could just get them to read the Bible!!! oldandhappy Nov 2015 #49

All religion is equally vile. All religion is evil. All religion should be discouraged. bowens43 Nov 2015 #50

For whose profit? malthaussen Nov 2015 #53

I second that sentiment. But, back to reality. *sigh* Missn-Hitch Nov 2015 #60

all two of them... ileus Nov 2015 #54

Extremists Beowulf42 Nov 2015 #57

They were bombing abortion clinics and harassing doctors 25 years ago. Manifestor_of_Light Nov 2015 #58

Christian Fundimentalists are a far larger problem than Muslims. blackspade Nov 2015 #59

It's so much easier for other Christians just to say Mariana Nov 2015 #73

So no more shrimp and lobster? d_legendary1 Nov 2015 #62

There are lots of Nehemiah Scudders out there. hobbit709 Nov 2015 #65

NO, no. You have confused the Fundamentalist White Christian Terrorists bvar22 Nov 2015 #67

...and they fear sharia law? spanone Nov 2015 #70

Time to remind the christofascists that WE will make use of that 2nd Amendment Solution (TM) kestrel91316 Nov 2015 #77

Small consolation if they have the Supreme Court on their side. world wide wally Nov 2015 #79

I have been warning about this for decades and saying that Margaret Atwood's kestrel91316 Nov 2015 #78

Agree.... haikugal Nov 2015 #81

In their world the PP shooter would be a cop. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2015 #82

Huckabee doesn't know the military can't police US civilians? jmowreader Nov 2015 #84

Dominionists. Look it up. Variation on the Pave The Earth gang. nt Bernardo de La Paz Nov 2015 #85

"Seven Cultural Mountains" is their organizing method..n/t annabanana Dec 2015 #110

The insanity that was the documentary yuiyoshida Nov 2015 #87

If that's what the Founders wanted... But they didn't. Beartracks Nov 2015 #90

Theocrats -60% of Republicans want Christianity as the official religion ErikJ Nov 2015 #91

That Means The Dominionists Now Control The GOP For All Practical Purposes. TheMastersNemesis Nov 2015 #92

I call them The Christian State. GETPLANING Dec 2015 #94

Fitting acronym: CSUS (pronounced "cease US") meow2u3 Dec 2015 #111

That sounds like a terrible preacher! Shandris Dec 2015 #97

They Put It On The $$$ In The 1950s billhicks76 Dec 2015 #100

Sadly this isn't new... Docreed2003 Dec 2015 #102

And that is not a country I want to live in. Initech Dec 2015 #103

Intent on sending us back to the Dark Ages. ErikJ Dec 2015 #105

What a wonderful world it would be if they were in charge. BeanMusical Dec 2015 #107

Those fundies looking to overthrow the goverment ought to face criminal charges meow2u3 Dec 2015 #108

Google "Seven Cultural Mountains" annabanana Dec 2015 #109

They can try to take over if they want to, outside of getting themselves into government, ladyVet Dec 2015 #120