Atheists & Agnostics

jeff47

(26,549 posts)

8. It's about power.

Sun Jan 11, 2015, 04:43 PM

Jan 2015

Religion is just the tool they are using to manipulate people in order to get more power.

The terrorists attacks happened in order to incite a backlash. That gets them more recruits, more power, and the ability to carry out more attacks. Which continues the cycle. 9/11 and its aftermath is a perfect example of how it's done and how well it can work.

The response from non-Muslims attempting to blame Islam for it are also seeking power. Declaring it all about Islam is great when you want to get non-Muslims to vote for you out of fear.

Just like religion can be used to keep control over the poor, it can also be used to manipulate people into giving power to sociopaths.

Take away religion, and the same people will just use another tool. Stalinists called it "sharpening the contradictions", and obviously did not use "religion" as their tool.

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So...if those that attacked in Paris aren't "real" muslims, and KKK isn't "real" christians [View all] Heddi Jan 2015 OP

And I guess the Saudis (the home of Islam) aren't "real" Muslims either. PeaceNikki Jan 2015 #1

But that's not about religion either y'see.... truebrit71 Jan 2015 #2

But Saudi lashings are LIBERAL, you troublemaker! onager Jan 2015 #9

It is an excellent question!! How does wavesofeuphoria Jan 2015 #3

Very good points. Curmudgeoness Jan 2015 #5

What's really ridiculous Mr.Bill Jan 2015 #4

This message was self-deleted by its author Pacifist Patriot Jan 2015 #12

Good response. bvf Jan 2015 #15

I've been struck speechless by what I've read here the past week. deucemagnet Jan 2015 #6

I know. The pretzel logic and mental gymnastics that they have to go through is nothing short of an PeaceNikki Jan 2015 #7

It's about power. jeff47 Jan 2015 #8

"Religion is just the tool..." deucemagnet Jan 2015 #10

But also about religion. trotsky Jan 2015 #20

Stalinists were also able to motivate people to martyr themselves. jeff47 Jan 2015 #23

I didn't say it wasn't possible. trotsky Jan 2015 #27

No, there's people who will line up behind almost anything jeff47 Jan 2015 #28

Again, I didn't say it wasn't possible. trotsky Jan 2015 #29

I really don't care if the attacker dies or not. I'm more interested in the victims. jeff47 Jan 2015 #31

I don't view this as a binary proposition. trotsky Jan 2015 #32

Given the bits of their religion they choose to enforce jeff47 Jan 2015 #33

"the bits they choose" trotsky Jan 2015 #34

Yeah, it's never-ending circular logic. PeaceNikki Jan 2015 #36

You're right, I am claiming that no one is really following their religion jeff47 Jan 2015 #37

I understand you to say that the only true adherents LiberalAndProud Jan 2015 #35

There is a huge intersection between Christianity and White supremacy Lordquinton Jan 2015 #42

Actually, you don't know why. jeff47 Jan 2015 #43

Well, thanks for informing me what I do and don't know Lordquinton Jan 2015 #44

If you're gonna whine about assumptions made of you jeff47 Jan 2015 #46

Religion is just the tool AlbertCat Jan 2015 #22

Religion was exploited to motivate people. jeff47 Jan 2015 #24

Religion was exploited to motivate people. AlbertCat Jan 2015 #25

Generally, the rules say god will handle it. jeff47 Jan 2015 #26

I swear the stupid comes out in people after a massacre. Warren Stupidity Jan 2015 #11

This message was self-deleted by its author Pacifist Patriot Jan 2015 #13

Yeah, your #2 is especially annoying. PeaceNikki Jan 2015 #14

Can I throw a fly in the ointment for a second? defacto7 Jan 2015 #16

So you want to substitute "degree of scotsman" for "binary scotsman"? Warren Stupidity Jan 2015 #17

You are putting a personal twist defacto7 Jan 2015 #38

misunderstandings RussBLib Jan 2015 #41

Thanks for looking to the bright side. defacto7 Jan 2015 #45

It's hard to understand what you mean by "equal." trotsky Jan 2015 #21

I'm just trying to separate the person from the dogma. defacto7 Jan 2015 #39

Popey says they are "deviant" RussBLib Jan 2015 #18

Not only are they NOT "real" Muslims or Christians... trotsky Jan 2015 #19

And you're A BIGOT AND ISLAMAPHOBE if youdon't agree. PeaceNikki Jan 2015 #30

A nice neat defacto7 Jan 2015 #40