I hate how religious America is

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Canada must be nice. In the states we're subjected to an absolute onslaught of religious - mostly Christian - influence. It affects how we treat gay people, how we process science and climate change, how guilty we should feel about ourselves, and it also suppresses human nature and healthy sexuality. So that's it. I wish people could look past the fairytales about burning bushes, talking snakes, stoning gays, and the like and understand that you can still be a good, moral person without this stuff.

Human nature? Haven't you ever paid attention to the news? Human nature isn't all that great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:in th golden age of Islam in Andalusia 7th to 14th century, the Christians and Jews and Muslims lived in harmony -- no need to convert.

That changed when the CHristians took over


Do you have a cite for your opinion? What you stated is factually false.

What harmony there was existed because conquered Jews and Christians had two choices: they could convert. Or they could become dhimmi.

Those who didn't convert were SUBORDINATE to Islam.

Dar al-Islam is "peaceful" because the Ummah are of one accord worshipping Allah, and they live under some degree of Shari'ah.
Contrast that with the Dar al-Harb, the House of War, which is called that because they have not (yet) submitted to Islam.

Expressing the opinion you do is fine. But support it, as I do with the Myth of the Andalusian Paradise and Bat Ye'or book.

Evidence-based is what matters. Otherwise things degenerate to "my opinion prevails because I say so."

There was not complete harmony in Andalusia, which had an actual history, including periods of tolerance, and periods of persecution. But the fact remains, there was a vibrant Jewish culture there. Being a dhimmi was not consistent with post 1789 liberal rights, but it was better than anywhere in Christian Europe at the time. Even in the in the 17th century Netherlands, Jews were not fully equal citizens, IIUC. All of Christian Europe had laws based on church law, if not as detailed or as revered as Sharia (which is more similar to Jewish halacha).

[Anonymous]

You Jews and Christians can convert or become our dhimmi; you Pagans, Buddhists, and Hindus can convert or die.


in fact hinduism was tolerated in Moghul India. Buddism certainly survived there. Again, the world of Islam was inconsistent, as was that of Christianity.

[Anonymous]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Ye%27or#Reception

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: You Jews and Christians can convert or become our dhimmi; you Pagans, Buddhists, and Hindus can convert or die.


in fact hinduism was tolerated in Moghul India. Buddism certainly survived there. Again, the world of Islam was inconsistent, as was that of Christianity.

A lot of the inconsistency was due to being a minority ruling class, or no. Where Islam (and Christianity) were the majority in the population, they were often quite intolerant. See the Hindu Kush and Pakistan.

[Anonymous]

Anyone can convince themselves they're a victim. The better-than-you christians and atheists seem to have this issue with victimhood. Live and let live.

Try being a part of the charity work of humanists and christians. You will find the good people there. I have found a group of Lutherans who welcome my help, but never try to convert me. Christianity to them is helping others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone can convince themselves they're a victim. The better-than-you christians and atheists seem to have this issue with victimhood. Live and let live.

Try being a part of the charity work of humanists and christians. You will find the good people there. I have found a group of Lutherans who welcome my help, but never try to convert me. Christianity to them is helping others.

I'm the Christian who feels left out among all the atheists. I think I'm going to try this - DS has been too young for me to do volunteer work until recently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone can convince themselves they're a victim. The better-than-you christians and atheists seem to have this issue with victimhood. Live and let live.

Try being a part of the charity work of humanists and christians. You will find the good people there. I have found a group of Lutherans who welcome my help, but never try to convert me. Christianity to them is helping others.

I'm the Christian who feels left out among all the atheists. I think I'm going to try this - DS has been too young for me to do volunteer work until recently.

Better shop around -- not all Lutherans are like this. Also try a UCC church or an Episcopal church

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone can convince themselves they're a victim. The better-than-you christians and atheists seem to have this issue with victimhood. Live and let live.

Try being a part of the charity work of humanists and christians. You will find the good people there. I have found a group of Lutherans who welcome my help, but never try to convert me. Christianity to them is helping others.

I'm the Christian who feels left out among all the atheists. I think I'm going to try this - DS has been too young for me to do volunteer work until recently.

Better shop around -- not all Lutherans are like this. Also try a UCC church or an Episcopal church

I go to an Episcopal church...they're all much older than me. UCC is a little liberal for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone can convince themselves they're a victim. The better-than-you christians and atheists seem to have this issue with victimhood. Live and let live.

Try being a part of the charity work of humanists and christians. You will find the good people there. I have found a group of Lutherans who welcome my help, but never try to convert me. Christianity to them is helping others.

I'm the Christian who feels left out among all the atheists. I think I'm going to try this - DS has been too young for me to do volunteer work until recently.

Better shop around -- not all Lutherans are like this. Also try a UCC church or an Episcopal church

I go to an Episcopal church...they're all much older than me. UCC is a little liberal for me.

Not all Episcopal churches are mostly old people and some lutheran churches are mainly old people. The point here is to shop around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Canada must be nice. In the states we're subjected to an absolute onslaught of religious - mostly Christian - influence. It affects how we treat gay people, how we process science and climate change, how guilty we should feel about ourselves, and it also suppresses human nature and healthy sexuality. So that's it. I wish people could look past the fairytales about burning bushes, talking snakes, stoning gays, and the like and understand that you can still be a good, moral person without this stuff.

You sound very uneducated. God does not suppress human nature, he brings it up. Please, educate yourself.

[Anonymous]

I'm with you OP. I'm from Canada (Catholic heritage) but people here are not religious at all. They are much more tolerant and open minded, at least the educated folks. I'm so happy I don't live somewhere very religious. Must be stifling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Canada must be nice. In the states we're subjected to an absolute onslaught of religious - mostly Christian - influence. It affects how we treat gay people, how we process science and climate change, how guilty we should feel about ourselves, and it also suppresses human nature and healthy sexuality. So that's it. I wish people could look past the fairytales about burning bushes, talking snakes, stoning gays, and the like and understand that you can still be a good, moral person without this stuff.

You sound very uneducated. God does not suppress human nature, he brings it up. Please, educate yourself.

Religion suppresses science, and science explains human nature. Religion is a relic from the days before we could use science to understand the world around us. We don't need it anymore.

[Anonymous]

23:13 again, I'm a Canadian living in Canada as well, and there is much much less religious influence here than in the states. It's a much more liberal and tolerant country, there's no way to argue otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:23:13 again, I'm a Canadian living in Canada as well, and there is much much less religious influence here than in the states. It's a much more liberal and tolerant country, there's no way to argue otherwise.

And your court system and health care is a sad joke. Yes, I know from experience. I also know that the weather sucks and the only thing really good that came out of Canada is Bob Probert and Don Cherry.