Randall wrote:
"Mohammed did have multiple wives and a child bride. I consider that to be a good indication that he was not the "final messenger of God" that Muslims believe.
Some compare the origins of Islam to Christianity, but Christianity was against the law until 313ad when Constantine legalized it. So Christians were killed for the first 3 centuries of the religion, whereas Islam was a warrior religion which conquered North Africa and Spain in it's first century. Interestingly, I couldn't write this publicly in most of the Muslim world because of the religious totalitarian tendency prevalent in most of those countries. (penalty for converting away from Islam is death in Saudi Arabia and no churches are permitted) Real nice, huh? I consider religious tyranny to be hateful, not what I'm writing."
Tivana wrote:
Randall,
Are you aware that there are many different forms of Islam just like Christianity?
From this we see that each religion can be very different in many ways. None the less they have axioms of similarity and dissimilarity.
Being a Pagan myself I find it amusing to watch the monotheists go to great lengths to point out their differences when they are all the same -- my religion is better than yours and here are the guns to prove it. Judaism, Christianity, Islam - the three great monotheistic religions all say: this is the only way, here is the book to prove it, and anyone can join (as long as you are a believer).
Monotheistic religion requires such a strong faith to believe in its fairy tales that to challenge it is picking a fight on very deep levels. The commitment to support the myths and superstitions is wedged into the culture in so many ways that religion has become an influential force in modern life; perhaps too much for its own good. Thus we see the people defending their way of life is a way of defending their religion that can be manipulated by nefarious types with possibly a diseased agenda like Globalization.
The people of the monotheistic cultures are being manipulated to wage a war of fabricated differences and fears to enhance the markets of the runaway market economy. This is the sad truth of today's world, this is what mankind must overcome.
The 3 religions in the current world war all stem from the same background. They have similar teachings with different interpretations, same roots, different branches. This was amusing to the polytheists whose Supreme being or God is found in the trees, the animals, and the waters, whose proof of existence is all about to be touched and admired every moment of the day; it was amusing to see the montheists quibble until the quibbles began to threaten all life on the planet. Now life on the planet hangs in the balance and all life on the planet is begging the monotheistis to STOP!
All the trees, all the sparkles on the water, all the birds, all the songs of mirth are saying please recognize that entities of life are born in original blessings, not original sin; all life is graced and must be respected not feared and dominated. Put aside superstitious ways, do not make more fear and disdain in this world for it is the morsels that evil feeds upon, it is the demise of all that has been or will be created.
