The way i see it.

THEIR democracy (a term we can believe a little about, because ... CAN WE TRUST: secularism does not believe in Trust for the whole of mankind.

 

Really? were you not just on my case about Church attendance in America 50 years ago. Did you live in Iran 50 years ago? where's your facts? They didn't pray 5 times a day 50 years ago? This is a new trend is it?

You know what, I bet if America slips into a great depression then church attendance with go back up with people being cold, hungry and broke with nothing better to do than pray. And you know how good God is at answering prayers, and you can tell me "I told you so..."

 

I think freedom means freedom to shoot yourself in the foot. It's hard for an outsider in any country to understand why a populace continually makes the same "mistakes" over and over again, while at the same time it is very easy to defend the non sequiturs of one's own beliefs and ideologies as mere quirks, ironies, issues that we want to deal with in our own way in our own time.

Would America take kindly to an invading nation showing up and killing vast numbers of its people? Probably not. Would they be any happier with the situation if this was done in the name of (somehow) reducing the inequities between rich and poor in America, something few people could disagree with? Again, probably not.

 

I didn't live in Iran 50 years ago, unless it was in another life, but I do read. The statement you seem to be trying to rebut concerns an increase in fanaticism in Iran and Afghanistan in recent years. I don't consider prayer per se to be a manifiestation of fanaticism (in fact, I consider it fanatical to suggest that it is). I'm basically talking about Khomeni's Iranian Revolution and the rise of the Taliban. In the 1960s in Iran, the Shah's government launched a program of land reform and modernization, while Iran enjoyed the fruits of an oil boom. Yet there were no accompanying social reforms to alleviate the increasing gap between rich and poor caused by the economic policies. That, and a reign of terror and repression under the Shah's SAVAK secret police, created the climate in which Khomeni's Iranian Revolution could thrive. In Afghanistan, under Daoud Khan in the 70s, and later the Marxist Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, economic reforms were also introduced, but the mishandling of the backlash among feudal elements brought Soviet intervention and a popular uprising against it, supported by Bin Laden and the CIA. I think it can be reasonably stated that the present Iranian government and the Taliban in Afghanistan represent a level of religious intensity not previously experienced in either country. In the United States fifty years ago, religion and churchgoing were widespread, but the kind of zealotry that has characterized religion in American politics since the mid-1970s was unheard of. It's a reaction against economic developments (stagflation)and perceived over-reaching by secularists, including the judiciary.

 

There was evidence of this shown, actually. Some footage in a documentary about the Koran showing the streets of Cairo in 1970, as compared to now. Massive difference. Almost none of the women were covered up back then.

 

You remind me of the jesuit, all your choices and actions are your own.

 

Hello

Yes I agree that the meddling of western imperial powers in far away places has put paid to the ambitions of many secular movements in many countries were secular ideas would have had the chance of gaining a lot more traction. It is certainly no secret that some of the most reactionary elements in many regions and countries have been courted and supported in the interests of commerce by many western governments. This has of course been to the detriment of moderate forces that would have been attracted to the soft power of the wests cultural and material achievements.

In regard to Iran, secular forces were to play a significant role both before and during Iranian revolution. This influence has since been muzzled by foreign hostility to the revolution in general and the power of the clerics which has only been strengthened by the countries subsequent isolation and demonisation.

Further more

"You know what, I bet if America slips into a great depression then church attendance with go back up with people being cold, hungry and broke with nothing better to do than pray. And you know how good God is at answering prayers, and you can tell me "I told you so..."

Yeh when the bread and circuses are gone there will be little for us plebs to do but toil pray. But thats the default position for most of human history.

 

First of all,what the fuck is up with dude in the photo? Is he supossed to be scary???? Motherfucker look like a hungry clown. And one more time, i said, ''the way i see it''.:chillpill:

 

well if he was too scary he wouldn't get to fuck moms and deflower virgins. actually, in this picture, he is pointing to your mom, declaring she is "the one" on that particular night. see the look of rage on his face? he's actually about to bust all over your mom's brand new blouse that she got from wal-mart.

 

but it seems like you need to eleive in something

weather it be live to work your way to death

or putting something in front of you to get to a goal to die for

i think what i am trying to say is that you have to put something there

or the human brain whould be like "what the hell am i living for i cant find anygood reason what so ever through my thoughts of living for living"

 

MOST need to believe in something greater and beyond for THEM. THEY fail to realize that life is a ride, not a destination. They forsake reality, take for granted the now, and waste it on fantasy.

Does all mighty God need YOU to waste your precious time making excuses for him? Do I care if an ant in my field sacrifices his life in my honor? HA HA, what a stupid useless ant!!! Faith and religion are for weak pawns. MOST are bred to be tools and THEY can't even see it.