Can USA liberal Churches such as the Epispocal Church USA, challenge the powerful rise of fundamentalist born-agains and evangelicals?
Yes - I hope so
4(23.5%)
Yes - I fear so
1(5.9%)
No - but I wish they could
7(41.2%)
No - which is fine
2(11.8%)
Could who do what to whom? Huh?
3(17.6%)
Can the Islamist nations come out of their dark ages?
Yes, if we leave them alone
5(29.4%)
Yes, if we continue to interfere
2(11.8%)
No
3(17.6%)
No, and we must interfere to stop them waging war against us
5(29.4%)
Dark ages? What dark ages? Again?
2(11.8%)
What can we do to conter religious extremism in the USA and Middle East?
Some of their quotes on that site are exactly the same as ones I've used... like the "four directions" quote on their page on the dodgy nature of the formation of the Bible.
Attn Megadog
Screen it if you like so only I can see.
Re: Attn Megadog
In either case, if you two talk could you involve me, vexen@vexen.co.uk ?
http://www.vexen.co.uk/military/western_defence.html (I haven't promoted it here, yet) and http://www.vexen.co.uk/life/population.html seem relevant (you might have seen that second one).
Re: Attn Megadog
Re: Attn Megadog
Over the last few decades it is obvious that there is storm developing. Communism could be (and was) defeated, falling apart under its own contradictions and inadequacies (cleverly managed and exploited by Reagan). But Islam is a whole different matter - a philosophy and system utterly anarchoronistic in the 21st century, and utterly determined to impose its will on the whole Planet. It is, sadly, us or them. Or I would go further than that. It is the Rest of the Planet vs Islam.
Of course, will we wake up and realise that?, or will Western society continue to slumber in a "maybe they'll go away if we keep blame ourselves " mindset...
Re: Attn Megadog
But I think there is hope... I think that deep inside many Muslim countries is an agnostic, irreligious kernel of hope... for example, nearly all the Afghans I've worked with here have been basically non-religious in all but the most traditional Arab habits (shaving, for example). They don't oppose... or support... Islam in any political or meaningful sense... but their innocence/ignorance is also a trait that means they'are also apolitical.
Now, obviously, my sample is biased as none of the religious/Islamist Arabs come near NATO camps, so I only get to see the placid ones anyway. Tangent.
Re: Attn Megadog
For example, if you look in Yellow Pages you'll see some business ads have a small stylised fish somewhere on them. Christians! Similarly, in the nearest city to me many of the fast-food outlets have indications of Halal-status [sometimes they actually say 'Halal' on their signs in English; othertimes it's in arabic]. This says one thing to me: Moslems!
In the past I've successfully diverted groups of friends away from such places by commenting that "they serve halal food there - and I'm opposed to halal slaughter-methods; can we go eat somewhere else?" Similarly, I've diverted at least two car-buyers to dealerships other than 'Reg Vardy' after pointing out that the Vardy company founded and funds "The Vardy Foundation" - an evangelical organisation which promotes creationism in schools.
If we can get the hardline theists to identify themselves [through things like the fish-symbol or Halal] then us antitheists can explain to our friends what these symbols mean and that it might be worth boycotting such businesses/establishments/people.
Economic pressure is effective!
Of course the religionists will inevitably extrapolate this idea into the "jewish businesses must be identified" and "yellow stars" thing and I'll end up being called a Nazi.
Re: Attn Megadog
Re: Attn Megadog
As someone of a fundamentally anarcho-capitalist bent and an antitheist to boot, I'm quite happy with promoting the idea of "reason- and market-based" initiatives to undermine the power of religion by using our spending-power.
Marketing-types have for a decade or so talked of the 'pink pound' to reflect the influence of gays in the marketplace: if businesses are taking account of gay purchasing-power in their strategies, by highlighting companies and businesses with behind-the-scenes religious connections we can exert considerable pressure.
Identify businesses whose operators are christian or islamic.
Push them into making statements about their policies.
Fiscally-quarantine those who fail to make the grade.
A shame because the one group who if powerful enough could put a breal on the religous right as opposed to just getting in to a destructive and eternal head butting contest is moderate Chistians.
Ever wonder if Satan invented god just to screw us up?