I've often felt there's a real danger we're entering a new Middle Ages period - something that happened in the post classical age.
For example, after the fall of Classical Greece (when philosophy, politics and democracy were actually invented), civilization eventualy entered the dark ages where blind religious belief began to dominate. I mean, in the Middle Ages, anyone who professed the world was spherical could be sentenced to death.
Today what we're seeing is the Evangelisation of the U.S. and Islamisation of the Third World with corresponding world leaders who think in terms of doctrines, black and white, good and bad, crusades and intolerance. So, those people who feel political problems need to be solved with some level of diplomacy and even logic, may well find themselves forming part of a minority group.
Somehow Europe has to tread a line between the 2 extremes and it may have to be Europe that has to solve the various political problems you refer to - by hard-headed diplomacy.
As an afterthought I disagreed with the E.U.'s decision to ban an Italian politician from office due to his strict Catholic convictions but I guess it does show that the Europeans are determined to keep politics and religion apart.
[quote="FredC"]
Carrera said:It's possibly treading a fine line, but I don't think this discussion is breaking any actual regulations. If people were argueing about religion per se, sure, it would be inapproriate. But we're not having a debate as to whose religion is right or attemting to interpret doctrines. The thread is asking both liberals and conservatives how they feel about the war on terror.
As for the term "Islamo fascists", yes, it should be pointed out that such a group exists but constitutes a small minority, not Moslems. Suffice it to say that neither religion endorses war, terrorism or human rights violations but it's essentially people who twist a particular faith to suit their own ends.
As Muhammad Ali already stated, Moslems don't fly planes into buildings or kill people.
But I agree, the less said about religion the better.[/QUOTE
You are right, in effect nobody is arguing from a theological stance ergo different religions, and I am sure there will be boards to suit. My gripe is, and still stands that USA does condone Israeli actions, and as self appointed world peacekeepers do absolutely nothing about it. The problem is that when I point this out I am attacked as being anti semitic which I am not. Another stumbling block is that Jews prefer to identify Jewishness, and there is nothing wrong with that. We in the UK do not identify ourselves by religion. I don't go about saying I'm a Roman Catholic, just the same as my neighbours don't say they are Protestant, Mormons, Evangelists, Gospel or other faiths.
