Quote:
| Originally Posted by John Nortcliff ...I'm afraid that the main problem as far as I'm concerned is religion. the cause of most wars and conflicts throughout history. ... |
Whilst (as ever) you and I agree John, I thing
absolutism is perhaps a better way to express it. Anyone who believes a thousand+ year-old document is "infallible" clearly needs to be institutionalised. The website quoted by the Helium thread made me laugh - dinosaurs and man co-existed, the earth cannot be as old as it is as the moon is too close to it, etc. People this stupid still have a vote!
As you say when somone believes this guff they will do anything, firm in the belief that what they do is "right". Thankfully the anti-abortionist terrorists in the US have not yet re-started their attrocities, but with the Supreme Court elections I fear we can expect this to happen soon.
Clearly though it is not just religion. ETA for example are not a religious group but still feel the need to kill people because they believe their view of Europe is right and therefore whatever they do is "justified". They are IMHO absolutist - there is only one outcome they will accept. A semi-autonomous Basque region will not placate them, nor will the compromises that are needed to give the region some degree of self-governance.
Perhaps then this is better described as "tribalism" than religion?
With that let us all hope with all our hearts that "tribalism" does not lead to a backlash against the Muslim communities in the UK. Let's hope that people are smart enough to understand the difference between the absolutist fanatics and the secular religious. Let's hope this is the end of stupid violence in 2005. I doubt it will be however.
My sympathies to the innocent, my compliments to the Police and my utter condemnation to the terrorists lying dead, cold and dissapointed that all they believed was bollocks.
Chris