Paris

[RNReindeer]

Jeez.Some people really will go all out to support a religion (ROP) that has nothing good going for it, and only negative impacts wherever it goes for settled, indigenous populations.

Nothing like setting out your stall before opening, is there?

Come on all you apologists (JohnD, Newboy, peteleach, etc, etc) - here's a tough one for you -

ditto.

tell us all what's good about islam? What positive things does that religion bring to the Western table. We've told you the bad aspects that are all coming home to roost - now, no BS, lets have the good side as you see it?

I believe that religion does serve a useful purpose in society. I'm not a supporter of any religion, but neither am I antagonistic towards any religion. I'm ambivalent towards all religions. (for johnmeliar's sake Islam is a religion. ) Similarly, I am respectful of the wishes, dictats, taboos of any religion, when in the company, surroundings, etc of the followers. It's their core value, why should I disrespect it. If I wanted to disrespect someone there's easier ways than to insult their values. In my opinion, insulting someone's values is like insulting them and hoping to get away with it. It's like insulting someone's relatives or friends. You don't have the balls to insult someone directly so you try to dress up your insult in a way that you hope to evade a reaction.
Religion is a force for good in society, it picks up the pieces that politics, and sometimes families, fails to recgonise or accept. It represents the values of a large group of people.

But I abhor and denounce radical extremists of any and all persuasions.
They serve no purpose other than to exacerbate the situation.

Pluralism is alive and kicking. Lets uphold that sense of pluralism rather than try to destroy the very foundation of what western democracies are based on.

Over to you - but just keep to the subject. No BS.

Over to you. What do you find distasteful about Islam?
Please restrict your opinions to Islam, not to radical extremism.

 

[RNReindeer]

IDoes any one equate the little old lady, who lives up the street and goes to church every Sunday, with, for example, the despicable McGuinness because they follow the same religion and one of them uses it as an excuse for violence?

You've gone up in my estimation EFLImpudence.
Nice comment. Seperating the normal, average practitioners and believers from the radical extemists.

Incidentally, I also accept that religion (all religions) have negative impacts as well as the positive influences.

 

[Whitespirit66]

Are you thus stating that 1.3 billion people on this planet are hell bent on the destruction of all other humans?

Is that the best thing that you can find to say about islam? Not exactly a glowing reference, is it?

Please try harder to answer my question, namely what are the good, positive aspects of islam? It seems to take plenty, but I would really like to know if it actually gives anything at all.

 

[Whitespirit66]

I don't think there is anything good going for it; much the same as any other theist religion.

That's all very well, but would you swap Christian Dorset and all that entails for an islamic country with all the extras like sharia law. Would that really be much the same? Could you practice you own faith, whatever that is, in an islamic country? Would such an Islamic country uphold your rights to practice your different religion, even making special allowances for you?

 

[Brigadier]

I don't think there is anything good going for it; much the same as any other theist religion.
Religion was invented to control the masses by fear.
The fact that Christianity has been watered down to keep a few remaining believers merely proves that it was a nonsense.
The powers that be now have other means to control us - amongst others a different kind of fear, also possibly made up.

Because the leaders of islam maintain the fear and barbarism is no justification to think that all muslims believe the fear and barbarism is good.
Being executed for having a 'sharp tongue' is a pretty good reason to keep yours blunt.

Does any one equate the little old lady, who lives up the street and goes to church every Sunday, with, for example, the despicable McGuinness because they follow the same religion and one of them uses it as an excuse for violence?

I thought that McGuinness was driven on his particular path by the desire for independence for Ireland, not a religious crusade.

I share your belief that Religion was / is a means of controlling the masses.

 

[Johnmelad]

How Islamic inventors changed the world

From coffee to cheques and the three-course meal, the Muslim world has given us many innovations that we take for granted in daily life. As a new exhibition opens, Paul Vallely nominates 20 of the most influential-and identifies the men of genius behind them.

Turns out they all are false claims. No surprise there then.

 

[Norcon]

Being executed for having a 'sharp tongue' is a pretty good reason to keep yours blunt.

Really? How defeatist.
Where are you from EFL? You must be an immigrant to have such a defeatist attitude.

When a gang of ira men arrived at my Grandads home to murder him his sword was sharpened and he cut lumps out of them.
That's how its done when you care about your country.

 

[JohnD]

another lie

I suppose his innate racism causes it.

 

[Norcon]

This has relevance. It shows Northern Ireland for the backward, evil province that it is.
Or do you deny that?

The work of evil Ulster and your beloved extremists that you seek to support.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMahon_killings

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/sep/03/man-arrested-england-ulster-loyalist-murders

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/49696.stm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_Defence_Association

In very much the same way that you speak of some of the people who do not share your religious and ethnic background.

Its no wonder your such an ira symphathiser. You lefties are all the same.
Wrapped up in cotton wool all your lives and cushioned from the real world.

 

[JohnD]

your such an ira symphathiser.

That is a lie.

 

[Norcon]

your such an ira symphathiser.

That is a lie.

Its no wonder Northern Ireland was handed over to the Irish Dail with defeatist nobs like you around.
Now islam is knocking on your door and you can't hand over what you have left quick enough. Nuff said.

 

[JohnD]

meaningless drivel

Still a liar.

 

[Norcon]

meaningless drivel

Still a liar.

The truth hurts.
You are nothing but a defeatist coward. Like reindeer and the rest of bandwagon.

 

[JohnD]

still a liar.

 

[EFLImpudence]

I don't think there is anything good going for it; much the same as any other theist religion.

That's all very well, but would you swap Christian Dorset and all that entails for an islamic country with all the extras like sharia law. Would that really be much the same? Could you practice you own faith, whatever that is, in an islamic country? Would such an Islamic country uphold your rights to practice your different religion, even making special allowances for you?

Of course not. Don't be silly.

Christianity was just as bad in the past and other non-religious despots have behaved the same.

I wouldn't want to live there, either.