Putting The Cat Amongst The Pigeons

[whiskeryron]

Does anyone think the world would be a much safer place if Islam was declared off limits & banned ?

[Khandro]

naomi has it right 12:23 - worship is not the basis of the religious outlook. Humanity looks at the world and sees no explanation other than a super power beyond its comprehension, science has no answer, in fact the more we discover, the more incredible life and the universe appears. Any intelligent person can see that there is something not quite right about Darwin's theories - in fact he had them himself. It is a valuable idea but not by any means a comprehensive explanation of the universe and our place in it.
May as well adopt Pascal's wager and get on with one's life;

"Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists."

[Ellipsis]

I'm no fan of religion, but the real problem isn't religion - it's people.

[naomi24]

Khandro, //May as well adopt Pascal's wager //

May as well just accept that currently some things are not fully explained. There’s no sense whatsoever in attributing the unknown to an imaginary deity.

[Zacs-Master]

Except Caldwell's book is well recognised as a Marxist literary criticism written whilst Caudwell was in the process of a political conversion to Marxism.

[Samjenko]

I was answering Allen's question, 'who would be left on AB' Naomi.
I'm a slow typist.

[naomi24]

allen, I can’t see how endorsing an unworkable political philosophy can possibly be considered ‘intelligent’, but that said I imagine Zacs-Master meant that when Caldwell wrote the book, he had an agenda, namely the destruction of religion. Hardly an unbiased critique then.

[naomi24]

allen, //The last time I spent an hour giving you an argued set of reasons....//

I think you've got the wrong person. I don't recall you ever giving me a argued set of reasons, let alone an hours worth! I was unaware of your existence until a couple of weeks ago and have questioned you only once on the subject, when you immediately flounced off - as you're doing now.

[sp1814]

Excellent example of what initially looks like a stupid question generating a genuinely interesting discussion on theology.

I did not see that one coming.

Couldn't put it better than allen's post at 12:57.

Bang on.

Early man needed to explain floods, and droughts. He needed to explain thunderstorms and plagues.

Creating Gods is what had to be done in order to understand life.

[Khandro]

Returning to Ron's OP (which seems to have got lost)
"Does anyone think the world would be a much safer place if Islam was declared off limits & banned ? "
We are suffering from liberal/left attitude of 'Cultural Relativism' which expounds the false theory that all belief systems are equally valid, they are not.
All Islamic countries are bottom of the heap hell-holes and adherents of Islam are welcome to stay (or return) there, but it has no place in European culture. So, as far as the West is concerned - yes.

[EDDIE51]

Saudi Arabia is listed as a country where Christianity is illegal .
It is not illegal , you just can't worship as a Christian.
I lived in Saudi as a resident for 3 years, every time you enter the country you have to declare your religion on the entry form. I always declared myself as 'Christian'. Never had a problem. The trouble arises if someone tries to get in by saying 'no religion' or 'atheist' then you will be refused entry and banned from trying to get in again.

[-Talbot-]

Early man needed to explain floods, and droughts. He needed to explain thunderstorms and plagues.

Creating Gods is what had to be done in order to understand life.





Oh yeah creating gods made everything clear ... crystal.

[Khandro]

We have seen recently thousands of 'snowflakes', many of whom are atheists, marching in protest about the banning of Muslims from 6 chosen countries into the US . If what Eddie says 14:41 is correct - and I'm sure it is, why does nobody march in protest of the millions of the world's atheists who are barred from entering Saudi Arabia?

[anotheoldgit]

anneasquith

/// Tudor times ? Lol ///

I'd be interested to know what is so funny about those two words 'Tudor times', which caused both you and your running mate mikey to Pysl?

[naomi24]

Allen, //Gord, do you really mean I shall have to dig it out of the archives? //

Yes please.

Incidentally, saying a philosophy is 'unworkable' isn't 'name-calling'. It's my opinion of Marxist philosophy.