State of the World
President George W. Bush says that the U.S. has been blessed by the contributions of people of many different faiths. “Our Muslim citizens,” he says, “have helped make our nation a stronger and more hopeful place through their faith, generosity, and compassion” [source]
Bush said al Qaeda-linked terrorists are seeking to establish a “radical Islamic empire that spans from Spain to Indonesia” with Iraq serving as the main front. Later in the day came word from the FBI that there was a “specific threat” against the New York City subway system. [source]
Yet, in the 1990s, Indonesia’s brand of peaceful, tolerant Islam began to be infiltrated by Saudi-funded Wahabbi style Islam via the likes of Jemaah Islamiyah. This has led to an expected radicalization of the Muslim population that has been as disturbing as it has been lethal. From 1998 to 2002 it is estimated that 10,000 Christians were murdered, 80,000 Christian homes destroyed and 1,000 Churches burned down. [source]
The Bush administration is dramatically expanding funding for faith-based groups as part of its hurricane relief efforts, and some Jewish groups are warning that it could blow a big hole in the church-state wall. [source]
“The fundamental issue,” remarked science philosopher Dr. Stephen Meyer, “the scientific issue which is also a philosophical issue, (is): is there or is there not evidence for design in biology and in the universe generally? What we’re excited about is that there is lots of evidence for design; in fact, evidence that can’t be explained by the designer mechanism substitute of Darwin.” [source]
Ramadan, however, must be seen primarily as the month of struggle and jihad, both internally as well as externally. As Muslims continue to struggle against oppression in many parts of the world — Palestine, Iraq, Chechnya, Afghanistan and Kashmir — it becomes incumbent upon all Muslims to share in their pain and suffering. Ramadan should spur us to redouble our efforts to help in their struggles for liberation and dignified existence. [source]
Christian Exodus, the national organization relocating Christian Constitutionalists to South Carolina, will host its first annual conference in Greenville on Saturday October 15th. [source]
Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar threatened Israelis living in the south-west on Friday, as he responded to threats made against him by Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, who recently said that “if Hamas, Zahar, and others continue with their Qassam fire, we will send them to where Rantisi and Yassin are.” [source]
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (MAT 10:34 KJV)
And make not Allah’s (name) an excuse in your oaths against doing good, or acting rightly, or making peace between persons; for Allah is One Who heareth and knoweth all things. (S. 2:224)
~I AM~
October 8th, 2005 at at 11:26 am
Deep.
October 8th, 2005 at at 11:29 am
“And i think to myself …..what a wonderful world”
October 8th, 2005 at at 1:08 pm
Interesting post. Was it all supposed to be in blockquote?
I just had a conversation (argument) yesterday with I guy that started the conversation by saying “you’re not one of those separation of church and state” people are you? Needless to say the conversation went downhill fast after that.
October 8th, 2005 at at 1:12 pm
OK I re-read it. I guess it is all from other sources. Cool mix.
October 8th, 2005 at at 1:16 pm
Stephen Meyer is neither a scientist nor a philosopher. The only people who consider him as such are folks who would find the source (Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network ) for this snippet credible. Meyer’s title is bestowed upon him by the Discovery Institute and is not recognized as a serious scholar in either science or philosophy.
October 8th, 2005 at at 1:26 pm
Yes Jesus loves me,
Yes Jesus loves me.
Yes Jesus loves me,
The Bible tells me so.
October 8th, 2005 at at 2:48 pm
*depressed sigh*
October 8th, 2005 at at 3:23 pm
Nauticashades:
That song was going through my head as I “wrote” this.
LBBP:
Yup. Not a single word of my own.
Buridan:
The source is part of the reason that one is so depressing. The whole concept of “Christian News” is distressing to me on a very fundamental level.
Tanooki Joe:
Indeed.
October 8th, 2005 at at 4:12 pm
You have presented many reasons why it is so important for us to keep up the fight. The cover of a recent Newsweek hinted that the Republican party is disintegrating. I hope they are right.
October 8th, 2005 at at 4:27 pm
“For it’s a fool that plays it cool by making his world a little bit colder.”
Figured I’d put in a song reference too. Take what meaning from you want to.
October 8th, 2005 at at 4:48 pm
Could god worship be a dangerous, life-threatening illness? A study just out last month strongly suggests that this is indeed the case. Maybe it’s time we began passing laws punishing those who spread it (i.e., god worship).
(See http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1798944,00.html
and ttp://moses.creighton.edu/JRS/pdf/2005-11.pdf)
October 8th, 2005 at at 8:05 pm
Yes, it’s distressing to me as well. After submitting my reply, I realized that my response probably came across as if I was being critical of you the messenger, which was not my intention at all. This is a very nice way of keeping us abreast on the folly of “Christian News.”
The Stephen Meyer thing is a pet peeve of mine. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen him referred to as a scientist and philosopher even in some mainstream media outlets. Coming up with an effective analogy to the pseudo credentials attributed to Meyer is difficult because he represents the ideal type in this case – “It’s like saying Stephen Meyer is a scientist and philosopher.” You can’t do much better than that.
October 10th, 2005 at at 5:14 am
I found this somewhat hysterical, in the subsection on ID (& could someone please tell me exactly what a ’science philosopher’ is? Seems they’ll give any kind of degree out these days):
“evidence that can’t be explained by the designer mechanism substitute of Darwin.”"
I forget offhand which fallacy this is.
Can you say ’sophistry’, boys and girls?
October 17th, 2005 at at 1:59 am
Saddest part? It’s pretty much always been like this. Probably always will be.
January 23rd, 2007 at at 11:07 pm
Online Roulette…
Hindus sayer:ware influences tented…