Religious differences: the new great divide

I truly believe that Martin Luther King Jr wanted to see blacks and whites living in harmony. I think that is why he died.
While there is still a lot of racial division in this country, it has lessened to some extent.
So, if it is true that Those Who Rule do NOT want a united country, then they must kick it up a notch. Racism is no longer polarizing enough people.

Enter the new great divide: religion.
We saw it in the 2000 election. And were are seeing it today. It is a part of the abortion debate. The marriage debate. Liberals vs. conservatives. Censorship. Mangers on public property. Pornography. Islam vs Christianity vs Judaism.

Religion is trying to divide our country.

Any thoughts?

[edit on 14-11-2004 by DontTreadOnMe]

Go ateist, your brains are washed, or just keep your religion where it belongs (in your self)

I'm not sure what you are implying here. I am no atheist. I am not brainwashed.

You may not agree with me, but at least tell me with what you are disagreeing, not name calling.
If anything, your response reinforces what I was saying. It has gotten to the point where people can see nothing but their viewpoint.


[edit on 14-11-2004 by DontTreadOnMe]

There is nothing new to religion creating divides, but I think now--especially the religious right christians--are taking it a new level in this country, trying to push their agenda upon people. Who knows, we may have our own holy war in this country. Honestly, I can think of quite a few christians and catholics that need to be killed...

I see where you are going with this DontTreadOnMe....
I saw it too during the election, people voting for Bush based on their religion.....
and you do see it everywhere, I can't wait to see some other replies to this thread, Who else has ideas on this subject?!?

But Sarah, I see it as more than the religous right inflicting their beliefs on others. I also see the opposite side being equally against the right.
An example would be the pro-lifers vs the pro-abortion folks.
You really can't have just the one side alone doing the damge to the fabric of our society. It seems that in a relgious conflict of any sort, BOTH sides have their "god" on their side.

I agree. The division of America is aligning more and more along religious lines. Racism dwelt upon fear and xenophobia to accomplish its goals, whereas by using something as delicate as one�s worldview, those who seek to divide this nation have half of the battle already won.

Good post

Peace,
BG

Religion has always divided the people, nothing new here. Religion is the cause of all suffering and conflict. The problem occurs when people become fundamentalist about their views, believing their religious texts are the word of god. They close their minds and attempt to impose their views on others.

- Attero

Exactly, Attero. I am betting that almost all, if not all problems concerning humans, can be traced back to religion. People just can't keep it to themselves or they can't grow up and stop believing in some spooky invisable father figure. There's always going to be people that want to force their views and opinions upon others instead of just leaving them alone...

SmilingSarah -- I can see what you are saying also -- but don't you think that many people voted against Bush because of some of his views.

DTOM -- you are right -- it does take both sides being equally heated in their opinions and refusing to listen to any argument or reason of why the other side may have a point even if it is an incorrect point

jm

LOL! Humorous, some of the responses. Some actually act as if Christians are the evil and that we are the newcomers to the party. Sorry, you are wrong on both points.

For the first time in, what, 16 years, there was a definite majority to speak out at the presidential election, and it was clearly a vote against the Liberal agenda. How can this be? The Liberals have been attempting to destroy traditional American values and the Christian faith while undermining the political system by stealing through the high-jacked judicial system that which it could not win through the legislative process, and still it finds that half of the nation isn't buying into the crap.

Today, people who aren't even aware that their liberal viewpoints are the newcomer and not the traditional conservative values of historical America, are screaming that the nation is NOW divided, and that somehow the MORAL MAJORITY, as is being called (a term a find disconcerting as I've met no man who who truly and wholly moral), is the cause, is at fault, for what the liberals see as a problem.

Here's a shock for you; the nation was a bit divided when you thought you were winning, you just didn't see much resistance is why it didn't bother you. But don't worry, I still believe you will win. It is natural for both people as well as societies to degenerate when left to their own human "wisdom". As time goes, more people will tune in to Ellen Degeneres and less to John Haggee.

Thorfin, your lack of knowledge, or denial, does not make Father "spooky", and you are not forced to believe in God by anyone. You have the choice to accept or reject Him. You know that, so here's an idea, reject Him if you will and keep your Christian bashing to yourself. That is just as repulsive, ever thought of that?

Your bashing me because of the fact I don't agree with you is somehow better?

[edit on 14-11-2004 by Thomas Crowne]

Attero, you are incorrect and you know it. Religion is not the cause for suffering and wars, human greed and the desire to conquor is the cause for wars.

[edit on 14-11-2004 by Thomas Crowne]

As if history wasn't proof enough of the evils that christians are capable of, using god as their excuse, now they are just using Bush in an attempt to further force their views and ideas upon others whether they like it or not. Christianity is to degenerate, to de-evolve and to opress and kill others who do not agree.

If you are going to try and defend christianity TC, I am afraid thousands of years of history speak against you. The LAST thing we need in this country is the religious right pushing their agenda on anyone, if you read history, you'd know what that leads to. You'd think that after all the evil--christianity in general--is responsible for, it would be illegal, as it should be...

For some reason, it's the believers that can't help but push their ideas and beliefs upon others in an attempt to "save" them at all costs. It's your lack of knowledge and your denial that keeps you believing, TC.

I bash you because you're christian...and pretty much all christians make me sick.

i think people are just sick of all the immoral crap.
you know in the grand scheme of things the 50's werent really that far away, but if you were to watch some TV from then it would seem it was filmed on a diffrent world from todays programming. even as far as i can remeber watching tv in the 80's tv was alot more tame than today, desperate houswives and sex in the city and what not.

i think most conservitives didnt vote on moral for a long time out of a general willingness not to impose their views on anyone, but society has simply gone to far for them to bear it anymore.

its like the frog in the boiling pot. if you put it in and slowly heat it up he will never know. well the liberals just moved to quickly and the frogs jumping out of the pot.

now all of a sudden religious people are a problem.

Thorfin, you will find no Christian history that supports your fiction. You also show your colors by bashing someone you don't even know because he is a Christian. It's not like I've shoved a Bible down your throat, knocked on your door repeatedly every Saturday morning, chased you around trying to make you convert or anything like that. As a matter of fact, you know it doesn't happen. We also haven't dropped any building by slamming any airplanes into them, but you also know that. We just got tired of the European way, left, built the greatest nation to be buit in such a short time, and some of the Christians are waking up and getting tired of the attempts to destroy it.
Bash away, all you do is show your very own ignorant and bigoted colors - kind of like what you say we have.

i find it amusing how liberal people refer to this "new conservitive" movement that isnt new at all, as american fundamentalism. they claim that "fundamentalist" christians are on the same level as taliban and radical muslims.

last time i checked christians werent blowing up buildings or cutting peoples heads off.

i think the left is just bad mouthing cause they lost the election

Thanks for the warning, TC. You just proved my point.

How about you explain to me why you had to have Ocelot give me the warning instead of you doing it yourself? And for what may I ask? Bashing? Seems like you would be guilty of that as well, but you're a mod, doesn't mean you have to be honest or have integrity...

[edit on 14-11-2004 by Thorfinn Skullsplitter]

18 months ago: The conspiracy of extreme theism

Well, it's always interesting here at ATS. Given Mr. Bush's "crusade", the world has hardly ever experienced the tension amongst the big three theologic viewpoints essentially springing from the same ancient singular God: Judiasim, Islam, Catholicism/Christianity. I though it good to revisit and update a post from this forum's past. Stepping back to consider all that has happened, and combining that with thoughts of historical events, we can see patterns. I like patterns. History has patterns, people have patterns, people make history, and as we know history always repeats. From time to time, we encounter extreme theists here on ATS, it seems we have a higher saturation now more than ever. After some time reviewing other forums (including fundamentalist discussion boards), we are not alone. Also, in my involvement online (beginning with early political conspiracy BBS forums in 1985, 300 baud, woo-hoo!), extreme theists are always espousing that the end is just around the corner, and somehow, always cut from the same stone.