Sharia
Middle Eastern Monotheism: a history
Australia currently has members of her armed forces serving overseas in three countries which were or remain theaters of war: Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq.
The conflicts in all these places share one common factor: at least one of the Middle Eastern monotheistic religions is involved.
These religions do seem prone to be involved in conflict, since they are, by nature, exclusivist. If there is only one true god demanding allegiance, then persons of another religion must be in serious error. Furthermore, if allegiance to this one god is the only way to salvation, then it is a duty of the faithful to gather everyone else to this fold. Religions, which have a multitude of gods, on the other hand, do not have this tendency, since there is no theological problem in adding a further god to the pantheon.
This monograph is an effort to understand the history of these monotheistic religions, all of which have originated in the Middle East. It is not a theological work but uses the usual methods of historical review; results of archeological research and study of ancient documents. I cannot read these ancient languages myself so perforce much of the monograph relies on secondary sources. With greater historical knowledge we may better understand the background to the conflicts which engage our armed forces.
Middle Eastern Monotheism: Chris Strakosch
“Devout Christian” lives off war, civilian deaths, war crimes and lies
”As long as we have men and women in danger, we will continue to do everything we can to provide them with both state-of-the-art technology and the never-ending support and prayers of a grateful nation.” – Trijicon Inc.
“The good Lord didn’t see fit to put oil and gas only where there are democratic regimes friendly to the United States” – Richard Cheney
Allied forces in the Middle East has suffered, died, been maimed, discharged with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and left in multiple modes of permanent psychological distress because military equipment is below standard.
From zero armour on vehicles cruising past IED’s, to lack of protective vests, to occupational health hazards, to useless – but profitable – junk, to communication and security perimeter failures, stopping bullets and shrapnel has proven a challenge. Dick Cheney made billions from [ahem] supplying troops with Halliburton stock – as crappy as it is. Consequently, kids died ripped to shreds or opened up with bullets longer than the lies we were fed to kill civilians in the way of “our oil”.
Of course, there is no “9/11″ conspiracy. No cruelty can match that invented by Conspiracy Theorists who represent a low point in our species journey to extinction. But to find that as even rations and water couldn’t be guaranteed, bible verses have been engraved on Rifle Sights for over 30 years is so… so… so… USA Theocracy. As Obama seeks to convince Muslims this is not a religious war, The Council on American-Islamic Relations noted the obvious: recruitment potential for anti-American forces.
If not for the oft’ maligned Military Religious Freedom Foundation George W. Bush’s ill thought out “crusade” – as he called the ‘war on terror’ – would continue to please in this way “Our Dread Sovereign Lord” – as Christian fundamentalists say.
The Defence Force says Australian soldiers have been using rifle sights engraved with biblical citations and it will move quickly to deal with any ”sensitivities”.
A spokesman said the military had been unaware that the sights – made in the US by Trijicon, which was founded by a devout Christian – carried references to Bible verses. The citations appear in raised lettering at the end of the sight stock number.
”The sights in question are in service with the Australian Defence Force,” the spokesman said. ”The Department of Defence was unaware of the significance of the manufacturer’s serial number … The Department of Defence is very conscious of the sensitivities associated with this issue and is assessing how to address these as soon as practicable.”
A spokeswoman said Australia had 1051 of the sights, although it was not known how many were in Afghanistan.
”The sights were procured because they provide mature technology which is highly reliable, in wide use by our allies and best meets Defence requirements,” the spokesman said.
US media revealed this week that Trijicon had sold up to 800,000 of the sights to the US military. The defence forces of the US, New Zealand, Australia and Britain all said they had not known about the citations. New Zealand’s defence force said yesterday that the citations on weapons in Afghanistan would be removed and that Trijicon would be asked to stop including them.
Markings included ”JN8:12” – a reference to John 8:12 – and ”2COR4:6”, a reference to part of the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians. The US Muslim Public Affairs Council has called on US Defence Secretary Robert Gates to immediately withdraw the sights from combat use. Trijicon said the citations had been put on the sights for more than 30 years.
”As part of our faith and our belief in service to our country, Trijicon has put scripture references on our products for more than two decades,” a statement on the company’s website said.
”As long as we have men and women in danger, we will continue to do everything we can to provide them with both state-of-the-art technology and the never-ending support and prayers of a grateful nation.”
Courtesy Associated Press
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Islam Is Incompatible with Western Law says Wafa Sultan
From FORA TV, Moderate Islam: Western Ally or Western Myth
Wafa Sultan, author of A God Who Hates, argues that with respect to the United States Constitution, Islam doesn’t qualify as a religion. She explains that Islam is both a religion and a state, which is incompatible with a non-Muslim government. “It is impossible for someone to be a true Muslim and a true American at the same time,” she argues.
Speaking Freely On Religion: IHEU
From The International Humanist and Ethical Union.
- Speaking Freely on Religion: Religious Freedom, Defamation and Blasphemy
IHEU is the world union of over 100 Humanist, rationalist, secular, ethical culture, atheist and freethought organizations in more than 40 countries. Our mission is to represent and support the global Humanist movement. Our goal is a Humanist world in which human rights are respected and all can live a life of dignity.
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Hitchens: Does Religion Poison Everything?
If there were any doubts about writer and general provocateur Christopher Hitchens ability to pull a crowd, they were entirely dispelled by the sold-out opening night of the first ever Festival of Dangerous Ideas.
4 Minute Sample
Full Episode
Presented by the Sydney Opera House and the St James Ethics Centre, the Festival brought together some of the more controversial thinkers from Australia and around the world. Hitchens’s keynote address, followed by a discussion with our own Tony Jones, was an expansion on his bestselling, “God is Not Great: Religion Poisons Everything”. Hitchens was at his polemical best, delivering a beautifully constructed speech supporting his argument that religion is not only completely implausible, but often actively destructive.
Christopher Hitchens’s other books include “Letters to a Young Contrarian”, “Why Orwell Matters” and “The Missionary Position: Mother Theresa in Theory and Practice.” He also writes a regular column in “Vanity Fair”.
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