Posted: 7th February 2007 19:51
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People News
Dr. Sumaya Alyusuf: Jews 'apes' and Christians 'pigs' By Stone Martindale Feb 7, 2007, 16:04 GMT Who is Dr Sumaya Alyusuf? An outspoken female Islamic school principal in England who uses textbooks calling Jews "apes" and Christians "pigs" - and for these slanderous comments she is dead square in the center of a controversial lawsuit in the United Kingdom. The principal of an Islamic school in Acton, England has admitted that it uses textbooks which describe Jews as "apes" and Christians as "pigs" and has refused to withdraw them, reports ThisisLondon.co.uk. In an interview on BBC2's Newsnight, Dr Alyusuf was asked by Jeremy Paxman whether she recognized the books. She said: "Yes, I do recognize these books, of course. We have these books in our school. These books have good chapters that can be used by the teachers. It depends on the objectives the teacher wants to achieve." Former teacher Colin Cook, 57, alleged that children as young as five are taught from racist materials at the King Fahd Academy in Acton. Dr Alyusuf insisted the books should not be scrapped, saying that allegedly racist sections had been "misinterpreted" reports ThisisLondon. It was revealed that Saudi Arabia owns, funds and runs this school. Mr Paxman asked: "Will you now remove this nonsense from the Saudi Ministry of Education from your school?" Dr Alyusuf replied: "Just to reiterate what I said earlier, there are chapters from these books that are used and that will serve our objectives. But we don't teach hatred towards Judaism or Christianity - on the contrary." Louise Ellman, MP for Liverpool Riverside and chairman of the Jewish Labour Movement, accused the school of inciting racial hatred and hit out at Ofsted inspectors for failing to discover the textbooks. She said: "This whole situation is unacceptable. It is incitement. It is part of a deliberate Saudi initiative to install Wahabbism extremism among Muslims and in the rest of society. If Ofsted has not drawn attention to this, that is a failing of Ofsted. "It is unacceptable and we should look to see if this is happening in other schools as well. This is about teaching children. I think the school should take immediate action and so should the regulatory authorities." Cook, who taught English at the school for 19 years, accused it of poisoning pupils' minds with a hate filled curriculum. Arabic translators have found that the books also describe Jews as "repugnant". Dr Alyusuf initially claimed that the books were "not taught currently", saying: "We teach a different curriculum. We teach an international curriculum." Paxman queried Alyusuf further, "Would you discipline any teacher who has used these teaching materials?", she replied: "Of course I would...I monitor what is taught in the classrooms. I have developed the curriculum myself." Paxman then asked if Alyusuf agreed with notion that non-believers in Islam are condemned to "hellfire", she replied: "We don't teach that. We teach Islam and it is important for our students to assert their identity." Cook, of Feltham, was earning £35,000 a year and is seeking £100,000 in compensation in a legal action against the Saudi school. ThisisLondon reports that "pupils have allegedly been heard saying they want to 'kill Americans', praising 9/11 and idolizing 'hero' Osama bin Laden." > more Should something be done about this to avoid fueling racial hatred in the future? Or is it better to leave this alone and avoid such a controversial issue in fear of making things worse? -------------------- 'Let that be a lesson to all oppressive vegetable sellers.' |
Post #143543
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Posted: 7th February 2007 20:14
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Quote Should something be done about this to avoid fueling racial hatred in the future? Or is it better to leave this alone and avoid such a controversial issue in fear of making things worse? I would argue that the premise of your question is flawed. This has nothing to do with racial hatred. These people want to "kill Americans", and I know Americans that are White, Black, Latino, Arab and Asian. "American" is not a race. I would call for an in-depth investigation of the school. If indeed the school is found to be teaching Wahabiism, the school should be shut down, all its staff deported, and there should be a background check of the families of all the students. If the school isn't teaching radicalism, it stays. Let me clarify what I'm saying. I have no problem with free speech. I believe you should be able to say whatever you want unless you are infringing upon another's rights with your speech, or threatening the life or safety of another with your speech. Hate speech doesn't bother me a bit. However, it's one thing to say "I hate Americans" and another altogether to say "Americans are pigs, we have to kill them all." -------------------- You don't scare me, you talking blobs of oozing slop! I am impervious to pain! |
Post #143544
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Posted: 7th February 2007 20:29
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Quote (Asylum Outpatient @ 7th February 2007 20:14) Quote Should something be done about this to avoid fueling racial hatred in the future? Or is it better to leave this alone and avoid such a controversial issue in fear of making things worse? I would argue that the premise of your question is flawed. This has nothing to do with racial hatred. These people want to "kill Americans", and I know Americans that are White, Black, Latino, Arab and Asian. "American" is not a race. America might not technically be a race; but hating people because they come from a certain country is certainly racist ![]() I remember being in england on holiday and was told "go home you Scottish B******D" I filed a racism report with the police no problem |
Post #143545
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Posted: 7th February 2007 20:54
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I wasn't clear on the school's stance from reading the initial post, so I'll just say what I think in either case.
If the school is publicly funded, the racist material needs to be put to an end and the people responsible for implementing it into the curriculum disciplined. If the school is privately funded, they can teach whatever they want, no matter how much it gals me or you. Edit spelling errors This post has been edited by Hamedo on 7th February 2007 21:11 -------------------- Join the Army, see the world, meet interesting people - and kill them. ~Pacifist Badge, 1978 |
Post #143546
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Posted: 7th February 2007 20:55
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A country starts banning things like that and soon a preacher who rails against Islam one day in church gets tossed into prison for hate crimes. As much as I dislike being called a "pig" by Muslims, I don't see how you can make laws against what Islamic schools want to teach.
Edit Hamedo and I were posting at the same time...I agree with him. This post has been edited by BDZ on 7th February 2007 20:57 -------------------- Status: FF6 -- Finished! Yeah! FF7 -- Finished (easily, and without KOtR) FF8 -- End of Disc 3 Secret of Evermore--Leveling up for Salabog "Go sit over there. Put your seatbelt on."--Squall |
Post #143548
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Posted: 7th February 2007 21:12
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In truth, I don't actually care what they teach in schools. I'm neither Christian nor Jew so I don't feel offended. What offends me is that these kind of articles are appearing left, right and centre but racism against those of Middle-Eastern or Asian origin takes a back seat.
Isn't the same kind of thing preached in Jewish or Christian schools anyway? I can't speak from experience, but surely they'll try and convince their pupils that their religion is the right choice, and not to listen to what the other lot say? If this is an exception in a Muslim school, I'd bet there'd be an exception in a Jewish or Christian school too. And john, if they call you a bastard just shout the latest football results back, always works. ![]() Edit: Sorry if I wasn't clear. I didn't mean that Jewish and Christian school would openly insult other religions, but that they would preach that there's in the right choice; which you say is true. My point is that the school in the article is the exception because they took this too far, and I'm guessing that there must be a Jewish or Christian school in London with a slightly overzealous attitude towards other religions. This post has been edited by sweetdude on 7th February 2007 21:45 -------------------- Scepticism, that dry rot of the intellect, had not left one entire idea in his mind. Me on the Starcraft. |
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Posted: 7th February 2007 21:35
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Actually, no. They do tell us in the synagogue that Judaism is the right choice, however it might be hypocritical to call Christians or Moslems pigs or apes or what have you, because we believe that Jesus and Ishmael (founder of Islam) were originally Hebrews.
American is not a race. That being said, the stereotype now is that all Moslems hate America. Not all Moslems hate America. The radicals and extremists do (granted, there are quite a few of those). I know that the preachers in the few churches I've been in are big on "we're the best, everyone else is going to hell" but I'm sure that's not all churches. -------------------- Squenix games completed: FFIII FFIV FFVI FFVII FFIX FFX FF Tactics: Advance 2 Chrono Trigger Dragon Quest 8 Dragon Quest 11 Super Mario RPG |
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Posted: 7th February 2007 21:40
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Quote ("Hamedo") If the school is privately funded, they can teach whatever they want, no matter how much it gals me or you. Actually, legally they still cannot teach that sort of thing. We British have laws against hate speech (not implying that the Americans do not, mind), and more importantly, no First Amendment. Also, morally that sort of thing is wrong, however people will keep doing this sort of thing until the whole human race gets a bloody mallet to the head. -------------------- |
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Posted: 7th February 2007 21:56
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I cant say about the situation, but I can say that I dont like that report. It doesnt show the page of the textbook or anything like that that the "racist teachings" were on.
Until I see the exact context that the alleged racist teachings were in, it's impossible for me to make a good judgment as to whether or not this is being blow out of proportion or not. For all I know, it could be "So-and-so said that Jews are apes, and Christians pigs, in such-and-such speech at such-and-such date." A quote or simmilar is notteaching racist material; quite likely it's the opposite. Now, if it said "We as Muslims believe that Jews are apes, and Christians are pigs" and it's not in a quote or simmilar, then we have a problem. But I wont know until I see the textbook. |
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Posted: 7th February 2007 22:18
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I'm simply concerned that so many children are being taught to hate. This isn't going to lead to anything good, that's for sure.
We all know the media exaggerate these things, but I for one don't think something like this should be ignored and left alone. And yes, technically it's not racism, but that's not the point. -------------------- 'Let that be a lesson to all oppressive vegetable sellers.' |
Post #143566
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Posted: 7th February 2007 22:35
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Interestingly enough, Quebec is in a similare situation, but on a less direct level.
The hot issue nowadays is "reasonable accomodations." This whole deal sparked off when a judgement was made in favor of Seikhs (sp?) wearing their little knife to school because it was their religion. Other similare cases (hindus not wearing helmets because of their turbans, muslims wearing their prayer robe thing at work, what have you) forced the province to re-evaluate their stance, and it seems they're in favor of a solution that makes everyone happy. The kind that doesn't exist. A town (forgot the name...) decided to take a stand and passed a law stating stoning women in that particular town is against their law. This is an obvious stab at this reasonable accomodations issue and many see it as a strong message that other religions and cultures are not welcomed there. The whole deal is turning into a mess rather quickly. Many people will disagree with me, but what do I care - it's the internet. ![]() The actual situation here, IMO, is just an example of racism (religionism? Something. You know what I mean, and that's what matters, really. ![]() ![]() I don't give a wet snap about political correctedness. I do feel ill at ease, though, when politically incorrect things are used to brainwash people into hating each other or being racist, or whatnot. The fact is, plenty of americans are islam. And there are many other religions than just jewism and christianism - why aren't they targetted, then? Whatever. I don't know if people should step in because there's no way this is an isolated incident - that school can't be the only place with these books, and there's bound to be other propaganda out there. I don't know of England's laws, but if freedom of speech is limited there, then perhaps the law should impose itself (rightfully) and deal with the matter. The school is not necessarily at fault for having the books, but the author definately is, and the school isn't all that right in keeping them and using them either! But can you really stop a teacher from telling their students stuff like this, book or no book, out of the blue one monday afternoon? Kids are easily influenced, the damage is already done, and a book is just a medium for this sort of thing. (Note that while writing this, I had "middle east" in mind for some reason, not "England." I don't think this changes anything though.) -------------------- "Judge not a man by his thoughts and words, but by the quality and quantity of liquor in his possession and the likelyhood of him sharing." |
Post #143567
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Posted: 7th February 2007 23:16
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Quote Should something be done about this to avoid fueling racial hatred in the future? Or is it better to leave this alone and avoid such a controversial issue in fear of making things worse? something should be done teaching the kids to consider jews and christians to be lesser beings and brew hatred for others. And of course Jews and Christians will get angry for being looked upon in such a way, and then racism will come out and hatred will fly. Racism and religious prejudice are issues we'll be dealing with for years to come. Even now in America you can have a TV station Called BET (black entertainment television) but if you were to have a channel called WET (white entertainment television) it would be considered racist and prejudice pricks we be up in arms about shutting the station down. controversy should not be avoided, fearing controversy is fearing a step towards throwing down prejudice, The 60's and 70's were full of controversy (in America) and that's how change was able to happen. Normally when it comes to religion I say "it's whatever floats your boat, but don't get your panties in a bunch." meaning enjoy your religion but don't be down about someone else's, or prejudice. For some reason the world today just can't function without prejudice. and Silverlance i couldn't agree with you more. Quote We can't agree to disagree, even in a "modern and well-adjusted" civilization such as ours. -------------------- "Have you ever seen a baby do that before?" |
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Posted: 8th February 2007 06:18
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I dont want to get into a debate about it, so I'll be quick and (hopefully) not offensive to anyone.
Religeon is not the cause of these problems. Interpritation is. Banning religeons, to whatever degree you were implying, is not different than one religeous group claiming its superiority over another. It's quite the same; insinuating that Christianity or Jewdism or Islam or whatever is the cause of problems is 0 different at its core than the statements that are in controversy in the artice this topic's about. That is, implying that one religeon is better than another, whether it be Atheism or whatever. The big and only difference is the tone in which you say it, which of course you did not say anything harshly, and there is no offense from probably anyone here, including me. (again, not offended, just speaking mind) Back to my the original topic, I stand by my original statement. If they're teaching hate, then something should be done. If the guy that's suing is plain searching for anything he can get in order his "revenge" on the school, then I find no fault in the school. Just dont know until I see the context that the controversy is in. |
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Posted: 8th February 2007 10:34
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I think what SL meant was to abolish religion in the first place; again, correct me if I'm wrong. I don't think he meant ban them or anything, they just disappear and the problems go. I remember back in school, one of my bus drivers used to say the same thing to me when it was just us at the start of the morning. I was 10 at the time. When I got home I told my mum about it, saying that he must be right - there would be no more problems if there was no religion. She just waved it off saying that they would find a new reason to fight, and that the problems in Israel were primarily over land.
I think religion still gives many people guidance in their lives so I'm not in favour of it being abolished - even though that'll never happen anyway. Also, I wouldn't associate atheism with religions in the same context as you did Kaiyuu. Atheism isn't a religion that I believe in, it's just that I don't believe in any god, and which religion this applies to isn't relevant. Cases such as this just put religion (a.k.a Islam) in a bad light, purely because it's an easy target. Then you get people happily announcing that Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and everyone else are blindly led fools because of these sorts of articles. Thankfully that's not happened yet. Edit: "There would be no ore problems if there was no religion." I'm not sure that could be argued. ![]() This post has been edited by sweetdude on 8th February 2007 15:05 -------------------- Scepticism, that dry rot of the intellect, had not left one entire idea in his mind. Me on the Starcraft. |
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Posted: 8th February 2007 12:30
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Quote Religeon is not the cause of these problems. Interpritation is. Suppose a religion has a holy book that states that it is okay to commit a heinous act, such as murder of an innocent person, or mostly innocent person. Is the problem now the religion or the interpretation of it? How do you "interpret" yourself out of the fact that at the core, your religion STILL says its okay to kill someone? -------------------- Oh sure, I don't have to get kicked in the junk to activate it, but I like it anyway. -- Thief commenting on the difference between Throw and Blue Magic. |
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Posted: 8th February 2007 15:01
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Just a quick blurb. Sweetdude got what I meant - not to ban religion, but to simply stop teaching new generations to believe in a series of eh... cultural? rules and restrictions, and ways to see and interpret the world. Or at least to stop making such a huge public fuss about it and to live out your beliefs at home, privately, or at most with your family.
Just making sure I don't end up being labelled as anti-religious as these people are made out to look. ![]() -------------------- "Judge not a man by his thoughts and words, but by the quality and quantity of liquor in his possession and the likelyhood of him sharing." |
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Posted: 9th February 2007 04:00
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Quote (Quad @ 7th February 2007 21:35) Actually, no. They do tell us in the synagogue that Judaism is the right choice, however it might be hypocritical to call Christians or Moslems pigs or apes or what have you, because we believe that Jesus and Ishmael (founder of Islam) were originally Hebrews. I'm just gonna be a little bit nit-picky here... the "founder" of Islam was not named Ishmael. In fact, I don't recall anyone by the name of Ishmael mentioned in anything I read on Islam (and I'm muslim by the way ![]() So, what the hell are you talking about? ha ha ha ha -------------------- Quote Do you think we're forever? |
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Posted: 9th February 2007 17:09
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Quote (ultimage @ 8th February 2007 23:00) I'm just gonna be a little bit nit-picky here... the "founder" of Islam was not named Ishmael. In fact, I don't recall anyone by the name of Ishmael mentioned in anything I read on Islam (and I'm muslim by the way ![]() So, what the hell are you talking about? ha ha ha ha Um... not mocking your faith, but if you are a Muslim then Ishmael is, y'know, kindof one of your prophets. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishmael#Ishmael_in_Islam That link can give you a pretty good idea of him, and what he means to your chosen faith. ![]() -------------------- Join the Army, see the world, meet interesting people - and kill them. ~Pacifist Badge, 1978 |
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Posted: 9th February 2007 20:42
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Ishmael was son of Abraham and Hagar. Sarah was Abraham's wife, but she was barren and told Abraham to have a kid with another woman (Hagar was one of his maids or something). Sarah then got incredibly jealous of Hagar and Ishmael, and banished them to somewhere in the modern Arab world (remember, Abraham lived in what's now Iraq). Ishmael was so mad at his father, the Hebrew, that he formed a new religion, which we call Islam. Or that's what the Torah says, anyway.
But back to the topic... -------------------- Squenix games completed: FFIII FFIV FFVI FFVII FFIX FFX FF Tactics: Advance 2 Chrono Trigger Dragon Quest 8 Dragon Quest 11 Super Mario RPG |
Post #143766
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Posted: 9th February 2007 23:07
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Quote (Hamedo @ 9th February 2007 17:09) Quote (ultimage @ 8th February 2007 23:00) I'm just gonna be a little bit nit-picky here... the "founder" of Islam was not named Ishmael. In fact, I don't recall anyone by the name of Ishmael mentioned in anything I read on Islam (and I'm muslim by the way ![]() So, what the hell are you talking about? ha ha ha ha Um... not mocking your faith, but if you are a Muslim then Ishmael is, y'know, kindof one of your prophets. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishmael#Ishmael_in_Islam That link can give you a pretty good idea of him, and what he means to your chosen faith. ![]() Aaaaahhh, well my confusion comes from the fact his name as given in the Qur'an is "Isma'il." A prophet yes, but in no sense a founder of Islam. Although honestly all three resligions are the exact same thing at their core. A prophet of Judaism or Christianity is a prophet in Islam as well, because they all brought word of a single God. But yes.. back to the topic at hand. -------------------- Quote Do you think we're forever? |
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Posted: 10th February 2007 00:00
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Now, we just need to edit those texts to be offensive to Muslims, and then we will have texts that successfully offend ALL THREE Abrahamic religions!
Simultaneously! *shakes head* This post has been edited by Glenn Magus Harvey on 10th February 2007 00:00 -------------------- Check the "What games are you playing at the moment?" thread for updates on what I've been playing. You can find me on the Fediverse! I use Mastodon, where I am @[email protected] ( https://sakurajima.moe/@glennmagusharvey ) |
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Posted: 10th February 2007 00:52
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GMH: I wouldn't be surprised if a Christian school somewhere started calling Moslems dirty or something (The Jews would go to Denmark and start joking about the Holocaust). Christians have the advantage in this case, cause Moslems live in large numbers in third-world countries.
-------------------- Squenix games completed: FFIII FFIV FFVI FFVII FFIX FFX FF Tactics: Advance 2 Chrono Trigger Dragon Quest 8 Dragon Quest 11 Super Mario RPG |
Post #143805
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Posted: 21st February 2007 21:39
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Organized religion is just an excuse for people who are too afraid to live their own lives to have someone else control their actions. People who are afraid of death and what lies beyond; when they should really be focusing on what they are doing with their time right here in the present, not AFTER death! If I do spend an eternity in a flaming pit
![]() -------------------- "When skateboarding is outlawed only outlaws will skateboard." -Joseph Stalin |
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Posted: 21st February 2007 21:57
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While I agree with the above, it's a bit of a thin view isn't it? Very few religions focus explicitely on death, if any. It often serves as a reason to live a good life - ie, be good and you'll go to Heaven .
The christian faith (or catholic? Sorry - religion isn't my thing) for instance has rules of some sort that are a general conduct people should live by: don't kill, don't steal, so forth. To make sure people respect these and don't fall into abject anarchy, they're scared into hell being their fate. On the other hand, being good to one another and such will get you into heaven - a really awesome place where there's no booze, no unmarried sex, no drugs, and no rock/metal. Come to think of it, I'm not sure how this works out one bit - it sounds like one hell of a boring place. ![]() If anything, religion is just a way of providing people with a bit of guidance and to help ease doubts and worries about what's out there and beyond life. Not just some way of scaring people into what's going to be in store for them in the afterlife. Or in the case of Scientologists, it's about Xenu and space aliens throwing souls into volcanoes. Which is cool, too, if you're the sort of person who goes for that. Oh yeah, it also serves the higher purpose of getting the higher-ups rich, but whatever. >"<; -------------------- "Judge not a man by his thoughts and words, but by the quality and quantity of liquor in his possession and the likelyhood of him sharing." |
Post #144703
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Posted: 22nd February 2007 02:59
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Quote (WildHalcyon @ 8th February 2007 12:30) Suppose a religion has a holy book that states that it is okay to commit a heinous act, such as murder of an innocent person, or mostly innocent person. Is the problem now the religion or the interpretation of it? How do you "interpret" yourself out of the fact that at the core, your religion STILL says its okay to kill someone? I dont recall any major religions teaching things like that. And dont say Jihad; the "Holy War" is a war focused on fighting Satan and his followers, and hence where the interpritation I was talking about earlier comes into play. Next time you see the lord of darkness himself walking out and about, with his devils and whatnot, tell me. Having religion taken out of the picture would not solve any more problems than removing race. Which is to say, it'd fix quite a few things, but there's no real humane way to do it. That includes not teaching it to the next generation, for the simple fact that people have the right to believe and voice their opinions to whoever they want whenever they want, and if their friends/relatives/childeren want to believe it, then they have a right to. Plus the fact people would just make up a ton of new ones anyway. Yes, I know, you're saying wait for it to die out and stuff. Ultamitely, anything I could say to debate that would be totally circumstantial and could be taken either way. It could happen, it might not, and hey, someone could be right ![]() Believe what you want, as there's no real "right" or "wrong" choice when it comes to religion, and that is really the point of the above two paragraphs. There will always be wackos out there so long as there's uneducated people, and they'll find a different excuse than religion to blow buildings up for. |
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Posted: 22nd February 2007 03:38
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Just thought I'd toss a few opinions into this pot...
sk8daysaweek: I agree with you that name calling is pointless...but not all organized religion springs from a fear of life or death. I belive that there is a heaven and a hell, but I'm not scared of life or death. Silverlance: the thrust of Fundamentalist Christianity is not "live by these rules or you are going to hell so you better live right." In fact, we belive that keeping rules will not get you to heaven because we all break them at some point or another. (A condition we call "sinful nature.") If you want a clearer idea of Christianity you could check out the Wikipedia article or pm me. I better not start a rant ![]() On the subject of debate and pointing fingers between religions, it's not gonna stop. I don't think I'd be exagerating to say most major religions teach that thair way is the only way, so we are always going to be trying to convert each other. There is no need for name calling. It's stupid. But people calling religions "right" or "wrong" will continue unless religion dies out. -------------------- Status: FF6 -- Finished! Yeah! FF7 -- Finished (easily, and without KOtR) FF8 -- End of Disc 3 Secret of Evermore--Leveling up for Salabog "Go sit over there. Put your seatbelt on."--Squall |
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Posted: 22nd February 2007 08:18
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Quote (Silverlance @ 21st February 2007 16:57) The christian faith (or catholic? Sorry - religion isn't my thing) I always get a bit annoyed when people distinguish between Christians and Catholics when they should be distinguishing between Protestants and Catholics. Catholicism is simply one of two main denominations in Christianity (the other, of course, being Protestant, which is further subdivided many times over). Last year I was talking to a kid in my dorm hall about the ages old Ireland/England feud and he was like "Oh, that's the war between the Catholics and Christians right?" I just sigh and shake my head. It's worse that some Protestant branches don't consider Catholicism a legitimate branch of Christianity either, even when Catholicism preceded the Protestant denomination by well over a thousand years. Ah well. My little rant for the day. -------------------- SPEKKIO: "GRRR...That was most embarrassing!" |
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Posted: 22nd February 2007 13:01
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Quote Organized religion is just an excuse for people who are too afraid to live their own lives to have someone else control their actions. People who are afraid of death and what lies beyond; when they should really be focusing on what they are doing with their time right here in the present, not AFTER death! What did you read or what have you heard that's caused you to form such an opinion? I can think of not a single religion that preaches fear of death. Christianity for example, teaches that this mortal life is short and all we will get, so we need to make the most of the time we have now before we die. Has anyone heard a followup to this story? What happened to the school, the teachers using those texts with the offensive language, ect? -------------------- Join the Army, see the world, meet interesting people - and kill them. ~Pacifist Badge, 1978 |
Post #144775
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Posted: 22nd February 2007 19:42
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![]() Posts: 732 Joined: 23/2/2005 Awards: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Quote (Hamedo @ 22nd February 2007 13:01) Quote Organized religion is just an excuse for people who are too afraid to live their own lives to have someone else control their actions. People who are afraid of death and what lies beyond; when they should really be focusing on what they are doing with their time right here in the present, not AFTER death! What did you read or what have you heard that's caused you to form such an opinion? I can think of not a single religion that preaches fear of death. Christianity for example, teaches that this mortal life is short and all we will get, so we need to make the most of the time we have now before we die. Has anyone heard a followup to this story? What happened to the school, the teachers using those texts with the offensive language, ect? Good question: The latest news seems to be 14th of Feb on this - THE government has ordered an inquiry into allegations an Islamic school in Acton used textbooks which taught pupils that Jews were "apes" and Christians "pigs". The Saudi-funded King Fahd Academy, in Bromyard Avenue East, west London, has been severely criticised for allegedly using the books which also describe other religions as "worthless". Schools Minister Jim Knight has now ordered the claims be officially investigated. He said: "It would be completely unacceptable for any school to have material which makes the sort of inflammatory assertions that are being alleged. "I have therefore asked the Department to make enquiries in relation to the recent allegations surrounding King Fahad Academy, and to confirm whether the school complies with its statutory requirements on promoting tolerance and harmony." However the Islamic school has vigorously denied teaching any form of racial hatred, saying the passages had been "misinterpreted". advertisement But headteacher Dr Sumaya Alyusuf admitted the offending chapters had now been removed "in the public interest". She said: "I would like to make it clear that the controversial passages within these books are not taught within the academy. "However, in view of this public interest I decided to remove these chapters from the books." Now the Department for Education and Skills has written to the school to request copies of the books and to get their interpretation of the passages in question. Mr Knight also requested a "clear statement" addressing which pupils are given access to the books in question and what chapters of the book are actually taught. The DfES said it would wait for the school's response before deciding whether or not to take action. Mr Knight said: "I have noted recent statements by the school and no judgement is being made at this stage. "However, it is important that parents and the wider public are assured that all schools provide their pupils with an education that allows them to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures in a way that promotes tolerance and harmony." Details of the controvesial text books emerged after a former teacher, Colin Cook, accused the school of institutionalised racism. He claims he lost his job after blowing the whistle on the school which he says covered up cheating by pupils sitting GCSE exams. He also alleged he faced discrimination for being a "non-Saudi"... http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/ed...book_claims.php It should be interesting to see what they find and if they do anything about this. And if it leads to them investigating other schools. -------------------- 'Let that be a lesson to all oppressive vegetable sellers.' |
Post #144803
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Posted: 22nd February 2007 21:57
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![]() Posts: 102 Joined: 1/2/2007 Awards: ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Still doesnt give any real basis to form an opinion on. Still havent seen the "controversial passages".
I'm slightly inclined to side with the school though, as that teacher accusing them seems to be making stuff up to get back at them for being fired. |
Post #144826
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