what do you fear more, muslim fundamentalism or Christian fundamentalism?

[taxidriver]

i've been thinking lately. it seems to me that as nasty as the islamic terrorists/fundies are, they don't really have a means of controlling our culture and changing our government. every now and then, they may be able to pull off an attack and kill lots of us, but not much more. we're not going to be braying to mecca any time soon.

however, given the state of congress and the white house, i am becoming fearful of homegrown fundies. especially if Bush gets a second term. it is entirely possible that within the next four years, we could be looking at the overturning of Roe, the outlawing of 'sodomy', etc. and just because the power was taken in a nominally democratic manner doesn't mean that its going to be given back...can anyone fathom martial law?

any thoughts?

[pscot]

1. Christians, no doubt about it

They've infiltrated the Whitehouse and the Congress. Hide the women and children.

[Cannikin]

2. I agree...no Muslims have tried to force their belief system on me.

Or control the laws of my country with it.

[rucky]

3. depends on where you're living

The RR here talks alot of smack but doesn't really do anything but whine. They're annoying as hell but I'm not afraid of them.

[loyalsister]

30. Come to Missouri

We have a consitutional amendment to vote on in August. And dozens of bills sponsored related to religion last session. Including these

SJR 25--- Removes portion of the Missouri Constitution which prohibits distribution of state funds to religious organizations.

SJR 26--- Removes provision of Constitution limiting distribution of funds to any church, religion, or any preacher or teacher thereof.

HJR 48 --- Sponsor: Bearden, Carl --- CoSponsor: Myers, Peter
Proposes a constitutional amendment guaranteeing a citizen's right to pray.

HJR 47 --- Sponsor: Crowell, Jason --- CoSponsor: Engler, Kevin
Proposes a constitutional amendment establishing marriage as only between a man and a woman.

[Cheswick2.0]

42. yes and how many rape victims have Christian fundies burned to death?

How many young Christian rape vicitms have been put to death because she brought shame to her family? Are male doctors in MO still allowed to treat female patients? Do you have to cover your face and walk out in public only in the company of some male member of your family?

[loyalsister]

62. For those who missed the damn point!

I fear most about what can become a law in my own goddamn backyard. I also fear the warping of tommorow's minds- creationism anyone?
If you don't think the stuff I pointed out is scary do, a google for Cristian Reconstructionism and you will see it is only the beginning. AND it could happen. Those constitutional amendments could happen here if we got a puke governor and kept our leg the way it is.

[burrowowl]

4. Christian Fundies

They have the nuke football and have killed more people than the Muslim Fundies.

[alejandrofromcuba]

6. hmmmm

I fear neither Christian nor Muslim (nor Jew either). I think at the end of the day, fundamentalism is a trend that will not last. We just need to be patient. Enlightened minds will win (enlightenment is the opposite of fundamentalism in my mind).

[taxidriver]

7. true. true.

but if the powers that be have their way, we might not have an "end of the day" time.

[Beam Me Up]

25. Your faith in consciousness is brave.

I wish I had more of it. I'm certainly not without fear.

I'm more afraid of Christians than Muslims or Jews, however, as they have built into their mythology an "end time." The Eastern traditions also speak of great cyclical changes but Christian theologians tend to have a very flat view of time and any idea of 'higher' dimensions. It is written, "The Christian prayer is for the end of the world, that it might come quickly. The only question is how; a mistake here could prove quite costly."

In other words, "fundamentalists" (regardless of their religion) are fundamentally MATERIALISTS, not spiritual. They do not understand that KNOWLEDGE OF GOD is something to be earned, not assumed.

This is what the Apostle Paul had to say about it:

And I brethren, when I came to you, came
not with excellency of speech or of wisdom,
declaring unto you the testimony of God.

For I determined not to know any thing
among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

And I was with you in weakness, and in fear,
and in much trembling.

And my speech and my preaching was not
with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in
demonstrations of the Spirit and of power:

That your faith should not stand in the
wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that
are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor
of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

But we speak the wisdom of God in a
mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God
ordained before the world unto our glory.

But it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear
heard, neither have entered into the heart of
man, the things which God hath prepared for
them that love him.

But God hat revealed them unto us by his
Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things,
yea, the deep things of God.

For what man knoweth the things of a man,
save the spirit of man which is in him? even
so the things of God knoweth no man, but the
Spirit of God.

Which things also we speak, not in the
words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which
the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual
things with spiritual.

But the natural man receiveth not the things
of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness
unto him: neither can he know them, because
they are spiritually discerned.

But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet
he himself is judged of no man.

For who hath known the mind of the Lord,
that he may instruct him? But we have
the mind of Christ.

[Lex]

5. Christian fundamentalism is the most immediate threat

to me. That's who's trying to control my actions on a day to day basis. Trying to infiltrate my country's government and ursurp its laws.

My Dad and I had this conversation this weekend, in fact. We both agreed that any religious fundamentalism is a threat to a free and democratic republic.

Always has been. That's why our constitution was clear on the matter about separation of church and state. The founding fathers knew these fundies would be beating at the door of our republic trying to take it over soon enough.

[amber dog democrat]

27. Agreed.

Here, I think the fundamentalists are wanting to be another Taliban.
They pose a greater threat here in the US. Having traveled a little in some Islamic countries, ( Egypt and Turkey ) I am usually very careful and don't like to admit my American citizenship. I almost see it as a first world vs third world issue.

[DEMVET-USMC]

8. I don`t fear either of them but the Muslim nuts are more dangerous at this

time in my opinion. I think they are all assholes and I am furious that the World is going to war over such insitutionalized insanity....Oscar

[maggrwaggr]

10. I disagree. The "christians" believe in Armageddon and welcome it

Which I find a tad disturbing.

Not just because of the obvious implications but also for the less obvious ones -- such as protecting the earth. These idiots believe that the earth is fallen and that all earthly matters are dirty and that it's all temporary anyway, and earth doesn't matter because the rapture is gonna come and they're gonna all get whisked away to heaven.

It's the most destructive religion on the planet.

[Classical_Liberal]

70. Furthermore the Christian fundies almost have access to Nukes.

.

[taxidriver]

79. if iran gets nukes, the islamic fundies might get some of the action too.

hmm.

[Classical_Liberal]

81. They're closer to getting nukes from our allies in Pakistan.

. Christian fundies have also justified their use on civlians, Tim Lahay and his dispensationalist friend Hal Lindsey, and newspaper columnist Cal Thomas, have all advocated creating middle eastern Hiroshimas.

[DrWeird]

15. Maybe more dangerous to you and me.

But it's the christian fundamentalists that have killed the most innocent people.

[Blue Wally]

57. Recently?

[DrWeird]

75. Yes.

The tens of thousands of people murdered in Iraq was the work of a christian fundamentalist.

You can argue that the soldiers under Bush's command are not universally christian fundamentalists, even though their commander-in-chief is, nevertheless that didn't stop the forced conversions at Abu Ghraib.

[wtmusic]

9. Same animal

but the Muslim ones are desperate

[AwakeAtLast]

11. I know

Let's put them all together in one big field somewhere and let 'em go at each other. The winner is the most dangerous fundamentalist group. Can anyone say "Let's get ready to RUUMMMBLLEE! However, I am not sure that CFs will be able to whine loudly enough to make the MF's swords to shatter. <sarcasm off>

[Kazak]

12. Two sides of the same coin...

It's the fundamentalism in general that is scary.

[rumguy]

13. I see them as two sides of the same motherfuckin' coin

They need each other to survive. They feed off each other.

[smirkymonkey]

66. Exactly.

They all horrify me. Currently, I am more affected by Christian fundies as I live in the US, but if I was the same person living in a Muslim country I would probably fear Islamic fundamentalists more.

ALL Fundamentalism is dangerous - Christian, Muslim, Fascism, "Republicanism", etc. It is absolutist and it seeks to destroy the "others", whoever they may be.

[parasim]

14. All fundamentalists are dangerous

but the ones in power and who have the heavy artillary are the ones to be worried about, imo. i guess that'd be the christians.

[NuttyFluffers]

16. obviously the one who has access to the bigger bombs.

and more accurate bombs. and the most quantity of bombs. and the most resources to burn. and the ones who are willing to sacrifice the most.

so obviously the answer is christian fundamentalists in america. no contest. our crazies win on all counts. bigger, better, more bombs. more resources to burn (america is richest country in the world). and willing, and actively seeking, armageddon and rapture. again, no contest.

[Maat]

18. I'm glad I'm not the only one is being driven crazy by ....

Christian fundamentalists in this country, who worry more about being able to sleep with their AK-47 than about Ashcroft defining 'buying milk' as terrorism, and searching my purchasing records. They can live a rigid life if they'd like - and rejoice in the coming rapture - but they need to stop starting wars, getting children killed, and encoding their beliefs into law. Especially, quit forcing me to pay for the National Day of Prayer. Now, that is terrorism.

[delhurgo]

22. Was it necessary to make a snide remark about gun-rights?

All that issue does is divide the party. And it has absolutely nothing to do with the religious right. I believe strongly in the 2nd amend and can assure that I'm no fundamentalist. I don't see why anyone at this point would wanna give more power to the govt to 'control' citizens guns. I agree with everything else about your post except that.

[ElectroPrincess]

37. Nobody's taking away the second amendment ...

Hey, there's a lot of pro-second amendment people here. Now, let's clean our Glocks and go to the range. U no worry, there's way way too many truly important issues to tackle (get the fundies out of the Government) for our far-left buds to worry about taking our arsenal um hum, our legally registered firearms away from us. :-)

[NuttyFluffers]

86. sensitive? ;) we still love ya!

i think the other poster was noting the motivation behind "sleeping with their AK-47s." You may love guns, their technology, their sport, their mixture of craftmenship/artistry mixed with utility. But i think the other poster was speaking about the fundies love for guns out of fear, hate, and self-righteousness, grasping at faint straws of power in the face of their paranoia of a world slipping from their grasp.

different motivations - one makes a more responsible gun owner than another. i'm sure we can both agree upon that. :)

[gumby]

17. How about braying to militarism?

That's what we've got now.

Fundies control the Executive, the Congressional and the Judicial branches of our government. And they just luv Crusades.

If you measure the success of fundamentalism in deaths, then:

WE WIN!!!!!!

[Maat]

19. I meant radical Christain right-wingers.

I did not mean to offend any of my Christian friends. But while I agree with the comments on this thread, I have really been thinking quite a bit about the destabilization this administration is causing around the world, partly due to their nutty fundamentalist beliefs. Certainly not the way I want to remembered or thought of ... as an American.

[delhurgo]

20. I think both are bad, but the Islamist threat is obviously more

immediate and potentially catastrophic. I mean, if these nuts get a nuke, I have no doubt they'd use it.

But I just wanted to mention something else. Has anyone else noticed how the anti-abortion fanatics have completely stopped their violent, destructive tactics? Not a peep out of em since 911. Heh. They know they're the other side of the coin of the Islamists, as others have said. They are trying to avoid the comparison being made, but its too obvious to the American people. And the terms theocracy, fundamentalism, religious extremisim... have been so demonized in the news since 911 that its gotta be having an impact on peoples views. The problems facing most Muslim countries is to a great extent due to the fact that they don't have a strict sep of church/state. Americans are getting an important lesson on how important that is.

[nodehopper]

21. both equally

Any religious fundamentalism scares the shi*t out of me. The particular content of it does not matter to me.

[Cheswick2.0]

44. yes and anti religious fundamentalism is scary too

I am not pointing at you, I am agreeing with you. I think there is an element of the anti-religious left that is also very fundmentalist in their beliefs and they are equally scary.

[nodehopper]

67. sure, absolutely, that's what leads to groups like Khmere Rouge

with their zero year and soviet-era CP.

Exterme left inevitably converges with extreme right.

[fujiyama]

23. I would say

that radical Islam is a greater threat to the world at large. Islamic terrorism IS a major problem, and it's important that the left not dismiss it, for we know that the right has no understanding of religious fanaticism at all. Liberal minded people, the world over, must save civilization and humanity from the threat of religious fanaticism -- whether it be radical Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, or whatever else.

However, within America, the Christian fundies are probably the more immediate threat. They want the laws to be defined according to their beliefs.

Ultimately, the Christian right has proven that they they want similar controls over society as did the Taliban in Afghanistan. Theytoo are proving themselves to be intolerant, mysogenestic, homophobic ass holes.

[Swamp Rat]

24. Damn! Not sodomy?!

That's a time-honored pastime here in New Orleans. Oh no! That means they'll try to shut down Mardi Gras, Gay Pride parade, the drag queen shows, the infamous Day of Decadence, and all our wonderfully hedonistic activities.

Oh Dionysus please save us from 'morality'!

Fuck this! They'll have to BOMB New Orleans and kill ALL of us.

[Centre_Left]

26. Muslim extremists...

...pose a much greater threat than Christian extremists; in fact the comparison between the two is utterly absurd. Christians do not carry out "mercy killings," force women to wear headscarves, prevent women from driving cars, deny the right of women to vote, and, in general, do not go around the world blowing up and beheading innocent civilians. Moreover, as odious as overturning Roe or outlawing "sodomy" may seem, those efforts clearly pale in comparison to the imposition of sharia found in Iran and other Islamo-fascist states.

The policy goals of Christian fundamentalists range from banning gay marriage to protecting prayer in public schools; the single policy goal of Muslim fundamentalists appears to be the destruction of the United States and Israel, if not the whole of Western civilization itself. Based on these dramatic differences, I tend to fear the latter more.

Some people will suggest that Christians fundies, while less radical and murderous, pose a greater threat because of their political clout in Washington. I lack the space to discuss in detail here the numerous defeats the religious right has suffered over the last few years, not to mention the internecine conflicts within the religious right itself. It's also belaboring the obvious to point out that on perhaps the most critical ideological battleground, the college campus, Christian fundamentalism is practically nonexistent.

However, I will say that Al Quaeda can bring the global economy to its knees in a matter of seconds merely by blowing up a dirty bomb in a single major urban center or by assaulting (largely unprotected) oil pipelines in Saudia Arabia. These possibilities frighten me infinitely more than anything any Christian fundie could dream up.

Don't get me wrong; I am no fan of Christian fundamentalism. But to argue that Christian fundamentalists are somehow more dangerous than the psychopaths who dreamt up 9-11 is not just wrong, it's laughable.

[flewellyn]

32. It's not so laughable...

It's a matter of saying "Who do you fear more? The wackos with the car bombs, or the wackos with the nuclear bombs?" Frankly, I'd rather not have either around, but the more heavily armed insane person is the greater threat. Right now, that's not the Muslims. The only predominantly Islamic country that has nukes, to my knowledge, is Pakistan (though Iran is apparently close), and they only have half a dozen; the US has thousands. Our army is larger and more sophisticated than any of the Islamic nations command, we have more money and more economic clout, and we have more allies (even if they're justly pulling away from us right now). The US in the hands of fundamentalists is far more dangerous than anything any of the Muslim nations could bring to bear.

That said, idiologically both sides are, well, comparable. Both are dangerous. The fact that the Religious Right in our country is right now trying to ban gay marriage, which seems rather tame compared to the work of Islamic fundamentalists, is only a matter of opportunity, not will. If the right wingers thought they could get away with it, they most certainly would round up and kill everybody they didn't like. Just check the message boards on Free Republic if you doubt this.

Christians, or more properly, people using Christianity as an excuse for a power grab, have done so before; the Crusades, the Reconquista of Spain, the invasion and colonial subjugation of Africa and Asia, pogroms against Jews and Gypsies, etc, etc. This is, of course, not unique to Christianity; fundamentalism, or other kinds of religious radicalism, are very dangerous in any form, whatever the particular religion is.

[jmowreader]

38. I beg to differ

You sent:

..pose a much greater threat than Christian extremists; in fact the comparison between the two is utterly absurd. Christians do not carry out "mercy killings,"

http://www.courttv.com/trials/kopp/chronology.html

force women to wear headscarves, prevent women from driving cars, deny the right of women to vote,

There are elements of the Right who think that this nation's downfall started with the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Ann Coulter has called for its repeal. Ann Coulter is a raving lunatic, but she's in several hundred newspapers and lives on television so people hear her all the time.

and, in general, do not go around the world blowing up and beheading innocent civilians.

Uhh...try looking up any of the atrocities we've committed against innocent Afghanis and Iraqis in the last couple of years, like bombing wedding parties because the men were firing guns into the air--which is not "terrorism," it's how they've celebrated for hundreds of years.

I worry more about Christian fundamentalists than Muslim ones, because Christian fundamentalists will use Muslim ones to attain their ultimate goal, the end of the world. Everyone here knows who armed the Iranians and the Iraqis in their war--Ronald Reagan. Everyone here knows who armed Osama bin Laden--Ronald Reagan. Reagan wasn't a fundie, but he was an extremist who was being bankrolled by fundamentalists.

[ElectroPrincess]

46. They have the *potential* - with enough hate that will do the trick

Check out some other sites where fundy's congregate. Nope, right now they're not killing the "rag heads". But get them a little more fired up and they'll be right with the thuggery of those who carried out 9/11.

Have you forgotten our OWN "home grown" terrorist Timothy McVeigh. Albeit a much smaller scale, he would have done as much damage as 9/11 had he been given the capability.

[jayavarman]

53. I Agree

False parallelism between the 2 types of fundamentalists is laughable.

In one side we have people in white suits & bad hair sitting on golden thrones on tv ala Benny Hinn.

On the other hand we have other folks on tv disguised & beheading innocents.

Sounds the same to me

[DrWeird]

88. Not quite.

On one side you've got televised beheadings, on the other you've got concentration camps where they rape women, and children, kill the men, and or force them to cover themselves in feces and renounce Allah and accept Jesus as their saviour.

But I guess you don't hear about that on Fox news.

[Piperay]

28. Same thing, I don't like either of them and

I fear them both the same. :puke:

[loyalsister]

29. I agree with you

I fear the ones who have power in my government. The fact that they're trying to mess with the constitution really scares. This has been the dream of the Christian Reconstuctionists for years.

[Mnemosyne]

31. I believe that all fundamentalists are very dangerous

Most never think for themselves again once they have been caught up in the spirit.

Unfortunately this also describes too many Americans that are not even religious now, government is where they place their faith.

How sad to be unable to think for oneself!

[SupportRapeVictims]

33. Muslims kill. Christians harass.

Definitely Muslims.

Note: I'm referring to extremeists.

[ElectroPrincess]

36. Oops! You forgot The Inquisition = A Christian Endeavor

[Burma Jones]

51. The Inquisition was a while ago

Islamic Fundies are killing people all over the world right now

[truthspeaker]

72. Tell that to Matthew Shepard. Tell that to the abortion doctors

shot by Christian extremists.

[lapislzi]

73. How's that again?

What about the "christians" who kill doctors who perform abortions?
What about the killing of Matthew Shepard?
Shall I go on?

Don't those count?

[DrWeird]

77. Tell it to the Iraqis.

And the muslims in the Sudan who are being massacred by christians.

[truthspeaker]

34. =

Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

[Deja Q]

35. They're both intolerable, but at least the Muslims simply want to kill us.

Do you prefer death or domination?

Right now things seem fine, but if Bushco* gets another term, the tinfoilhat in me is predicting a lot of nasty stuff...

[ProdigalJunkMail]

39. you think Muslims

of the extremist sort don't wish to oppress? Take a look at most Muslim goverments and then answer that question again. Do you think Christianity is the only religion that has even been spread at the tip of a lance (or pike if you prefer)?

theProdigal

[meg]

40. 'Christians', no doubt

[Cheswick2.0]

41. sure why would we want to have outlawed sodomy and abortion bans

when we could simply have thousands of american jumping out of burning buildings everty couple of years? :shrug:

I don't like or agree with either of them personally, but I don't think christian fundamentalists will be chopping off peoples heads in the near future.

[ElectroPrincess]

43. Yeah, no beheadings but we're a gonna hunt um down and KILL

those evildoers! In the name of the Lord ... who BTW is on OUR side. Amen. And have Ashcroft annoint us with crisco. :P

Hello?!? Dead is dead. Killing is killing. The beheading is an ancillary action to shock the imperialists. Think it's working?

[Cheswick2.0]

45. think your argument could be more shallow?

Cookie cutter arguments are a bore.
Can you please address the points I made rather than spouting the standard lefty argument parts A and B?

[ElectroPrincess]

47. Sure, check out my other posts

I've lived in Singapore during martial law (1964). I've also lived in Arab countries and see how *hate* and *propaganda* are spread.

You call my arguments "lefty"?!? Serious question: Are you here to contribute to the Democratic discussion or to score points with other people who monitor us here? My point: For a Dean supporter, you come across to me as incongruent with him in foreign policy matters.

[Cheswick2.0]

48. LOL

check my post count princess.
With a few exceptions I am about as left as anyone here. I just get tired of the silly lefy arguments that are no more well thought out than mindlessly jumping on the anti-christian bandwagon.
I happen to think that they way women are treated in muslim fundamentalist societies make them lots scarier than Christian fundamentalists. I would rather someone take away my abortion rights than keep me from working for a living and forbid me to see doctors because they are male (and women are not allowed to have careers). I prefer people who blather on about family values than have my family burn me to death because I was raped.

PS... the war on Iraq was about oil and imperialism, not fundamentalist christianity, propaganda to the contrary.

[ElectroPrincess]

50. Ok, that's cool ...

If you wish to harbor predjudice, it's not my place to dissuade you. Check my actual posts and you will see that I have the experience and background to make valid claims. Also it's a right wing tactic to dismiss an argument as "lefty." You are probably being hailed at fundy places now. Congrats. :-)

On edit: I already gave my explanation of the "beheading tactic". That was your argument and I addressed it. Have a good day ;).

[ElectroPrincess]

56. OK, I understand

If you wish to attack me personally about blather or about too simplistic "lefty", I can't stop you. However, I've read some very inane comments and not commented. Kindly consider that you have one Upped me - you know much more depth, i.e., "at least we won't be beheaded." Hum mm, OK.

Sorry that you don't care for my style, but do consider keeping it civil? Further, labels are far from considerate and liberal. I would never accuse you of "blather" and I'd appreciate it if you would grant me the same courtesy.

[bushwakker]

49. Don't forget Judaic fundamentalism - can't stand any of 'em

people who actions are based on belief rather than knowledge can't be trusted. Unfortunately these types are currently running our country. The Bush Adminitration believes a lot of things - they know very little.

[noonwitch]

52. Islamic fundalmentalist lunatics are coordinated and mobilized for action

The dangerous christian fundamentalist groups inside the US are fragmented and loose-knit.

I think the islamic whackos are a more immediate threat and pose the ability to inflict more damage than the christian whackos. If given time and weaponry along with some national sponsorships, the christians could become equally dangerous in the long run.

[ElectroPrincess]

54. TKS noonwitch ...

You expressed the rest of my point ... much better than I could have. There are many levels to this argument.

[BiggJawn]

55. Christian Fundies walk among us...

They live across the street. They serve on your local school boards, where they jam up the works with their agenda of pushing for "Intelligent Design" to be taught, 10 suggestions on the wall, etc. They aspire to higher political office after their school board stints.

They hold letter writing campaigns so that your congress-critter gets 500 Fundy letters compared to 15 from other people on topics like School Prayer, Abortion, Stem Cells, and "Godless Communism".

If we were "infiltrated" with Muslim extremists to the same extent we're infested with Christian Fundies, we'd be truly alarmed. But since these people look and talk like us, and publically seem to be like us, they're under our radar. They hate freedom (I know that's acliche, but it's true) insisting that "Every Knee shall Bend, Every head shall Bow"...

Flame away.

[Burma Jones]

58. Muslim Fundies are more dangerous, they can't be bought

The Christian fundies will be stopped when they start costing the real people in charge a lot of money. For the last 25 years, the christian fundies have been asking for all sorts of social change and have gotten nothing. The Republican party uses these narrow minded morons to further their economic agenda of enriching the wealthy. If you can cast a political and economic battle as a culture war, you will get the rubes to back you every time.

Abortion will remain legal because there's a lot of money in it. I also sincerely believe that there will be no outlawing of sodomy on a nation-wide basis.

The Republicans know that they hold power by the slimmest of margins. They also know that martial law is bad for business. So, they will cater to a "center" that does not include fundies (or most of DU for that matter).

I think that if there was good money in forcibly converting Christian Fundies to Druidism, the Republicans would back that.

[ElectroPrincess]

59. Honestly - I hope you're right ...

"The Republicans know that they hold power by the slimmest of margins. They also know that martial law is bad for business. So, they will cater to a "center" that does not include fundies (or most of DU for that matter)."

Yes, I'll give credit to those who claim the obvious: Muslim extremists are, right now, more dangerous than USA Fundies because they are organized, decentralized and unpredictable.

I do hope that the Republicans cater to the "center." However, I don't see that happening if Bush has four more years.

BTW where's General "Our God is Better than their God!" these days? <eg>

[taxidriver]

64. martial law is bad for business? once it is in place, why would the rulers

care about catering to the desires of their people?

[SheepyMcSheepster]

60. I fear fundamentalism, there is no need to decide which kind. nt.

[mvd]

61. Right now, the Christian fundies

Because they control Bush. If Kerry wins, my opinion could change.

[Tsiyu]

63. As A Woman: They Both Suck

[Loonman]

65. Both, equally

Extremism is the tool of tyrants.

[smirkymonkey]

68. And Fear and Hatred

is at the root of it all.

[Walt Starr]

69. Christian fundamentalism, hands down!

Islamist fundamentalists have little power in the world, as evidenced by the fact that they have to resort to guerrila style terrorism in order to affect geopolitical events.

Christian Fundamentalis, on the other hand, has the most powerful government in the world creating policy tto fall in line with their wacked out belief system!

[DaveSZ]

71. They are both equally dangerous imo

These people are one and the same.

[lapislzi]

74. They are equally scary

Dogma without compassion is frightening to behold. Sanctimony at any level can lead to dangerous extremism.

[GreenPartyVoter]

76. All extremist ideology is dangerous

But here in the USA we are in more trouble from the Christian sort.

Would Jesus love a liberal? You bet!
http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/liberalchristians.htm

[Monte Carlo]

78. Christian fundamentalists, Muslim fundamentalists, Jewish fundamentalists

... and just plain people from Montana!... are going to make life very interesting for a long time - that's the reality. ~George Carlin

It's fundamentalists we need to fear. Those who have consciously thrown out all observations about the outside world in favor of nice, neat abstract ideals, that typically elevate themselves. Jesus or Allah or Moses is not necessary to the equation.

[proud patriot]

80. Both equally n/t

[OnionPatch]

82. Practically, I fear the Christians

only because I live here and there's more of a chance that they will affect MY life.
On the other hand, I lived in the Middle East for a year, met some wonderful people but witnessed and came to understand Muslim fundamentalism. There is NO WAY I could live like that. I visited a family where there were three wives of one man feeding us! They stayed in the kitchen while we ate. It was as if they were servants. I found out that a shocking number of women undergo clitorectomy at a young age. I saw women living on the street with toddlers because their husbands had left them, therefore they are deemed worthless......and on and on. I have to say I'd rather live under the Christians. (Shudder)

[DaveSZ]

83. I believe

We should also include Stalinists and Communists in this equation as well.

They use the power of the state to impose their chosen religion, that is a lack of religion, on the populace.

This is just as dangerous to freedom and liberty as Fundamentalists doing the same with their own chosen religion.

[donhakman]

84. The hate never sleeps

Fundamentalism reveres a more glorious father
It is the continuity of ages
The gravity of tradition

The guiding hand of father and worship is all powerful.
Martyrdom and revenge go hand in hand
The greatest honor is a 'deadication'
To bring infidels to their knees

The imagination of holy hate never sleeps.
The world awakened to find a forgotten mountain gone.
Yucca MT. the most fissile spot on earth had exploded
along with a suicide nuclear attack on NY in 2753.

[VOX]

85. Fundamentalism and ignorance are to be feared in any form...

Home-grown varieties (in a cultural sense), if not as immediately dangerous in a physically threatening way, are nonetheless corrosive and dangerous in a very insidious manner.

All forms of fundamentalism -- where a dogma dictates a single "correct" way of thinking -- carries the seeds of divisiveness and ultimately, hatred. Man's worst behaviors will follow in this darkness.

Add ignorance and isolation into the mix, and it becomes highly combustible.

[kiahzero]

87. Christian fundamentalism, solely because it's closer

If I lived in the Middle East, I'd probably be vastly more worried about Islamic fundamentalism.