Colonel Shaver: Evangelizing in the military

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.daily-journal.com/archives/dj/display.php?id=405816

Is religious fundamentalism good for a society? There are many meanings of the word "fundamentalism," and many suggest that it is a strong set of beliefs ... so strong, in fact, that critics state that the fundamentalists take stubborn, entrenched positions that defy rational thought, argument or evidence. These people are the ones which give the devout a bad rap.

When I think of religious extremists, I think first about the hijacking of Islam by Islamic fundamentalists. Their intolerance of others, called "infidels," automatically leads to confrontation and ultimately to war. Muslim fundamentalist terrorists are the de facto enemy of the civilized world. How can we tolerate those who are intolerant? Isn't that cowardice, as someone said long ago?

We certainly have Islamic fundamentalists living in the U.S. Are these Americans our enemies because of their religious beliefs? If they are living in respect of our national, state and local laws, I would say no. If they only recognize the laws of their faith, I would say yes, and call for their immediate deportation.

But not all religious fundamentalists and fanatics are Muslims. What about "born again" Christian evangelists? Are they reaching a threshold of defying rational thought, argument or evidence? Here are two unnerving examples of Christian extremism from within our own military. The Christian Science Monitor reported a story this week in which a Marine recruit at Parris Island, on his first Sunday in uniform, was ordered to attend an evangelical Protestant service, even though he was Catholic and missed Mass because of the order. What is going on?

[EVDebs]

1. Everybody prays when they're being shot at.

[msongs]

2. terrorists come in all religions nt

[annabanana]

3. Religious Fundamentalism

is, I think, a derangement. It's a slavish devotion to the letter of "The Law" (whoever "wrote" it) at the expense of the Spirit of "The Law". I think it infests all religions to varying degrees. I think it's a place for tyrants to hide and thrive. AND yes, I think it's poison to a functioning society.

[monktonman]

4. I cant remember the last time a Muslim came to my house.....

while I was eating dinner to ask me to listen to their bullshit and buy a magazine.

Cant remember the last time a Muslim came to our local school to have a book banned
or demand it to allow prayer in school.

Cant remember the last time a Muslim shot a doctor for performing an abortion or dragged a gay kid behind his pick up.

Never heard of a Muslim church leader arrested for molesting little kids.
etc., etc.

As far as I'm concerned, these fundies are much scarier than Muslims ever will be and lots of them
are, our neighbors. Lock your doors.

[iamahaingttta]

5. The root of the the word "Fundamentalist" is...

Fundament.

According to Webster:
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/fundament

fundament

Pronunciation:
\ˈfən-də-mənt\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English foundement, from Anglo-French, from Latin fundamentum, from fundare to found, from fundus
Date:
13th century

1: an underlying ground, theory, or principle
2 a: buttocks b: anus
3: the part of a land surface that has not been altered by human activities


See that? "2 a: buttocks b: anus"

As in... they're just pulling all that shit out of their asses. Sounds about right to me...

[annabanana]

6. also underwear

as in. . "hanging the fundamentals on the line at night to dry, so the neighbors couldnt' see". .