In article <vNdGf.9808$Dn4.3954@newsfe3-gui.ntli.net>, manic_mandy@hotmail.com 
says...

In news:dsbdn0$7k7$1@lust.ihug.co.nz,
Your Name Here=Harvey <kiwi@ing.notin.aus> typed:

In article <XoMFf.37809$Rw6.31994@newsfe7-gui.ntli.net>,
manic_mandy@hotmail.com says...

In news:1139213578.608714.169340@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com,
Sir Arthur CB Wholeflaffers ASA <science@zzz.com> typed:

This is a very valid argument, although I don't like the way you use
the
term "goofy religions".  No religion should ever be called goofy as
it is just a system of beliefs for certain people.  We need to be
more accepting of people that believe differently than we do,

That's a totally contradictory statement. I mean you can't accept
that people have different ideas and have a right to have different
ideas and at the same time make a statement or rule like "No
religion should ever be called goofy" because by accepting people
have different ideas you are accepting that every one has a right to
think the next person's religion is "goofy" LOL

but I'm not
on some crusade to change anyone's opinion.

Just as well :)

There probably would be
some problems for the established religions of the world, however,
would they

have any choice but to accept the existence of aliens when they land

on their own front lawns?  As is the case throughout our history,
things will be interpreted by religions in the context of their
beliefs.  Yes, some people would view aliens as demons, or even the
opposite, angels. Would there be religious wars?  Perhaps, from some
of the more radical groups around the world, but again, I think your
overstating a reasonably small problem in terms of holy wars.  We
have them now, I don't think they'd increase to any measurable
degree.

Well I think disputes over religion would be easier to solve if
there was a super intelligent "alien" available to take the blame
for everything :) I mean look at this Muhammad cartoons controversy.
If we could blame an "alien" for drawing them it would take a lot of
people off the hook. Of course you then have to crucify the alien
and the rest is history :) --
Amanda

I think the whole issue is about a presentation that is not correct,
nor true.

That religions do this, the governments, and all insitutions of one
type
or another, have done it too.
Present something not true, as being true, and tried to get away with
it.

We are being manipulated all the time, to keep us from
seeing/realising
the real issues involved.

The news has nothing better to do, than to report people being
offended
by satirist cartoons. And the reporting of this has merely added to
the anger. This is playing to the 'war' between Islam and the rest of
the world. That people are willing to kill other people, all for the
sake of a
silly joke (the cartoons) - illustrate how silly it has all become.
While exporting companies worry about the millions of dollars at
stake, should their exports stop or decrease.

Well I don't think we should ever forget it is Islamic Fascism/extremism and
Terrorism that is perpetrating violence and murder in the name of the
prophet Muhammad. In the West we have a largely secular society and tend not
to perpetrate acts of violence in the name of Jesus. In fact if anything we
keep religion separate in order to keep it holy and special.

The Muhammad cartoons particularly the one showing Muhammad with a bomb on
his head simply points out in a graphic form what Islamic extremists are
actually doing in the name of Muhammad and how they are dragging the name of
their prophet down be perpetrating some of the most evil and depraved acts
of savagery and violence against others in the name of Islam.

I think this is why there is so much fury over these cartoons, the problem
is they are a *true* representation and a fair comment on how extremism has
perverted both the name and image of Muhammad unfortunately people often
find the truth offensive. But the truth is never evil or wrong it is simply
the truth. I dare say some of these images will go down in history as
cultural icons in a similar way to the John Heartfield images of the 1930s
that satirised Adolf Hitler because the truth will always prevail.

-- 
Amanda

In past times in history - the Christians were as bad as the Muslims or
worse with their fanatical beliefs, and have held the world back from
advancing forward - such as that of Galileo's ideas, which he could not
freely express, and you should know full well of the religious wars
Christianity was involved in --- and how it has decimated indigenous
cultures when it invaded new territories where Christianity was not
present before.
Acts of violence has been made, in the name of Jesus - it may not be
in our most recent history, but nonetheless it should be recognised.

Should we be concerned about the minority Muslim fundamentalists?
at all? They are not the majority of the mainstream muslims.

It should be noted that the events of 9-11 is something we should know
the truth of - about it. That the official story of 9-11 does not
add up to the facts about 9-11, and that the whole series of events,
that we are told, does not add up to the official story.
We are not told the truth about this so-called pivotal event in recent
history.

The truth can be evil - when we know exactly who are behind this and
that. They are the ones who manipulated the events all along.
I wonder if we will ever know?

Harvey