Well you must admit he really addresses the issues raised in the original piece in an incisive and thought-provoking manner.

Hee hee.

> For the aging eyeballs...

The middle aged are grateful for your courtesy. Children of thirty visit my workstation and laugh out loud at the fist-sized mouse cursor on the computer screen.

> And kudos to Martin

Oui oui. I'd assumed the guy was just pretending to be muslim to make them look bad, and still kinda think it's a case of political correctness run amuck, and that he's not an actual believer. Whoever he is, it's no fun to think that he works around medicine and sick people.

You'll never guess who has an opinion about this: http://www.slate.com/id/2170025/
http://www.slate.com/id/2170025/

This guy flaming on using "slut", "whore", etc indicates that he has a serious problem with female sexuality. He might just be a Muslim.

It's somewhat fun to watch all time Jeopardy winner Ken Jennings make the opposite mistake.

Jerry! Now there's coffee all over my monitor! Thanks bunches! o_O

The guy is an ass. However he does have a point, though stated like a half literate drooling imbecile. The vilifying of a whole religion (I think ALL fundies need to find god personally) does have negative consequences. I know that the plural of anecdote is not data but I saw what I saw. Had a friend of mine get shoved and called an "Afghani bitch". This was made almost amusing by the fact that she is Albanian.

I don't agree with Mason's assessment "Most of the worlds wars and conflicts are due to aggression caused by Islamists, fueled by Islam's evil doctrines." Where is he getting this crap, how does he define most. Doe she mean most of the current ongoing wars?

There are peaceful Muslims, and no religion is about peace as a whole it's about politics and conquest. The approaches are different but the purpose if always the same, power. The histories of all major religions are littered with proof of this. The doctrines of all the major religions preach peace and war in the same breath based on interpretation.

"Doe she mean most of the current ongoing wars?"
Sorry should say: Does he mean most of the current ongoing wars?

Other religions have vile stuff in their texts, too, and vile interpretations. The difference: Rabbis and ministers aren't standing up before their congregations telling them to convert or kill the infidel. And Judeo-Christian societies are pretty nice places to live.

You get a choice: Muslim country or Judeo-Christian one -- which do you pick?

As your residence/place of citizenship.

Hmmm, don't take too long to think that one out!

I'm guessing that even Muzzieguy doesn't want to live in some Islamic regime.

By the way, I'm also guessing we haven't heard from him because he does his computing from work. Nice to know I'm not banned by my health plan! (Not even with all Muzzie's foul language!)

Is it just me or do people have some kind of burning need to paint themselves as a "persecuted victim" even when they're not? And calling someone racist for having an issue with their religion? Can the people claiming this please look up the fucking word?

This isn't just confined to Muzzie and his ilk.

Usually, those who genuinely have a hard life, are spending their time trying to survive day-to-day, or are trying to focus their energy towards effectively doing something about it. They don't post barely-literate, venomous responses on people's blogs.

Well, Amy, you have to admit that, if someone grabbed you by your hands and dragged you along a field, you'd do a rather poor job of digging a neat, continuous row in which seeds could be planted. So you probably would be a rather stupid hoe, just as I would. Perhaps we should form a club of your blog commenters and call it the Stupid Hoes?

One thing to keep in mind about Islam is that it's a relatively young religion compared to the other big religions. Judaism is a truly ancient sect. Christianity is roughly 2000 years old and was founded by Jews, thus getting some of the benefits of the "seasoning" of that religion. Plus, it was founded around the idea of a guy allowing himself to be killed to save others; Christianity has certainly inspired many non-peaceful things in its time, but its roots go back to martyrs dying in the Coliseum for their beliefs without attempting to take anyone else with them. Islam was founded in the 7th century, was in many ways a rejection of much of Christianity and Judaism (which were supposed to have distorted the messages of the great religious prophets), and was started by a military (and political) leader. I'm not surprised that it would take a different tack than Judaism or Christianity given all that. That having been said, I agree that radical Islamism is much more like a totalitarian ideology than a religion, and it's radical Islamism (as opposed to, say, Sufism) that seems to be getting the lion's share of the monetary and ideological support these days.

Jerry,

Stupidly wonderful link - thanks!

I found his comments to be as peaceful as the Muslim religion itself.

I am sure that Mr.Muzzieguy must be living in Egypt because he is clearly in "Denial"...
;)

Perhaps we should form a club of your blog commenters and call it the Stupid Hoes?

I love that. My business card has my job description as "Godless Harlot."

Kudos to Amy, I love her thick skin, great wit, and bandwidth. Although I disagree on some children issues, I always enjoy Amy’s opinion. By the way, isn’t the fact that we are among a Goddess proof that there is a God? You can not have a Goddess with out a God!

All of the points about how mistaken it is to proclaim Islam as some Borg-like, fearsome beast... and you picked on the deranged retard?

Brave...muchos cajones...

Way to take an intellectual stand!

> Brave...muchos cajones...

> Way to take an intellectual stand!

Why you got to hate?

Unless you're implying that the guy is a spoof.

Crid - SRSLY, do you consider shooting fish in a barrel interesting, challenging or in any way sporting?

I thought not.

No, honestly, why are you here? You never offer any grander principles but that everyone offends and bores you. We understand that your excellence is a crushing burden for you, and we wouldn't want you to suffer needlessly.

SRSLY, do you consider shooting fish in a barrel interesting, challenging or in any way sporting?

SRSLY, ZOMG !!1! How can you not understand that mocking comment trolls and seeing what heights of incoherent rage they can reach is fun?

"One thing to keep in mind about Islam is that it's a relatively young religion..." -Marion

Indeed. Islam is desperately in need of, and way overdue for a thorough reformation. Moderate Muslims have no where to go, and are left silent in the shadows.

> what heights of incoherent rage

Yeah. He's (She's?... Can't tell) named himself as would a teenager in the college dorm, but he has the unremitting piss of a 40-year-old who's about to loose his Mercedes-Benz in divorce court.

No, honestly, why are you here?

For my own amusement.

*rolls eyes*

I haven't offered any grander principles or nothing but offense & boredom? Did you read the religion thread referenced at all?

I have not ever been, nor can I be, offended. I throw down the gauntlet to you to prove that I ever have been.

Ayn,

Sounds like someone let Dennis Kucinich out of his cage again...
Posted by: Ayn_Randian at December 4, 2007 8:53 AM
I think that joke is a stereotypical one of someone with your political leanings. Any man who can land himself such a hot wife deserves a little respect and admiration.

Ayn do you wear makeup? Be specific, "everyday" "on the weekends" etc. I can make these sweeping generalizations about women based solely on their answer to that question.

I have not ever been, nor can I be, offended. I throw down the gauntlet to you to prove that I ever have been.

To be so exceedingly better than everyone else here must be such the burden. o_O

I don't wear makeup, because I am a man.

To be so exceedingly better than everyone else here must be such the burden

You have no idea! \(^o^)/

I don't wear makeup, because I am a man.

Not even a little lipgloss on weekends?

Not even a little lipgloss on weekends?

Well...now that you mention it, I DO like to go to raves, which may or may not entail facial decorations of the Revlon-type ;-)

> because I am a man.

We'll be the judge of that. Seriously, did you grow up in a home with a lot of bickering or something? Tell us your story, kitten. Share!

Ayn_Randian,
I am so glad you are back. Now can you answer all of the comments you ignored yesterday? Here they are;
Ayn_Randian,
Fine. That can always be true. But in this case, do to polygamy, Islamic men are fathering fifty to sixty children. They have immigrated to Europe, and then proceeded to out breed the Europeans. The Europeans have had a negative birth rate for sometime. They are using the Europeans political systems against them. Once they have the numbers, Islam and Shera law will be a reality. This is what they preach and this is what they are doing. So once more Ayn, why do I need to have my meds looked at for pointing this out?
Ayn_Randian,
Why are there no Jews in Muslim countries? They had hundreds of thousands of Jews in each Muslim country fifty-five years ago. What happened to them? Why are there no Christians in these Muslim countries? There were millions of them Fifty five years ago. What happened to them? What is happening to all the Jews and Christians in Southeastern Europe?
Ayn_Randian,
Turkey was responsible for one of the biggest mass exterminations of people during the last century. Hummm, they were all Christians.
Ayn_Randian,
“Any particular reason Germany would have beat us to the bomb? Or are you just pulling stuff out of a hat to win an argument?”
Welllllll, if we were not in the war, we would not have had the Manhattan project.
“Wow...that's a lot of historical guesswork. Did you turn in to Harry Turtledove when I was not looking?”
Well what are you doing?

Marion,

"Plus, it was founded around the idea of a guy allowing himself to be killed to save others"

I am not certain if that is the true statement. I think he allowed himself to be captured by the Jewish temple guards. It was the Jewish crowd, who chose the Jesus to be crucified when the Roman procurator gave them choice between Jesus and Barabbas.

It appears to me that at the time of arrest, Jesus knew he would be imprisoned for a long time and might die there but I don't think he thought that he would be killed in the near future. Even if he would be killed, I think he was convinced that the God would prevent it from happening it.

That is very clear in the Bible that he complained bitterly to the God up to the moment of his death why the God is letting this happen to him.

I think Jesus was a very reluctant participant in the crucification process. He did not volunteer any of the events what happened after his arrest. Thus, I am having a little trouble when people say that he sacrificed himself for our sins. I don't think he did.

Jesus? How in the world did this come around to Jesus?

We're SUPPOSED to be talking about nasty, stinkin', stoopid hoes and screaming things like "phuck U!" & "Ur a rascist!" & "slutty-slut-slut!"

(*whew* that felt good)

Amy, your wit never ceases to amuse me!! Weed-whacker! I love it.

Thank you, dahling. Of course, with all those letters in gold, if I actually had it made, I'd be a hunchback in about 20 minutes.

Amy - I've got one word for you: "plastics".

If I wanted to insult Amy, I would say something like "G*D Bless you anyway, you chaste though unkempt, devout automaton."

"FUCK YOU YOU STUPID HOE!" is just going to make her go to sleep soundly with the thought of a day well done.

Coming from you, Eric, it made me laugh.

Well, the unkempt bit gets to me just a little. Chaste isn't much better.

Jesus Christ this is why I hate christians

Jesus did not die for your sins, learn your fucking religion already Chang

Jesus' ordeal in the GARDEN before his arrest was for sin(if you belive in Jesus)

His death on the cross was a convients plot device for the RESURECTION of both him and the rest of mankind

Seriously, am I really so wrong to expect people to know the details of what they claim they belive?

luljp, while I disagree with Chang's take on things, the Christian religion holds that "Jesus died for our sins." Trust me, I've heard that over and over again for more than 30 years as a practicing Christian. It's an extension of the events that led to the Passover commemoration - instead of killing the first-born sons of the Egyptians for their sins, God allowed His (or Her) only son to be sacrificed to allow humans salvation despite all of our sins. Or something like that.

That is very clear in the Bible that he complained bitterly to the God up to the moment of his death why the God is letting this happen to him.

According to the Bible, this isn't the case. He didn't complain bitterly "up to the moment of his death." He complained, for a moment, AT his death. Different scenario. I guess YMMV, but I'm not sure how one could read the whole account of Jesus's life and not conclude that he was supposed to either strongly suspect or KNOW that he would die.

Religion 101 (Extra Lite Version):

Adam and Eve eat from the forbidden tree and are tossed from the Garden of Eden. God closes the gates of Heaven. No one will get in until God opens them. One hitch, He must die to pass through them in order to open them. Again a hitch, he's God and can't die. Solution: Messiah will come and and open the gates of Heaven, redeeming all suffering of Jewish people. Jews wait for Messiah to come.

Romans come along and conquer Kingdom of Israel. Sadducees (sp?) etc. administer Jewish religion under Roman-approved ruler (Herod). Jewish religion by that time in bad need of reformation.

Desert lands at that time silly with religious visionaries, prophets, and nutcases. Can't swing a dead cat without hitting someone with a better idea.

John the Baptist tells everyone the Messiah is coming. Gets lots of attention because people sick of corrupt religious councils and regular drubbings by pagan Roman occupation force. So they're anxious for Messiah to kick Roman butt and restore glory of Israel.

Jesus comes along and tells the Jews to toss the Talmudic tradition that has been corrupted by ruling bodies and embrace simplified Judaism. Does not advocate overthrow of Romans (or violence at all). His teachings are rejected by many Jews.

Jesus holds he is Messiah, come to redeem the Jewish people. Jewish people expecting military hero to overthrow Romans and restore Kingdom of Israel. Reject Jesus as Messiah.

Jesus is captured, tortured, suffers for mankind's sins, and dies. After death, He is ressurected and passes through the gates of Heaven, opening them.

Jews and Muslims believe Jesus to be a prophet, a teacher, and/or a religious personage. Christians believe Jesus suffered to redeem the sins of mankind and, by dying and being ressurected, opened the gates of Heaven.

According to Scripture, Jesus had a moment of doubt on the cross and asked why God had forsaken him. No doubts before that or afterward. He even preached redemption to the thieves also crucified on either side of him in his final hours.

Jesus knew he would suffer and die, even telling his apostles it would happen beforehand.

Muslims reject Jesus as the Son of God. There is only one God in Islam and having a Son of God means having two Gods. One God - Muhammad was a prophet, not a diety.

If you're a hoe, does that make the man in your life a rake?

Conan,

Thanks for the clarification and information. I think that Jesus was sacrificed (like a sacrificial virgin) by the God to redeem our sins. I do agree that Jesus knew he would suffer and die (so do I). But, I am still convinced that Jesus himself had no intention to be sacrificed on the cross to redeem our sins. I do not see much difference between the sacrificial virgin and Jesus. I think that he was a very reluctant Messiah.

I'm a reluctant hoe, but that won't keep me out of the garden.

Go taters!

"knew he would suffer and die (so do I)."

I hope you're just talking about the "die" part. If you figure you're destined to suffer, you're probably not that much fun at parties.

Moreta,

"you're probably not that much fun at parties."

I strongly disagree. I told this joke at a party.

A student asked a biology teacher if a whale could swallow a man. Another student responded that "Of course it could. Jonah was swallowed by a whale." The teacher corrected the other student, "Well, it is not possible for a whale to swallow a man when you consider the shape of the whale's mouth". The student responded that "Well, I will ask Jonah how all that happened when I get to the heaven." The teacher got ticked off and told the student "what if Jonah never made to heaven? How are you going to ask him?" The student answered, "Then, you ask him."

[i]If you figure you're destined to suffer, you're probably not that much fun at parties.[/i]

If you can turn water into wine, you can come to my party, no matter how depressing you might be.

>> God closes the gates of Heaven. No one will get in until God opens them. One hitch, He must die to pass through them in order to open them. Again a hitch, he's God and can't die.

Great. An all seeing all knowing God who has locked himself out of his own house. Maybe he is just a slob like the rest of us....

Amy, love your column, I anxiously await every Sunday's edition of Stars and Stripes for a good read. I've been in Iraq for nine months, and I have many muslim friends. They are not trying to convert and conquer the world any more than my christian friends are. They may have better tactics and a faster growth potential, but I don't think their beliefs are any more or less fervent than those guys in their white dress shirts that go door to door handing out The Watch Tower. The truth of the matter is, the muslims that I know don't speak about their religion unless I bring it up. And, like many (not all, not most, but many) christians, are not always correct on the tenets of their religion. I love your opinions and agree with most of them, but a blanket generalization that islam is out to (violently) take over the world is a little extreme. Just like their christian counterparts, the truly devout muslim thinks it is in your best interests (although, unless you are a TRUE muslim, your trip in one of the levels of heaven isn't quite as good as it is for others). There are two sides to the problem with islam (or christianity). There are the misguided religous extremists that preach hate in the name of their religion (Osama Bin Laden/Fred Phelps, take your pick)and there are the criminals and politically motivated (ain't that one in the same?)that use islam as a cover for their terrorism. Islam is not the Great Satan that the world wants to believe. When you say that "Islam destroys buildings, blows up men, women, and children, and imposes tight controls on people's lives.", it is those that use it to further their own agendas that are the real problem, not the religion of islam. I'd also like to add that, I am neither christian nor muslim. I just want to get through this life as peacefully as I can. Thanks, tim

Thanks so much, Tim, and thanks for being over there on behalf of the rest of us.

While there are Muslims who are the equivalent of Christians who aren't fundamentalists, the fundamentalist Christians do not want to kill or convert us all. The same goes for the fundamentalist Jews.