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POPSPC Going too Far Again we are presented with the dilemma of respecting other peoples rights to hold whatever beliefs they want and coercing people who don't hold those beliefs to adhere to them anyway.
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POPSTradition or Atrocity? Isn't it time more people stepped up to condemn this practice? Should modern day knowledge not replace outdated tribal rituals? I have no idea how common place this practice is but I think most would find it injurious to the child.
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POPSIt Beats Jesus on Toast! I'm astounded too. Not by the "Allah meat" but by the gullibility of people. And they even found a vet who gave credence by claiming it "defied scientific explanation". As far as no explanation this shows an astounding lack of imagination. I'm no vet but can readily come with an explanation as could any rational person. But then, who ever claimed that the Allah beef followers were rational? There is a name for this phenomenon: pareidolia: "The tendency to interpret a vague stimulus as something known to the viewer; such as interpreting marks on Mars as canals or seeing shapes in clouds." I'm off to McD now and fully expect to find a holy patty. Ha!
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POPSHands Off Mohammed!!! Fear seems to have censored the publishing of a book about Mohammed. As the author of the piece points out: "It is condescending to treat Muslims like excitable children who cannot cope with the probing, mocking treatment we hand out to Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism. It is perfectly consistent to protect Muslims from bigotry while challenging the bigotries and absurdities within their holy texts." Doesn't seem like too much to ask.
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POPSUN Bows to Muslims So, the UN has determined that without "religious scholars" present they are FORBIDDEN to discuss matters of faith. How strange that the concept of free speech stops at religion's door. Will non-Muslims next be held accountable to Muslim law. So, religion is off limits to criticism. How long before we resurrect blasphemy laws? Get your stones ready.
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POPSCulture Clash I've wrestled with the question of cultural differences all my life it seems. As a cohesive element it seems to be effective. Yet the dark side to this cohesiveness is that it is divisive also. In addition, morally speaking, cultural issues like those addressed in this clip are simply wrong from a humanist point of view. There is nothing moral about actions such as this. They are antiquated, misogynistic, throwbacks that have no place in 21st Century life. Anyone who defends such heinous acts is as morally bankrupt as the killer father.
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POPSCultural Diversity? Or Just Wrong? This is sure to stir up controversy. Knowing what we know today, should be stand quiet and ignore the lives scared by this archaic practice because of cultural diversity? I fervently believe we need to speak out and show our revulsion over such primitive and harmful ideas. We know that practices such as this are harmful to women but hesitate to bring them to the forefront for fear of offending certain segments of the population. I couldn't disagree more. These "traditions" need to be exposed to the light of modern thought and people need to express their outrage for such devastating practices.
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POPSMore Religious Absurdity I continue to be amazed at the lunacy of religious practices. Most are benign, mere oddities. But this clip points to serious consequences to other people because of possible serious infections being passed on by health care professionals. Hygiene is many times overlooked in hospitals ostensibly because of lack of time needed to properly wash hands. That, however, is a completely different matter that relates to budget financing and staffing. This clip points to another much more easily taken care of lapse in patient care. The question that should be raised is how much accommodation should be given to religion especially if that accommodation puts patients in jeopardy?
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POPSPeace Loving Moslims Find Witch Guilty Evidently the Dark Ages have special significance to the peoples of Saudi Arabia. This latest tidbit chronicles the successful trial of an illiterate Saudi woman on charges of witchcraft. Witchcraft! And this is a civilized country? But hold on Westerners. How is this different from the still occurring practice of exorcism for demon possession? So put away your smugness. Although, I'll have to admit we've done away with the death penalty for demon possession. I suppose that's progress?
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POPSHello! Is Sanity in the House? By some people's reasoning it should be allowable for Jews to riot because Joe's BBQ opens and serves pulled pork platters? Christians should storm the gates because Wal-Mart is not keeping the Sabbath holy? Catholics should go berserk when someone doesn't genuflect before Mary? Why aren't more people standing up and saying these crazy people are crazy? We're all supposed to adhere to Sharia law? How utterly absurd and pointless.
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POPSMuslim Bullying How absurd for any religious group to expect for persons of differing faiths or no faith at all to adhere to their quaint religious practices. It reminds me of the resistance to teach evolution in public schools or the attempts to force religion into the public arena. Both spheres have a similar lack of credibility and rationale. Kudos to Wikipedia for not kowtowing to religious fanatics.
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POPSUh, Who Cares What Religion Obama Is? Evidently this "issue" has captured the imagination of religious people around the US. Maybe they're not familiar with Article VI of the Constitution. The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States. The popular view today would seem to be that this article was simply a "suggestion".
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POPSThose Wacky Afghans The plaintiff's brother characterized this as "very unfair"? How about 12th Century barbaric? And make no mistake about it, there is a segment of the fundamentalists movement here in the states that would like nothing better than to institute Biblical law in the US. Get your stones ready. Read up on the latest statutes. Let the rocks fly.
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POPSTell Me It Ain't So I've often heard my Christian friends make a distinction between worshiping God and Allah. This always struck me as quaint since both religions (Christianity and Islam) share a common Abrahamic tradition. What they mean to infer is the different ways in which the two religions view the biblical Jesus.
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POPSWritten Photographs "quietly marking the spot where two men would have their own religious war, above a box of forgotten fried chicken." This clip is from an ongoing series of "unphotographables". I love the concept. The next time your somewhere and see something you'd take a picture of but don't have your camera, try an unphotographable instead.
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POPSInfidel Escapes Rogue Bear Most reasonable people will be relieved that Ms. Gibbons is being released. But we must not forget that there is a sizable portion of fundamentalists still out there ready to be offended at the slightest infraction of their religious law. Reading the last paragraph of this clip I found it disturbing just how similar that situation appears to what we hear in the US today. The candidates are continually monitored and packaged so that their key supporters are not provoked or offended. We look at the situation in Sudan and on one hand it seems quite alien to our own culture but in fact the underlying message is the same. Don't question our beliefs, obey our dogma, accept our religion or the consequences will be severe.
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POPSMore Religious Hogwash This is just about the most stupid story of "insulted" Moslems I've heard in some time. And people accuse atheists of leading "empty" lives. What a joke.My disdain for religion grows daily. What an absolute waste of time.
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POPSLunacy in Sudan Another ridiculous charge of insulting Islam. So what if they felt insulted? I group this right along with the entire "War on Christmas" charade that is being played out in the US.
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POPSRomney and Magic Underwear Separation of church and state is a good concept. Even so, how about if someone belongs to a really bizarre cult? Now, I see nearly all religions as somewhat nutty, but Mormonism, to even a casual observer, seems to be the fruitcake of mainstream religions. How does this not reflect on its followers? Are we to ignore the implications of someone gullible enough to fall for the ravings of a convicted felon? IMO, these types of common concerns go directly to the rationality of Romney and need to be addressed. Would we remain silent if the candidate were a snake handling, gibberish spouting, holy roller? I think not.
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POPSTheocrasy and Bigotry This anti-gay sentiment seems to be very strong in Africa. With all the problems this poor continent has they really must focus on issues that matter instead of bigoted and backwards notions on sexuality.
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POPSAtheism on the Rise? This clip is from a thoughtful opinion piece questioning if atheism is increasing or not. Or perhaps it just just seems that way due to people being less shy about declaring their non-belief.
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POPSClean Feet or Not? I admit to first reading this and thinking the University was wrong to install these "foot baths" to accommodate Muslim students. But I must admit now to not being so sure. What do you think?
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POPSCommon Sense Over Dogma Why should particular religions expect others to obey their rules? Should a Jew protest a Baptist eating a ham sandwich? These people were on "public" transportation. How much should their particular religious dogma affect others? I think none at all.
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POPSReligions Effect on Children When Richard Dawkins described religion as a form of child abuse he was roundly criticized. In this short clip we are witness to children (10 and 14 years old) who are "willing to die for Islam". I'd like to hear how Dawkins critics rationalize that.
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POPSPakistani Minister Full of It Another article about the turmoil cuased by the recommended knighthood of Salman Rushdie. This one focuses on the comment on a Pakistani minister who seems to be implying that this action by GB could be justification for suicide bombings. A sad example of the problems caused by entanglement of politics and religion. As I've written before, how absurd for Muslims to expect others to adhere to their dogma. People of other beliefs have no obligation to honor their ideas concerning blasphemy or heresy, These ideas are embodied in their religion. For them to attempt to force them on others is absurd.
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POPSMuslim's Arrogance What rubbish! As far as I'm concerned Islamics can believe whatever they want as long as they don't attempt to force those beliefs on others. To expect people of other faiths or of no religious affiliation to conform to their dogma is ridiculous.
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POPSJFK Terrorists Although I agree that the way to combat terrorism is through law enforcement it seems that all the major announcements of breakthroughs seem to involve inept bumblers who have been infiltrated by the authorities for some time. No terrorist masterminds as of yet. Maybe they don't really exist?
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POPSTPM Cafe Gets it Right Don Q of TPM hits the nail on the head. He correctly contrasts two religious Georgians and their radically different views on religion versus the State. On the one hand (Newt) we have an opportunist hypocrit eyeing a run for the presidency druming up support from his base. On the other hand we have the failed president, Carter, who while not achieving the political popularity of Gingrich appears to better personify in his present day deeds the ideals of Christianity supporting the Separation of Church and State.
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POPSTheocrats Take Note I wonder how many fledgling theocrats here in the US are licking their chops in anticipation of the day they are able to deliver their Western style fatwas against individuals they deem guilty of crimes against religion? We're not there now and that's the reason we need to insure that a religion based government never gains a toe hold in our society.
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POPSWorld Wide Blasphemy Laws While we must be on guard against obvious discrimination we also must be vigilant against laws that stifle criticism of ideas, even if those ideas are religious in nature. All ideas should be open for debate and investigation. If a certain group is offended then too bad. Let them defend their ideas by logic and argument. Let these arguments occur in the sunshine. If their ideas are unfounded then let that be known and the ideas discarded. We shouldn't allow debate to be stifled by religious censorship.
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POPSLet me share the Good News with you... How true this is. I decided to simple not put up with it anymore. I have no proof but my gut tells me that proselytizing is the major complaint people have against Christians.
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