smaugchow unearths an unfortunate truth

[digitaldiscipline]

"I DO suddenly understand the crazy militant Muslims a little better. I don't know why I never put this together before, and it's not really much of a leap, but it just sort of struck me a few minutes ago...

Ever notice how the biggest jesus freaks are also the ones who love their guns the most? Mr. "parise God and pass the ammo!" is the same damn guy as Mr. "Alahu Akbaaaaaarrrrrr! (BOOM!)" Same guy. Only difference is, the one over her ein the west has health care and air conditioning and a 4-wheel drive and easy access to both White Castle and education, so he's got an awful lot more to lose than the guy in the turban with a time-share on a dead camel.

Suddenly the whole idea of a crazy violent nutjob being completely inspired by a holy book he doesn't understand just all comes into focus."

[i am sorely tempted to x-post this to MQ, but fear the epic wank]

Comments

[ladyheatherlly.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with you. It's a double standard and always has been. It's always the other guy who follows that different religion who is the nutcase, not us.
Of course, failing to realize that basically every monotheistic religion is same shit/different packaging. Every single one of them is capable of producing horrific atrocities against other humans en masse and probably has at some point. And probably will again.

At the risk of being horribly offensive, I view organized religion the same way I perceive more dangerous illegal drugs. Sure, some people can indulge quite sensibly and no real harm comes from doing so. But for the most part, anything that alters sense of logic and self control on that level is a slippery slope.
Far worse when the distorted perceptions you have while under the influence can be spread to thousands of people who will sanction them as truth.

All I know is that among the worst and most large-scale atrocities committed throughout history, the list of those that were connected with religion is a hell of a lot longer than those that weren't. Just as the list of sober, reasonably sane people who self-destruct is a lot shorter than those who do so under some mind altering substance.

Organized religion? Crystal meth? The main difference may be that one is sanctioned and the other isn't, but you can't tell me you don't see at least some similarities. Anything that compromises our sense of logic, compassion and ability to identify with other thinking, feeling human beings is dangerous.
Whether we're too wasted to realize we're physically hurting somebody... or we're convinced that someone is inferior and must be persecuted/eradicated because they don't follow our version of a fairytale.

Fuck up the brain a little too much, fuck up lives.

If logic, common sense and compassion were the widespread belief system in this world, it would be a much better place. I've certainly never heard anything about a huge group of atheists persecuting, murdering and torturing anyone else for their personal opinions or chosen lifestyle.