God's Warriors (CNN)

[bluesbassman]

This might be of interest to some on this forum. CNN has produced a three part documentary exploring the beliefs, practices, and political/criminal activity of the three major flavors of fundamentalist nutcases in Western religions: Jews, Muslims, and Christians.

God's Warriors CNN

Although the series concluded last night, you can watch them on Youtube by searching for "God's Warriors." (There also might be rebroadcasts, I dunno.)

I've only watched the Jewish episode so far. For those of us who do not suffer from the God delusion, it's pretty scary to actually watch these lunatics spout their nonsense, and what crazy stuff they are willing to do as justified by their irrational faith. Much of the Jewish episode focused on the violent conflicts caused by, as Sam Harris aptly put it, God's apparent role as an omnipotent real-estate broker. (Or something like that.)

The Jewish nutcases are probably the most benign overall. I shudder to think what the Muslim and Christian episodes are going to show.

[Lestat]

I thought an incredibly scary piece of footage, which shows how thoroughly religion can affect the brain was when they showed these Jewish men in their garb, facing a wall, and nodding their heads like madmen. Can they possibly realize how silly this activity looks to any rational person?

It's a good series and I think very important for ALL secularists to watch. It clearly shows just how dangerous the lunacy can get. Thanks for providing the link.

Btw to anyone: Is it just because I'm paying more attention to this subject lately, or are secularists, atheists, and agnostics, speaking out more? I think that's a good thing.

[NotReady]

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I've only watched the Jewish episode so far. For those of us who do not suffer from the God delusion, it's pretty scary to actually watch these lunatics spout their nonsense, and what crazy stuff they are willing to do as justified by their irrational faith.


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My guess is that if you could get Jews and Muslims to return to rationality (the universe popped up out of nothing for no reason) they would immediately lay down their weapons, hug each other like brothers, and break bread together.

[tpir]

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the universe popped up out of nothing for no reason

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It's hard to take you seriously when you keep dragging out this tired and unsubstantiated appeal to ignorance. All you have to do is say "I am incapable of being reasonable about this topic." We will understand, no hard feelings.

[m_the0ry]

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My guess is that if you could get Jews and Muslims to return to rationality (the universe popped up out of nothing for no reason) they would immediately lay down their weapons, hug each other like brothers, and break bread together.

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There's no reason to waste our time with the quarrels of this generation. The transition point - and the only chance at restoring peace because of the irreversibility of faith - is during indoctrination: relentless conversion of impressionable children into warriors of righteousness.

And you think I'm speaking only about the Muslims and Jews.

[bluesbassman]

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I've only watched the Jewish episode so far. For those of us who do not suffer from the God delusion, it's pretty scary to actually watch these lunatics spout their nonsense, and what crazy stuff they are willing to do as justified by their irrational faith.


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My guess is that if you could get Jews and Muslims to return to rationality (the universe popped up out of nothing for no reason) they would immediately lay down their weapons, hug each other like brothers, and break bread together.

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Your irrelevant, strawman caricature of cosmology aside, embracing rationality in that respect would be a strong necessary, but not sufficient condition, to end religious motivated violence.

I just noticed the CNN site indicates an "encore" broadcast of the series Friday 8/24 through Sunday 8/26 at 9pm ET.

[David Sklansky]

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I've only watched the Jewish episode so far. For those of us who do not suffer from the God delusion, it's pretty scary to actually watch these lunatics spout their nonsense, and what crazy stuff they are willing to do as justified by their irrational faith.


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My guess is that if you could get Jews and Muslims to return to rationality (the universe popped up out of nothing for no reason) they would immediately lay down their weapons, hug each other like brothers, and break bread together.

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Simple question. Do Christians think Jews and Muslims ideas about God etc are as irrational as atheists would consider them?

[NotReady]

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Simple question. Do Christians think Jews and Muslims ideas about God etc are as irrational as atheists would consider them?


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From what I understand the Muslim's Allah is truly arbitrary. Jews and Christians have much the same ideas about God in general, the main differences obviously coming from the New Testament.

[David Sklansky]

So yes for Muslims and no for Jews?

Are there not serious,intelligent Muslim scholars who have deeply studied their religion as well as others and submit that it is the other religions that are less rational? Perhaps even adding the comment that if they thought otherwise, they would convert?

[Lestat]

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So yes for Muslims and no for Jews?

Are there not serious,intelligent Muslim scholars who have deeply studied their religion as well as others and submit that it is the other religions that are less rational? Perhaps even adding the comment that if they thought otherwise, they would convert?

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Why isn't his difference with Jews (who recognize the same God and the same OT), not even more serious?

If I had never studied or thought about poker before, perhaps you could forgive me if I disagreed with you about it ever being correct to bluff raise my opponent on the turn holding a small pair and a flush draw. But if I had been studying the game for years (even if not as long as you), you should have little patience with me for not grasping this conceptual nuance of the game.