Monday, December 24, 2007

Devilstower's Religion Article

I'd bookmarked the religion article, or found it again. The author is devilstower and it's called Incompatible with Democracy

Does this mean that Christianity or Judaism are incompatible with democracy? Yes, to the same extent and for the same reasons that Islam is also incompatible. All three are intrinsically ill-suited to be the source of a democratic government. They're incompatible because theocracy is incompatible with democracy. Every step that any government takes in providing either recognition or authority to any religion, is a step away from democracy. That's unavoidable, no matter the religion involved. The moment you have a government that acknowledges any religion as the true religion, you have a government in which some animals are far more equal than others.

The Little People, Silly People argument would have it that Islam is particularly poorly-shaped for democracy. However, anyone who doubts that the principles of Christianity can drive just as much violence and intolerance as Islam is ignorant of both history and world events. The history of Christianity is replete with holy empires, holy kingdoms, and holy wars of conquest -- and many of them not comfortably ensconced in the distant past. Everyone who moans that the Ten Commandments should be posted in every school and courthouse, could benefit from contemplating the ultimate fruition of that philosophy in the God's Army militia in Burma. Under the banner of bringing a "government based on the Ten Commandments" to their country, God's Army has killed more than a million people -- far more than al-Qaeda.


Very nice.

Merry Xmas.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Fascism and coups and fundamentalists.

I really wasn't gonna blog - got some gaming to do - but here's three great things, in reverse order.

The Right Wing propaganda machine has been demonizing the Islam with 'they want to institute sharia law in the USA' line. I've heard it in three-five places; it's the Word of the Week.

I think it was on DailyKos where someone - their science guy? - says:

"Yeah, Sharia law sucks, because it's a theocracy. We're a democracy. Of course, you and your friends want one too."

So that's the comeback - that's a theocracy. We don't want one from anyone.

Coups - Amanda Marcotte at Pandagon (who had the good Edwards quote - the one of the lot with the greatest chance of showing some backbone against the Right if he gets elected.) and she wrote about the Clinton impeachment and the 2000 election. Good story.

And fascism - some great laffs on Jesus's General.

And besides this, Bush should resign. And impeaching Cheney would be nice.