tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15216381.post1639396724956095402..comments2024-01-19T07:30:41.591-08:00Comments on An Average American Patriot: God, Religion, and terrorism: like it or not, It is normal and cyclicaljmsjoinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17631105639275375922noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15216381.post-40853093502400083602012-09-29T02:35:47.709-07:002012-09-29T02:35:47.709-07:00I read your posting with interest. I declare my i...I read your posting with interest. I declare my interest at the outset. I'm an atheist although brought up in a Christian (Episcopalian home). It seems clear to me that there is a basis of religious fanaticism at the root of the majority of terrorists based on a conviction of their rectitude which gives them the right to impose said religion on everyone. To an extent the vast majority of Christian and Jews have got past the stage of absolute conviction to allowing both doubt and other beliefs to persist. Not all however. from across the Atlantic I can't see much difference between the absolutist beliefs of fundamentalist Christians - the dominionists and those who daily seek rapture for example - and islamists. Indeed to read and hear on the TV what men like Congressman Akin say is to hear Islamist loons talk about Sharia.<br /><br />I came to my absence of belief in a supernatural creator and the rest through honest doubt and questionning what I was told. You will note that all the monotheist religions require obedience to their dogma and conviction for observance. Otherwise dissenters face ousting and in Christianity burning for heresy. Just read what some Roman Catholic Bishops are saying in your present elections <br /><br />I notice the Mormons (that's OK I remembered the second m) are seeking to excommunicate a writer for casting doubt on Mitt Romney and in that connection I must say that anyone who swallows the utter twaddle of Mormonism is not fit to hold office anywhere.<br /><br />Sorry for the length of this - what it actually boils down to is my conclusion from life is that too much conviction in the rightness of a set of beliefs causes the damage and we would all be better off from a strong dose of honest doubt.Richard Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17225331967587897653noreply@blogger.com