Dear Foxy... with you being one who has repeatedly accused me of 'islamophobia' (or words to that effect).. would you mind reading AJ PHILLIPS post and then.. apologizing to me ? (unless of course you approve of a religion which specifically permits child sexual abuse)

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=3729#90587

Being accused of 'irrational fear' and 'inciting fear, hate and loathing' is not very nice when my allegations are proven to be 100% correct by unreligious people such as AJ.

I await.

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Before we get too excited, I need to make some clarifications here, but I'm unable to right now since I'm currently at work and far too busy to put together a well thought out post due to the end of financial year frenzie.

I'll post again after work.

David f,

Dear mjpb,

If you mean support of slavery by Christians perhaps he could have given a less absolute pronouncement.

The New Testament had no need to question it for two reasons:

1) It takes for granted the Old Testament
2) The type of slavery as Philo pointed out is nothing like the slavery that we are discussing.

"The incompatibilty between Christianity and slavery is a recent discovery."

I don't believe it is as recent as you might think.

Oh come on, Boazy.

<< FRACCY... you say: "However, I find Christianity to be of equal concern,..it is insidious" (no generalized stereotyping or vilification there eh) >>

What Severin actually wrote:

<< I find Christianity to be of equal concern, more because of its insidious nature. While Islam is has all the subtlety of a hammer, Christianity operates under tacit approval. We have a complete religious nutter in the form of Steven Fielding, right now being given air space that does nothing to help anyone and simply stultifies any enlightened progress. >>

I would have thought such a noted exponent of textual analysis should know that to misquote someone, out of context to boot, is tantamount to lying. Maybe I should go back to referring to you as Porky.

And of course Fielding is a religious nutter, and increasingly on the nose politically. From yesterday's 'Crikey':

<< Vote Last Steve Fielding

by Bernard Keane

There’s never been any doubt Steve Fielding is a prize idiot. His idea of senatorial behaviour has chiefly revolved around ludicrous stunts, apparently random voting and trying to inject himself into any debate going, frequently on the most offensive terms.

None of which would, under most circumstances, be an obstacle to a successful political career.

Yesterday, however, he managed to reach a new low beyond buffoonery, reaching into malice and gender hatred that appalled even right-wingers in the Senate. >>

Full story at http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/06/17/vote-last-steve-fielding-a-prize-idiot-in-the-maternity-leave-debate/ .

david f,

Saying that Hitler's atheism is a myth is putting it a little too strongly. From what I've seen the better view is that he is an athiest. However I acknowledge it is a controversial topic that neither side is in a hurry to concede. My understanding is that he gained support initially by giving lip service to Christian ideals and Jesus. However as soon as he got into power he turned on all religious (except Islamic perhaps but that could have been for purely pragmatic purposes). I have already said how I interpret that but acknowledge the other opinions.

All that said I would have referred to Stalin and Mao and Poll Pot perhaps to make the point rather than bringing in Hitler to avoid that complication.

Severin,

I'd also like to take issue with that post.

When people put faith in something they believe it to be fact. Faith can be defined as "Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing". Faith doesn't have to be confined to religion. You don't subscribe to Philo's religion and don't consider God factual. However to Philo God is fact so you are hardly making any point to him.

Anyway, the point he is making is that most people accept that mathematical fact on faith. Someone they repose trust in taught it to them and they know it a long time before they would even consider checking it. Just because faith isn't misplaced doesn't mean it isn't faith. Neither Philo nor I would consider a faith in God misplaced but that doesn't mean it isn't faith.

Whether or not something is a fact is whether or not it is correct. Whether or not people hold something on faith is whether or not they are in a position to ultimately prove it (or could be bothered) or whether they accept on good reasons that it is correct and get on with their life.

Philo is not the one confused.