I Don't Respect Your Religion

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I Don't Respect Your Religion

Posted Dec 27th 2007 12:44PM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: Young Turks, Religion, Islam, Christianity

It appears Muslim fundamentalists just assassinated Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan. It is not entirely clear they were responsible however. Not only was there a bombing (usual trademark of fundamentalist attacks), but Bhutto was also shot. So, it could be some other forces in Pakistan who were opposed to the former Prime Minister, including the government of Pervez Musharraf (after the assassination, Bhutto supporters were chanting, "Dog, Musharraf, Dog.").

If it was religious fundamentalists, it wouldn't be the first time. It would be about the one billionth time religious folks have resorted to violence to settle disputes. And they usually kill people trying to bring peace or empower others. Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was killed by a Muslim fundamentalist for making peace with Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was killed by a Jewish fundamentalist for trying to make peace with the Palestinians. While Christian fundamentalists are busy trying to create the next Armageddon so we can all die. What a pleasant lot.

Why do they do this? Because they're supposed to. Read the Bible, the Torah and the Koran. They are all full of violent, bloody fantasies that teach you over and over to kill your enemies. Christians love to think they are the exception to this rule. They'll say the Old Testament doesn't really apply anymore because the New Testament overruled all the gory, masochists violence of the earlier book. So, then I guess Genesis isn't true either since that's in the Old Testament? Oops.

Then, you'll get the excuse that Jesus was the Prince of Peace. Yeah, I know, that's why in Matthew 10:34 he says, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." Sounds down right Christian of him.

But even if you can make up pathetic excuses for this obvious blood-lust and call to violence, it doesn't matter. Because in the end Jesus murders almost all of us anyway. Jesus doesn't just kill the "liars" and the "sexually immoral" and the eight other categories of people who get thrown in "fiery lake of burning sulfur." He kills all of the "unbelieving" folks as well. If you don't believe in Jesus, you get the lake of fire! What a swell guy.

In most interpretations of Islam, Jesus is the prophet that returns at the end of time to kill everyone, too. The fundamentalist Jews also believe in a Messiah that comes to kill everyone and start the world over again. So, pretty much every major religion agrees -- God is a murdering tyrant.

If you don't kiss God's ass enough, he will kill you. And then for good measure, he will roast you over an open fire for the rest of time. You know who does torture? God does. If you don't believe in him and grovel at his feet for eternity he will torture you forever. That's what your religion teaches you and you want me to respect that?

You know what I say to that -- Hell no!

If Jesus really comes back to kill everyone (except his sycophants who sucked up to him enough to earn his pitiful mercy), then I'll fight him. He is a ruthless, bloody, senseless killer. The worst tyrant the world has ever seen. All of the religions believe in this absurd, sick fantasy. Then they wonder why their followers wind up starting wars and killing people who disagree with them.

Plenty has been written about how Christianity was made up in the Council of Nicaea by a bunch of bishops who cherry-picked inconsistent accounts to serve their political purposes (that is a slightly over-simplistic account, but everyone acknowledges that the Bible was written decades after Jesus died and was assembled by others who never knew Jesus or heard what he actually said).

How can anyone know this, and still believe in this nonsense? For the sake of sanity, I will assume that people who still believe in organized religion are ignorant of its history (and believe me, Judaism, Islam and Hinduism have equally ridiculous histories -- to people who aren't brainwashed by these cults, the most amusing thing is to watch one cultist claim that all the other religions are wrong but his is right).

But you can't claim you don't know the ending. Everyone knows what happens at Armageddon. Almost all of us get killed by God. Knowing this, you expect us to respect that guy? Why should I? He plans to murder me.

This is the point when believers will tell you that you have a choice and you can avoid Jesus killing you if you just promise your unending loyalty to him (and presumably watch him kill the rest of humanity in front of your eyes). I think Saddam Hussein used to say something similar. So did Stalin and Mao and every other dictator in the world. If you promise me your loyalty, then I won't murder you.

No thanks. I don't have to respect that. In fact, we are doing the world a great injustice by still respecting this lunacy.

The funny thing is how touchy religious people are. They will get offended at the drop of a hat. Christians reading this now are so mad they can hardly contain themselves. Just calm down, your God promises to torture me forever anyway. What can you do to me that he can't?

Meanwhile, Muslims are sharpening their swords as we speak. They get to shoot people in the neck and watch them bleed to death, as they likely did to Bhutto today, but we can't publish a frikin' cartoon of their prophet? Muslims who don't understand the irony of saying, "I will kill you if you say my religion is violent" are the dumbest people on earth.

So, we have to live with these barbarians. But I don't have to respect them. They can say anything they like about us and even look forward to the day where we all die a fiery death at the hands of their Leader. But we can't offend them? Please.

If you are offended by the fact that your religion is made up, cruel, violent, barbaric and ridiculous, that's your problem, not mine. If I'm right, you're living your life based on a silly lie. If you're right, I'll be murdered by your prophet and then roasted in hell for eternity. I think it's fair to say I should be the one offended.

For the record, I'm not. Harry Potter is just as likely to come to life and kill me for not believing in him as Jesus Christ is. I'm not offended by your sad, little fantasies. But please spare me your righteous indignation about how I hurt your feelings.

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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 49)

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

1. Your article gets a bit overzealous at times, but overall I agree with you.

As an atheist, I'm tired of having to tiptoe about the issue of religion to avoid offending anyone - without ever getting any of that same respect from others. Now I won't even say I'm an atheist because people look at me with surprise, disgust, and disappointment. Atheism is just as legitimate a belief system as any other. People also associate it with nihilism. What does believing in a creator figure have to do with believing there's any meaning to life or reality? People who make this assertion apparently have never heard of the theory of the clockmaker god developed during the renaissance in which god made the universe and then left it to its own devices. That theistic universe might be just as meaningless.

I think the average atheist has a lot more patience and benevolence when engaging in discussion with religious people. We are the ones who must always be told that we will eternally rot in hell for all eternity for what we think. And yet it is the religious right who claims to be persecuted. Anyone who thinks it's difficult to be Christian in America clearly has not tried any other alternative.

AJ at 8:56PM on Feb 7th 2008

2. For once Dinesh get it right!

Paul at 1:05PM on Dec 27th 2007

3. Well, in that case, I don't respect your politics. I think that your politics is cruel (elimination of the of personal liberties, vis-a-vis the environment and taxes), barbaric (supports abortion on demand), and seeks to replace national sovereignty for a one-world, unelectable government. And taken to extremes, we get Marxisms, Leninism, Stalinism, Maoism, and end up with the Khmer Rouge (oh, did I forget to mention that all the atrocities committed in the name of an egalitarian society has done more to kill people than ALL the crusades (Christian OR Muslim) combine? And in a short manner of time? Did I fail to mention Mugabe's "great experiment" that is Zimbabwe?

By point is this: I can counter your absurdity with more absurdity, but that is besides the point. What is the point is that you fail to mention the two traits that drives men and women to power: ambition and control. Religion, philosophy and politics are just convenient tools for those people who want to convince enough people to follow him and her. Blaming others for what happened to Madame Bhutto will not solve the problem. Worse, you're just making these worst by gravitating towards a Balkanized state of denial that does NO ONE any good.

dswynne at 1:27PM on Dec 27th 2007

4. Hmm.. you go from Islamist extremists assasinating Bhutto to rambling on and on about Christianity... good connection there you douchebags!

Brian Norwood at 1:27PM on Dec 27th 2007

5. Nonsensical ramblings.

Susie at 5:34PM on Dec 27th 2007

6. I get your point, Cenk, even if others don't.

I feel exactly as you do....more is done in the name of religious belief to do harm to others than anyone.

And don't give me that "atheists killed more than anyone" crap. Hitler, Mussolini and Franco were christians. And besides, the holocaust against jews by christians had already been going on for about 1700 years before hitler hit the scene:

http://www.zionism-israel.com/dic/Anti-Semitism.htm

Look at the timeline at the bottom of the web page.

Now THAT'S christianity gone amok. Tens of millions of jews murdered, displaced and forced to convert to christianity over centuries.

No quick answers from christians over this one. I post it all the time, but don't get a response.

Linda at 1:41PM on Dec 27th 2007

7. All those who use violence to support their religious position are wrong! As are you, in your total distortion of Christianity and the Bible. Although it is not up to man to decide another's eternal destiny, the Bible does say man can judge "righteous" judgment. You are in such direct opposition to the Word of God, it makes the determination easy. You and others like you will one day have to answer for your actions and words. I pray you will eventually see the mournful impact of your position.

Jeff Shackelford at 1:43PM on Dec 27th 2007

8. "While Christian fundamentalists are busy trying to create the next Armageddon so we can all die. What a pleasant lot.".......Stank you are SO SO STUPID!! I guess you don't have any actual incidents (or facts) to back that statement up....or I suppose you would have?! I would have to say that you now rank higher on the stupidity totem pole than randi rhodes. And as much as people call President Bush stupid he is a genius next to you.

youngturkssuck at 1:43PM on Dec 27th 2007

9. This whole article is absurd and dangerous. With people like you writing freely and voicing your views (which you are entitled to) with such venom and hatred, it is no wonder people are angry. We each are entitled to our beliefs, but I agree with dswynne, although I would add corruption and greed to the mix. Brainwashing of people with this type of writing is far from responsible.

Donna at 1:44PM on Dec 27th 2007

10. Sorry Cenk, I am not a practicing anything but I have faith, I do not know why but I do.
What happened to Ms. Bhutto today was horrific, I wsa incredibly saddened by it, it was going to happen no ifs, ands or buts.
I do not know who did it but a little blip in my teeny brain says 'Musharraf = Bush = suspension of Posse Comitatus , thanks to the John Warner Defense Authorization = Marshall Law = Suspension of what's left of the Constitution', if not them, then WHO?
Heil, Fascism 2007, damn I thought it wouldn't happen until about 09/08. bush 4EVER, loovely thought, huh. I sure as hell am glad I am in Germany right now. I suppose bush must be on the TV by now, haven't turned one on since France, definitely will not in Amsterdam, I am leavin' on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again....
Cenk it Does ABSO-FRIGGIN-LUTELY not say in the Western Protestant Christian Bible that Jesus is coming back to kill us all, oh man, you mean like end of the world shit. Or War of the Worlds, as in USA, I am not there, I am not there.....
Good Luck!
I am truly sorry for the loss of the Bhutto family and Ms. PM Bhutto's children. My sympathies.

rhodalee at 1:46PM on Dec 27th 2007

11. Turks:

Have you noticed that whenever anyone calls religion for what it really is, the theists call it "hatred" and "venom", and over on D'Stupids's blog, they say we are "spewing".

Ease up people. Take an honest look at what religion has done in this world.

Linda at 1:47PM on Dec 27th 2007

12. First off, I remember reading that you were once Muslim...well anyways im curious as to why you converted???......I want to know what reason you have for being on this earth...we, who believe in religion, credit our god for our being...who do you credit???.....im not sure if you have read all these holy books, you say they all support violence?...I don’t believe you have read them....im sure you don’t give a shit about my comment, but I want to help you so that you don’t end up like Bhutto.....oh believe me...one day someone will go there!...so amuse me some more and respond to my comment...I would love to hear what you believe in, instead of what you don’t believe in.

jamila at 2:24PM on Dec 27th 2007

13. ********I KNEW THIS DOUCHEBAG VAGUELY FROM COLLEGE AT U OF P ...HE WAS IN ALL THE REPUBLICAN CLUBS...HE FLIP FLOPS ON ALL HIS ISSUES JUST SO HE CAN GET ATTENTION AS A WRITER..PRETTY PATHETIC...CHECK OUT THIS WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE ON HIM IF YOU DONT BELIEVE ME...P.S HE NEVER GOT LAID AT COLLEGE THATS WHY HES SO PISSED OFF AT THE WORLD NOW

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cenk_Uygur

DAVE at 1:52PM on Dec 27th 2007

14. You have taken the Bible completely out of text. You twisted it for your own personal gain and I only have one thing to say and that is shame on you.

You took one verse out of Matthew and twisted it. What Jesus is saying is that You are precious to Him. No one gets to the Father (God) except through Him (Jesus Christ). He is also saying that You are more precious than anything else to Him. When he says to 'a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her motherinlaw—
36a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.

He is NOT saying to hate your Mother Father Brother Sister etc but to Love God MORE!

Furthermore if you had read Verse 1

He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil[a] spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

You would understand the true message of Jesus Christ.

I will pray for you that you too can find the salvation the love and life everlasting that He Jesus Christ can bring you. I encourage you to seek Him out and be at peace with yourself and share the Love that He will bring you.

Christianity is based on a one on one relationship with God. Not a mandate brought by radicals. Its you choice. I pray that your choice is with Him.

God bless you.

M Lemo at 1:53PM on Dec 27th 2007

15. 11. ********I KNEW THIS DOUCHEBAG VAGUELY FROM COLLEGE AT U OF P ...HE WAS IN ALL THE REPUBLICAN CLUBS...HE FLIP FLOPS ON ALL HIS ISSUES JUST SO HE CAN GET ATTENTION AS A WRITER..PRETTY PATHETIC...CHECK OUT THIS WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE ON HIM IF YOU DONT BELIEVE ME...P.S HE NEVER GOT LAID AT COLLEGE THATS WHY HES SO PISSED OFF AT THE WORLD NOW

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cenk_Uygur

DAVE at 2:13PM on Dec 27th 2007

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Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.