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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I Don't Respect Your Religion
Posted Dec 27th 2007 12:44PM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: Young Turks, Religion, Islam, Christianity
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Reader Comments ( Page 7 of 49)
91. Cenk Uygur,
I stopped reading at your ridiculous rantings about Jesus Christ and how violent he seems and your even more ridiculous Matthew verse quote. If this is the ammunition you use to spew your douchebagger over the internet, then you'll never miss in target practice against ANY religion.
You're an idiot and you shouldn't even be allowed the privilege of your little miniscle bytes you use up in your little dung hole of the internet.
P.s.
It's ppl like you who spew misinformation about "every war was started by religion". It's the most uninteligent garbage I hear over and over.
Lets see, lets go back in time. All the Roman Wars with German tribes invading them, Alexander conquering the known world, to the more modern world wars. American Spanish war, Spanish Conquering Aztecs, War of 1812, Faulkland Islands, Korean war, WWI, WWI, Vietnam war. There's so man more fucking wars that are NOT started because of religion. Sure, some might say that about some of them, but the reason to fight was not because of it but the outcome of the war caused the losers to learn a new language and be "melted' into their new society. Learning new manners, religions, etc.
Now lets all the wars that were over religion..
. of course there's the Crusades. Then there's the other small skirmishes here and there. Then you'll have the mad men like Hitler, Sadam, Ethnic Cleansing that were caused by one man, Crazy men that you can't pin that on over a religion.
Get a clue and get over yourself, you're not 1/2 as smart as you think you are.
idiot
G at 8:11AM on Dec 28th 2007
92. Mr. Martin, I am glad your father did not believe in the nonsense in the bible. I would like to point out that it is not the christians like your father that most athiests and non christians take issue with, sure there are extreme athiests that hate all things christians but it is born out of the intolerance shown by the vocal christians that try to shove their fundamentalist views down everyone elses throat. I personally see the reason some people need to believe in something greater than themselves. That does not mean that I believe in the same idea and it also does not mean that my beliefs are of any less value than theirs. That is what is so great about the ideals of our counry we are free to believe as we see fit regardless of what the majority believes. Fundamentalists are the people who give christianity a bad name not athiests. I don't force my ideas down anyones throat and expect the same in return however I have not been given that in my experience. I have been called a godless abomination, I have been called scum and all because I don't follow the same beliefs as christians. How is that following the teachings of Jesus? I have read the bible. I was raised in a christian home so I am not making assumptions about the religion, I know it. I don't think that many so called christians follow the teachings anymore, I am not sure if they ever have. Christianity in my opinion has become a way of judging others based on their beliefs. Not exactly what Jesus was intending assuming Jesus actually said the things attributed to him. Also, historically religion has caused the majority of wars whether directly or indirectly. I do not see how that can be disputed. Just sayin.
Heath at 8:14PM on Dec 27th 2007
93. Hmmm....this article seems more like an emotional rant than a logical argument.
Fas321 at 8:35PM on Dec 27th 2007
94. #14 rhodalee says,; "Linda, because you are an atheist does not necessarily mean the elevator goes all the way to the top, you twit!
Pro-Zionists are the ruination of the world. They steal the Palestinians land , build settlements on the 2 mile line in Gaza, hold back electric and food, have tanks trained on, what is supposed to be a home, at all times, 8 yr olds shot for tossing rocks, bulldoze what roof they happen to have over their heads, given curfews, AIPAC and you must be Likud buddies, Israel is not one of the 10 Countries allowed by the non-proliferation Treaty to have Nukes, they have between 40 - 65, what the hell was with 6 September 2007 over Syria, oh what, what, because people called PALESTINIANS have had their land over run pre and post WWII, their borders were constantly moved, then the good ol' 6 day war, those were the days, huh? A Zionist would die right here and now before they referred to a Palestinian as anything than an Arab, call then by their rightful name, damnit, PALESTINIANS."
Whoa !! I found something that I'm in agreement with rhodalee?!? Surely the end is near!
lizard at 8:22PM on Dec 27th 2007
95. Mr.Cenk Uygur, i will keep it short.
I Don't Respect Your Religion too, not at all.
dieth at 8:36PM on Dec 27th 2007
96. Why waste time or the brain space with superstitious fantasies about floating sky-pixies?
Christians in this nation love to whimper and blubber about persecution, yet they fail to realize, they deserve it. They constantly overstep the boundaries dictated by the establishment clause, they lie and rewrite history to attain some sort of pathetic relevance, and they seek to indoctrinate the children of those who do not need their foolish and worthless mythology.
Now, I noticed Greg at Number 77 failed to provide a source for his "science." My guess is that it comes from "Focus on the Family" or some pseudo-Christian shill-tank with no regard for actual truth or even peer-reviewed scientific study.
So, spare us your "science" Greggers. Like your faith, it's just a massive collection of bullshit, and you foolish bastards have been rolling in it for so long, you're starting to stink up the whole damn planet.
If any of you goons would like to prove your god is real and your faith is strong, by all means, please go put your heads on the railroad tracks as a train is coming and pray for your god to save you by making that train float through the air over your little nuggets.
Dan at 8:35PM on Dec 27th 2007
97. So, in other words, dieth, you're pretty much just sticking out your tongue and going "neener neener."
Stunning... I'm certain everyone is utterly crushed by your logical prowess which you keep hidden beneath that heavy shroud of your own illiteracy.
Dan at 8:52PM on Dec 27th 2007
98. Oh look! lizard jumped on the antisemite bandwagon. What a massive surprise!
Maybe you can move to germany with the rhodalee bitch and plan for the next reich!
Linda at 9:21PM on Dec 27th 2007
99. I liked it better when a senseless killing of the politician calling for sanity was enough to bring everyone together for one moment and go, "Yeah, we're all just humans and we all need to just calm down and realize that the person next to me just wants to live and be happy and 9 times out of 10 will let me do the same if I give him the curtesy." I know the above sounds naive but it's true. Hating on people (ANYONE) at this time, when we've now lost the only person who wasn't running on angry in Pakistan (A country that ACTUALLY MIGHT BECOME A TERRORIST STATE WITH NUCLEAR WEAPONS), is the very definition of missing the forest for the trees.
mbriancohen at 9:29PM on Dec 27th 2007
100. Just out of curiousity, if it's believed by Christians that you must accept Jesus as your personal savior or you'll end up going to hell, what happened to the people that were around long before the days when Jesus walked the Earth? I would just like to have someone that is a devout Christian explain that to me because I don't know how that worked out for the people that lived in the time B.C.
Rusty at 9:28PM on Dec 27th 2007
101. Cenk,
I don't respect atheists and agnositics. Anyone who can't or won't acknowledge the existance of a supreme being is either an idiot or just plain bull-headed.
Besides, what is wrong with a vengeful god that kills people? My grandfather used to pray that God would strike down FDR. You could pray that God and/or Jesus would give George Bush liver disease and Dick Cheney the mother-of-all-heart attacks, thereby making Nancy Pelosi President and Commander-in-Chief.
Besides, wouldn't it be cool to see Jesus shoot laser beams from his eyes and kill peopele? I have my list of people that Jesus needs to take out.
But seriously Cenk, one of the good things about being a United Methodist is that you can pick and choose what you want to believe. For instance, Rush Limbaugh's father, Rush Jr., also a Methodist, didn't believe in the devil or hell. He simply couldn't fathom how a supreme being could allow Satan to roam the earth looking to make deals, or that non-believers would suffer all eternity in a BBQ pit.
Personally, I'm not all that certain that there will be a second coming. And if there is a second coming, I want to be dead and gone before it happens.
Kent at 9:31PM on Dec 27th 2007
102. There is something called moderate religion, or reformed religion. Across many religious faiths, especially Judaism and Islam, there have been significant changes to how the religion is observed and how its holy texts are analyzed.
Brian at 9:43PM on Dec 27th 2007
103. LOL I cannot believe people are commenting and trying to counter this man with the Wholly Bable!
Those of us who believe the bible is a obscene piece of blasphemy are not going to be convinced of anything based on it. Wake up.
Keep it in your houses and churches. The world is sick of hearing about your beliefs. Are you not hearing the message of the masses? Shut up, already, damn!
Semaj Kram at 1:12AM on Dec 28th 2007
104. Fanatical Muslims assassinate a woman fighting for democracy, and you use this opportunity to bash Jesus and Christians?
While your column did made me angry at first, in the end, I guess what I feel is the end is pity for you. It's ironic how radical leftists like yourself preach tolerance but usually end up some of the most intolerant people around. Your column clearly shows that. You can take quotes from the Bible out of context and say that Christians were responsible for certain acts of violence throughout history, but you should know by now that a vast majority of Christians today do not use the Bible to justify acts of violence like the one perpetrated against Ms. Bhutto today.
Her death is a tragedy for all of us who love democracy and freedom - it's too bad you used it as an opportunity to spew hatred against people who don't share your godless belief system.
Amanda at 10:00PM on Dec 27th 2007
105. I am truly sorry that you were hurt by those who are Christians. It is not the hope of our God that we are as we are. He asked us to be like him and we are not. If we want to know ourselves it is best for us to ask those who hate us. Your perception of Christ comes from us. We have failed you and I ask you to forgive me my mistakes/poor judgement. Thank you. I will work harder now.
Jesse Vaughan at 2:36PM on Dec 28th 2007