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Politics : To be a Liberal,you have to believe that..... -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dayuhan who wrote (1383)	9/9/1999 11:25:00 AM
From: The Philosopher	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6418

Regarding gay marriage, I believe that government should not impose sanctions on behaviour unless that behaviour infringes on the rights of others. Whose rights would be infringed upon by a gay marriage? May I assume from this that you also believe that plural marriages should be permitted?

To: Dayuhan who wrote (1383)	9/9/1999 11:33:00 AM
From: The Philosopher	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 6418

You mentioned the rather aggressive anti-religious reaction that has emerged in the US and the other democracies of the West. I wonder if this is in any way a consequence of the fact that Christianity is an inherently aggressive religion. Can't give this the time it deserves now. There are many Christian faiths which are decidedly non-aggressive. And as to being aggressive in general, I don't think any more so than many other religions. Look at Islam -- holding a sword over your head and giving you a choice to convert or die. Look at the Mayan and Incan religions, about as bloodthirsty toward nonbelievers as one can imagine. Look at the religious wars in India. And this isn't restricted to religion. Look at the wars which have been fought over political and economic differences. Look at the McCarthy treatment of people who tried to stray from the "religion" of democratic capitalism. And in the world of ideas: many in the civil rights and feminist movements were every bit as aggressive in trying to convert nonbelievers to their way of thinking as any Jehovah's Witness who comes to my door. I don't think it's so much that Christianity is aggressive about trying to convert others to its way of thinking and believing as it is that humans are aggressive about trying to convert people to their way of thinking and believing, and religion is a part of that whole human trait. (Heck, just look how aggressive some people on this thread are about certain ideas!!)