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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LindyBill who wrote (309703)	6/12/2009 10:58:52 PM
From: Tom Clarke	Respond to of 793882

Nice Little God You've Got There Mickey Kaus My friend Robert Wright, who applies a Marxist/materialist view of religion in his new book, thinks Palestinians, and the Muslim world generally, will behave better when they no longer feel "humiliated and dispossessed" and "not in control of their own destiny." Presumably he'd say the same thing about Israeli Jews who believe "God wants the people of Israel to populate all of the promised land." ... I share his basic viewpoint--but it has a big Marxist/Condescension problem, not unlike Obama's famous "cling" problem with guns and God in Pennsylvania. 'That's a nice little religious faith you have there. But I know that your beliefs will change if your circumstances change.' At some point the people you are dealing with sense that you think you know better than they do (which you probably do and definitely think you do). ... When I last wrote about this problem, I didn't have a very satisfying solution, though it looks better to me now than it did then. .... One response I didn't discuss is to hang a lantern on the problem and drily condescend to God too: "The Abrahamic God has shown the capacity for great moral growth," writes Wright. See you next week at the usual time, God. ... Not sure that helps! ... 1:53 A.M. slate.com

To: LindyBill who wrote (309703)	6/13/2009 1:07:44 AM
From: Nadine Carroll	3 Recommendations Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793882

Yes, this is quite clear, once you strip out all the ritualistic elements and minor adaptations to local environments. "And a stranger shalt thou not wrong, neither shalt thou oppress him; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt." Exodus XXII:20 "O you who believe, fight those of the unbelievers near you and let them see how harsh you can be. Know that Allah is with the righteous." Surah 9:123 Just minor local adaptations. Riiiiight.