Psycho Terrorist Both

The other day it was brought up, "what if we are wrong about this whole religion is the root of all evil thingy." Is it really that important. Are not there others factors in all the yucky stuffs that happen in the world. Really, Kriss, religion? Yes.

See this, like, three years ago...or now.

French citizen 24y/o Mohammed Merah *allegedly* murdered three school children, a rabbi and previously, three soldiers. While still early in the manhunt, it is presumed that "Mo" is guilty and French authorities are proceeding as such. Press reports claim that "Mo" is associated with al-Qaeda and has trained in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. "Mo" is protesting France's participation in Afghanistan.

Early reports speculate that this is one of the weapons used. The 1911 is a fine, fine I tell ya, weapon, but when things like this happen it makes me reconsider my position.

So what motivates one to do such horrible acts upon fellow humans. Perhaps his relative(s) or friend(s) were killed because of other countries meddling in his countries affairs. Revenge can be a very strong motivator, so strong that one's rational and thinking is f*cked up (I know first hand this one). These reasons and many more can factor into the how's and why's of such despicable acts, but I can't help but believe that after the surface reasons, religion is the fuel that justifies revenge. I can't help but believe that faith and blind belief are the 'something-somethings' that turn an otherwise normal human into a killing machine.

Why would people hijack a plane and fly it into a building, or kill innocent school children. When compared to an afterlife in heaven , is life here on earth so horrible that one loses all sense, that one loses all humanity within. If foreign troops came to Sacramento would not Joe Citizen fight to take back and preserve our way of life (I would). Both sides in Israel/Palestine are trying to preserve their way of life. Who is right and who is wrong in that one. No one is innocent, both sides have killed and both sides want revenge. Where will it end (1).

The alleged scooter used in the two killings.

Why is the mighty United States all up in different parts of the world. Is it to secure valuable resources (for our own wants), or to spread democracy...or is it to spread our particular God virus. I didn't invent the term American Exceptionalism (Colonisalism), I just acknowledge it. But it's not just American religion that is divisive and elitist...they all are.

God choose the Israelis, he did not choose the Palestinians. This justifies the Gaza "freekin" Strip. This justifies building homes on other peeps property. This justifies a modern day apartheid , an oppression of an entire peoples. This justifies the literal spreading of their particular God virus. God said it is so. Don't question it, because that will make you a heretic, a sinner. Yes we have hella weapons and a buffed and feared military, but don't question, have trust in faith instead, and most importantly, kill kill kill. We are better than them, so saith the Lord.

Don't forget about Uncle Sam and American-ilism. Our god said that we are the best, we are the chosen ones. American religion must dominate, must dominate I tell ya. That is what our God said. Sure the Jews are a chosen people, but they were just chosen to be sacrificed to make way for American exceptionalism...American elitism.

Lastly...Islam. The Religion of Peace is anything but. You know the sayin' "I'll sleep when I die." Their sayin' is "I'll be peaceful when I die...and you too." If any of the major religions had reason for revenge, it would be Team Mo. Don't forget 9/11 was not an attack, it was a retaliation. If pointy nose America did not stick their white pointy noses in others peoples business (affairs, resources, land, culture, etc...) then we wouldn't have revenge and retaliation....err, actually, we still would.

I'll admit that of the major religions, I know the least about Islam. But what is there to know. History has shown us that they are not an assimilating religion, they are a join our team or we'll f*ch you up religion. There is only one true religion (they all say that) and it ain't yours, buddy.

So is religion the umbrella topic, the topic that covers everything from economics, the environment, wars and equality. Is it the topic that is the reason behind the reasons..."you betcha."

* As of 9:18am this is the latest in France at Wa Po.

(1) As long as there is extremist religion there will never be world peace. Extremist religion is elitist and it divides people. The nature of it claims that one group is better than another group. Why, because their particular sky father said so. Fuckity fuck fuck.

America's Valentines To The World...More Military Bases

Straight up propaganda I tell you. No not Valentines Day, which I may or may not address later, but this fluff piece in my very own local rag (Sacramento Bee). I do not believe in conspiracy theories, but I do believe in the truth. As one war winds down, mighty American exceptionalism looks for the next country to bully. Hello Ugandan rebel, Joseph Kony (and his 200 soldiers), leader of the Lord's Resistance Army, you are our new raison d'etre. After all America's Christian army needs a new focus.

"Americans are favored by God, wherever that are in the world," said Bassiri Moke, a local chief. "We ask God to save us and the Americans came. We hope we won't have to die like before (Sac Bee)."

While posing no direct threat to America or Americans (this place is way way out in the sticks of Africa) our mighty Christian army is setting up base, again (the Koreans, Filipino's and Japanese are all sighing right now "Don't forget us."). The article claims that the troops are there because of "this influence of human rights campaigners who, with evangelical Christians, lobbied Congress to pass a law requiring renewed US efforts against the LRA." Ughhhhhh

I wonder, the article doesn't say, but are these the same American evangelicals that influenced the Kill All The Homo's bills from this year and last year in Uganda. Just wondering.

Just like in my beautiful Philippines the U.S. Army's official stance is that we are providing training and logistics to locals so they can police themselves bla bla bla.... (gee where have we heard that before, besides large parts of The Middle East, S.E. Asia, South America-did I leave any part of the world out).

The current GOP presidential candidates constantly claim the President Obama doesn't believe in America, but they wrongly label it American exceptionalism; or rather that the Black Prez does not believe that America has an ordained spot at the top of the world because "he" said so (that's what American exceptionalism is). Well, I don't believe that. But I do see these words in this article. I see the money quote from 'a local chief'. I see evangelical Christians are involved. I see another America armed force base pop up in the middle of nowhere. Lastly, I see the beginnings of another long drawn out occupation that will surely waste 1,000's and 1,000's of lives.

Angry Atheist 101

We, The Super mighty Team Atheist, often times get asked something to the extent "WTF," "Why do you even care," "Why not just live and let live?" Well kind gentle and very good looking readers, I'll tell ya why...and how. Just like there are two kinds of people, there are two kinds of religion: good and bad, liberal v extreme, symbolic v. literal.

If someone has a liberal belief system and doesn't read the bible as the literal word of God, if someone wants/needs to use the metaphor of a Christ-man-god as something that mere humans can strive to emulate, to better ourselves, as a ladder to reach for God, or as a "something something" to aspire to to reach heights above and beyond humanity (if such a thing even exists), then I'm cool with that. But...

If the person, group or community believes that the bible is the literal word of God and it must be followed no matter what and that belief system preaches and teaches hate of certain other groups (GLBT, women, other religions, no religion etc...), that belief teaches that they must dominate others, then my friend...the shit is on.

There are two very important terms to know, if ya want to be an outraged angry atheist, dominionism and American exceptionalism.

Dominionism is just as it sounds, dominate. Not all Christians are dominionist, but the ones that are, are very powerful and influential. Their mission is to infiltrate every sector of society, public schools, government, military, movie houses, bakery's, every and anything in secular society they want to control it. It is not enuff to share the good news with you, a dominionist wants total control, a total takeover of what should be a secular and religion free public square.

American exceptionalism is the theory that God loves America better than everyone else (really) and that if we become the house on the hill, then God will favor us and shower us with, err...Godly stuffs. Any who, God has chosen America as his favorite and that is why "we" can stick our noses in other countries business, we can invade other countries (to spread Christianity of course) and basically, we can dominate-hence dominionism.

What makes us better than anyone else. An interpretation from that bronze age book that those atheist keep talking about and the revelation that God has spoken and it is "our" duty, our mission to make this so. In reality, those that subscribe to these two terms are no better than their Islamic counterparts that claim Allah wants them to spread and takeover. I haven't seen it in the media lately, but don't forget the American Taliban. Taliban is Taliban is Taliban someone used to say. Religious extremism is bad all the way around, no matter who or what side is practicing it.

GW Bush infamously filled cabinet posts, government positions with evangelical peeps that also believed as he did, that God hearts America better and that it is the American duty to spread that specific form of Christianity. Like I have said many times, they have entire universities, TV and radio stations, they already dominate the landscape; but they want more.

That is angry atheist 101, folks.

* The idiocy of American exceptionalism, from DFCW

* Denial of Dominionism from Religion Dispatches.

* I forgot an important term, The New Apostolic Reformation.

Dominionism And The GOP

Wow, just read an epic article at Religion Dispatches about Lisa Miller's op-ed article criticizing "left" leaning journalists and how they are unfair to criticize GOP candidates that are openly and overly evangelical Christians. Miller's claim is that the "left" is unfairly demonizing GOP candidates because they are all Christian-y. Gasp! A complain like that is equivalent to a rapist complaining that the person dude raped is speaking up. One of the beauties of The New Atheists is that the era of Christian privilege and the "no no" of questioning and scrutinizing religion is over. Apparently Miller did not get that memo.

By all means the GOP candidates, and any candidate for that matter, should be questioned about their beliefs; esp. the likes of Perry and Bachmann and Palin. They all subscribe to American Exceptionalism and, my newly learned term, dominionism

American exceptionalism is the (incorrect) belief that America is naturally better than the rest of the world because, get ready for this...Gawd said so. Dominionism is...

 "...in the context of politics and religion, is the tendency among some politically active conservative Christians to seek influence or control over secular civil government through political action, especially in the United States. It is also known as subjectionism.^[1] The goal is either a nation governed by Christians, or a nation governed by a conservative Christian understanding of biblical law. The use and application of this terminology is a matter of controversy (wiki)."

It is like Christian sharia law. It is elitist in nature and exclusive. It is our way and beliefs, or the highway to heck. This kinda philosophy is unforgiving and you cannot be patriotic unless you subscribe to that thinking. The Seven Mountains theology, dominionism, is what we are up against. "They" have entire universities, radio and TV stations and they are specifically training their Christian warriors to be capable of dominating and taking over. Business, media, the arts and entertainment are all within the plan to take over. Their intent is to defeat the "enemies of faith" which is everything from secularism to the Obama administration (or anything that is not them).

While it is true that the average peep does not know what dominionism or American exceptionalism is that does not mean that the leaders do not. Increasingly the GOP (Gawds party) is using vocabulary that is directly or indirectly conditioning the American public to their beliefs. Often times we hear the reference to "the shining city on the hill." That is Mathew 5:14 that says, " You are the light of the world. A city that is set on the hill cannot be hidden." It is an early example of American exceptionalism and just like so many other bible passages...it is used to separate and divide. It is used for "us v. them" and the propagation of "we are better than you".

You can't rob a bank and complain that you only got so much money. You can't punch someone in the face and complain that dudes tooth cut your hand. You can't claim discrimination because one job out of ten went to a woman or a minority. And you cannot claim that "left" leaning journalist are incorrectly doing their jobs because they are reporting on the beliefs and philosophies of presidential candidate...just because you don't agree with them. Unless you are Miller.

Sheez.

* Super good article from Religion Dispatches.

* The Lisa Miller article on Washington Post On Faith where she complains about the "left" leaning journalism and how they are unfair to Christian GOP candidates.

* Dominionism wiki.

* A Christian Plot For Domination? The Daily Beast.

* American Exceptionalism wiki.

* The Dominion Process. Very good explanation of what it is and just might be a post unto itself. Maybe.

* City upon a hill wiki.