La Cucaracha by Lalo Alcaraz for January 26, 2015

Ditto

Look at the landscape. Roman Catholicism has many faults and a low turnout but it is not plagued by sects, cults, denominations and divisions and it is very tolerant. This is due in part to not following too seriously the Old Testament (outside the set pieces) but rather the New Testament that is mostly Greek Humanism. On the other hand the other Abrahamic derived religions that heavily rely on the Old Testament are splintered in many camps. Shi’a and Sunnis, Orthodox and Reformed Jewry, Baptists, Episcopalians, Anglicans, Presbyterians, etc… The USA with its multitude of cults and new religions: Mormonism, Christian Science, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Scientology sticks out like a sore thumb. Enough to cry out for a stop to the proliferation. What is then the end result of tying one’s identity and belief to that late Iron Age make-believe narrative of the Old Testament? For starters the feeling of righteousness, of having a god on your side, of being the chosen ones, the manichaeism of us the good guys versus them the bad guys. Endless conflicts! Isn’t it time to spread and uphold a new religious point of view? One that would be inclusive to all the people of this world? Embrace Humanism I’ll say. After all, if indoctrination happened once, sane rationalism can happen too. Evolution is here to stay!

Extremely well said!

Doc, while other major religions in the world have evolved away from using conflict to spread the word of God, the extremist Muslims are still living in the 7th century. These boils on the butt of humanity are not rational. They won’t even stay in their own neighborhood. There isn’t much choice in how to deal with them; it’s a matter of self defense for anyone who will not convert to Islam.CHARLIE AKBAR!