Shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, President George W. Bush claimed that America would be fighting a “crusade” against terrorism. The implication was that this is a religious war. Nearly a decade later, this continues to be a religious war. This week, the Washington Post’s “On Faith” section asks about: Our moral duty to stay in Afghanistan -- or get out?
In the wake of Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal's dismissal as chief commander of American and NATO forces in Afghanistan, Congress this week is expected to evaluate our policy and presence there. Is it time for the U.S. to get out of Afghanistan? Do we have a moral responsibility to stay or to leave?
As long as people are convinced that God is on their side and that when they die they will go to eternal paradise we will continue to be at war with someone for something. This mentality effectively makes all wars religious wars.
We have a moral responsibility to free the people of Afghanistan and other nations from reigious totalitarianism and to defend ourselves against the Islamic war on reality. Women are pretty much property and free speech is a crime punishable by death in much of the Islamic world. We don’t need hundreds of thousands of soldiers on the ground to win this war. We just need to spread critical thinking, science education , and common sense. We need to let Al-Qaeda members know that God is not on their side and that they will not get 72 virgins when they die on the battlefield. We also need to let our own soldiers know this same reality.
The war in Afghanistan will end pretty quickly when Al-Qaeda members realized that the Qur’an is fiction and that Allah doesn’t exist. Support for military actions will be more carefully assessed if our soldiers realized that they can’t live forever in Heaven when they get shot on the battlefield. War is death and we don’t have any extra lives like in the video games.
This war could be more effectively fought as a public relations campaign for reason and critical thinking. Marketing these ideas to our enemy will end this war, prevent future wars, and make the world a safer and better place to live in. But the US government won’t do those things because it means that they would have to acknowledge the obvious fact that Christianity is just as fictional as Islam. God is not on our side either. So we continue to fight without the aid of our most effective weapon (i.e. reason). Instead of winning over hearts and minds, we just go on stabbing hearts and kicking in minds like barbarians with high tech weaponry.
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On Faith Series:
On Faith: The morality of tweeting the death penalty
On Faith: Do animals have souls and rights?
On Faith: Religion and the oil spill
On Faith: Sarah Palin’s feminism, faith, and abortion
On Faith: National day of prayer and masturbation
On Faith: Can religion handle sex?
On Faith: Is the media biased against the Catholic Church?
On Faith: Is the Pope above the law?
On Faith: What is heaven like?
On Faith: Disbelief in the pulpit
On Faith: Catholic Church’s attempt to blackmail Washington fails
On Faith: Is proselytizing overseas religious freedom or coercion?
On Faith: Should religion have a role be in U.S. foreign affairs?
On Faith: Should the president be a religious figure?
On Faith: Does God allow Haiti to suffer?
On Faith: Media biased against Christians?
On Faith: Free speech vs. God
On Faith: Religion’s Impact 2009
On Faith: Climate change a moral issue?
On Faith: Good News -- Oral Roberts is dead
On Faith: Just war or holy war in Afghanistan?
On Faith: A crèche in the White House?
On Faith: Swiss ban on Islamic minarets
On Faith: holidays or holy days?
Atheism 101 Articles:
Atheism 101: What is the difference between atheism and agnosticism?
Atheism 101: Why do atheists care about religion?
Atheism 101: Is there moral grounding without God?
Atheism 101: What happens when we die?
Atheism 101: The Purpose of Life
Atheism 101: The Nature of Good and Evil
Atheism 101: The Problem of Evil
Atheism 101: Is the Bible the inspired word of God?
Atheism 101: The anti-intellectualism of religion
Atheism 101: Why has Christianity demonized nudity, sex and sexuality?
Atheism 101: How to respond to the lord, liar, lunatic argument?
Atheism 101: Does it take more faith to be an atheist?
Atheism 101: What came before the Universe?
Atheism 101: How to respond to the ex-atheist
Atheism 101: Refuting Presupposition Theology
Atheism 101: Refuting Dispensational Theology
Comments
I don't think Al-Qaeda will stop if they learned that God was fiction. There is a desire for power that goes beyond religion.
If Jehovah isn't fiction, I think a lot of "crusaders" are going to find out the banner they carried to Iraq and Afghanistan was that of Baal. "Depart from me, workers of iniquity, I never knew you."
So rest assured I'm wholly with you against the Al Qaeda nutcases. I'm just trying to figure out if your assertion that the Qur'an is "fiction" is something based on opinion, or fact.
If it's opinion, you're certainly entitled to it.
If you claim it's fact - let's back it up with some evidence good sir. After all, you can't just expect me to believe on blind faith now do you? ;)
Henry, Ba'al Zabul was a fertility god, not a god of war. His brother Yam (also known as Yahweh) was the god of strife and wrath.
Qusim, Allah doesn't exist and as the principal character in the book, that pretty much means that the book is fictional. Plus, the Qur'an rehashes some of the same fictional stories as the Bible and being re-written in the Qur'an doesn't make those stories any more factual.
@ Staks - Come now, that's still your opinion. Find me factual inaccuracies or things in the Qur'an that science has proven wrong. Just saying that "Allah is the principal character in the book pretty much makes it fictional" is like saying "Sarah Palin is the principal character in Going Rogue and that pretty much makes her fictional" (although in her case the argument might work)
Also, of course the Qur'an re-iterates some stories of the Bible. Islam claims to be a universal religion and testifies to the truth of all past prophets. However, that still doesn't mean it's fiction. On the contrary, that a man who could neither read, nor write, knew that information in detail beyond the knowledge of any person in his time is further evidence that it was Divine. Those are the facts, not my opinion.
And before you find 'factual inaccuracies,' make sure the verse you refer is literal, and not metaphorical. It's easy to tell the difference w/context.
I was speaking metaphorically, not strictly theologically: Yamm was never a popular Israelite idol, but Ba`al was. The sea (Hebrew: yam) is a symbol for chaos throughout Scripture, and there's some debate among theologians over how much the Genesis account is about YHWH overcoming Yamm.
More troubling to me is the relationship between "Yahweh/Jehovah" and "Jove": I choose to believe that the latter came from the former, but a good argument can be made for it going the other way. While Mars was the god of war and Neptune's trident probably wasn't just for prawns, Jove wasn't above throwing lightning bolts. His primary unique attribute seems to have been power. Those who act in Jehovah's name certainly aren't above seeking power.
Keep writing!
Science according to the quran:
1) The earth is flat
2) The Earth is oval shaped (Make up your mind!)
3) Sperm comes from our backs
4) The sky is a carpet
5) The Carpet sky is held up by mountains
6) Stars are lamps made by god to see
7)Humans were made by mud, making us clay figures.
8) Women were made inferior and dumb compared to men
9) Women were made to please and serve as slaves to men.
Quranic science fails, period.
@ Ass Kicker - Don't let providing actual references get in the way of proving your point. Thanks.
Heres your Evidence, straight from the book of stupid itself:
1) The Earth is Flat:
-Sura Al-Kahf (18:47)
And (remember) the Day We shall cause the mountains to pass away (like clouds of dust), and you will see the earth as a levelled plain, and we shall gather them all together so as to leave not one of them behind.
-Sura Taha (20:53)
Who has made earth for you like a bed (spread out); and has opened roads (ways and paths etc.) for you therein; and has sent down water (rain) from the sky. And We have brought forth with it various kinds of vegetation.
-Sura Az-Zukhruf (43:10)
Who has made for you the earth like a bed, and has made for you roads therein, in order that you may find your way.
-Sura An-Naba (78:6)
Have We not made the earth as a bed,
-Sura An-Naziat (79:30)
And after that He spread the earth;
-Sura An-Naml (27:61)
Is not He (better than your gods) Who has made the earth as a fixed abode, and has placed rivers in its midst, and has placed firm mountains the
2) The Earth is ovalshaped:
The conclusion or justification used by so called Islamic scholars to justify such verses, completely illogical as an oval shape would completely alter current conditions on earth, completely un support current evolved forms of life and gravitational forces.
3) The sun and moon rotate around the Earth:
-Sura Yasin (36:38)
And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term (appointed). That is the Decree of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing.
-Sura Yasin (36:40)
It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor does the night outstrip the day. They all float, each in an orbit.
4) The Sun sleeps in a pool of mud:
-Sura Al-Kahf (18:86)
Until, when he reached the setting place of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of black muddy (or hot) water. And he found near it a people. We (Allâh) said (by inspiration): "O Dhul-Qarnain! Either you punish them, or treat them with kindness."
-Sura Al-Kahf (18:90)
Until, when he came to the rising place of th
Repost, i noticed the Character limit:
1) The Earth is Flat:
-Sura Al-Kahf (18:47)
And (remember) the Day We shall cause the mountains to pass away (like clouds of dust), and you will see the earth as a levelled plain, and we shall gather them all together so as to leave not one of them behind.
-Sura Taha (20:53)
Who has made earth for you like a bed (spread out); and has opened roads (ways and paths etc.) for you therein; and has sent down water (rain) from the sky. And We have brought forth with it various kinds of vegetation.
-Sura Az-Zukhruf (43:10)
Who has made for you the earth like a bed, and has made for you roads therein, in order that you may find your way.
-Sura An-Naba (78:6)
Have We not made the earth as a bed,
-Sura An-Naziat (79:30)
And after that He spread the earth;
-Sura An-Naml (27:61)
Is not He (better than your gods) Who has made the earth as a fixed abode, and has placed rivers in its midst, and has placed firm mountains therein, and has set a barrier between the two seas (of salt and sweet water).Is there any ilâh (god) with Allâh? Nay, but most of them know not.
2) The Earth is ovalshaped:
The conclusion or justification used by so called Islamic scholars to justify such verses, completely illogical as an oval shape would completely alter current conditions on earth, completely un support current evolved forms of life and gravitational forces.
3) The sun and moon rotate around the Earth:
-Sura Yasin (36:38)
And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term (appointed). That is the Decree of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing.
-Sura Yasin (36:40)
It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor does the night outstrip the day. They all float, each in an orbit.
4) The Sun sleeps in a pool of mud:
-Sura Al-Kahf (18:86)
Until, when he reached the setting place of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of black muddy (or hot) water. And he found near it a people. We (Allâh) said (by inspiration): "O Dhul-Qarnain! Either you punish them, or treat them with kindness."
-Sura Al-Kahf (18:90)
Until, when he came to the rising place of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We (Allâh) had provided no shelter against the sun.
5) Sperm comes from your backbone:
"Now let man but think from what he is created! He is created from a drop emitted-Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs," (Qur'an 86:5-7).
6) Stars are used as both lamps to see and as missiles to use against demons:
Quran 67: 5 And We have (from of old) adorned the lowest heaven (sky) with lamps, and We have made such (Lamps as) missiles to drive away Satans…
- Quran 37: 6-8 We have indeed decorated the lower heaven (sky) with beauty (in) the stars, (for beauty) and for guard against all obstinate rebellious Satans. So they should not strain their ears in the direction of the Exalted Assembly but be cast away from every side.
7) Seven heavens?:
- He who created the seven heavens, one above the other….And We have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps… [Quran-67:3-5]
- Do you not see how Allah has created the seven heavens one above the other, and made the moon a light in their midst, and made the Sun as a lamp. [Quran-71: 15-16]
- And He completed the seven firmaments (heavens) in two days and assigned to each heaven its command; and We adorned the lower heaven with lamps (Sun), and rendered it guarded… [Quran- 41:12]
8) Mountains are used to hold down the earth and sky:
[31:10]:
He hath created the heavens (Skies) without supports (pillars) that ye can see, and hath cast into the earth firm Mountains/Hills, so that it quake not with you; and He hath dispersed…..
-And We have set on earth firm mountains, lest it should shake with them. [Quran- 21:31]
-And he has cast the earth firm mountains lest it shake with you… [Quran-16:15]
-He created the heavens without supports that you can see, and has cast onto the earth firm mountains lest it shake with you… [Quran-31:10]
9) The sky is a carpet/canopy/roof:
-And We have made the sky a roof withheld (from them). Yet they turn away from its portents. [Quran-21:32
-He hath created the heavens (Skies) without supports (pillars) that ye can see, and hath cast into the earth firm Mountains/Hills, so that it quake not with you; and He hath dispersed…[Quran-31:10]
-And We have made the sky (heavens) as roof (canopy) well guarded… [Quran-21: 32]
-Who has made the earth your couch, And the heavens (Sky) your canopy; [Quran-2: 22]
10) Humans were made by mud and dirt, or was it dust? Maybe blood clots?:
"Was he not a drop of sperm emitted (in lowly form)"?
[Al-Qur’an 75:37]
"(Consider) that We created you out of dust".
[Al-Qur’an 22:5]
He it is Who hath created you from clay. 6:2
We created man of potter's clay of black mud altered.... 15:26
He began the creation of man from clay. 32:7
When thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to create a mortal out of mire. 38:71
He created man of clay like the potter's. 55:14
He created him of dust, then He said unto him: Be! and he is. 3:59
And of His signs is this: He created you of dust, and behold you human beings, ranging widely! 30:20
Allah created you from dust.... 35:11
Doth not man remember that We created him before, when he was naught? 19:67
11) Woman were made inferior and dumb compared to men and are merely created for slavery and sex:
(2:282) "Call two witness from among your men ... And if two men be not at hand, then a man and two women."
(2:228) "Men are a degree above them."
Women have rights that are similar to men, but men are "a degree above them."
2:223 Your women are a tilth for you (to cultivate) so go to your tilth as ye will, and send (good deeds) before you for your souls, and fear Allah, and know that ye will (one day) meet Him. Give glad tidings to believers, (O Muhammad).
2:222 They question thee (O Muhammad) concerning menstruation. Say: It is an illness, so let women alone at such times and go not in unto them till they are cleansed. And when they have purified themselves, then go in unto them as Allah hath enjoined upon you. Truly Allah loveth those who turn unto Him, and loveth those who have a care for cleanness.
12) Added bonus regarding interpretation (Especially by muslims):
“I made Qur’an very clear, simple and easy and written in Arabic (44:58, 54:22, 54:32, 54:40) so that Muslims (Arabs of course) can understand very easily?” Please listen what Merciful Allah says in Qur’an: “ But We have indeed made the Qur'an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition? (54:22); and “We have made it a Qur'an in Arabic, that ye may be able to understand and learn wisdom (43:3)”.
[Quran-3:7] “He it is Who has revealed the Book to you; some of its verses are clear and decisive, they are the basis of the Book, and others are allegorical; then as for those in whose hearts there is perversity they follow the part of it which is allegorical, seeking to mislead and seeking to give it (their own) interpretation. but none knows its interpretation except Allah, and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge say: We believe in it, it is all from our Lord; and none do mind except those having understanding.”
Conclusion: Quran science is bullshit.
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