Kill in the name of God

on your opening remarks about Communism as Religion, i see your point. However, i don't think it's entirely acurate. i don't think we should limit religion to a dictionary definitions of the word. the word isn't important. it could be called Flubble.
By your logic anything could be a Religion, from physics, biology and geneology to Horoscopes, Folklore and palm reading to Punk,Pop and Goth.
by the way, i realise that Communists consider themselves Athiests and i have no problem being associated with either group, although i probably consider myself a socialist rather than a communist.

1. I think to an extent what you say is correct. but the point i was trying to make was that, without religion people wouldn't join 'the cause' protestants and Catholics would have just been people who wanted to be British and People who wanted to be irish. i don't think the problem would have gone on for as long or as bloodily as it has in Northern ireland if this was the case. Religion breeds fanatacism.

2 i agree that with recent comments from Bush and co, we are moving towards gulf war esque situation of governments using public anger to setle old scores and lower high prices.
However, i don't for a minute think that Osama Bin Laden flew those planes into the Twin towers because he thought he could conquer the U.S.
It is often forgotten that their are two side in this war, and although the allies actions may be cynical and money based, from Bin Ladens point of view, This is the Crusades all over again.

3: i agree completely. i still have trouble believing that people whose religious teachings say things like Thou shalt not kill and love thy neighbour, can be so easily persuaded into doing the opposite by men who have no authority other than the authority they give themselves.

4. I see the stock Market as a god waiting to happen. as computers get more advanced and take more of the control out of peoples hands, i can see the Stock Market becoming shrouded in myth and legend. the thing that controls our lives without us seeing it. fifty years time, just wait.

On a Final, optimistic note, i've just been to the pub, where i was with two friends, both of whom are muslim. one drinks alcohol the other does not. when i asked my first frien, Tariq, why he drinks when his religion tells him not to, he said 'I interpret Islam as an individual. the core message of the Quran is love and peace among men. the way i see it, as long as i treat other people in the best way possible, Allah won't care if i get pissed now and then.'

i asked my other friend why he didn't drink. 'I agree with Tariq, but i see the love and peace he speaks of as extending into my own body. if i can't treat myself right, how can i claim to be treating others right?'

Organised religions may control the masses, but the individual is still in charge of himself.

Stevey.

'God favors small children, alcoholics and the chronically stoned.'