Christians, Muslims going at it in Egypt

Christians, Muslims going at it in Egypt

by SouthernFriedInfidel | Published on January 7th, 2010, 11:28 am | Religion

As the Coptic Christmas approaches, violence is breaking out in Egypt. And of course, the minority religious group is in need of government protection from the majority. I think this is yet another example in action of the foolish notion that problems in life stem from the existence of religious minorities. They are easy targets for scapegoating, but as always, the easy path tends to create more problems (and useless, senseless hatreds as if we didn't already have enough as it is) in its wake.

Sad.

[Questioner]

As the Coptic Christmas approaches, violence is breaking out in Egypt. And of course, the minority religious group is in need of government protection from the majority. I think this is yet another example in action of the foolish notion that problems in life stem from the existence of religious minorities. They are easy targets for scapegoating, but as always, the easy path tends to create more problems (and useless, senseless hatreds as if we didn't already have enough as it is) in its wake.

Sad.

The situation is even worse that mere religious discrimination. If they didn't have some minority religion to hate and persecute, they would find another basis for discrimination. Look at Americans! When it became socially unacceptable to openly persecute African Americans, lots of people just changed their target to Hispanics, gays (GLBT), undocumented people, or some other group of people (of which the persecutor was not a member).

Would that getting religion could eliminate all hate and unfounded bias in the world, but it is not so. It is not religion that causes the religious wars. It is the innate tendency of people to make themselves feel superior by condemning some other group of people.

[SouthernFriedInfidel]

The situation is even worse that mere religious discrimination. If they didn't have some minority religion to hate and persecute, they would find another basis for discrimination. Look at Americans! When it became socially unacceptable to openly persecute African Americans, lots of people just changed their target to Hispanics, gays (GLBT), undocumented people, or some other group of people (of which the persecutor was not a member).

Would that getting religion could eliminate all hate and unfounded bias in the world, but it is not so. It is not religion that causes the religious wars. It is the innate tendency of people to make themselves feel superior by condemning some other group of people.

I agree fully. People will find an excuse to hate strangers, regardless of what exactly it is that makes them strangers. As you imply, religions are in part an attempt to solve the problem... but they end up tending to only exacerbate it by providing new excuses for discrimination.

[Liv]

I've been wanting to go to Cairo for a decade now. Stuff like this though and the general unrest in the neighboring countries make me wonder how comfortable a trip to Cairo would be?

[SouthernFriedInfidel]

I've been wanting to go to Cairo for a decade now. Stuff like this though and the general unrest in the neighboring countries make me wonder how comfortable a trip to Cairo would be?

I've decided to avoid northern Africa, so long as there are Muslim nut cases wandering around, working to make their lands "pure" for Allah.

[SouthernFriedInfidel]

And now they're burning churches in Malaysia to prevent Christians from using the word "Allah."

If ET is reading this somehow -- I WANT TO GO WITH YOU!!!! Humanity is too creepy to live with as it stands right now...

[Liv]

And now they're burning churches in Malaysia to prevent Christians from using the word "Allah."

If ET is reading this somehow -- I WANT TO GO WITH YOU!!!! Humanity is too creepy to live with as it stands right now...

Anal Probes are a'ok! It's better than getting cracked up the ass here.