Al-Qaida Taliban, American Taliban, and Progressives

[Rocknrule]

Great post I saw on another board:

Someone read this and explain to me, exactly, what the difference between the Taliban and the fundamentalist Christian (i.e., the American Taliban) in this country is. This is a comparison of the position of Al Qaida/Taliban, the American Taliban, and the Progressives (Liberal) in this country.
I am seriously wondering what Christians feel the specific differences between them and the Taliban might be.

Basic belief structure of the fundamentalist Talibani and Christian

Total rejection of rationality; therefore, the fundamentalists try to popularize their beliefs after mobilizing the emotions of people.

Not believing in human reason, they rely on the divine power to lead humanity on the right path.

They are not ready to have any compromise about their beliefs.

As they regard themselves true, rightly guided followers of religion, they treat all others as their enemy.

Once they monopolize the truthfulness and declare all others as sinners they loose all respect for the democratic institutions, human rights, and human values and fanatically make attempts to thrust their religious views on others even by force if necessary.

Let's look at a comparison of some issues that demonstrate the similarities:

Religion in government
Al Qaida/Taliban: One and the same
American Taliban: One and the same
Progressives: Separation of church and state

Religious freedom:
Al Qaida/Taliban: 'Think like us, or we'll whip you and/or chop off your head'
American Taliban: 'Think like us, or we'll condemn you to hell'
Progressives: To each his/her own

Foreign Policy:
Al Qaida/Taliban: World domination - do it our way or we attack
American Taliban: World domination - do it our way or we attack
Progressives: Peace and international cooperation

Executing Minors:
Al Qaida/Taliban: Executing Minors OK
American Taliban: Executing Minors OK
Progressives: Find this to be a barbaric and embarrassing practice

Pop Culture:
Al Qaida/Taliban: Hate it... kill it
American Taliban: Hate it... ban it
Progressives: Laugh at it... boycott it

Self-image:
Al Qaida/Taliban: Belief in their own infallibility
American Taliban: Belief in their own infallibility
Progressives: Willingness to consider other viewpoints

God:
Al Qaida/Taliban: God is on our side and will help us kill our enemies
American Taliban: God is on our side and will help us kill our enemies
Progressives: God may or may not exist and will not help us kill anyone

Stem Cell Research:
Al Qaida/Taliban: No Stem cell research
American Taliban: No Stem cell research
Progressives: Stem cell research

Leaders:
Al Qaida/Taliban: God choose Osama Bin Laden to defeat the Great Satan
American Taliban: God choose George W. Bush to lead us
Progressives: God didn't choose anyone

Use of Force:
Al Qaida/Taliban: As a means of propagating a world view
American Taliban: As a means of propagating a world view
Progressives: As a last resort

Bush's War in Iraq:
Al Qaida/Taliban: Love it!
American Taliban: Love it!
Progressives: It's a disaster

Press:
Al Qaida/Taliban: Control of the Press
American Taliban: Manipulation of the Press
Progressives: Freedom of the Press

Free Speech:
Al Qaida/Taliban: Anyone who disagrees with us is an infidel and must be silenced
American Taliban: Anyone who disagrees with us is a traitor and must be silenced
Progressives: Anyone who disagrees with us is in for a spirited discussion

Individuals:
Al Qaida/Taliban: Conform or else
American Taliban: Conform or else
Progressives: Embrace diversity

Cooperation:
Al Qaida/Taliban: You're either with us or against us
American Taliban: You're either with us or against us
Progressives: We're all in this together

Tolerance:
Al Qaida/Taliban: Death to the infidels
American Taliban: Kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity
Progressives: Live and let live

Conscience:
Al Qaida/Taliban: Obedience to authority
American Taliban: Obedience to authority
Progressives: Critical reflection

Origins:
Al Qaida/Taliban: Universe and man created 6,000 years ago by God
American Taliban: Universe and man created 6,000 years ago by God
Progressives: The Universe began as we know it at least 14 billion years ago, maybe more

Leaders:
Al Qaida/Taliban: Subservient to will of its leaders
American Taliban: Subservient to will of its leaders
Progressives: Will served by Representative government

Fear:
Al Qaida/Taliban: Life is scary and uncertain, seek refuge in moral absolutes and scorn those that threaten those absolutes
American Taliban: Life is scary and uncertain, seek refuge in moral absolutes and scorn those that threaten those absolutes
Progressives: Life is scary and uncertain, seek refuge in accepting that respect for our fellow man and the individual choices he/she makes is eminently moral

Women:
Al Qaida/Taliban: A woman's place is in the home
American Taliban: A woman's place is in the home
Progressives: A woman's place is wherever she wants it to be

Women, Part II:
Al Qaida/Taliban: No school, must cover entire body, no rights
American Taliban: Government control over reproductive freedoms, hostility to Title IX, hostility to working women
Progressives: Equality of the sexes

Marriage:
Al Qaida/Taliban: Marriage is only between a man and a woman
American Taliban: Marriage is only between a man and a woman
Progressives: Marriage is between any two people who love each other

Homosexuals
Al Qaida/Taliban: God hates them and they deserve to die
American Taliban: God hates them and they deserve to die or at least be confined to 2nd class status
Progressives: Human beings just like everyone else

Schools:
Al Qaida/Taliban: Religious indoctrination. Run by clergy.
American Taliban: School prayer. Religious indoctrination (creationism and "intelligent design"). Private religious school system.
Progressives: Leave religious teachings to parents and sunday school.

Torture :
Al Qaida/Taliban: Torture them or chop off their heads
American Taliban: Torture them or homosexually rape them.
Progressives: No torture

Medicine and Science:
Al Qaida/Taliban: Faith-based world view
American Taliban: Faith-based world view
Progressives: Reality-based community

[Rocknrule]

1. Your recommendations were appreciated