At the hotel breakfast this morning, a gentleman ssid he had read the Koran

[s-cubed]

and it was the most violent, bloody book he'd read. I almost kept quiet, but couldn't. So I mentioned the old Testament had its share of that as well, and the Inquisition did a great job of torturing people. Another man added the last person to be burned at the stake was in 1831. We had a cordial conversation, the three of us, bringing up the evils done in the name of religion, such as the 240,000 children who disappeared in the children's crusade. We also reminded the first gentleman of the Nazis and Stalin, who murdered millions. We reminded him that there are billions of peaceful Muslims around the world. We didn't get into the root of much terrorism, which I see as political use of Islam, but at least he backed off some. I just couldn't let the loudmouth get away with his hate speech, even if it is true that there is violence in the Koran. That's no reason to condemn a whole religion. We ended by agreeing that a lot of evil has been done in the name of religion, by most religions. Happy Rapture Day!

[Joe the Revelator]

1. All religion is evil.

No single one has a corner on that market

[malaise]

3. Ditto n/t

[sarcasmo]

6. +1

[backscatter712]

7. DING DING DING!!! We have a winner. n/t

[kestrel91316]

10. I disagree, though I am not personally religious. Care to explain how

Wicca as a religion is evil? Or Quakerism?

Seriously. I'll be waiting.

And no, isolated examples of members of those groups doing evil don't count.

[Joe the Revelator]

11. Sure

All religions affect free thought and ask that there practicers follow rules based on a mixture of mythology and superstition.

[truedelphi]

12. You are aware that Quakers manned the whaling ships, and also

Helped bring the slaves from Africa, aren't you?

Pro9fitable businesses, those two items.

[LadyHawkAZ]

13. Yep n/t

[lunatica]

2. I admire that you didn't keep quiet

It takes guts to address narrow religious jingoism. It probably won't change his mind, but hopefully someone heard you.

[fivepennies]

4. He was no gentleman

and he lied.

I do pity God, though, if he's silly enough to think he can find somebody on earth worthy of rapturing.

[txwhitedove]

5. Excellent post, very well said. When my children ask about God and religion,

I always explain the differences in beliefs, and the difference between religion and faith. Faith can be as simple as faith in truth, faith in yourself.

[HopeHoops]

8. Actually, I find it to be a beautiful book. CAIR sent me a copy for free (at my request).

[Scuba]

9. Thank you. It's important to not let the BS go unchallenged. n/t