look at two of the “fears” of fundamentalists: women (Taliban) and choice (murdering drs. who do abortions).

and you’re right about fundamentalist atheists and I’ve known a few fundamentalist Buddhists (altho not many! ) — they hang out at a Buddhist website I won’t mention arguing which path is quickest toward enlightenment (among other things!)

and of course THEIR path is the RIGHT one!

I read a book a few years back by Karen Armstrong on fundamentalism and she makes the point that fundamentalism tends to be fear-driven.

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said “they think they’re right.” We all tend to think we’re right, and when arrogance and ego enter into the equation, you get mean-spirited rhetoric. I see it from the fundamentalist Christians and from the fundamentalist atheists! We will never live together in peace with this attitude.

Peace to you, my Buddhist sister.

of course not all christians and “religious people” are like that, the same way not all muslims are fundamentalist muslims. personally I see no difference between a fundamentalist muslim or a fundamentalist christian. they both think they’re right, I’m wrong, and I’m going to hell, which I’ve been told on more than one occasion! I know there are a few out there praying for me because I’m one of those heathen Buddhists.

as a United Church of Christ minister told me, it’s “‘those christians’ who give the rest of us a bad name.”

First of all I am very tortured right now by the level of angry anti-religious rhetoric among part of my blogging circle. It is so disheartening to hear otherwise compassionate and allegedly peace-seeking folk say such hateful things about religion, religious people and so forth.

I know I need to post about it too and I am reluctant as my feelings are still so raw about it. Twice last week I cried when reading things at the blogs of “friends” – did they mean to be hurtful? No. But were they? Yes.

Sometimes I bring it up and I get the token Christian response – “but Fran you are one of the nice ones!” WTF does that mean (i told you this was raw for me)????

I actually wrote someone an email this morning asking them if they thought it would be nice if I put the following on my blog-

“Wow, you are so articulate for a black person!” and then this- “For a Jew, you are not cheap at all!”

No one would say that but they would most easily say – and think they are being nice – “wow for a Christian you are so open minded!”

Grrrrr…. It makes me angry, I need to calm down.

Which brings me to other points. Sorry if I sound like a crank, I guess I am today.

That Amy Sullivan piece got on my nerves when I read it the other day.

I was entranced by Wallis when I first heard him speak in January 2006, but have since cooled. After you see him we can speak via email about it if you wish.

Time to go breathe!!!

Yogamum, Funny you should mention Wallis—I’m going to go hear him speak tomorrow! And no, I haven’t read that book, but I’ve been meaning to for a while. He has a new book called The Great Awakening. I also like Sojourners.

Mike Harmon

Loved your point of view. I really don’t understand why people think Jesus would have been a Republican