Watching a program on British TV recently (The Doomsday Code, on Channel 4), I was alarmed to discover that America has its own fundamentalist stream, which could make Islams efforts seem like a tick on the back of an elephant.
Tony Robinson, who hosted the program, said he feared the Ugandan branch of this movement more than any other he had seen but not me. The only harm they could do was to each other but The Yanks could destroy us all, if they got their hands on the nuclear button.
Like their counterparts in the Islamic World they don't seem to care about anything but themselves and their own personal glorification - which those in both religious camps who are more moderate, must see as being like the foolish actions of children - out to impress the rest of us with their suicidal acts>dangerous purists and idealists, rather than inoffensive realists and pragmatists - sticking to the letter of the law rather than seeing its true purpose as a guide ("Look at me ma, top of the world!" Jimmy Cagney, White Heat).
As Tony Robinson also pointed out, they say their gospel is Bible orientated but The Rapture was invented in the form they believe in, by the Pilgrim Fathers. The Anti-Christ also has been misinterpreted as it was only mentioned once by Paul and not in this context (Not a Bible scholar so please correct me if I'm wrong).
He also pointed out that they are trying to force The End Times to come about by the rebuilding of The Temple in Jerusalem, which even the Jewish community is opposed to, solely so that they can get to heaven quicker in the coming end times rapture. The Revelation of St. John as he further pointed out is being taken literally along the line, rather than understood historically, where it only makes sense as an attack on The Roman Empire [seven headed monster - seven hills of Rome] on top of this it is probably written by somebody else, other than the writer of the divine gospel as it is stylistically very different: Nostrodarmus has the same problem with interpretation, according to the experts, for the same reason because it too was coded to protect those talking about unpopular views who might be in danger, if they were more open in their language. Literal translation is always suspect and niave for this reason.
Above all The Book of Revelations is a prophecy not an instruction manual. All society's evolve and devolve as do individuals (death is inevitable - we all die and go to heaven - there is no special train just for the faithful). Life is hard - death is easy. The moderate in all religions know this and live modestly because of this - not to impress others but in response to their own conscience and conscious awareness.
Anybody wanting to get the true lowdown on Fundamentalism is advised to visit 'The Swami's ten guidelines to enlightenment" Message no. 1 is most appropriate (
www.aspirenow.com)
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Author of 'Empty Thoughts from an Empty Head' and other trivia including 'Logic Lists English, the cure for illiteracy (allegedly)
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Merchants of Doom?
(ok, this is a matter of interpretation which we might discuss in the social sciences thread...), but doesnt the KKK also say that they are religious?
