Sally Redux

I think I know what he's trying to say. A white person walking along the street will not immediately give rise to the thought 'Christian!' A person of vaguely dark appearance may well elicit 'Muslim' and then 'extremist'. I know an otherwise nice American lady who does exactly this. She gets all mixed up with the nationalities anyway and while we were still in the US even said things like I should be careful my daughter's boyfriend doesn't 'take her back to his country' (he's American-born to an Iranian family who fled the revolution).

With extremism in Britain, the problem is that more marginalisation of Muslims will be fertile ground for the young guys to get involved in it.

Bipat

Yes to some extent, but the newspapers in UK compound this sort of view. They invariably use the word "Asian" when anything untoward happens. For example the excellent report on the Rotherham atrocities specifically mentioned that the perpetrators were of Pakistani descent.
I knew the newspaper would call them "Asians" --and they did!!
So anyone vaguely brown is thought of as a 'risk' when the majority of Asians in UK originate from other countries and are of varying religions.

(Obviously most Pakistani origin men are not a risk either!!!!)

Sally Redux

Time and again I have seen you correct people on BE who cannot differentiate between nationalities and religions. They might as well just say 'vaguely brown'

Shard

Not just the guys...

The British women married to jihad | World news | The Guardian

It s a marginalisation problem. However the marginalisation is self-inflicted on the basis of ethnic culture, and that is hugely intertwined with religion.

Shard

Some kind of pastoral caveman myth? Nonsense. Plenty of evidence of both violence and compassion in pre-agricultural humans.

The point is that we no longer need Christian "branding" to promote positive human values.

Sally Redux

Going out now, will think about it later,

Bipat

How can there be evidence of "compassion"? Just interested? They couldn't write!

Agree religion is no longer necessary to promote human values, but if people wish to belong to a particular group, what is the problem?

My Hindu relatives ( a mixture of all 'groups' from atheists/ agnostic to ultra orthodox and all between), enjoy endless, discussions -----at length, without condemning me or each other.
(Just don't mention missionaries )

lutonlad

Totally agree Bipat.
It's a shame that there aren't more balanced views on such subjects.
Christianity as with any religion is far from perfect, not pretending otherwise - but I believe the good outweighs the bad.

Your Hindu relatives should join the forum! Perhaps their tolerance might rub off on some of those who endlessly try to promote their anti religious views.

Bipat

Well, they are not British or expats. Also I wouldn't want them to know really what some people post about Indians or India on the various parts of the forum.

(Off thread OH, fortunately is practically computer illiterate, so is his elder brother, therefore my Indian sister in law and myself have complete control over e-mails etc. sent on their behalf--'woman power')


Just thought about this post, and realised---How patronising I sound!!! The real truth is I do not want any of them to know I contribute to the Forum.

Shard

There is anthropologogical evidence of surgeries on ancient humans, burial ceremonies and carrying of the infirm.

Having recently engaged in a lengthy value if religion debate on another thread, I don't wish to repeat the arguments here. Suffice it to say, in total it does more harm than good.

stuboy

You are taking my posts way out of context, I have never said that all or most Muslims are guilty or support this kind of violence.

You have interpreted this from my posts in an attempt to make me appear racist.

It doesn't wash.

lutonlad

'Suffice it to say' that was probably the most arrogant post I've seen in a long time.

Just because you've engaged in a lengthy debate doesn't make you right.

Shard

Don't be a fool. I'm simply explaining a reason why I don't wish to have a debate with someone despite the interesting nature of the topic. And you are quite correct that having a lengthy debate does not make me right, although it does suggest I have done some thinking on the matter and am not just casually dismissing it.

EMR

I agree , this is a very complex issue, just as the idea of a white christian nation is a myth so is that of Islam being a religion devoted to the forced conversion an application of rigorous restrictions to those who become muslim.
Those who have become muslim terrorists in another place, time and society would have become radical evangalists etc.
In their misguided minds a certain view of Islam provides them with a motivation or morality lacking in the society they come from.
It is not just a UK problem but converts to that particular form of Islam can now be found in almost every European country.

Sally Redux

Unfortunately the style and tone of this thread does suggest at best massive generalising.
Some of the solution would come from education, but we have another thread running on BE advocating faith schools and blind acceptance of religious teaching, so I won't hold my breath.