Originally posted by Green_Manelishi You obviously have as much knowledge of Truth as a Rat can be expected to possess. The Beast is not Satan, but he is used by Satan. Nor are Christian beliefs myths. Yours on the other hand ....
Don't involve such characters or worldviews. Yours does, as evidenced by your accusations.
But why learn anything about others or reality when you can just *Swiftboat* anyone who doesn't claim *you* (or Rupert) possess "capital T Truth?"
You ignore who *starts* this stuff, Manelishi. Ignore the fact it's a certain *few* who believe *they* have so much 'Truth,' that they have special permission to smear others. Rupert with his "My book and preaching says you worship rocks, so you worship rocks. Even if you don't."
Ever notice how something like that seems to get into *every* topic relating to politics, from the same people who believe they have 'the only truth regardless of facts? How they just say, "Any fact I can't twist to claim it supports my ignorance and denial, or turn around and blame on someone else, I will ignore or call a 'lie.' " ?
You may certainly follow your own religion, Manelishi, what you *don't* get to do in a free country or anything that's supposed to be related to reason or humanity, ...is claim those beliefs make your opinion of others more important than the people themselves.
This is *why,* though certain people whine they're being persecuted if they aren't allowed to use *my* government to harass and defame me for no good reason, claiming they're being robbed of their 'religious freedom' to lie and abuse people, ...beliefs such as you espouse, and to make it fair, any belief that cannot make a case in accord with real facts and multiple points of view, ...should have no place in our *government.* Cause our government is supposed to be about *the country,* not your 'kingdom' or anyone else's.
Making a case from things that only exist in your belief is not factual, or reasonable, or responsible. Seeking this kind of 'power' (even through mass deception of voters) is bad for both good governance and religion, both.
Doing it in society leads to abuses. Which, yes, I've witnessed and experienced quite well, actually. (Another thing Rupert and others would rather call me a liar than face. But that's what they did in the Catholic churches when I was a kid, that finally came out, ...all the same tactics and rationales were used there, ...you'd be called all those things if you *said* what everybody *knew,* ...all were halfway between denial, blaming victims, blaming scapegoats, and claiming 'Our Truth means we can't possibly be doing this, so you're lying.' " Lie, deny, displace, project, repeat, repeat, repeat. )
If someone told you that claiming more 'Authority' makes something 'True,' well, I'm sorry for you. Believe what you choose, if you must, but there are *boundaries.*
That's what makes us civilized, and that's where we fail to be, when we think like you demand.
No, it's not 'all about me,' (another false accusation) just because I have *my* experiences to relate about how these dynamics play out. The same is done to others, as well. I just don't have those *particular* experiences first hand.
Just because *you* want to think and say terrible things about me and everyone you consider 'like' me, does not make those things *true.*
If you defame others, even if you believe you have a perfect right to from your book, you are trying to harm them. Your 'religious freedom' ends long before then.
And if you don't care, you don't care, but you can't turn around and say that means you get to define and copyright 'Compassion' or 'Morality.'
You *sure* don't get to override our guarantees of equality, of Liberty and Justice *for all,* ...just cause you believe your opinion counts for more than other people's lives.
That's, as I say, the very *epitome* of bigotry. It's the same thing whoever it's done to, only the targets change.