The Coffee House - the UU Fellowship Thread (churches, experience)

[Green Gaia]

We do a have a few faiths that get more negative comments than others - Muslims, Catholics and LDS - it is disheartening to see some of our members behave in such a way. We do try to stop the bashing before it starts, though - none of the staff like to see that happen.

I'm sorry that anyone feels they must leave because of this.

[Green Gaia]

Originally Posted by lilithu

Classic UU dilemma. We affirm the inherent dignity and worth of every person. In biblical terms, love thy neighbor. But how do you love someone when they're really mean to someone else?

Who said a smack up-side the head can't be loving when deserved?

[ChrisP]

Sorry to butt in but :

OMG LILITHU is B-b-B-b-BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!

[lilithu]

Hey David, namaste. No, of course it wasn't in this forum. I should probably soften that comment, as different people have different criteria for what they would deem "bashing." There just seemed to be a lot of people saying that Islam is inherently violent. And when it was pointed out that the vast majority of Muslims live quite peacefully, a few people still blamed them for failing to be more vocal about condemning the ones that are violent. And there were a few Christians who insisted Muslims worship a false God. One going to far as to say that Muslims worship the Devil.

And I didn't leave at first, because how can one see that and not say something? I have friends who are Muslim. They have to live with this every day. One hasn't been able to find work since Sept 11th. He's very hurt and very bitter. And he wasn't anti-American before but he is now.

But anyway, after several rounds of trying to talk sense, sometimes making headway and sometimes not, just to have new people show up to say the same negative things, as I said it was making it hard for me to remember the inherent dignity and worth of the people I was arguing with. In general, I find it better to leave before I start calling people names.

Maize, don't feel bad. It's not RF. Even with the anti-Muslim sentiments expressed, RF remains an island of relative calm in the turmoil that is the internet. It's just the state of the Western world. People (meaning those who are inclined to do so) feel ok saying things about Muslims that they wouldn't dare say about any other group (except possibly homosexuals). As an astute black friend said the other day, "Muslims are the new blacks."

On a much more positive note, Rabbi Lerner will be speaking at my neighborhood cafe tomorrow evening. I'll be going and I'll let you know how it was.

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by ChrisP

Sorry to butt in but :

OMG LILITHU is B-b-B-b-BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!

Gosh, thanks!!

I know I've been gone for a while but I don't remember a ChrisP tho it seems like you remember me. So I'm going to guess that you've changed your name since we last spoke and judging by the "NZ" I am going to guess SnaleSpace?? If I'm wrong, my apologies and either way, namaste dude!

[ChrisP]

Originally Posted by lilithu

Gosh, thanks!!

I know I've been gone for a while but I don't remember a ChrisP tho it seems like you remember me. So I'm going to guess that you've changed your name since we last spoke and judging by the "NZ" I am going to guess SnaleSpace?? If I'm wrong, my apologies and either way, namaste dude!

You're good at the guessing games. Namaste Lillith

[Davidium]

Thanks for the explaination Lilithu,

I find both Islam and Christianity to both be beautiful expressions of the human religious impulse. The problem is that some of those who claim the titles of each lineage, and use some of the language of each religious tradition, do not practice the ideals very well....

But, the same could be said of UU, for that matter....



Yours in Faith,

David

[jamaesi]

All the Muslim-bashing is making it more and more of a chore for