Why is it cool to persecute Christians?

[Keystone Phil]

You have to love the logic of the haters: "You guys are a supermajority so of course it's fine for us to unfairly attack your beliefs!"

And then there's the ever so popular "I'm Jewish so don't lecture me about persecution..."

[Keystone Phil]

You have to love the logic of the haters: "You guys are a supermajority so of course it's fine for us to unfairly attack your beliefs!"

Did anyone say that its fine? Christians may be made fun of in America, but so are Muslims, Jews, Hindus etc. Yet I don't think any of those groups are persecuted in America.

...

Was that meant to be serious?

Yes, people say it is fine. They're saying so in this thread.

As for the other groups you mentioned, you can't possibly expect me to take seriously the claim that Muslims and Jews don't complain about persecution in some form.

You have to love the logic of the haters: "You guys are a supermajority so of course it's fine for us to unfairly attack your beliefs!"

I love how you slip in "unfairly". Very clever.

And very accurate. 

[Keystone Phil]

As far as I know, no religious groups are PERSECUTED in America. Do you understand the meaning of that word?

Here's a little note to my friend: Persecution is not limited to torture and/or killing.

[Keystone Phil]

As far as I know, no religious groups are PERSECUTED in America. Do you understand the meaning of that word?

Here's a little note to my friend: Persecution is not limited to torture and/or killing.

Definition of persecute.

per·se·cute  (pûrs-kyt)
tr.v. per·se·cut·ed, per·se·cut·ing, per·se·cutes
1. To oppress or harass with ill-treatment, especially because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or beliefs.
2. To annoy persistently; bother.

I am guessing you are referring to #2? I think Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and especially Mormons are "bothered" more than Christians in America.( I know Mormons are Christians but many people seem not to believe it)

Ok? And they complain more about it, too. How often do we hear about the evils of anti Semitism or discrimination against Muslims? I'm not saying that they're not right for complaining about the harassment that they receive but it's just a bit annoying how those actions are so frowned upon but it's more acceptable to bash Christians because they're a "supermajority."

[Keystone Phil]

As far as I know, no religious groups are PERSECUTED in America. Do you understand the meaning of that word?

Here's a little note to my friend: Persecution is not limited to torture and/or killing.

Definition of persecute.

per·se·cute  (pûrs-kyt)
tr.v. per·se·cut·ed, per·se·cut·ing, per·se·cutes
1. To oppress or harass with ill-treatment, especially because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or beliefs.
2. To annoy persistently; bother.

I am guessing you are referring to #2? I think Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and especially Mormons are "bothered" more than Christians in America.( I know Mormons are Christians but many people seem not to believe it)

Ok? And they complain more about it, too. How often do we hear about the evils of anti Semitism or discrimination against Muslims? I'm not saying that they're not right for complaining about the harassment that they receive but it's just a bit annoying how those actions are so frowned upon but it's more acceptable to bash Christians because they're a "supermajority."

I don't think it is acceptable to bash Christians just because they are a majority. I think previous posters were trying to explain why people like Maher focus much more on Christianity; because they live in a heavily Christian society. If they lived in Turkey they would focus more on Muslims. Now even if I don't like what they say, I certainly don't support silencing them. As long as it doesn't infringe on your right to believe and practice your religion, it should be allowed.

Of course it ought to be allowed. No one is saying that these dopes don't have the right to spew their stupidity. Just because they ought to stop and I want them to stop doesn't mean I want to legally silence them.

[Keystone Phil]

I mean, how do you account for Western Europe, whose countries' educational systems aren't dominated by religion?

Not exactly the best comparison since many of them have strong roots in religion.

[Keystone Phil]

I mean, how do you account for Western Europe, whose countries' educational systems aren't dominated by religion?

Not exactly the best comparison since many of them have strong roots in religion.

I did a quick perusal of Wikipedia articles on education in various European countries' and I can't find one where Christianity or prayer is stressed.

I never said that Christianity and/or prayer is stressed; I said the great educational institutions in Europe were rooted in religion. We wouldn't have these institutions if it wasn't for religion.

[Keystone Phil]

My point is that those institutions have little to nothing to do with religion now, and they are stronger than their American counterpart now.  I think that religion has a negligible effect on one's predisposition to learn.

If you agree (and it sounds like you do), then why respond at all?

It's because of fanatically religious people that these institutions became prestigious in the first place.

[Keystone Phil]

It's because of fanatically religious people that these institutions became prestigious in the first place.

So, your original comment has little to do with the discussion at hand?  Ok.

Actually, yes, it does. They're not currently dominated by religion but they're grand institutions because religion helped shape what they are today.

[Keystone Phil]

It's because of fanatically religious people that these institutions became prestigious in the first place.

So, your original comment has little to do with the discussion at hand?  Ok.

Actually, yes, it does. They're not currently dominated by religion but they're grand institutions because religion helped shape what they are today.

How does that support either Bush's belief that American's aren't performing well because religion isn't front and center or my assertion that Europeans are currently doing fine without it?

It doesn't. I'm just saying that your statement about religion not playing a role in the excellence of European educational institutions is a bit off. 

[Keystone Phil]

And I never said that religion never played a role in education, just that it doesn't now.  It did, after all, preserve the history of ancient Europe during the Dark Ages.

Fair enough.