In todays news...

[ZRX61]

It's simple:
If your religion requires you to hate someone, you need a new religion (or none)

[Count Steer]

It's simple:
If your religion requires you to hate someone, you need a new religion (or none)

None of this is really about religion, in the true sense, it's about who gets to interpret and control that religion. Like this:

There are five divine guidelines that the Qur'an clearly presents to Muslims for building tolerance and understanding among differing religions. Everyone's God-given human dignity must be respected, regardless of his or her faith, race, ethnic origin, gender, or social status (ref. Qur'an, 17:70).

...and this..

Western Christian views
Maximal forms of religious pluralism claim that all religions are equally true, or they claim that one religion can be true for some people and another religion can be true for others.

But within each of them, there are factions that 'know' how to interpret everything and they'll fight each other over gaining congregation/members because it becomes about power, control, wealth....it's all basically tribal/politics. Sunni/Shia, CoE/Catholics etc etc. Even within Israeli Jews you have factions, Hassidi, Sephardi, Ashkenazi etc. Just like NI, none of this is actually really about religion, it's about power, control and money.

I mentioned up there ^^^ that there are young Israelis (I think I used the term 'ethnic Israelis') that are pissed off with what's happening. I didn't refer to it as a 'Oh, I've read somewhere that....' I actually have hours of digital recordings of telephone discussions with young, professional Israelis and whoo, do they moan. None of them complain about the Palestinians but they all moan about stuff like the government and military service and those that don't have to do it. Lots of them want to leave but feel they've dropped behind on their experience because of military service and can't compete equally in other markets.

I know that Potter thinks he's the only person alive that knows anything about everything but I'll post a picture of one of our bookshelves re the history of the ME if anyone wants validation. (Yes, I've been to Israel).

It would be nice if other opinions were as well informed instead if just trotting out their existing prejudices....but this is a motorcycle forum....

[MyLittleStudPony]

Matter is energy. In the Universe there are many energy fields which we cannot normally perceive. Some energies have a spiritual source which act upon a person’s soul. However, this soul does not exist ab initio as orthodox Christianity teaches; it has to be brought into existence by a process of guided self-observation. However, this is rarely achieved owing to man's unique ability to be distracted from spiritual matters by everyday trivia.

[Yambo]

Matter is energy. In the Universe there are many energy fields which we cannot normally perceive. Some energies have a spiritual source which act upon a person’s soul. However, this soul does not exist ab initio as orthodox Christianity teaches; it has to be brought into existence by a process of guided self-observation. However, this is rarely achieved owing to man's unique ability to be distracted from spiritual matters by everyday trivia.

Is orthodox Christianity what counts then?

[Treadeager]

Matter is energy. In the Universe there are many energy fields which we cannot normally perceive. Some energies have a spiritual source which act upon a person’s soul. However, this soul does not exist ab initio as orthodox Christianity teaches; it has to be brought into existence by a process of guided self-observation. However, this is rarely achieved owing to man's unique ability to be distracted from spiritual matters by everyday trivia.

What ? Nothing to do with Brexit ??

[JackyJoll]

Matter is energy. In the Universe there are many energy fields which we cannot normally perceive. Some energies have a spiritual source which act upon a person’s soul. However, this soul does not exist ab initio as orthodox Christianity teaches; it has to be brought into existence by a process of guided self-observation. However, this is rarely achieved owing to man's unique ability to be distracted from spiritual matters by everyday trivia.

Is orthodox Christianity what counts then?

Greek or Russian?

There’s the makings of a fite!

[Count Steer]

Matter is energy. In the Universe there are many energy fields which we cannot normally perceive. Some energies have a spiritual source which act upon a person’s soul. However, this soul does not exist ab initio as orthodox Christianity teaches; it has to be brought into existence by a process of guided self-observation. However, this is rarely achieved owing to man's unique ability to be distracted from spiritual matters by everyday trivia.

Monty Python. You little tinker.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Matter is energy. In the Universe there are many energy fields which we cannot normally perceive. Some energies have a spiritual source which act upon a person’s soul. However, this soul does not exist ab initio as orthodox Christianity teaches; it has to be brought into existence by a process of guided self-observation. However, this is rarely achieved owing to man's unique ability to be distracted from spiritual matters by everyday trivia.

What ? Nothing to do with Brexit ??

I believe keeping it Brexity is one of the every day trivia that distracts one from self observation. Another major side line is getting a good degree.

Nice and Brexity.

[Cousin Jack]

It's simple:
If your religion requires you to hate someone, you need a new religion (or none)

None of this is really about religion, in the true sense, it's about who gets to interpret and control that religion.
2
But within each of them, there are factions that 'know' how to interpret everything and they'll fight each other over gaining congregation/members because it becomes about power, control, wealth....it's all basically tribal/politics.

I think you and I agree. It is not about 'god', it is all about people controlling other people.

[irie]

I know that Potter thinks he's the only person alive that knows anything about everything but I'll post a picture of one of our bookshelves re the history of the ME if anyone wants validation. (Yes, I've been to Israel).

It would be nice if other opinions were as well informed instead if just trotting out their existing prejudices....but this is a motorcycle forum....

It's a shame that you've only recently become an expert, I could have done with your support when I was trying to tackle the lies and prejudice in things like the world cup thread.

Onwards and upwards though.
100% nice and brexity

CS must be an extradinarily fast speed reader to have read bookshelves of books on the history of the ME in order to "recently become an expert"

[Count Steer]

I know that Potter thinks he's the only person alive that knows anything about everything but I'll post a picture of one of our bookshelves re the history of the ME if anyone wants validation. (Yes, I've been to Israel).

It would be nice if other opinions were as well informed instead if just trotting out their existing prejudices....but this is a motorcycle forum....

It's a shame that you've only recently become an expert, I could have done with your support when I was trying to tackle the lies and prejudice in things like the world cup thread.

Onwards and upwards though.
100% nice and brexity

CS must be an extradinarily fast speed reader to have read bookshelves of books on the history of the ME in order to "recently become an expert"

I reckon Richard Burton's 'Pilgrimage in Mecca and Medina' took a few months just on it's own.

[gremlin]

Meh. Real pros use Sven Hassel for reference.

[Mr. Dazzle]

It's a shame that you've only recently become an expert, I could have done with your support when I was trying to tackle the lies and prejudice in things like the world cup thread.

Onwards and upwards though.
100% nice and brexity

CS must be an extradinarily fast speed reader to have read bookshelves of books on the history of the ME in order to "recently become an expert"

I reckon Richard Burton's 'Pilgrimage in Mecca and Medina' took a few months just on it's own.

It's quite the walk after all.

[Count Steer]

CS must be an extradinarily fast speed reader to have read bookshelves of books on the history of the ME in order to "recently become an expert"

I reckon Richard Burton's 'Pilgrimage in Mecca and Medina' took a few months just on it's own.

It's quite the walk after all.

It got him away from Liz Taylor for a bit of a break though.

[irie]

Brill, all we need now is someone that has read Bravo Two Zero and is now an expert on military intervention in the ME

No need for false modesty Potter, you're obviously speaking for yourself.

[JackyJoll]

Meh. Real pros use Sven Hassel for reference.

I devoured those books as a kid, and I was gutted later to find out he was a fraud

I'm still having that I'm an expert in German military tactics after reading them though

A boy in my class stalled at the brothel scene and read it over and over. Never got to the next chapter. He’s probably rubbish at re-fighting Operation Barbarossa on internet forums now.

[Count Steer]

Meh. Real pros use Sven Hassel for reference.

I devoured those books as a kid, and I was gutted later to find out he was a fraud

I'm still having that I'm an expert in German military tactics after reading them though

A boy in my class stalled at the brothel scene and read it over and over. Never got to the next chapter. He’s probably rubbish at re-fighting Operation Barbarossa on internet forums now.

To be fair, the original lot that started it weren't that good at fighting it either. He was probably better off in the brothel

I read Das Boot but it didn't make me an expert in submarine warfare...it made me never want to get on a submarine! (I can, however, wax lyrical on the use of Monte Carlo analysis for use in the the pattern of depth charge delivery, should anyone ever be in need. ).

[Cousin Jack]

(I can, however, wax lyrical on the use of Monte Carlo analysis for use in the the pattern of depth charge delivery, should anyone ever be in need. ).

IIRC one of the first successes of OR. And rather bad news for submarines.

[DefTrap]

This is why I have nothing much to say about these types of wars, you can argue right and wrong but ultimately religion muddies the water so much that it's pointless.

It's interesting to hear unbiased and cogent opinion from folk who've studied these conflicts and their backgrounds (I was listening to an interesting podcast with Rory Stewart the other day, for example) but ultimately academic analysis means feck all to the people on the ground in the area who are born and will live and die in the surefire belief that their neighbour is evil and should burn in a fiery hell.

[Pirahna]

Brill, all we need now is someone that has read Bravo Two Zero and is now an expert on military intervention in the ME

No need for false modesty Potter, you're obviously speaking for yourself.

Have you ever been tested for autism?