Nearly 1 in 5 Americans Thinks Obama Is Muslim, Survey Shows

Of course, an additional problem is that too many people mistake "informed" for "agrees with me."

Harshaw said:

Of course, an additional problem is that too many people mistake "informed" for "agrees with me."

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Indeed. Many, for example, call a report "biased" and discard it, although it's just reporting facts that suggest a certain policy they don't like. Yet they cling to the notion that "the other side" to this story is inherently just as valid (although it isn't), just because their political "side" supports it.

German guy said:

Indeed. Many, for example, call a report "biased" and discard it, although it's just reporting facts that suggest a certain policy they don't like. Yet they cling to the notion that "the other side" to this story is inherently just as valid (although it isn't), just because their political "side" supports it.

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That does indeed happen, and it happens everywhere in the spectrum.

BDBoop said:

Okay, I can't take it any more. There is no apostrophe in Christians or Muslims. There's just not. Stop it.

If it's justified? Seriously. Are you kidding me??

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I throw apostrophes, commas around carelessly, hoping I get them right. Most people seem to have always ignored it. Apparently you have an intolerance towards this misuse.

I think that in some cases Muslims are just getting a lot of negativity because of their actions and inactions. They haven't been vocal enough against Sharia Law, jihad, you know that they have problems with violence. I also know Christians have had such problems, but they've advanced since their beginnings. Muslims don't seem to have advanced. I really don't see why we can't tell them that they need to get rid of their negative treatment of women. They are keeping a lot of negative laws that should have been disavowed long ago. Really, even if they call it a religion, when it's wrong, it's wrong.

Marilyn Monroe said:

I throw apostrophes, commas around carelessly, hoping I get them right. Most people seem to have always ignored it. Apparently you have an intolerance towards this misuse.

I think that in some cases Muslims are just getting a lot of negativity because of their actions and inactions. They haven't been vocal enough against Sharia Law, jihad, you know that they have problems with violence. I also know Christians have had such problems, but they've advanced since their beginnings. Muslims don't seem to have advanced. I really don't see why we can't tell them that they need to get rid of their negative treatment of women. They are keeping a lot of negative laws that should have been disavowed long ago. Really, even if they call it a religion, when it's wrong, it's wrong.

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:doh:doh:doh:doh:doh

The reason christians may have 'advanced' is because of those of us who are not christians. Don't give your religion credit where it deserves none. Secularism is everything you have to be happy for. Also, read a book on islam or something. Please. At least wikipedia. Dont generalise the anti-woman laws of a few arab countries for 1.5 million muslims.

Marilyn Monroe said:

I throw apostrophes, commas around carelessly, hoping I get them right. Most people seem to have always ignored it. Apparently you have an intolerance towards this misuse.

I think that in some cases Muslims are just getting a lot of negativity because of their actions and inactions. They haven't been vocal enough against Sharia Law, jihad, you know that they have problems with violence. I also know Christians have had such problems, but they've advanced since their beginnings. Muslims don't seem to have advanced. I really don't see why we can't tell them that they need to get rid of their negative treatment of women. They are keeping a lot of negative laws that should have been disavowed long ago. Really, even if they call it a religion, when it's wrong, it's wrong.

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It is theirs. Do you really want to put fundamentalist Christianity up against it?

JohnWOlin said:

Harshaw, apdst I want you to go out and find all the NRA members, Republicans, and Catholics that are the bad seeds so that we won't EVER have another Timothy McVeigh.

Also serious lolz at the "anti-Muslim what are you talking about?!" comment.

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Timothy McVeigh was an isolated incident that had no specific ties to any religion, political party, or legitimate organization. He was pissed off the way Clinton and Janet Reno handled the Waco/David Karesh incident.

Take a serious look at the Muslim world. The treatment of women, the treatment of criminals (cutting off limbs), Sharia lawAmerican Thinker: Top ten reasons why sharia is bad for all societies, and come back and say that you agree with this sort of belief system.

Marilyn Monroe said:

Timothy McVeigh was an isolated incident that had no specific ties to any religion, political party, or legitimate organization. He was pissed off the way Clinton and Janet Reno handled the Waco/David Karesh incident.

Take a serious look at the Muslim world. The treatment of women, the treatment of criminals (cutting off limbs), Sharia lawAmerican Thinker: Top ten reasons why sharia is bad for all societies, and come back and say that you agree with this sort of belief system.

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Sure, and then you go read up on snake handlers in the Appalachians, and we can consider ourselves equally educated on fundies.

BCR said:

FOXNews.com - Nearly 1 in 5 Americans Thinks Obama Is Muslim, Survey Shows


Stupid Fundamentalist Christians making America look bad.

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Of course, this does not mean that 1 in 5 actually think that he is a Muslim just that 1 in 5 are willing to respond that way to a survey. The survey found that most of those who said that Obama is Muslim were also people who disagreed with his politics. I suspect that the people who were against his policies were wanting to separate themselves from him in any way that they could which leads one to surmise that most of the people who said that Obama was Muslim were not themselves Muslim. Whether they were Christians or Radical Christians is not apparent from the data.

Marilyn Monroe said:

I throw apostrophes, commas around carelessly, hoping I get them right. Most people seem to have always ignored it. Apparently you have an intolerance towards this misuse.

I think that in some cases Muslims are just getting a lot of negativity because of their actions and inactions. They haven't been vocal enough against Sharia Law, jihad, you know that they have problems with violence. I also know Christians have had such problems, but they've advanced since their beginnings. Muslims don't seem to have advanced. I really don't see why we can't tell them that they need to get rid of their negative treatment of women. They are keeping a lot of negative laws that should have been disavowed long ago. Really, even if they call it a religion, when it's wrong, it's wrong.

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Okay - I'm with you on this: I abhor the way women are treated in many sects of Islam (remember, not all of them treat women the same way - Turkey and Tunisia even outlaw the hijab). And I think it's perfectly okay to criticize that. Indeed, many Muslim women are trying to spread their stories in the West. But I also abhor the fact that the Catholic Church doesn't allow women to be priests, and I tell my Catholic friends that.

That's part of free speech.

But telling them they can't build a mosque goes beyond criticism. That is a restriction of their freedom of religion.
___

Not to mention that Indonesia - the largest Muslim nation in the world has elected a female Prime Minister - something many "Christian" nations haven't done.

SE102 said:

:doh:doh:doh:doh:doh

The reason christians may have 'advanced' is because of those of us who are not christians. Don't give your religion credit where it deserves none. Secularism is everything you have to be happy for.

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This is as dumb as what you were responding to. Perhaps you yourself should crack open a few books regarding the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the people behind it.

You should also look up the history of the Progressive movement and its deep roots in quite overt Christianity. To this day, the tenets of "progressive" thought are indeed those ideas at the heart of Christianity.

Are you going to attack the Amish next? They live by many of the same customs. Women cover their heads, and many other similarities. The way muslims choose to observe their religion is none of your business or anyone else's. We are fighting terrorism, not religious expression. All these comments about their observation of customs is irrelevant.

Bereal said:

Are you going to attack the Amish next? They live by many of the same customs. Women cover their heads, and many other similarities. The way muslims choose to observe their religion is none of your business or anyone else's. We are fighting terrorism, not religious expression. All these comments about their observation of customs is irrelevant.

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Exactly! Thank you. And welcome to Debate Politics.

BDBoop said:

Sure, and then you go read up on snake handlers in the Appalachians, and we can consider ourselves equally educated on fundies.

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You're really digging aren't you? We live in a free country, go find this freedom in Muslim countries.

BDBoop said:

Exactly! Thank you. And welcome to Debate Politics.

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Bullhockey!

Bereal said:

Are you going to attack the Amish next?

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Funny you should mention that, because the Park51 folks did exactly that:

Blogger says Ground Zero Mosque

Amish saying stop Muslims? 1. What are you doing on the computer? 2. That’s not very Amish 3. Shouldn’t you be making butter?

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So, whatever it's appropos of, there it is.

Marilyn Monroe said:

You're really digging aren't you? We live in a free country, go find this freedom in Muslim countries.

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No, I'm not digging at all. Freedom of religion. Muslims are everywhere, you can't say Muslim countries and say that's how things are, that's who they are and what they do.

By the way? My niece-in-law is Muslim, as is one of my business partners.

Marilyn Monroe said:

I think that in some cases Muslims are just getting a lot of negativity because of their actions and inactions. They haven't been vocal enough against Sharia Law, jihad, you know that they have problems with violence. I also know Christians have had such problems, but they've advanced since their beginnings. Muslims don't seem to have advanced. I really don't see why we can't tell them that they need to get rid of their negative treatment of women. They are keeping a lot of negative laws that should have been disavowed long ago. Really, even if they call it a religion, when it's wrong, it's wrong.

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Christians advanced when they were lucky enough to have a few societal leaders choose to remove religion from government. Unfortuently Islam has not had such inspirational leaders come forward yet in the ME. Those Muslims in power know that they will lose their power once religion is removed from the mix and the government handed to the will of the people.

Christianity was able to make this leap globally rather quickly because there was ONE recognized authority at the time, the Vatican, to strike against. Islam however doesn't have one authority. Every country has their own so every country must do this individually and the first country to do it may be seen as weak and most likely attacked by the others.

SE102 said:

:doh:doh:doh:doh:doh

The reason christians may have 'advanced' is because of those of us who are not christians. Don't give your religion credit where it deserves none. Secularism is everything you have to be happy for. Also, read a book on islam or something. Please. At least wikipedia. Dont generalise the anti-woman laws of a few arab countries for 1.5 million muslims.

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You need to read a few books, not I.

Marilyn Monroe said:

You need to read a few books, not I.

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Are you saying you have already read everything he just aimed you at, or are you operating from a place of willful ignorance.

Marilyn Monroe said:

I throw apostrophes, commas around carelessly, hoping I get them right. Most people seem to have always ignored it. Apparently you have an intolerance towards this misuse.

I think that in some cases Muslims are just getting a lot of negativity because of their actions and inactions. They haven't been vocal enough against Sharia Law, jihad, you know that they have problems with violence. I also know Christians have had such problems, but they've advanced since their beginnings. Muslims don't seem to have advanced. I really don't see why we can't tell them that they need to get rid of their negative treatment of women. They are keeping a lot of negative laws that should have been disavowed long ago. Really, even if they call it a religion, when it's wrong, it's wrong.

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I think that there is a tendency to confuse religion with culture. They can be intertwined but they are not the same thing. All successful religions adapt to local customs and traditions (e.g., Christmas is based on a pagan festival). This makes it easier for the religion to spread. However, a religion should not be condemned because of the actions of the people of that faith.

We should note that, throughout recorded history, people have used their belief in God or gods to justify doing some really horrible things to other people. The inquisition and the Crusades are examples of how people used their Christianity to impose themselves on other people in some really nasty ways. What you attribute to growth of the religion is, I think, a maturing of a culture in spite of, not because of, religion. There is a large area of the world that have not culturally matured. That part of the world just happens to be predominately Muslim. It may be that the culture hasn’t matured because of economics rather than because of their faith. We know that faith can prevent a society from maturing (the Dark Ages) and that might be what is preventing the so-called Muslim world from advancing. It could also be the fact that the societies are economically and technologically “backwards” and that is what shapes their thinking and makes them seem so radical to us.

Anyway, just because someone uses religion as “justification” for doing bad things to us (things they were going to do anyway), it probably is not a good idea for us to use religion (theirs or ours) as our justification for doing bad things to them.

Gibberish said:

Christians advanced when they were lucky enough to have a few societal leaders choose to remove religion from government. Unfortuently Islam has not had such inspirational leaders come forward yet in the ME. Those Muslims in power know that they will lose their power once religion is removed from the mix and the government handed to the will of the people.

Christianity was able to make this leap globally rather quickly because there was ONE recognized authority at the time, the Vatican, to strike against. Islam however doesn't have one authority. Every country has their own so every country must do this individually and the first country to do it may be seen as weak and most likely attacked by the others.

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It's always been Christian leadership and brains. I don't think it was luck. Where have all the great minds and inventions come from?

All the Catholic leaders were highly educated. Not just anybody can be a priest.

In other words, it ain't gonna happen for Muslims.

Marilyn Monroe said:

It's always been Christian leadership and brains. I don't think it was luck. Where have all the great minds and inventions come from?

All the Catholic leaders were highly educated. Not just anybody can be a priest.

In other words, it ain't gonna happen for Muslims.

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Galileo, Newton, Einstein, Franklin, Washington, Jefferson were leaders in the Christian church? Were they Bishops or Cardinals?

What happened for Christians was that you had people like Queen Elizabath I who started the removal of the church from governmental power because they didn't want to be puppets of the Church. These were people outside ofthe norm that wanted the Christian church removed from the government. In terms of America we had the founding fathers who specifically removed religion from governmental matters.

Islam has not had anyone successfully do this yet and would be difficult for them to do. They don't have the luxury of having monarchal rule and low population levels like Elizabeth or starting a brand new country like the founding fathers. They have thousands of years of traditional Islamic law and a population in the hundreds of millions.

Gibberish said:

Galileo, Newton, Einstein, Franklin, Washington, Jefferson were leaders in the Christian church? Were they Bishops or Cardinals?

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I don't think she said they were leaders in the church, only that they were Christians and leaders.

Gallileo was a devout Catholic (and the Church didn't even have it out for him, only Bellarmine did).

Newton was one of the very first to postulate that the Earth was 6000 years old based on the Bible.

Einstein wasn't Christian, obviously, but he was religious.

Franklin, Washington, and Jefferson were Christians, whatever qualifiers you want to put on it.

Gibberish said:

Galileo, Newton, Einstein, Franklin, Washington, Jefferson were leaders in the Christian church? Were they Bishops or Cardinals?

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Wasn't the part about the priests in a different paragraph. Did you get the point? Lots of very educated Christians. It wasn't just luck.