Saudi cleric condemns snowmen as anti-Islamic

Wow.. Really? Now it isn't just the prophet to piss them off...but ANY depiction of human form?

Well now... Perhaps they need some more foreign aid. I have this impression that Psychiatry isn't a mature field in their nation, and maybe we should feel obligated to assist in that deficiency. :)

Nugget,


That is the true dark side of religion, isn't it?

On one hand, Religion is incredibly powerful as a force of good and positive things. I've got a whole family line on my Moms side who took that 'be fruitful and multiply' thing to all new levels, and left me with a BIG family ...of majority devout Roman Catholics. They do what you say there, in leaving much of their lives and concerns to 'fate', as we may see it, but in 'the hands of the Lord', in their view. I don't paraphrase that to be snarky either. It's their sincere belief for what makes their lives good and whole. I also think a number of my relatives would lead far LESS pious and devout lives ..if they didn't sincerely fear the judgement of Almighty God as a true and tangible thing they'll face some day, alone. 

Then, you have the radical Islamist and Jihadis. They take that precise same devout Faith, which springs from the very same core of the human spirit (IMO) and turn it to dark, destructive, and evil outcomes. Just as no GOOD deed is entirely the credit of the devout Catholic (God has a hand in all), no BAD deed is entirely the FAULT of the fighting radical (Allah has a hand in all, too, to ask them). It gives a person the freedom to be good..with reason beyond themselves to maintain that .......OR...it gives a person the freedom to commit evil, and rationalize how consequence isn't something they'll face.

So I suppose religion and blind adherence to it can be a very positive and pure thing, or a VERY destructive and dark thing. It depends entirely on the culture, society, individuals and..of course..how tolerant a Faith chooses to be of its ...less than pious members. Islam shows a tolerance beyond understanding, to me ... Where Christians are very much who helped bring DOWN "Christian Identity", The Butler compound of the "Aryan Nations" and have roundly rejected while condemning groups like "Covenant, the Sword and the Arm of the Lord". 

Religion certainly has two sides. Two very distinct sides.

The financial element in some religious circles is called "Fire Insurance". 

It's not my position to judge a person, someone with a lot more horsepower than I, will do that sooner or later.