Divermarv

Speaking in the King Hussein Mosque in Amman, he argued that religion was a force for good, but its “manipulation” caused divisions and even violence. – Benedict XVI

“I think it’s perfectly possible to explain how the universe came about without bringing God into it, but I don’t know everything, and there may well be a God somewhere, hiding away. Actually, if he is keeping out of sight, it’s because he’s ashamed of his followers and all the cruelty and ignorance they’re responsible for promoting in his name. If I were him, I’d want nothing to do with them.” – Philip Pullman

“Every religion is ‘bizarre’ for those who do not accept its tenets.” – Anon

“We have lobbed verses of Scripture, like hand grenades, into the camps of others, convinced we only have truth.” – Most Rev. George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, 1997

“The bigotry of the nonbeliever is for me nearly as funny as the bigotry of the believer.” – Abert Einstein

“A man who is convinced of the truth of his religion is indeed never tolerant. At the least, he is to feel pity for the adherent of another religion but usually it does not stop there. The faithful adherent of a religion will try first of all to convince those that believe in another religion and usually he goes on to hatred if he is not successful. However, hatred then leads to persecution when the might of the majority is behind it.” – Albert Einstein

In March of 2009, three Americans spoke at a conference in Kampala Uganda. The conference theme was The theme of the event, according to Stephen Langa, its Ugandan organizer, was “the gay agenda – that whole hidden and dark agenda” – and the threat homosexuals posed to Bible-based values and the traditional African family.

The three americans: Scott Lively, a missionary who has written several books against homosexuality, including “7 Steps to Recruit-Proof Your Child”; Caleb Lee Brundidge, a self-described former gay man who leads “healing seminars”; and Don Schmierer, a board member of Exodus International, whose mission is “mobilizing the body of Christ to minister grace and truth to a world impacted by homosexuality” should feel very proud of themselves and their legacy.

Today in Kampala Uganda, a Ugandan gay rights activist was bludgeoned to death. While the police “cannot confirm that David Kato was killed because he was gay, or whether it was an ordinary crime,” this murder simply underlines the issue that violent extremist; thoughts, actions, and teachings are not confined to the religion of Islam. As much as the bible belt would like to believe it, this evil exists. Here. Now. And sadly often with the approval of people we know.

Shame on you Scott Lively, Caleb Lee Brundidge, and Don Schmierer!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41292753/ns/world_news-africa/

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/world/africa/04uganda.html