On Tue, 13 Oct 1998, Robert G. Grimes wrote:

> My reference to "fundamentalism" was to non-critical
> thinking and superstition and I meant no offense to anyone's
> religious beliefs but when people kill innocent people for
> religious principles then it is entirely too primitive,
> irrational and fundamentalist for my taste.  Unfortunately,
> there has been entirely too much of that in our history to
> think it has passed.  Just look at Yugoslavia today...
> Look at the Olympic bombings, the Waco fiasco, the clinic
> bombings, etc., all in the name of religion.  I would never
> consider worshiping any God that inspired such activity...

To correct this common misunderstanding, the war in yugoslavia had
little to do with religion and was far more influenced by nationalism.
Religion was simply the central symbol of national identity.

Also, I don't think God inspires this fundementalist activity.
Undoubtedly, God abhors it.  But, at least to my limited understanding, we
live in the plane of imperfection, and here, many things around us can be
used for good or bad.  The blade can be made into a knife, or into a
sword.  Money can be used to ease transactions, or as a tool for
domination.  Nitrates can be used for fertilizer, or for making bombs.
Religion can be used to promote unity amongst men, or as an instrument of
hate.

It comes down to how we wish to use them.  That is why we are here.  To
have our free will tested.  In addition, to have the opportunity to turn
the mistakes of our (and others) free will into something positive.  To
turn evil into good.  To right wrongs.  To perfect the imperfect.
Otherwise, as I like to think, we would have stayed in heaven. :)

steve