On the mosque in the 911 location controversy, to me it isn't the location or the religion -

[NRaleighLiberal]

It is the incredible waste of beaucoup $$$$ - and I would say the same thing for any religion when it lavishes so much badly needed money on a "thing" (= building). it is one of the reasons we stopped going to church and participating in "organized religion" - just too much hypocrisy. Incredible - they take you through the bible and all the passages about the poor, yet set themselves up in lavish buildings with lavish lifestyles (broad generalization, I know....but it at least partially fits!).

[SwampG8r]

1. amen

[Bloofer_Lady]

2. Read the comments on CNN in response to the story...

Most of them are beyond racist and xenophobic. The US government has been vilifying Muslims and it would seem that a sizable portion of America bought into it. Ignorant portions of America are thinking that every Muslim is a terrorist.

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. That is as I expected. The US is becoming an easily mislead pack of scaredy cats!

And not very bright ones at that....just disgusting.

[Bloofer_Lady]

5. They can't think for themselves.

Instead of actually using logic they just buy what is said to them.

[closeupready]

6. If Hitler were rampaging today, we'd be, like, "but, but, but ... we could get hurt!"

n/t

[Angry Dragon]

3. Isn't it in the Bible that the body of man is a temple??

How sad so many that profess faith do not follow the teachings of that faith.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

8. yes it does say that...

but it also says 'do not forsake gathering together' as well...

sP

[Angry Dragon]

9. And it also says to go into your homes

and shut the door to pray.
An audience is not needed to profess your belief

[ProdigalJunkMail]

11. i agree...

but there is no stricture against praying in groups...Jesus most likely did it frequently...at the very least in asking blessings on meals. And church need not be about 'professing belief' but about many many other things like learning, support, worship and general fellowship.

sP

[Angry Dragon]

14. I have nothing against religion

just when someone wants me(tries to force and regulate, legislate) to believe the same way they do.
It just seems that so many people close their minds off to listening and trying to understand someone else.
And yes he met with groups and taught them a different way to think and feel

Have a good and pleasant day

[ProdigalJunkMail]

15. you and i are probably on the same page...

i disagree terribly with the tremendous waste that all religions (well, not all) have in relation to their building/spending programs. it would seem that moneys given should go to the parish (church members and NOT church members in the community) and very little toward gawdy representations.

sP

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. It's not a mosque, it's a center

I was a Catholic kid who took ballet and swimming lessons at the local Jewish Community Center. No one ever said a word about religion to me when I was there. It was no different than a YMCA.

To deny the Muslims the permission to build a center is nothing but xenophobic crap. It starts by calling it a mosque when it is not.

[NRaleighLiberal]

10. And a 10 million dollar center is needed? not being xenophobic...

just trying to sort out the wasteful spending going on these days, when so many have so little.

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. It's their money.

Since I don't live in NYC I have no idea if they need this center or not.

I am the first one to complain about churches building elaborate mega buildings for worship. I drive by and see food for hungry people and homes for the homeless. How big would Jesus want your church to be?

But this is not a church being proposed in NYC. It is a cultural center not much different from a YMCA. Labeling it as a place of worship when it is not just feeds the anti-Muslim crap we've dealt with since 911.

[NRaleighLiberal]

16. Point taken.

[uppityperson]

12. “We want to push back against the extremists,”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/09/nyregion/09mosque.html?_r=1


The mayor’s director of the Office of Immigrant Affairs, Fatima Shama, went further. “We as New York Muslims have as much of a commitment to rebuilding New York as anybody,” Ms. Shama said. Imam Feisal’s wife, Daisy Khan, serves on an advisory team for the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, and Lynn Rasic, a spokeswoman for the memorial, said, “The idea of a cultural center that strengthens ties between Muslims and people of all faiths and backgrounds is positive.”
(clip)
But, she added: “Building so close is owning the tragedy. It’s a way of saying: ‘This is something done by people who call themselves Muslims. We want to be here to repair the breach, as the Bible says.’ ”

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/12/08/nyregion/MOSQUE_SS_index.html
slideshow