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Haseeb on "Islam(s) and politics: post-traumatic states in Algeria"

Haseeb — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:15:11 +0100

An excellent detail about islam and politics.

We cannot continue are politics until and unless we adopt the method of islam.

And as we adopt it there will me peace in the country.

лякa on "Following the cross: a journey with Russian pilgrims"

лякa — Wed, 27 May 2009 05:51:31 +0100

А что Вы скажете, если я возьму на себя смелость утверждать, что все Ваши посты, не более чем выдумка?

Семен on "Following the cross: a journey with Russian pilgrims"

Семен — Sat, 23 May 2009 05:33:21 +0100

Можно и подискутировать по этому поводу ... :)

Simon Icke on "The end of postmodernism: the “new atheists” and democracy"

Simon Icke — Tue, 05 May 2009 11:33:34 +0100

Jesus Christ is Alive! I used to be an atheist but realised I had no real purpose in life and nothing that the world offered could fill that spiritual vacuum I felt inside. One day realising that everything the world offered was empty and only of fleeting interest. I humbled myself and repented and invited Jesus into my life. At the moment I said the believer’s prayer I knew that Jesus was alive as I experienced the power and love of his Holy Spirit. That was in 1979 nothing since then has convinced me otherwise than that was the best decision I ever made in my life to become a born again Christian and know the love, joy and power of God's Holy Spirit. I found a living faith that I didn't deserve. It was by God's Grace alone that saved a wretch like me.

I pray than one day when you stop following the fools Dawkins, Graylind & co that you to will find Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Saviour. I am certain that Jesus Christ is alive. I have witnessed many instances where I have seen God's power at work including the miraculous healing of my brother Danny when he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and given only weeks to live. That also was in 1979. My brother was miraculously healed by the power of prayer. He is still alive and well 30 years later. The bottom line is that I have lived a life without God and found it to be empty. But I have had the humility to believe in Jesus Christ as the messiah, the saviour of the world and found it to be true. Every time I pray I feel his presence and his amazing love. All the money and power in this world cannot compare than having a personal faith in Jesus Christ.

I hope one day that all you who persecute and ridicule Christians will one day have a Saul experience and be touched by the power of the Holy Spirit on your own road to Damascus (see the book of Acts) and realise how wrong you have been and start to follow Jesus rather than the false empty wisdom of today's aggressive, arrogant atheist and who are laughing all the way to the bank as the many fools are eager to buy their books. When people stop believing in God they don't believe in nothing they believe in anything and anyone. 50 years from now Dawkins will be forgotten. 2000 years have past, since Jesus walked this earth his ministry only lasted three years, he lived a humble life and made no money from his followers, he did no wrong or hurt anyone one but the atheist and the religious people shouted crucify as they were frightened by his message that challenged everything they believed and valued. He was a threat to their cosy world. 2000 years later he is still a threat that's why we now have Christianphobia in the UK today which is lead by several regular Guardian writers and some of the atheistic fools on Cif ( Comment is Free the Guardian discussion blog) can't get enough of the new trendy atheistic thoughts nor their Christian bashing. Dawkins and Grayling and others are the new aggressive bullies on the block, they have no tolerance, no humility, no love and they write with unbelievable arrogance. Humility is a quality that you won't find in any of their writing. They have convinced themselves there is no God yet they make their living hating God, especially the Christian God. Maybe deep down they are frightened that they are totally wrong and that Jesus is the way , the truth and the life.

The one thing we are all sure of is death, even for world leaders, the rich and famous kings or fools. Everything they own will mean nothing, neither will fame in this world be worth anything. They will leave this life as they entered it, NAKED. When that day comes they will be judged by God like everyone else. They won't be feeling so smug when God says to them sorry I don't know you. I cannot find your name in the book of life. Eternal life promised to all believers of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. I pray that one day you will find Him before you die. It wasn't just Saul who had a Damascus Road experience but more recently the great writer and professor C S Lewis. Who wrote he must of been one of the most reluctant converts to Christianity. He went from being an atheist to becoming a born again Christian. Which led to his great books , like the Screwtape letters, the Narnia series, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe etc. and so many more. All of his writing was enriched by his new found faith in Jesus Christ. It was his faith that inspired him to write with such wisdom that people in their millions and of all ages still enjoy today. I doubt the same will be said for Richard Dawkins even a few years after his death.

Seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened, ask and you will be answered. And by God's grace you will be saved.

One last thought, I cannot see the wind but I know its power, I don't know where it comes from or where it goes. But I am absolutely certain it is there. Just as I remain as certain that Jesus Christ is who he claimed to be. I feel His love and power and know he is with me every day.

We need to stand and be counted as Christians and answer the new trendy atheism that is sweeping the UK and led by the likes of Richard Dawkins and AC Grayling and many others. There is nothing more powerful than your personal testimony and focusing on Jesus Christ and the need to become a Christian to be saved. I recommend a book I have just read titled The Wild Gospel by Alison. Morgan, an Anglican minister living in the UK. It has inspired me and given me the clarity to stand up for my faith as above, in the face of the Christianphobia , and aggressive atheism we are now experiencing in the UK.. I recommend you buy this book and share it with other Christians it is an inspirational book for these times.

Be bold, be strong Christian brothers and sisters and be soldiers of the cross. We have the victory in Jesus Christ’s resurrection power. Go into the world and tell people the good news of the Gospel. The Holy Spirit will give you the wisdom and words that you need.

L.W. on "Anatolian Muslimhood: humanising capitalism? "

L.W. — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:37:29 +0100

That movement is a Trojan horse. Accept Turkey in the Eu and you will turn Europe into a fundamentally correct province of a revived Ottoman - Persian Empire financially profiting with a democratic economic stimulus while successfully taking away clothing , free speech and equality of the sexes. lol

egon on "Along the precipice: visions of atheism in London"

egon — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:40:41 +0100

There is some shallowness about atheism which is a form of gloating. An atheist can gloat now instead of glowing later. They have a right to gloat about the improbability of God's existence. The wager concept, by the way, is no flukey argument. To wager means to bet on a final result. Obviously, neither side wants to wait that long for a response (from God or nothing). Besides a patient and prolonged wait would play delightfully into the believer's optimistic worldview because as a believer gets older they get more committed to that wager. On the other hand, an atheist has less purchase on the wager and less consolation for being right.

If the believer gloats as much as an atheist it becomes a spiritual problem because gloating causes a blind spot at the moment you entertain being "right." The atheist thinks that gloating is the only cognitive payback: anticipate whatever best suits you. Believers don't agree with that.

jackfish on "The politics of ME, ME, ME"

jackfish — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 05:41:35 +0100

Normally I am a reader not a commenter. After all this I must agree that discussions on the internet may motivate people to think or research an issue, but notice that serfers often rip around the net looking for information that only buttress their own opinions. True research really can't be done on the net. I know I can't do it, (I have tried), I can't trust the sources. I don't know where the truth is in cyberspace or how to verify it or who is posting it. I know how to use a search engine but does it lead me to the truth? I don't think so. I'm like most people...somewhat lazy, and it would be great to sit in front of a machine and have it spew out facts and truths. I don't think people are ready for that yet.

The truth is out there, in the presents of people, in your local libraries, (that need our support), in schools, in real newspapers, in nature and within the hearts of our elders. Some may say this is a simplistic position to take. It may be. But why then is it so hard for us to find the truth? Why don't we respect eachother and differing opinions? Why is racism still a problem? Why are we becoming so morally weak? Why do we keep polluting our environment? I am sure if you search around the internet you will find a million missives proporting the truth on each one of these issues. Get out there, away from the machines and really look for the truth.

Just some humble thoughts from a humble fisherman.

Cole_2233 on "Sharia: practice of faith, politics of modernity "

Cole_2233 — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:16:34 +0000

What is almost embarrassing - is what has been left out - where in pious Egypt - Muslims are not permitted to leave Islam and apostates are tortured and imprisoned under the area of Shari'a which overrides - any civil laws - Coptic Christians are regularly harassed and beaten - and the Baha'i fare little better.

In Iran - in Sept 2008 their Parliament voted on and passed a law to put to death any one who leaves Islam.

- This is in line with the four schools of Islamic jurisprudence (of Shari'a Law) - who call for the death penalty for those wishing to leave Islam.

This conversation/article almost feels like I could image little Ayesha - felt when the old battle hardened Muhammad entered her - bringing along with it - everything about the Islamic world - in the one little thrust !!

Shari'a law can be said - to be an intrusion - or a forced marriage - to Western free and Democratic society!

The aim of the pious Muslims - as the writer has said - is to see Shari'a or God's Law ultimately in government - (of the entire world - is what he left out!)

If British Law brings in a Sharia aspect - with its legal decisions left to a bunch of bickering Imams - negotiating and wrangling over how best enter the Islamic paradise - it would most certainly be seen as the downfall of a great legal system.

I see the writer has written several books on Islam - I wonder why you don't see Christians in the Arab world freely writing and discussing their ideas - which may be of an opposing view ??

Would his beloved Shari'a have anything to do with this?

His best argument is - the Jews have it - so why can't we !!

The aim of Shari'a is not equality - as you can see by the way non-Muslims are treated under it - its aim is subjugation.

minieconomics on "Barack Obama and the American void "

minieconomics — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:11:03 +0000

Obama’s Plan – a costly and dangerous experiment for the world?

Anticipation of change is speculation; it is not known when the change will happen or by how much. The longer it takes the less chance of significant change and the more pressure there is for the change. In other words if a big change is required then it has to be controlled, absolutely.

Confidence is an unnatural state. The increase in confidence is dependent upon experience and information and can take years to gain and seconds to lose. A paradigm change in circumstances makes much of that experience irrelevant and the confidence has to be built up again using a different set of parameters.

There is no doubt that the world is undergoing a paradigm change and the main reason for that is that the first world has lost its confidence in asset values, especially the value of houses and cars. The longer a trend, such as increasing house prices, the more the over confidence and the consequent distortion of the economy for example in the continued increases in construction and the automobile sector. Overconfidence is not replaced by confidence, it is normally replaced at least by the equal disconfidence.

Cash is primary money; car and house loans are the creation of secondary money, or virtual money, and have been created by the private sector not the governments and are a multiple of primary money. When the borrower does not want to or cannot borrow and the lender does want to lend or cannot then there is an impasse in the economy, a depression.

Confidence is the prime determinant of the velocity of money and the economic or financial effect of that money. More confidence creates more velocity of circulation of money, hence apparent money, and more economic activity. The more disconfidence, the lower the velocity and the lower the economic effect such as buying bread instead of buying a car; the money and the economy disappears.

Deflation is where there is confidence in primary money but not in secondary monies.

Hyperinflation is where here the confidence has been lost in the local money and there is relative increase in confidence in secondary money influenced by confidence in world money

Stagflation is where there is no confidence in primary or secondary monies and tends to cause inflation without activity because there is no ability to buy or incentive to buy.

The situation in the 1st world and the USA

There is now a paradigm change in asset values.

There is a paradigm change in lending; the borrower does not want to borrow and the lender does not want to lend.

There is a paradigm change in the ability to lend and borrow

There is a paradigm change in the view of the future; there is no realistic and understandable economic plan to produce long term growth

There is a paradigm change in employment prospects

There is a paradigm change in government finances

There is a paradigm change in savings caused by inflationary increases in secondary money to savings in real money

There will be a paradigm change in security.

There is a dramatic paradigm change in psychology; fear has replaced greed and the ambition has disappeared amongst the companies.

The people are not stupid. They know that there was too much speculation and over-consumption based on debt and that it could not continue. They will not believe that the rescue plans could result in a resumption of long term growth because the plans, even if they are successful, are based upon huge increases in government debt that they think will have to be repaid in the future and will reduce future growth. They will save as much as possible from the reflation packages and try not to recycle them.

The 1st world governments are now trying to convert the huge increases in secondary money over the last thirty years into real money but the only current way of doing that is to increase the equivalent in government debt.

If a country does not have a commercial surplus then the only way of increasing wealth is to ‘steal’ from other countries, by wars, by controlling overseas assets or investment funds, by miss-selling investments such as sub-prime loans or printing money, the USA is guilty of all of these. If the richer are getting richer then it is obvious the poor are getting poorer. This is not apparent if the debt the poor are taking on is invested in secondary assets that are increasing in value at a rate higher than the interest rate but once deflation appears the debt becomes increasingly difficult to repay and the cash deposits become increasingly more valuable. With deflation the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer.

If everyone is in the banking system and more than 100% of real money is lent then there cannot be a banking multiplier that causes more lending because otherwise there is a loser for each gainer – it is pyramid selling or a Ponzi scheme!!!

The first world has been operating a huge Ponzi banking scheme that required geometric increases in lending that produced geometric increases in deposits and hence became completely reliant on the investment of overseas reserves and sub-prime lending.

By rescuing the banks the governments have protected the winners from the Ponzi scheme and castigated the poor both by continuing their debts and also by taking on a huge increase in public debt, and the overseas investors by devaluing their money.

The problem for the 1st world governments is that in a democracy everyone has a vote and anarchy is normally produced by the mass. The inevitable result is anarchy with the consequent effect on the currencies There has to be a rebellion against the banks and the governments where the people do not pay their debts nor their taxes or utility bills or a world war Obama in his plan is giving money to everybody, supporting the banks, guaranteeing the investors, supporting the economy and the poor with houses. This money is not their money. In respect of real money the overseas countries and people have more dollars or real money than the USA but do not have a vote nor consideration when the USA wishes to issue more; it is a financial and economic bully that treats non USA citizens as second class. Its institutions such as the SEC, with the Madoff Ponzi scheme, the FDA with its problems with US approved drugs for US companies, its rating agencies that still regard GE’s debt of US$500bn as AAA, the controlled IMF, and the underworld workings of the CIA have been shown as incompetent at best and corrupt and dangerous at the worst. Obama’s Plan cannot work. He is speculating on a big change but he is not controlling that change, he is still playing with capitalism when the real paradigm change is from liberal capitalism and free flow of capital and goods to controlled economies with the Governments in control. He will completely waste this money and as Paul Krugman effectively says, ‘you have one chance; any failure will result in a far more expensive solution that will not be anticipated next time’. At the moment the markets are giving him the benefit of doubt, in a short time they will doubt the benefits and the 1st world systems will collapse. www.minieconomics.comStephen Wheeler 10th February 2009

Agilis Lux on "Barack Obama and the American void "

Agilis Lux — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 13:20:12 +0000

Nock,nock, - is this coming up again? Wahabbism <> Zionism controlling? No, that has nothing to do with this topic.

kkahnharris on "The politics of ME, ME, ME"

kkahnharris — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 13:01:08 +0000

You're right - it isn't solely an internet issue. What I think has happened though is that the internet has intensified tendencies already present in the modern media and modern politics.

I should also say that I don't want the article to give the impession that I am critical of the internet and am in favour of some kind of return to a patirician, heirarchical approach to politics. The task is rather how to build media/internet/politics so that a host of voices can be heard without a descent into solipsism.

Not logged in on "Barack Obama and the American void "

Not logged in — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 07:22:20 +0000

Taha Baharoon - clearly you are a protege of Al Queda.

Hopefully the rest of the Middle is not quite as focused on the Zionists as you. If you do indeed represent the Middle, then we are all in dire trouble. My guess is that you represent the extremists who are attempting to discredit Obama by demeaning him. He is a threat to you because he does not buy into the hateful polarities you peddle.

synergy500 on "Barack Obama and the American void "

synergy500 — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 08:12:19 +0000

Rahm Emmanuel may be a Power-A; but he has a lot more substance and vision than Karl Rove.

synergy500 on "Barack Obama and the American void "

synergy500 — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 08:08:38 +0000

I, too, wonder how Critchley arrived at his analysis of Obama.

I see Obama as self-possesed, a man "comfortable in his own skin."

Only someone who is self-accepting, not to be confused with self-satisfied, can relate to others without the psychological artifaces of masks or armor, connect intimately, not casually, with others.

Jay G. on "Barack Obama and the American void "

Jay G. — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 06:10:15 +0000

Why is it not permissible to grant that Obama did what any savvy American politician must do to stay in politics: demonstrate some sort of religious commitment? Once he knew that he wanted to enter American political life, he had to begin to prepare an appropriate image. This does not strike me as particularly cynical; most of us conform in one way or another to whatever our jobs require of us. I don't think we need to indulge in speculative psycho-biography to guess at the reasons for Obama's weird belief/non-belief dialectic. It's the vacillation typical of anyone whose heart isn't completely in something. To appeal for a moment to an admittedly loopy image of Americana: Obama's got to wear the overalls if he's going to pitch the hay.