How Do You Feel About This Sign?

I'd question the church. What is that statement preaching?
hmmmmm

You know what? To think of it there isn't!

How about you, Moggy?

It caused a lot of controversy Jackie. Needless to say, many were not amused.

Jackie, although the statement is true, at least for me, I've never seen one. I don't think it was an appropriate thing to put on a sign outside a church!

Last time they were outside an abortion clinic, maybe!?

I just don't see the point of posting something like that....especially not at a church.
Go figure.

It is easily discerned as to why this sign would be offensive to those Muslims who do not believe in strapping bombs to their bodies but who had been stereotyped because there happens to be a few in this world who do....

"Our world is full of many tragedies but the biggest tragedy is the one that is bred from ignorance."

My Quotes

I think it's offensive. And, maybe in Northern Ireland? Or whereever you have a frustrated people fighting against a big establishment is where you will find people who strap bombs to their bodies.

Neither do I Jackie, seems to me like they're just asking for trouble. Do you think that they really believe that a Muslim would convert to Christianity after seeing that sign? Do you think that was their intention? Or were they just poking the viper?

You are right Ricky, it is very easy to see how they would be offended.

Well then, I guess that who ever wrote that sign had never heard of Ulster and the Irish Troubles or the Hagganah...

Jennifer, did they have suicide bombers in Northern Ireland?

I guess not Keith, neither have I.

I have seen some pretty strange things posted on a sign in front of one of the churches where I live:

God Hates Athiests

God Doesnt Believe in Atheists.

Now if you are a true Atheist why would you care?

Bible beaters are funny folks.

Nope

That's horrible, I also think the church should be questioned, that is not the type of words you post outside of a church.

Yes, its offensive, because its too broad, it lumps everyone in the same category, does not take in many, many good people, who do not necessary follow their religion fanatics.

It isn't really a question but a bigoted statement. Of course it would be offensive to an Islamic person but it really isn't for them. It's intended to point out differences and label the differences negative.
BTW, some North Vietnamese troops, as well as Japanese troops in WWII also strapped explosives to themselves. Remember kamakazie pilots.

It's not a legitimate question if they will not accept the answer that an apache attack helicopter with missiles is in fact a bomb delivery system strapped to Israeli Air Force Pilots, an F 15 with smart bombs aboard is a bomb strapped to an American Pilot in Iraq. And infantry squad with a mortar is a bomb delivery system...

ITS A STUPID QUESTION TO BE ASKING CITIZENS OF A NATION IN THE MIDSTS OF COMMITTING AGGRESSION.

As others have said, this sign is definitely offensive to people who follow a religion, in that, a few select people decide to express their beliefs in harmful ways. With that said, Christianity is a religion based on forgiveness and prayer, not, judgment. I believe the sign should be replaced with something that suggests prayer and forgiveness for these "select" people. You pray for them and for their forgiveness and salvation. Not that you can't be upset, mad, sad that they choose to act out this way, but if you are truly a Christian, you know that God is the judge, not you.

Truth is not always funny or nice!...I also think this is pertaining to TODAYS world!.."10" for posting the question...:o)

you'd figure they'd be able to spell 'christian' properly...

We all judge whether we admit it or not. "All have sinned and fallen short of God's glory (The Bible). God is clear, judge and you will be judged.

To God, a lie carries the same penalty as a murder, eternal damnation. And sin is disobedience and yes, we have all sinned. When it seems that no one could enter into the kingdom of God, he sent his son to cover the penalty of our disobedience and restore us through forgiveness.

Alas, I say to that with us this is impossible but with God all things are possible.

It's a tough call, we are human and full of flaws. I tell truly, if we cannot get along with a family member or the guy that pulls out in front of us...or the church or the criminal, there shall be no peace on this earth.

Again, I for one cannot forgive a terrorist killing people but God has the power to heal my hate.

It begs the question, what was the motive? Lines will be drawn in the sand soon enough by God's finger. It really was unnecessary to put up a sign that feeds the anger and fear of everyone in the world.

The sign is offensive for any number of reasons. There are terrorist groups that identify with every major religion. The people who planned and carried out the bombing of the Murrah building in Oklahoma City were members of Christian Identity. Terrorism, however, is not about religion, but politics. Terrorist groups use religious rhetoric to recruit new members, and they "justify" their actions by twisting the words of various religious texts. However, if you look at their targets and intended "audience," you will see that their aim is always political.

maybe this Church should be reminded of Luke 6:42

Damn, what happened to "Make Love, Not War"?

"When is the last time you heard of a Jew or a Christian with a bomb strapped to their body?" That is the question they asked and my answer is that I have never heard of a Jew or Christian with bombs strapped to their bodies.

To answer your questions, Moggy, if I were a Buddhist or a Taoist, or a Hindu, or member of any religion that did not practice this I probably would have no feelings about the sign. Now if I were anyone of any faith that had strapped a bomb to my body, I guess I would still have no feelings about it since I probably would not be here to feel anything, but If I were of a faith whose people have done this then maybe I would take offense. Being affiliated with a religion that condones suicide bombings is, in my opiinion, however, just slightly offensive, in and of itself.

MOggy, not likely to see a muslim convert. Last month a woman in Iran was stoned to death for that very thing. She wanted to marry a Christian. She was murdered in the town square by stoning. No wonder they have such a high retention rate in the mosques huh? As far as the sign goes, I have always believed that truth is it's own defense. There was survey last month of AMERICAN muslims 20-35 and close to 40% said they approve of suicide bombings as a legitimate way to fight......

Even if it the statement behidn the question were true, which I don't believe for a minute because Christians have done a lot of cruel things through the ages - Inquisitions, Crusades, Purgings, etc..... it is an incendiary question (no pun intended) and should never appear in a church sign. Instead sowing peace they they are sowing discord and will reap hate.

This is not the way to peace and brotherhood ( or sisterhood)! Too much destruction in the name of religion, too much hate. I'm sorry things like this are going on................

I'm not a religous person.

But to me that church, or whatever, is just hate mongering.

Why point out the evils? We all know they are there.

Why not ask a better question? When was the last time you helped someone less fortunate out??

Yah I agree with Brandi. An i am a christian.
My church puts up a more productive sign than that.
What was this church wanting to prove??
why didnt they ask: when was the last time you helped someone who wanted to strap a bomb to themselves??
I mean that would have been better.
An i agree with everyone: all this is, is hate.

Not offensive to me personally, but I can see where it would be to others.

And so called Christians just burned innocent people at the stake, is all.

Ouch! I think I just got bitch slapped by Karen. As requested I am posting the first couple of paragraphs of the article I wrote that K mentioned. My recollection was off by a bit, the actual number was 26%. Well, I'll let it speak for itself.

"A poll released today conducted by the left oriented study group, The Puhl (sp?) Group revealed something that many on the right have been saying for years and excoriated for it. The poll was taken of Muslims under the age of 30. The question was:



"Is suicide bombings an acceptable response to perceived attacks or insults to Islam?" My phrasing may be off I don't have the exact wording at hand.



The results may make you take your next mall visit wearing body armor.

26% said they approved of suicide bomb attacks and considered it a legitimate weapon to advance Islam's religious agenda.



The Muslim/terrorists apologist organizations are actually attempting to spin this as good news. I'm not being a wise-ass, they are literally saying how happy everyone should be that 76% are against strapping bombs to themselves and blowing themself up at the local mall...."


Now remember this was taken of Muslims living in the US. Hardly what I would call a few....That's over 1 out of 4.

The mention of the Crusades is fair enough. The difference being you aren't likely to have your head sawed off and the video of it posted on Youtube for saying that about a Christian. Not to mention the crusades were 500+ years ago give or take. I can't speak for all Christian churches (truth be told I VERY rarely go at all, but that's a different article) but I can't remember the last good burning of a heretic at the stake celebration they held......

Thought-provoking question Moggy, you do come up with some good ones.
All these two and three paragraph comments, the philosopical aspects and opinions, giving history lessons and of course people attempting to toss in their two cents as far as right and wrong, good or bad.....It's all bullshit.....

The bottom line is very simple and very literal....No opinion needed.....JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION PUT FORTH ON THE SIGN!

The answer: NEVER. I'm an athiest so religion is not clouding my judgement...I hate them all equally.

But this country needs to put away all the overly PC bullshit and get back to truth. Facts are facts, I've never seen or heard of a Catholic or Jewish suicide bomber and in the context of the sign neither have any of you...

Great conversation.

Chris W., I saw that on the news, and the percentage in England was even more frightening, although I do not recall the exact number.

Todd, I agree with the overly PC bullshit getting out of hand in this country.

Hello to all,

A message promoting hatred and paranoia from a religion founded on love. Liz is so right.

Namaste, Wayne

I am hard pressed to think of either with a bomb strapped to him or her, but there are so many cases of people who set off bombs that killed others but not themselves, that the list of such incidences would be very long and would contain people belonging to a most of religious faiths and would include both Christians and Jews.

In both cases the atrocity is in taking the lives of others. In the case of suicide bombers, the taking of those other lives is the difference between how people view them and the Buddhist monks and nuns who have set fire to themselves to bring attention to a cause to which they were committed.

While the dedication of suicide bombers is indeed strange to most of us, at least they do not try to survive their evil deeds so they can kill again. We may revile them for their deeds, but we should at least revile the for the right reason, and the taking of their own lives is not the right reason,

I think it is a very unfair generalization. What about Mc Veigh who bombed the federal building in Oklahoma? I'm not sure HOW he did it exactly, but that was pretty bad. I don't believe he was Muslim.

I am not a Muslim and I am extremely offended by that sign!!!!!!!

Well, every religion has its own extremists - Christianity included. I fully agree with Leah - such generalization is unfair. But, from the other side, it should make any believer, Christian, Moslem or other, stop and think - what our "religion" actually does with us? Does it makes us better? Or simply feeds our lower instincts and egoistic interests?... What it could lead to is that all the truly intelligent, enlightened people would begin to question religion as such. And the process is already put into action...

Blessings - S.

The sign is a bad example of hate mongering and finger pointing.

But then, there is something unique and scary about those Muslim suicide bombers. They really believe in what they do. They sacrifice themselves in their cruel act.

As has been pointed out above, Christianity and Judaism are full of examples for criminal terrorism in the name of religion - up to this day. In most cases though, the Christian religious terrorists have sacrificed others, not themselves.

Very good comments everyone. Liz unfortunatley that is what it boils down to. Sad isn't it?

Jews? Few...! Christians or at least professed Christians? More than afew times...! Witness the Oklahoma City bombing!

I think whoever wrote that sign probably thought they were being witty, profound or thought-provoking.... the bad part of it is, they didn't really think it all the way through.

They could be good people with a wrong attitude about getting their message across and so they miss the mark.

Thank you Doc and Sveta. Precisely what I was saying!

Donna, that is more than likely the case, unfortunatley.

Donald, was the Oklahoma City bomber a Christian or just an American? I don't remember the details about him.

There is a very large difference not being mentioned, those non-muslims mentioned did not claim to be doing what they did in the name of and as an act of their God. That's a huge diferentiation.

For me, the bottom line here is simple: We are guaranteed both freedom of religion and freedom of speech. If they don't like it, they too have the freedom to voice their opinion.

How sad!!!!!!!

Wow, how did you end up way back here on a June article? It is sad isn't it? This was here in our state too.