[MD] Barbarian attack

[Heather Perella]

Arlo and All,

     Arlo said:  "As an aside, I remember once someone
asking "How can people actually believe that 'God' has
only ever revealed himself in one tiny spot of desert
while ignoring the rest of the world?" The answer
given cracked me up, "Because everyone there is so
f*&ked up it's the only place he HAD to intervene."
:-)"

     I think that is a very funny statement in a very
comedian type fashion (you know in the sense that the
truth is funny).  I think this region of the world is
so messed up because they had to deal with each other.
 When Europe had to deal with itself fighting broke
out, yet, their technology and geography placed them
on course for the Americas (I know I am skipping a lot
of details and generalities, but onto the point). 
They had a place to run to, and if they could make it
to the East Coast of North America Manifest Destiny (a
cultural drive) pushed them across the continent to
find peace and make their own way.  These settlers
were running away from the East Coast in search of a
better opportunity.  We have no where else to run. 
The middle east has had no where to run for centuries.
 Europe to the west, the Sahara Desert in Africa, the
Persians were blocked by the Moguls and India natives
to the East, and the Russians, Mongols, Chinese to the
north.  We are talking about large societies blocking
in a region of people that very quickly could not
expand any further and thus had to deal with each
other.  

     Arlo the literalization of what Christ had to say
would have been turn the other cheek, which is a
contradiction of what you were trying to point out
about Christ (not Christianity, but Christ).  Matthew
5:44, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you,
do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you."  The actions
of Christ were love and killing.  He did not get an
army and attack the Romans.  The last part of the
verse, "pray for them which despitefully use you, and
persecute you."  This is exactly what Tibetan monks
were seen doing to their Chinese persecutors during
the invasion.

SA

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