Arab "SPRING"....

[Dordrecht]

Freedom. Democracy. Have these truly been the result of the so-called Arab Spring? Not for Christians, who appear to be in even bigger trouble than they were in before.

[Jay]

That is true. The Arabs have exactly what they wanted which is a far more radical regime. The problem we now face is that we have a president who thinks that these are the greatest people since Moses.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Dordrecht

Freedom. Democracy. Have these truly been the result of the so-called Arab Spring? Not for Christians, who appear to be in even bigger trouble than they were in before.

Very GOOD point! And we have yet to see if the longer term results is better for most Muslims either.

[bbyrd009]

Originally Posted by Dordrecht

Freedom. Democracy. Have these truly been the result of the so-called Arab Spring? Not for Christians, who appear to be in even bigger trouble than they were in before.

That is because we equate freedom with democracy, a premise that will continue to torture us as long as we are invested in the worldly system of politics. And I don't comment on these if they are in the political...pit, but I'm uncomfortable with them in a fellowship hall of Christians. I know I'm pretty much alone in this view, and don't necessarily expect to change anyone's mind here but please at least consider the appropriateness of representing a Christian forum in this way, kind of like on your front page. Ty

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Jay

That is true. The Arabs have exactly what they wanted which is a far more radical regime. The problem we now face is that we have a president who thinks that these are the greatest people since Moses.

You are exactly right. As much as I loved GWB and agreed with 92.7% of his policies (immigration being the main exception) when he started promoting democracy in the Middle East I thought "Uh oh, be careful what you wish for!".

It is clear a significant portion of the populations of most if not all Middle Eastern countries have been radicalized /more conservative over the past several decades.

Looks like the Brotherhood, who were outlawed in Eqypt for decades, will be running Egypt. Conservative Muslims won over 2/3 of representation in government in the recent elections.

[aegsm76]

Originally Posted by bbyrd009

That is because we equate freedom with democracy, a premise that will continue to torture us as long as we are invested in the worldly system of politics. And I don't comment on these if they are in the political...pit, but I'm uncomfortable with them in a fellowship hall of Christians. I know I'm pretty much alone in this view, and don't necessarily expect to change anyone's mind here but please at least consider the appropriateness of representing a Christian forum in this way, kind of like on your front page. Ty

bb - I grow weary of you continually spouting your opinion that Christians should not be involved in politics.
Why don't you follow your own advice and stay off threads that are involving politics.
What really wearies me is not your opinion, but when you continually slam "conservative" viewpoints and repeat left-wing talking points.
At least be an equal opportunity slammer.

By the way, do you believe that BHO is a "putz"?
Since you referred to GWB by that term.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by bbyrd009

That is because we equate freedom with democracy, a premise that will continue to torture us as long as we are invested in the worldly system of politics. And I don't comment on these if they are in the political...pit, but I'm uncomfortable with them in a fellowship hall of Christians. I know I'm pretty much alone in this view, and don't necessarily expect to change anyone's mind here but please at least consider the appropriateness of representing a Christian forum in this way, kind of like on your front page. Ty

There is one accurate thing in your post above. That is that you are pretty much alone in your view.

I have news for you. Until you die you are in this world and as a Christian you should feel a responsibility to make this world the best it can be. Helping shape the government that will rule over you and affect your religious freedom is part of that responsibility.

You sound like you just need to go off and join a monastary or head for the hills and build your own compund so you can escape the world and just wait for Jesus to come.

[bbyrd009]

Originally Posted by aegsm76

bb - I grow weary of you continually spouting your opinion that Christians should not be involved in politics.
Why don't you follow your own advice and stay off threads that are involving politics.
What really wearies me is not your opinion, but when you continually slam "conservative" viewpoints and repeat left-wing talking points.
At least be an equal opportunity slammer.

By the way, do you believe that BHO is a "putz"?
Since you referred to GWB by that term.

Please. Obama dismissed the cabinet that got him elected on inauguration day, a master manipulator; the consummate pimp. Goldman Sachs was back in the White House inauguration night. GWB was a sock puppet, the hapless whore. I am on neither side of this topless, divisive wall, and loathe to make judgements like this, but judgements are what this is all about. You profess to being weary of inappropriateness, that someone in a Christian forum might stand up and say, "hey, look." I know exactly how you feel, in spades.

Having discovered that AFF has a "political place," and truly not wishing to offend those with a different opinion, I do not comment now on political threads posted there. I would just ask you to consider the impression you're giving casual readers, virtually featuring politics in a Christian forum.

I apologize if I appear to have slammed conservative viewpoints; it's the viewpoints part here that I would like to address. I understand that I may be alone in this viewpoint, and if most of you feel that politics is an appropriate subject to feature, non-stop, on your virtual front pages, let alone even allow here, period, then I will accept that I am just in the wrong place.

[trialedbyfire]

Originally Posted by Dordrecht

Freedom. Democracy. Have these truly been the result of the so-called Arab Spring? Not for Christians, who appear to be in even bigger trouble than they were in before.

Freedom? No. Democracy? No. Sharia on the rise? Yes.

The big winners in all this have been Al Qaeda. They have plenty of chaos in Lybia, Egypt, and Syria to take advantage of they didn't have before the "Arab Spring". All the while the liberal media is making this out to be a great leap forward for the middle east and for humanity. In actuality it could lead to the whole middle east turning into Somalia.

What we have to realize is that Western-Style Democracy is a completely foreign concept to most of the Middle East.

We've overlooked the plain and simple fact that their RELIGION does not leave room for choice, freedom, or democracy.

We've also overlooked the fact that our western-style of governing conflicts with their way of life and the way the majority of muslims interpret the Quran.

Just like our nation was FOUNDED on Judeo-Christian principles and we came out with a constitution protecting the individual rights and freedoms of all people, their nations were founded upon Islamic principles which allow for none of those.

You can argue whether or not their interpretation of the Quran is correct, but the majority of Muslims do not see "freedom" and "democracy" as compatible with Sharia Law.

That's why all secular or some-what secular regimes in the Middle East have had to rule with an iron fist with the exception of MAYBE Morocco but they have their own individual case and is by far the most stable and modern nation in the Middle East for various reasons.

Remove these regimes and allow the majority of the people to participate in government through an election process and generally your going to see Sharia Law enforced in an ugly fashion. Because the majority of muslims interpret the Quran in a fundamentalist and extremist way. I'd argue that it's a fundamentalist and extremist book, but I guess that's an argument for another day.

[BrotherEastman]

will Arabs allow Christians freedom in their own backyard? so much for the spring I say.