Ignorance: offensive in any religion

[Cartollomew]

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/5276865

Australians are boozers hooked on prostitution and gambling, Melbourne Islamic cleric Abu Hamza says.

Mr Hamza made headlines on Thursday, and earned criticism from Islamic groups and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd , for a 2003 speech posted on the internet last year in which he said it was OK for Muslim men to hit their wives and that it was not possible for a man to rape his wife.

The Herald Sun newspaper on Friday reported the contents of another speech, also posted on the internet, in which Mr Hamza was critical of the Australian way of life.

"They think happiness can be achieved by being intoxicated, by going to the casino and blowing your money away, by going from one prostitute to the other," he said.

"They don't know what life is all about, that's why they are on the booze, why they are binge drinking . . . why unfortunately suicide has skyrocketed, murder, anxiety and depression."

Words fail me.

However, it's entirely possible that people are cherry picking stuff he says, or deliberately misconstruing his statements - it's become a popular technique in journalism (particularly for religious leaders).

Regardless of whether or not that's what has happened: The really sad part is that there are plenty of people out there who will agree with the sentiments presented here.

[Lellybaby]

In all honesty i'm surprised he admitted Suicide was a negative aspect.

From his tone you'd think he would want the rest of us to die off so he can have the world 'his way'.

[Mitra]

give me matyrdom or give me death!

[Cartollomew]

The hardest thing to accept for anyone who has achieved a spiritual satisfaction in their lives is that it's possible for others to do so without your method.

Almost all religions suffer from this by necessity, but it can certainly result in a lot of ugliness.

More important than spirital satisfaction is spiritual contentment - it's difficult to teach that, and the people who try are generally ignored by even their own faiths.

Just another example of the old "if you see the Buddha on the path - kill him", I guess...

[Nats]

After reading that article all i can say is:
I'd rather take my own freedom with booze than an other person's with violence.

[Karjalan]

"Remember kids, if you don't agree that my religion is fairer, kinder, better and THEE right religion, then I will slowly dismember each of your limbs and kill off your children until you agree and convert - oh yeah and your current way of life is immoral and wrong"

[Mitra]

more backstory if anyone is interested