Missionaries also a breed of terrorists?

Subject: RE: Missionaries also a breed of terrorists?
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 04:32 PM

I am posting here because I do not want any more PMs from you, Susan and because I want others to see my reply.

The only thing I am "characterising" is what is in my heart, Susan. How about taking a little responsibility for the jerk remark you made?

Everyone had been working hard in this thread at trying to be civil and not step on toes, then Guest, Paul pulled his stunt, you chimed in and now it is ME who is the problem?

I have no wish to further discuss anything with you. Why is it when someone tells you that, even in PM's, you choose to ignore it? No, don't answer, it's rhetorical.

Subject: RE: Missionaries also a breed of terrorists?
From: GUEST,Paul
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 04:50 PM

I think that you are the problem. You have gone off the deep end in reacting to WYS's innocent comments. A "jerk" remark? Where? I was initially kidding about the Xanax but now i am really serious, you need some sort of chill pill babe.....

Subject: RE: Missionaries also a breed of terrorists?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 05:45 PM

First, I don't know this Paul character and I think he's being a shit-stirrer.

Kat, I DID take responsibility-- I have said twice, here and in a PM, that I was sorry for the misunderstanding, and explained what I meant. If you want me to apologize for something I did not mean, as if I did, then that will not be happening.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Missionaries also a breed of terrorists?
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 06:24 PM

....ladies...I give up....and I do NOT give up easily.

Subject: RE: Missionaries also a breed of terrorists?
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 08:59 PM

I would rank "Paul" as perhaps the most pernicious sociopath ever to troll Mudcat.

Subject: RE: Missionaries also a breed of terrorists?
From: toadfrog
Date: 18 Oct 01 - 12:19 AM

Gee Dicho, that's an awfully strong statement! I believe a while back, you thought I was the worst! CLICK I'm hurt! Have I been demoted?

Subject: RE: Missionaries also a breed of terrorists?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Oct 01 - 01:28 AM

Sigh. . . looks like this thread has run it's course. But it was a very good one for a while. Our common interest is music, but we are citizens of the world, and we talk about many topics between songs, and our songs speak of many of these things. I just haven't been able to think of a good one that covers this topic. We began by comparing terrorists with missionaries. Though we've pretty thoroughly bashed missionaries, there seems to be concensus that terrorists and missionaries are not cast in the same mold, and though they cast long shadows, they are not the same.

I've been thinking about the songs I grew up with. For a view of how some christian folks work, I would suggest a Richard Dyer-Bennet song that pillories the clergy (not missionaries in particular)--"The Vicar of Bray."

Perhaps Tom Lehrer has something demented that is more appropriate to our senses of humor? I can't think of what it would be. But as far as I know, he's still alive. Perhaps he is writing something as I type?

As to the terrorism that we have alluded to but not actually discussed in depth here, I see retaliation as the route to truly fulfilling one of Lehrer's prophetic songs--"We Will All Go Together When We Go."

How's that for a segue back to music? "We will all fry together when we fry" if we keep up the fighting, considering the level of arms that are available, and the free-fall that is apparently possible when one is on a suicide mission and has a jetliner or a nuclear bomb to hand.

I've enjoyed this thread, and will participate on occasion in others. I work full-time, am a single parent, and am in graduate school, so I'm stealing time from myself to read and contribute. But I grew up in a musical family, where at dinner we spoke of any topic that occured to us, and often times our thoughts found their expression in song. In this postmodern world where few things can be considered "universal," I think music is one of those few. It touches our minds and our hearts, and as we think about everything else under the sun, we refer back to our common humanity with music.

As to this topic and the possible "flamers" and "bashers" along the way: many of us measure spirituality with very personal yardsticks, an amaglam of ancient and modern, local or worldwide belief systems, an eclectic blend from the "global village." May those beliefs bring us comfort, understanding, peace, and true joy.

(Perhaps I shouldn't add to these threads in allergy season--benedryl and an evening glass of wine seem to loosen my fingers on the keyboard!)

Skoal!

Subject: RE: Missionaries also a breed of terrorists?
From: paddymac
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 12:24 AM

It seems that this thread has run its course. Although I am the one who iniated it, I did and do not think of it as "mine." Its has, from the beginning, been "ours" and I think the "we" have done a great job in exploring the question. I don't want to summarize or, god forbid, editorialize, about any post or line of discussion. However, I do want to say "thanks" to all of you who joined in to make it a fine discussion.

Subject: RE: Missionaries also a breed of terrorists?
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 12:46 AM

Gee, Toadfrog, I was going to put you with the good guys, but if you don't want to go marchin' in with the Saints (New Orleans of course), that's your choice.

Subject: RE: Missionaries also a breed of terrorists?
From: Bert
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 01:55 AM

Some of these postings remind me of a situation I got myself into on another thread recently.

I completely misunderstood a posting by WYOWOMAN and went off on a rampage. I realised that goofed so I said Sorry. THEN I went on to try to explain why I had misunderstood the original posting. Unfortunately the explanation came across as though I was trying to say. "I'm sorry - BUT I'm not really".

I should have just said what I meant "Sorry WYO" and then kept my bloody mouth shut.

Bert.

Subject: RE: Missionaries also a breed of terrorists?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 01:59 AM

Sorry, Kat.

~S~

Subject: RE: Missionaries also a breed of terrorists?
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 03:11 AM

Well, as long a 'Missionaries' aren't doing it as 'mercenaries', I guess its all right.....

GfS

Subject: RE: Missionaries also a breed of terrorists?
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 03:51 AM

I wouldn't say Missionaries are a breed of terrorists as such unfortunately in history it has shown that there always has been a hidden agenda i.e. Christopher Columbus robbing the natives of gold with (Catholic) Christianity conversion in exchange. More like legal piracy? What is the real meaning of missionary anyway? Before going on a humanitarian mission is there a clause to say that you have to try to spread the word of the Church while your there as well? I don't know, just wondering.

Subject: RE: Missionaries also a breed of terrorists?
From: LadyJean
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 02:12 AM

The only missionary I ever spoke to was a perfectly gogeous (Darn!) Italian priest, who worked with the Yanomamu in Brazil. His chief mission was to keep the Brazilian government from killing them off. Which struck me, at the time, as a worthwhile undertaking. He seemed to think they'd go to heaven if they were good Yanomamus. Eventually, they might become Catholics, but it would take a while, and he was more interested in keeping them alive than in converting them.
The Carnegie Museum uses his work on the Yanomamu culture.

Apparently the ladies of the University of Pittsburgh school of Anthropology went into a decline when they learned he was a priest. I do not blame them.

Subject: RE: Missionaries also a breed of terrorists?
From: olddude
Date: 21 Jan 11 - 11:06 PM

Another pathetic thread by a religious hater with a chip on their shoulder. The saga continues daily on mudcat ... I am here for spaw and pretty much nothing else anymore because of this very thing. ya know what good and bad people come in all walks of life, bad missionaries doing bad stuff. Great missionaries only trying to help people regardless of their beliefs ... KINDA like all walk of life but if you haven't figured that out yet then you are clueless.

Subject: RE: Missionaries also a breed of terrorists?
From: olddude
Date: 21 Jan 11 - 11:32 PM

Salvation Army feeds people, gets them off the street so they don't freeze to death, gives then cloths to wear and never once asks anyone what or if they believe in anything. Why do that do that, why do I do what I do for people I never met, cause it is the right thing to do .. period ... and yes some are religious ... good grief ...clueless

Subject: RE: Missionaries also a breed of terrorists?
From: olddude
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 12:06 AM

My friend Dave just sent a notebook and accessories worth over 600 bucks anywhere, spent 112 bucks of his own money to ship it to me .. he did this all for someone he never met and when I tried to reimburse him he said your friend is sick, I am happy to help. And ya know what he is a man of faith. Didn't ask if he was a catholic, muslim, hindu or anything else. He did it cause he helps others, maybe ya can all think about that as you continue to do the bigot, generic categorizing people and their belief systems, ... clueless ... that is the only word

Subject: RE: Missionaries also a breed of terrorists?
From: Stringsinger
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 06:39 PM

"Terrorist" is becoming a common word today like "Nazism" or "Fascism". It really has lost its meaning. It used to be "Communist" remember?

Missionaries run the gamut from benign to obnoxious, mostly concerned with messing with people's minds, some who do good work in feeding and caring for the homeless (let's be fair here), but "terrorist" is too simplistic.

The ruining of Iraq is a form of terrorism which by definition is using violence to
coerce an ideology. Historically, there have been some missionaries that have done this but not all. Torquemada, the Grand Inquisitor of Spain burnt a few non-believers in his auto-de-fe's, Martin Luther and John Wesley advocated the burning of witches,.......
oh and then there's Pat Robertson.....aside from these notable figures I've not found in my experience missionaries generally who advocate a violent means to influence the laity.

I suspect that the U.S. Air Force may be applying violent actions to some of their non-believing cadets and there's some Christian fragging going on in the Army. How 'bout the bible spouting gun barrels being used, made in Michigan?

But missionaries as terrorists (as defined by using violence) I suspect is pretty rare.
Many attribute this to Islam but that sounds like blind prejudice if applied to the general Muslim population. That's like saying that all Christians are white supremicists
which is ridiculous.

Let's please be careful about tossing around the "T" word. It's meaning is only interpreted when used as a verbal weapon and we have too many of those already.

Save that word for the politicians who use it to get elected giving it a meaningless and hollow ring.

[Please note- this thread is 10 years old and has become a target for spam and trolls and olddude saw it after it was again refreshed by a troll. Let's close it and if you feel the need to reopen these issues, start a new thread and copy the relevant material}