PARIS

I have been watching the news...the attack on Paris. Groups like IS claim to be doing Gods will. That is not true.  They are doing murder. I fear attacks like this will go on. My prayers go out to the people of Paris.

Terrible atrocities.

The news this morning is filled with the tragedy that occured in Paris last night.  Estimated 120 dead.  The German Fussball team was playing the French Team in the stadium nearby.  The sound of the attack was heard in the stadium.  The team remained in the stadium overnight and are at this moment preparing to return to Germany.  Earlier in the day there was a bomb scare at the hotel where the team was staying and they were all evacuated. 
There will be claims made by ISIS taking responsibility, however that cannot be relied on since they love the publicity.  There is speculation that those involved may have come as migrants.  The migrant problem continues.  Not making unconfirmed statements helps to keep the public from panic.  Reports this morning concerning the number of migrants/refugees who avoided registration continues.  It is also reported that many who registered gave false information.  The problem is exacerbated by the sheer numbers involved.  It will be more difficult for migrants to gain a foothold into Europe in the future, however hindsight can't reverse the existing problem.

IMV, the public should be kept informed and be alerted to what precautions to take in general.  Attending any function where large numbers of people are gathered is risky.

I for one refuse to let ISIS, or any other group make me live in fear. I will not put the lights out, or hide in the corner. The people of London during WW2 went about their daily business...fear is the weapon of these little people who murder in the name of their false god. Little do they know, they will not go to Heaven, nor will they get ten virgins. They are a sick little people, and the free world knows what they must do. A heavy hammer will come down on them.

Agree Domenic. 
It was reported today that yesterday a car was stopped on its way to Paris with AK-47's, small arms and dynamite in the car.  That was not revealed until after the Paris incident.  I think there is much being held from the public to avoid panic. 
I too will not live in fear.  Having said that, I wil still be cautious and avoid crowded places.  In general, I don't like crowds so that will not be any change from my usual activities.  When terrorists want to score, they want to take out as many as possble in one action.  Crowds are a prime target.

Punishment will come for those who terrorize and do harm to others.  I expect Netanyahu will eventually get his due and only hope it comes before more people die.

Abe,
From what I know of scripture, God allows things for a good reason, never a bad one. Before the Great Flood, God waited until there was only one good man left, Noah. God gave everybody a chance to show their heart condition. He is not a changing God, what he said yesterday, you can count on tomorrow. People are showing their heart condition by their actions. When Jesus returns, those who he will kill will not be cast into a real lake of fire, that only means and end to life forever. It hurts to see people die, but those who have are asleep in the grave...to them there is no time. When they are raised from the dead, they will think they were dead for a blink of an eye. Things will get very bad before the end of this system comes...but it will all pass, and we will be alive in a world of peace.
The one thing we can't do, is judge the heart of others. We can't say, "This one is good, and that one is bad." We can't see the heart. This will all pass, and the earth, and the human family will be as God created it.

I am truly devastated by current affairs and religion does seem to be at the heart of all evils. One thing I need to ask but can’t quite find the right words for fear of coming across as small minded and bigoted. Many of my friends are quite moderate, middle of the road, tolerant people. Many of my female friends could be described as, ‘left of center feminists’. What I want to ask them is how they reconcile their views on feminism, freedom and the equal rights of women, with defending a religion which even from a moderate standpoint has a heinous position on the equality of the sexes. Now I’m not talking ‘Radical Islam’ here, I’m talking ‘moderate Muslims’, like the ones that stoned and burned Farkhunda
One of the boys indicted was minding a shop when the rent-a-mob swept by, nevertheless, he felt it was his duty as a devout Muslim to go out and stove the girls head in with a lump of concrete. He wasn’t a radical, just a believer.
    I'm not talking about terrorism, simply about a particular religion which even at the most moderate end does not have any common ground with the rights and freedoms which so many feminists and liberal thinking people have fought for the last century to bring us. We fought for years to bring about an end to Apartheid, we fought the tyranny of the Neo-Nazis, The suffragettes fought for votes for women, women have fought the Catholic Church over forced adoptions, the right to choose birth control, and for the right to have a termination. In Muslim countries, there is an underground women's movement, dogmatically pursued by their Religious led establishments. But here in the UK, the women who would normally vociferously demand an end to Sharia law, an end to segregated Colleges and schools and possibly even an end to the Burkah which is such a symbol of female oppression. They are curiously silent and I just can't understand why. Franky, I would be terrified at the rise of Islam if I were a Western women. Men can study the Koran and grow a beard, but there is no place in Islam for an emancipated woman. If I am oversimplifying things then please explain it to me so that I may understand because I feel that we may be fiddling while Rome burns.

vmaxnick,
All religions, Muslim, Christian...whatever, all teach women are second to men. There is one scripture in the Bible where God commands women to be in subjection to their husband.

When God created the first man, he knew man, like the animals needed a mate...so he created a women. God said, "It is not good for a man to be alone. Besides, man alone can't make babies. God mad the women as a help mate. Help mate is pretty equal in standing. When God commanded women be in subjection to their husband...that is not speaking to single women, or married women being in subjection to men other than her husband.
We are all in subjection to something. We are in subjection to the law, but we are not a slave to the law.
All ships have one Captain, and the Captain has a first mate. if both acted as Captain, there would be a problem if both wanted to go in different directions. Thus the first mate has to be a help mate to the Captain. The first mate is not a help mate to any one else on the ship. The same hold true in a marriage. One person has to have the final say, or the two may go in different directions. God also made rules what those directions are. So the order is, the wife is in subjection to the husband, the husband is in subjection to Jesus, and Jesus is in subjection to the father. A single women is only in subjection to Jesus, and the Father(God.) Children are in subjection to the mother, and the father. Here is where the key is:
The job of the father, and the mother, are to care for, and help the child grow into a responsible adult. In clear terms, the subjection over the child is to care for, and help.
Jesus command the husband to care for, and help the wife, as he (Jesus) cares for, and helps us.
Those having subjection, is not a position of ruler ship, rather it is a position which requires those in a position of subjection, to care for, and help those they have under subjection.

All of this is very clear in the scriptures which both, Muslim, and Christian religions claim to believe in...yet they teach wrong...because in truth, all religions are false, and not from God.

The stoning of people who sinned was never from God. When Jesus was here, he said, "Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone"...since we are all sinners...who can cast the first stone?

Nick, I read your post twice in search of your question, which you side-stepped with aplomb! My response might not provide the answer you seek. Women have been subjected to male dominance throughout civilisation and beyond. Is this because they are physically and mentally weaker in terms of strength and mental endurance? According to modern science, women are actually physically stronger than men. Anaerobic activity favours men over woman, but in aerobic (endurance) events, the longer the distance, the closer the two sexes perform until women overtake men. In a marathon, men will outperform women, but double the length of the marathon, and women will overtake the men. Women also live longer than men. 

We have evolved so that the strongest take control for the benefit of the whole group: men, women and children. In later life, when men's testosterone levels fall and they lose their strength, women begin to take control and play a more important role. In modern life, much of the heavy work is performed by machines. When men left the factories to fight in the trenches during WWI, the women who took their place were able to prove themselves equal to the task. Emancipation came and women in the western world forged their way towards true eqality.

The Middle East remained stuck with its tradition and male domination. It will take a catastophic event in the Arab world to bring about the same changes that resulted in the West after WWI. I doubt this will happen in our lifetime.

Shelagah,

The scriptures prove women equal to men...the only difference being, in a marriage. The term , "Help Mate," does not mean a women is not equal. Help Mate is a role a women takes to help a man do the task he is commanded by God to do. A married man is commanded to treat a women, as Jesus treats a man. Single women are under Jesus, and not in subjection to men, which means they are not bond by the role of Help Mate.
The men of the middle east use the scripture, "Wives be in subjection to your husband," and do not following other scriptures which explain Help Mate, which only applies to married women, but they use just the one scripture to treat women as less than a man, and like slaves. The only way this will end is if the Muslim Religion is destroyed.
The scriptures say religions will be destroyed by the Nations...all religions.
Children are in subjection to their parents until they are at an age where they can be adults. We don't treat our children as less, or as slaves. To have children means to care for them. A married man is commanded to care for his wife..that is what subjection is. It is thd duty of a husband to care for his wive, who is his help mate.

A married woman in the West is not obliged to "obey" her husband. Helpmate is an outdated term. Wives can divorce husbands who use physical or mental pressure to dominate them. Until Arab women can prove their independence, they will be forever trapped inside their marriages. The future looks bleak for muslim women with no hope of change for them to cling to.

Shelagh wrote:

A married woman in the West is not obliged to "obey" her husband. Helpmate is an outdated term. Wives can divorce husbands who use physical or mental pressure to dominate them. Until Arab women can prove their independence, they will be forever trapped inside their marriages. The future looks bleak for muslim women with no hope of change for them to cling to.

No person is obliged to do anything. Those who do, do it because they feel it is right, and it is what they want to do. In the world of some people, terms like, "Help Mate," may be checked off as, "outdated," others do not think so. Here is the United State the marriage pledge seems to also be out of date. Christians believe in Gods teachings, and do not believe Gods word is out of date. Those who do not follow Gods commands are free to do as they please, make up their own rules, and put what they want in, and out of date. We all follow our own path...where it leads is to been seen.

"Plan" is an organisation in the UK that helps girls around the world.

In the developing world, a recent report finds that girls are typically taught early on to ‘know their place’; consigned to domestic servitude, forced to play mother and helpmate to men.

Quote :

“Girls in this context will struggle with no voice, choice or control. This starts in the household and is reinforced in the community.”  – Pathways to Power

http://plan-uk.org/news/news-and-features/pathways-to-power/

This subject is about as controversial and complicated as “gun control”. 
People are not physically or mentally equal.  As I see it, equality means giving one equal opportunity.  Some people are naturally smarter (clever) than others.  That is proven with tests.  Being book smart is not the same as being street smart, meaning experience.  Men can never be equal to women or vice-versa.  Men will never experience child birth.  Some things are not easy to explain and must be experienced.  Try to explain the feeling of an orgasm.
 
We have been taught that like repels and unlike attracts.  With same-sex marriages, that can still apply.  There is always a dominant person involved in a marriage.  I’m not ashamed to admit that my wife is the dominant one in our marriage and we are as unlike as any couple I know.  Our backgrounds are different including culture and religion.  We don’t think alike on many subjects, yet seem to adjust and learn from each other.   My wife is smarter than me in book learning.  I am smart enough to know when my wife is right and follow her lead/advice.  At the same time, she is smart enough to know when to back-off and allow me to do my thing, my way.  It is normal in a marriage to discuss a situation/problem, but making a final decision is often made by one person in the marriage.  A stalemate or indecision just doesn’t work.  It works best when both can agree, however that is not always the case.
 
In business we have bosses who are in a position of authority to make decisions.  According to Domenic’s Biblical reference, the male is to have that role.  What happens when the male is not capable of leading effectively?  In a business situation, that person would be demoted or fired.  In a marriage, the male may be the weak person.  Assuming that person is smart enough, he can step aside and let the stronger partner lead.  Marriage means compromise.  One cannot conduct themselves in a marriage as they did when they were single.  Using intelligence (if that exists) who takes the leading role will evolve.   
 
Ancient philosophy is simply that – ancient.  We have evolved as humans.  Conditions today are much different than in ancient times.  Not to adjust/adapt to present day life is not only foolish but stupid.

Shelagh wrote:

"Plan" is an organisation in the UK that helps girls around the world.

In the developing world, a recent report finds that girls are typically taught early on to ‘know their place’; consigned to domestic servitude, forced to play mother and helpmate to men.

Quote :

“Girls in this context will struggle with no voice, choice or control. This starts in the household and is reinforced in the community.”  – Pathways to Power

http://plan-uk.org/news/news-and-features/pathways-to-power/

It seems the men are not following scripture. If they did follow scripture, they would not treat women like that. I can't speak for the UK, but I can speak for the U.S.A...religious leaders teach that women have to know their place, and be consigned to domestic servitude...But as I have said many time over..."All religions are false, and those religious leaders are not teaching Gods word, they are teaching lies. Gods word should not be taken as false because the false religions of the world lie, and do not teach Gods word. Many people have turned their back to God because of religions...religions are not from God. They are a tool of Satan. But if one does not believe in God, I can understand they would also not believe in a Satan.
Here is what it gets down to Shelagh: People are free to learn the truth about God, believe there is, or is not a God, Follow what men teach, make up their own rules...people are free to do whatever they want. After 9/11 it seems all people are doing what they want anyway, Same sex marriage, men killing each other in war, Paris the other day. People going hungry in one place, others getting fat in others. A world gone crazy...Funny part of the drama is, all those going crazy are pointing fingers at those who follow Gods laws saying they are the crazy ones.

Crazy people love to label others as crazy.  I think it is dangerous to turn ones back on God.  One can always  be  kind to others and refrain from chopping their heads off
Freedom of religion is a good goal.

alice wrote:

Freedom of religion is a good goal.

Unless you belong to ISIS, that is. If Islamic State takes over the Middle East, there won't be any religious freedom for muslims:

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/03/what-isis-really-wants/384980/

What about the freedom for those who don't want to hear about religion?  If there is freedom "of" religion there should also be freedom "from" religion.

The saga continues from the Paris event.  Fussball games have been canceled along with concerts.  In France and Belgium the Police have surrounded apartment buildings where suspects are holed up.  There has been exchange of gunfire, but without concrete information.  The media is going wild with specualtion on what is occuring.
It was reported on German news that not all information will be released to the public that would jeopardize on-going operations.  One must understand that the terrorists also watch the news and can gain valuable information to avoid capture.  Secret Service networks throughout Europe are coordinating their efforts to find those on the run. 
Security forces have complained that they didn't have enough resources to handle their job and that their requests for help went on deaf ears.  Now that there is a crisis, the government is ready to assist.  The time to train new people doesn't help with the current situation.  It will certainly place more emphasis on screening Migrants/Refugees before allowing them to enter any country.  Playing catch-up seems to be the norm.

Abe F. March wrote:

What about the freedom for those who don't want to hear about religion?  If there is freedom "of" religion there should also be freedom "from" religion.

Good point.

Shelagh wrote:

Nick, I read your post twice in search of your question, which you side-stepped with aplomb!

I should've known better than to try to outwit you Shelagh! Yes I was playing Devil's advocate, testing the water without giving too much of my own conviction away.
If there was a question to the post it was; why do so many of my Liberal thinking 'feminist' friends stay curiously silent over women's rights when faced with the insurmountable obstacle of being seen to criticise Islam. I posted the same question (exactly the same question) on the book of two faces and was chased away with pitchforks and flaming torches, branded a racist, fascist, pedophile and possibly a burner of babies. So glad to see that the people here are capable of discussion.

Abe F. March wrote:

Security forces have complained that they didn't have enough resources to handle their job and that their requests for help went on deaf ears.

I couldn't agree more Abe. If there is a way out of this crisis, it will be intelligence led, not carpet bombing which creates a further 300 militants for every 50 killed.

vmaxnick wrote:

If there was a question to the post it was; why do so many of my Liberal thinking 'feminist' friends stay curiously silent over women's rights when faced with the insurmountable obstacle of being seen to criticise Islam.

Liberal politicians are a dying breed in the UK, as are the number of liberal voters. With age, most of us learn that giving people what they want is not good for everyone else. We also learn that religion is not always good for its followers, who are too indoctrinated to realise that the religion they follow suppresses them and, in the case of the muslim faith, legalises mutilation of young females. I don't have a good thing to say about any of the muslim religions, and I'm not afraid to say so. The muslim faith allows barbaric practices, encourages its members to stone women to death and treats women as second class citizens. Blind faith is the only reason the religion survives. Opening muslims'eyes to the evilness of their religion is an impossible task. They are best left to their own devices, viewed from afar, living in muslim countries away from the West.

Shelagh wrote:

vmaxnick wrote:

If there was a question to the post it was; why do so many of my Liberal thinking 'feminist' friends stay curiously silent over women's rights when faced with the insurmountable obstacle of being seen to criticise Islam.

Liberal politicians are a dying breed in the UK, as are the number of liberal voters. With age, most of us learn that giving people what they want is not good for everyone else. We also learn that religion is not always good for its followers, who are too indoctrinated to realise that the religion they follow suppresses them and, in the case of the muslim faith, legalises mutilation of young females. I don't have a good thing to say about any of the muslim religions, and I'm not afraid to say so. The muslim faith allows barbaric practices, encourages its members to stone women to death and treats women as second class citizens. Blind faith is the only reason the religion survives. Opening muslims'eyes to the evilness of their religion is an impossible task. They are best left to their own devices, viewed from afar, living in muslim countries away from the West.

Sadly true.

I agree with your comment on religion, Shelagh...they are all CULTS. I have a few Muslim friends. Through them I have come in contact with many Muslims. They listen to what I have to say, and ask question because I believe in God, and warn against all religions. Many ask question about their religion that they don't agree with. Since I refer to just the scrolls, they listen to what I say..




One question I hear often, They will say: " I am just a man, and I do not have the compassion that God has. I would never put anybody into a burning fire forever…not even for a short time…I don’t understand how a compassionate God can do that?”




They have been led to believe those who are not Muslim, or go against God will burn in hell forever…with the flesh growing back on so it can burn off again. I tell them the scrolls do not say that…God is a loving compassionate God. Those who refuse to follow his laws he will put to death, and in death there is nothing…no thoughts, nothing…like they had never been born. Since I know as much, and in parts more about their religion than they do. Some have even ask, “Are you, or were you a Muslim?” I tell them no. They believe the Quran is from God. I ask them, “I can prove the scrolls are from God,” Which they agree to. “If you can prove the Quran is from God…I will join you as a Muslim.”

The don't even know where to start...there is no proof within the Quran.