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corboy
Tulsi Gabbard has stepped forward to oppose ISIS. But she should consider that her religion is based on the same operating system as ISIS.
Same operating system -- Fundamentalist Purity
Butlerism and ISIS are merely different applications sitting atop the same OS.
The problem with purity is that it has no goal -- one can never be pure enough. Purists are never satisfied. Give in to their demands, they come up with new ones.
Great analogy corboy. The same underlying cult template is operating underneath the veneer of SOI Vaishnavism. One current application is more explosive and dangerous, but it too started out as a band of merry bros trying to make the world a better place under the guidance of cool dude who imbued himself with super divinity.
When you consider your leader infallible and beyond reproach, and you perceive the world as unclean and full of demons/
jinns to overcome, you can rationalize any thing. When you wield no power, you will peacefully attempt to convert others with your methods of purification. But strange things happen when a religious movement becomes politically and militarily powerful.
All it takes are the right triggers and circumstances to start a "holy war". One crazy person with a serious personality disorder can twist a peaceful message into a violent one. Someone considered deviant or antagonistic to the cult will get death threats (as happened to Shyam Dodge) and more.
The line between a peaceful religion and a violent one is very thin. That is why the founding fathers created separation of church and state, while other nations sought social justice by eliminating religion all together. And then John Lennon wrote "Imagine".
Rama recommended a brilliantly written blog if you want to understand the underlying operating system of Tulsi's religious beliefs:
Half-Empty AcamanaThe veneer of civility of the "yoga lifestyle" and "eat, love, pray" is very thin. Don't scoff at the potential dangers.
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Prabhupad said:
“…If one is able to kill, then one should by force cut out the blasphemer’s tongue and kill the offender…”
22 March 2015 by acbs
Prabhupada said, “If one happens to be a ksatriya he has the power to punish any man; therefore a ksatriya should at once cut out the tongue of the vilifier and kill him.” – SB 4.4.17, purport
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Half-Empty Acama
All of this makes sense from inside the ISKCON (cult) bubble. I know. I believed it too. But once you step outside and look back at it dispassionately, it’s utterly horrific. Because it boils down to this: You can lie, cheat, steal, rape, kill… whatever, as long as you’re convinced it’s what Krishna wants you to do. ACBS said it most succinctly: “…there is nothing illegal, what we do for Krishna.” . . .
. . . “A devotee perfectly understands that the ordinary religious duties prescribed by Me in various Vedic scriptures possess favorable qualities that purify the performer, and he knows that neglect of such duties constitutes a discrepancy in one’s life. Having taken complete shelter at My lotus feet, however, a saintly person ultimately renounces such ordinary religious duties and worships Me alone. He is thus considered to be the best among all living entities.”
So, once again, it doesn’t matter what you do, just so long as you’re on god’s special list.
Butler took the ball and ran with that last quote. His only interest is in gaining more money, power and influence off the backs of his followers and through his proxies.
[This post is my unsolicited opinion protected, at least for now, under the freedom of speech clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution]