US marines in hot water over Christian coins in Iraq

[Scott & Lai 12]

NO invasion and NOTHING shoved-down-throat!

They're being handed out by an occupying force.... with guns....

Were they threatened with being shot if they didn't take the coins?

If someone of a different faith hands me a religious tract as I walk by, I might be a little annoyed at being bothered, but outraged? Spare me. I save my outrage for things like murder or rape. Why the tissue-paper thin skins? Are they so insecure in their beliefs that contact with other ideas is a mortal threat?

[tom&tata 2]

NO invasion and NOTHING shoved-down-throat!

They're being handed out by an occupying force.... with guns....

Were they threatened with being shot if they didn't take the coins?

If someone of a different faith hands me a religious tract as I walk by, I might be a little annoyed at being bothered, but outraged? Spare me. I save my outrage for things like murder or rape. Why the tissue-paper thin skins? Are they so insecure in their beliefs that contact with other ideas is a mortal threat?

Was the person being there as a marine or as missionary?

[Saddle Bronc 124]

NO invasion and NOTHING shoved-down-throat!

They're being handed out by an occupying force.... with guns....

Were they threatened with being shot if they didn't take the coins?

If someone of a different faith hands me a religious tract as I walk by, I might be a little annoyed at being bothered, but outraged? Spare me. I save my outrage for things like murder or rape. Why the tissue-paper thin skins? Are they so insecure in their beliefs that contact with other ideas is a mortal threat?

good points

[SteveLaura 0]

NO invasion and NOTHING shoved-down-throat!

They're being handed out by an occupying force.... with guns....

Were they threatened with being shot if they didn't take the coins?

If someone of a different faith hands me a religious tract as I walk by, I might be a little annoyed at being bothered, but outraged? Spare me. I save my outrage for things like murder or rape. Why the tissue-paper thin skins? Are they so insecure in their beliefs that contact with other ideas is a mortal threat?

Was the person being there as a marine or as missionary?

Scott, do you go round to synagogues and mosques giving out Christian literature? If not, why not?

[Alhamdulillah 0]

If someone of a different faith hands me a religious tract as I walk by, I might be a little annoyed at being bothered, but outraged? Spare me. I save my outrage for things like murder or rape. Why the tissue-paper thin skins? Are they so insecure in their beliefs that contact with other ideas is a mortal threat?

You let me know when your country is illegally invaded, occupied and a false religion shoved down your throat.

If you rob a bank with a gun in your hand, you don't have to actually threaten to use it to make it armed robbery

[joelunchbox 0]

There was a case recently involving the US Air Force academy. Religion wasn't being forced on anyone....it just felt like it was being forced on people.

What does it feel like to be in an occupied country and have the occupiers "offer" you religious materials??

Quick, who has been there?

[Eric-Pris 1,606]

Maybe if they actually read them, it would make their lives better.

[Alhamdulillah 0]

Maybe if they actually read them, it would make their lives better.

Why? It doesn't help the other billions of ppl who read them.

[Sister Fracas 5]

NO invasion and NOTHING shoved-down-throat!

They're being handed out by an occupying force.... with guns....

Were they threatened with being shot if they didn't take the coins?

If someone of a different faith hands me a religious tract as I walk by, I might be a little annoyed at being bothered, but outraged? Spare me. I save my outrage for things like murder or rape. Why the tissue-paper thin skins? Are they so insecure in their beliefs that contact with other ideas is a mortal threat?

not just "anyone", armed forces... and their job over there is not one of evangelism.

[Scott & Lai 12]

NO invasion and NOTHING shoved-down-throat!

They're being handed out by an occupying force.... with guns....

Were they threatened with being shot if they didn't take the coins?

If someone of a different faith hands me a religious tract as I walk by, I might be a little annoyed at being bothered, but outraged? Spare me. I save my outrage for things like murder or rape. Why the tissue-paper thin skins? Are they so insecure in their beliefs that contact with other ideas is a mortal threat?

Was the person being there as a marine or as missionary?

Scott, do you go round to synagogues and mosques giving out Christian literature? If not, why not?

I missed the part where the coins were being handed out in a mosque...

[SteveLaura 0]

Scott, the issue is whether this is something that should be done in a Muslim setting - in this case, their country. And, furthermore, whether it's something soldiers should be doing anyway.

So, again, I know you are a Christian man. Would you go to another religion's setting - eg. mosque or synagogue - and give out Christian literature? If not, why not?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It seems a bit silly at the end of the day - but presumably these are Iraqi coins that have essentially been graffitied with a political message.

I've had $ bills before that someone's written weird stuff like that on - it never bothered me, but it might annoy someone if I were to write blatant political messages on all the notes in my wallet when I hand them over in a store.

I do think its a bit off to deface another country's money to push some sort of ideological agenda. Not the worst thing in the world - but still rather silly.

[Scott & Lai 12]

Scott, the issue is whether this is something that should be done in a Muslim setting - in this case, their country. And, furthermore, whether it's something soldiers should be doing anyway.

So, again, I know you are a Christian man. Would you go to another religion's setting - eg. mosque or synagogue - and give out Christian literature? If not, why not?

Would I go into another religion's house of worship and hand out Christian literature? Of course not. But that is different than handing such things out in other places, regardless of what the religion of the country might be. I certainly wouldn't be outraged if a foreigner of a different faith handed me their religious material here on the streets. Do so in my church, and I'd have a problem with that, though "outrage" would be a tad much. Btw, I don't think the soldiers should have been doing that, and I don't hand out unsolicited religious material to strangers myself, in any case. I'm talking about the frequent response of outrage. If this were the only kind of situation that inspired outrage, I might have more sympathy. But, for example, were the Danish cartoonists an occupying army? Were they even in a Muslim country? I'm just amazed at how easily enraged many people who are supposed to be following a peaceful religion are.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

But, for example, were the Danish cartoonists an occupying army? Were they even in a Muslim country? I'm just amazed at how easily enraged many people who are supposed to be following a peaceful religion are.

[SteveLaura 0]

Can you think of any images of Jesus that could be rendered that would enrage you?