Jesse Ventura "I Think Religion Is The Root Of ALL Evil!"

[HarveyDarkey]

Run time: 09:01 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oJfTTEX8bk   Posted on YouTube: October 15, 2010 By YouTube Member: MOXNEWSd0tCOM Views on YouTube: 6103   Posted on DU: October 17, 2010 By DU Member: HarveyDarkey Views on DU: 5843

 

[abq e streeter]

1. "That's a pretty subversive statement?" WHAT?????

Who the FUCK is that idiot?

[tabatha]

4. That's Don Lemon

one of the best on CNN. I guess all people make dumb comments now and again.

http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9201819

[abq e streeter]

9. Thank you--I was not familiar with him

not having had cable even when I did have a TV, all I had to go on was that statement ,which as we both seem to agree, was pretty damn stupid. But I genuinely appreciate your taking the time to let me know that this was atypical for him; you can understand, I'm sure, how at this point, I assume virtually all MSM news people are brainless corporate shills. I'm glad to know he has some redeeming qualities and will not think of this moment as the definition of who he is.

[roguevalley]

28. Don is a good guy. I like him. As for Jesse. He's a blowhard.

But a fun one. For many, religion is the root of their evil. For many, many more, religion is the root of their goodness. Too bad one side gets more press.

[tsuki]

39. I've got to agree with Jesse. The Constitution is not subject to popularity

polls.

[Enthusiast]

41. Exactly and the constitution

is designed to protect the minority opinion especially with regard to religion.

[sarchasm]

57. and common sense dictates morality.

[Bluenorthwest]

43. Religion is most known as that which calls for discrimination

prejudice, hate filled invective against one's neighbors. Many people confuse their religions, they worship themselves, and they call that God, this is why they enshrine their petty prejudices as aspects of the divine.
I agree with Jesse, and to me the blowhards are the Eddie Longs, Rick Warrens, Fred Phelpses, Donnie McClurkins, Pat Robertsons, and so on. We could make long, long lists of the clerics who are the fruit born by the tree of 'faith' today. It is said we look at the fruit, and that is how we know the nature of the tree.

[rainlillie]

51. I agree..

" For many, religion is the root of their evil. For many, many more, religion is the root of their goodness. Too bad one side gets more press."

[AlbertCat]

53. For many, religion is the root of their evil. For many more, religion is the root of their good

Both statements are baloney. Bumper sticker platitudes.

Good and evil are not absolutes and only the infantile Abrahamic religions think life is a struggle between good and evil.

It is not.


Besides, are you suggesting that the "good" religious people do, they only do because their religion tells them to do so....they are "forced" to do good or go to hell?

See... baloney.

Religion, as practiced, is obsolete. In the 13th century it might have been needed, but now, it's just ridiculous unless it embraces science.... which most don't.

[rainlillie]

55. I'm a veg head, not really into baloney. I agree

With the posters statement regarding religion. You can take it anyway you'd like. I think it's pretty clear what he/she was saying. In the end it's all opinions. You know what they say about opinions.

[Raster]

66. "...infantile Abrahamic religions..." That is truth.

The Abrahamic religions wrap themselves in garments of hate and vengeance and rationalize their actions as homage to their god. I have no desire to hear of nor be subjected to tenants and beliefs of their god.

[ooglymoogly]

58. Good folks are good because it is in their character to be good.

Some pretend to be good, as in the Bornagins because they have seen their evil.

Many of the good hand their own glory of goodness over to the evil systems that comprise most, but not all religions, who then use that goodness as a cover for their evil and that is the insanity we are forced to live with and by.

Powerful people forcing authoritarianism onto a population and enslaving them in the guise of religion.

That most if not all wars have been fought over ones religious beliefs and most civilizations fall over religious entanglements and the hatred they cause; should be some clue to those who will not see.

Be that as it may, some religions do not try to proselytize their faith and live by a "live and let live" philosophy and do not try to get bogus beliefs and prejudices codified into law; as are many of the useless and bigoted laws we are forced, by law, to live by and therein lies their evil to any civilization.

Pure and simple authoritarianism on steroids in the guise of religion.

Those who have not gleaned from history or simply will not see; what unfettered religious power can do to a civilization, Inquisition etc being the most vicious examples, will repeat that history; a repeat we are seriously toying with today.

Kudos to Ventura for saying it like it is.

That takes courage.

[ooglymoogly]

61. A blowhard is the oposite of someone who blows the trupet of truth

as hard as his lungs will allow. Words have meanings.

[AlbertCat]

74. Words have meanings.

And proper spellings too!

[ooglymoogly]

79. My apologies for the typo...thats "trumpet"...nt

[Mnpaul]

13. Subversive?

I guess that makes Thomas Paine a subversive as well

"Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and torturous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness, with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we called it the word of a demon, than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness, that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind." - Thomas Paine (The Age of Reason, 1794-1795.)

and Thomas Jefferson

"Is uniformity attainable? Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error all over the earth." - Thomas Jefferson (Notes on Virginia, 1782; from George Seldes, ed., The Great Quotations, Secaucus, New Jersey: Citadel Press, 1983, p. 363.)

[earcandle]

22. Noodlebrained this! Thanks a lot. Good to see our forefather's work. Much Appreciated.

[iamforobama]

37. He said "religion"not "God" and in that, he is

absolutely right on. "RELIGION" has been used through the ages to manipulate people. You can get people to do anything if they think the God of there "religion" is on there side.........

[DeSwiss]

2. K&R

And I agree with you Jesse. Religions are divisive myths.

[CanonRay]

3. Right on Jesse

[elocs]

5. A new DU god is born.

Ironic, considering, isn't it.

[Raster]

12. In your humble opinion.

[hourglass1]

29. you humble opinion

humble opinions and humility ...

you are certainly free to deny or have no interest in knowing that which creates and permeates all phenomena, but who are you to disparage others on a path they consider the greatest adventure and only true purpose of the human experience? if it isn't your quest fine, but don't denigrate what you care to know little of. it results in witch burnings and the inquisitions and demolished cultures. thanks ...

i attempted to address this to you personally, but apparently i have not posted enough to warrant that ability, as the memo noted. said memo also failed to note how many posts are required to achieve that privileged threshold too.

raster, may your happiness know no bounds and no end of warranty date ...

[Sal Minella]

52. May I point out

that "witch burnings" and "inquisitions" were carried out by religious people, not by people trying to escape the fallacies of religious beliefs???

[hourglass1]

80. not by "religious" people

no, sorry, by power and fear mongers and weak-minded 'me-too' finger pointers ...

[Sal Minella]

83. " . . . power and fear mongers and weak-minded 'me-too' . . .

finger pointers ..." who did their torturing and burning in the name of their religion.

[Raster]

64. Again: your humble opinion.

You can dress it up in all the esoteric and ethereal language that you choose, but it still boils down to: your humble opinion. And as another poster points out below, it was religion and religious people that gave us the burnings and the inquisition.

"...which creates and permeates all phenomena..." Your humble opinion.

I responded to a specific comment made by a poster, stating that their comment was indeed their humble opinion. I did not denigrate their beliefs, only pointed out that their beliefs were based on their humble opinion.

And I believe you may be commenting on my signature line, which is my humble opinion.

And finally, also to you, may your happiness know no bounds. Welcome to DU.

[hourglass1]

81. quit proselytizing!

"There are no gods, no devils, no angels and no demons."
"There is no heaven and there is no hell. There is only our natural world."
"Religion is but myth and superstition--denying logic and defying fact."
"Religious conviction hardens hearts."
"Religious faith enslaves minds."

you, sir, are proselytizing, and i find it offensive like those unenlightened a doorbell ringers, white-shirted, acne-faced bicycle teams, or buddhist statue busters. such statements reveal a profoundly desperate ignorance borne of limited exposure to the science of religious experience and personal realization. i can sympathize and have compassion for the severing of your intellectual inquiry since your very language and culture in this realm of human experience is so limited and comprises terminologies confined to the filtered teachings of the families of abraham. but what is this loud-mouthed, ignorance-is-bliss western bent to insult and ridicule what you have no knowledge of and choose not to investigate?

peace back on ya!

[Raster]

84. GFY. Please. Proselytizing? I think not. It is my opinion, and I am free to state it.

And if you don't like it, move on.

Be gone. You have no power here.

[AlbertCat]

75. what you care to know little of

Let's see.... what did that survey reveal????

Oh yeah!....


Survey: Atheists Know More About Religion Than Believers

Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/09/28/survey-atheists-know-more-about-religion-than-believers/#ixzz12jpvpdgY


Have a question about religion? You ought to ask someone who has completely rejected it.
According to a survey conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, atheists and agnostics tend to know more about religion than members of most faiths, the Los Angeles Times reports. For example, most Protestants could not identify Martin Luther as the founder of the Protestant movement. Atheists took the top spot in the survey, followed by a tie between Mormons and Jews.
(More on NewsFeed: Atheists are the new movie villains.)
Why did atheists do so well? The study concluded that those who reject faith often do so after growing up in a religious household, and studying and deliberating keeping the faith. Also, atheists and agnostics tend to be better educated in general. Why did Christians do so poorly? It may be because once someone accepts a faith, they stop examining it.
(More on TIME.com: What your brain looks like on faith.)
The survey had one bright spot, at least: 80% of respondents knew that Mother Teresa was a Catholic.


Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/09/28/survey-atheists-know-more-about-religion-than-believers/#ixzz12jpfnRjz

[hourglass1]

82. so sad

quoting personalities or even scripture is not knowledge of religion ...

peace

[K8-EEE]

6. I've come to think that it's the root of all GULLIBILITY

I mean face it how many times have you been arguing a political point and suddenly the person says "The Bible says...." and then it's like game over, intelligent conversation not possible.....the magic book trumps all.

This is how we get Bush and Palin. God likes them best. Most "people of faith" buy their line.

And selling somebody eternal life is the ultimate con game, right there. There might be such a thing and there might not be but I'll be damned if I'm going to let any other human tell me they KNOW what rituals I have to perform to get in the post-death VIP club. And face it, 90% of the time there is TITHING involved in our "salvation..."

It's just nice to hear the voices of doubters be heard sometimes because non-theists are constantly getting bashed by the FoxNews pundits and their ilk. I believe the true Silent Majority is doubters.

[valerief]

48. Unwarranted stupid is evil.

Some people don't have the mental chops to think with much depth. We used to call those people mentally retarded. Now we call them intellectually challenged. Whatever. There's just so much thinking power we can expect from those people.

We should expect more from other people. When there's no reason for them to be stupid but they are, then that's evil.

[yodermon]

56. EDUCATION is the root of all Progress

how's that for a more positive framing??
;)

[penndragon69]

7. He's wrong.

Religion IS evil, no root about it!

[Politicalboi]

8. He's right

It amazes me that a book carries such weight in the 21st Century.

[bowens43]

10. Wow. I agree with jessie...........nt

[BlueJazz]

11. I would love to see a Ticket with Alan Grayson/Jesse Ventura

[Plucketeer]

16. Now THAT would be amazing!

Imagine this nation being led on the reigns of TRUTH! :kick:

[earcandle]

23. How do we guarantee their safety and ability to govern as we want?

We get the military, the contractors, and the people to
support him or her. 

How do we find good people?  The ones who dare to speak the
truth are the ones.

The ones who mouth truths, with no intention to act on truth,
but to bait and swindle, we must distinquish from those who do
act, and choose the one who acts.  

But how do we have our warriors commit to us and not them? 
These are our children. Unless a trojan hourse of police we've
trained in the middle east comes up the Mississippi al la
Halliburton, via BP and crew.  Hey, they got jobs! 

We need to be sure our military is ready to confront these
jokers on our own shores.  Obama, are you ready for this?  
Get ready.  Use language to get your needs met, but carry a
big fucking stick.  

Watch those borders like a dog in heat. 

Could that border jetski murder be a hoax?  or are we acting
weak?  undermined by a drug cartel?  give me a fucking break. 
it has to be a hoax, but Obama should be addressing this
nationally.  

Every American counts or none of us do. 

[Moostache]

25. I want to see a ticket with men of those values - and the balls to back it up...

but I also want to live in a country where such a ticket would be "electable". Our biggest problem is that once elected, even our champions of change and hope become compromised and claim to seek the moderates or compromise or middle ground as cover for drifting to the right and into the desires of the corporate paymasters and overlords. The current midterm campaign is clear evidence of that the existing system - from campaign finance through the overly politicized Supreme Court nomination process - is broken beyond repair when the serial arsonists that call themselves "Republicans" are anywhere near the levers of power.

[Moonbat2]

35. There it is

I was wondering when the first "Jessee for President" would pop up

[BigD_95]

60. I would vote for him and Im serious.

Even over Obama who I like a lot abd shook hands with.

[dotymed]

46. We all know

That the PTB would not allow that.

[valerief]

49. +1

[Phlem]

14. AMEN!!!

Brothaaa!

:toast:

-p

[PSzymeczek]

15. Thank you, Jesse!

Give a man a fish, and he eats for today. Teach a man to fish, and he eats every day. Give a man religion, and he'll starve to death praying for fish.

[Bluenorthwest]

44. Give a man a fish, he eats today

Teach a man to use the internet, and he will not bother you for weeks on end....

[Raster]

69. If not for the Internet, the world would believe Iraq was responsible for 9/11,

or that cheney*/bush* were legally and lawfully elected in 2000. Both statements blatantly false, but promulgated by the American "authority."

[Cartoonist]

17. Not all of it

Man doesn't need religion to be evil. Still, you can't compete with the church

[underpants]

18. Go into a Post Office and look at the most wanted poster (they still have them)

Bin Laden is on the list but there is no mention of 9/11

[thereismore]

19. The interviewer is an incompetent twit. Snooty and stupid. nt

[earcandle]

20. Breath of fresh air. Thanks, Jesse. Thanks, CNN.

[maheanuu]

21. Thanks Harvey

I have been a fan of Jessie for years, He is a part of the intellectual branch of the US Navy. There were a lot of us who refused to partake in the superstitious side of life and as we were better prepared and well organized we were pretty much left alone. When they had church call, we respected their need for silence and we didn't interfere in their ceremonies or what ever they were doing. One thing for sure, there was NO prayer or other silly stuff going on in our spaces. Church was either held on the mess decks or on the fantail. The other day I happened to run into a group of Legionnaires, they were getting ready for an exercise and having their "pump up" drill just before kicking off. Funny not a one of them did any praying.... But again they are quite a bit better educated than the average US military enlisted person...

[swag]

24. Good for Jesse. And CNN sucks. That was worse than an 'Entertainment Tonight' spot. n/t

[Proud_Lefty]

26. I love this man

No bullshit - just the facts. And he won't let anyone intimidate him, which I respect even more.

[UrbScotty]

27. If not for my religion, I'd probably be a Republican.

Once again, an anti-religious quip being made with no evidence to back up the claim.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

71. Yup, the teachings of my church were part of what turned me leftward

I could not reconcile what the Republicans were saying about domestic and foreign policy with the teachings of Jesus or with the writings of the Hebrew prophets.

[rainlillie]

30. I like JV, but I have to disagree with him on this..

Religious extremists are the problem, not religious people.

[Bluenorthwest]

45. Jesse did not say 'religious people' he said 'religion'

Much is made by the Great Teachers about specificity of language as it relates to honesty. He said religion, not the religious, and not God. Many people would say that Jesus also railed against religion. Because he did.

[rainlillie]

50. That was my point, religion isn't the problem.. the people who use religion..

by distorting it are the problem, those people are extremist. I just don't think it's cool to make a blanket statement like Jesse made. For some people religion can be a good thing and it inspires them to do good.

[SoapBox]

31. Ditto to Jesse.

[krkaufman]

32. crikey, idiots like Don Lemon are what's wrong with CNN ...

... and our media, in general.

[krkaufman]

33. Religion, like WMDs, more often is just the rationalization used ...

... to rally the citizenry to war. The *reason* for wars is more often simply tussling for power, money and resources.

[AlbertCat]

76. simply tussling for power, money and resources.

Sounds like religion to me.


You cannot separate religion from religious people and their actions. If no one believes in a religion, it's called mythology.... and has little if any political power.

[RiverStone]

34. Imagine No Religion - sang John Lennon

Both John and Jesse got it right!

[proteus_lives]

36. Humanity is the root of all evil.

And good.

[rainlillie]

63. ITA!

[LatteLibertine]

38. If people aren't being conditioned

to kill one another over religion, they're being conditioned to do it over nationalism or race.

The ruling class will always find an excuse and a way to manipulate the less fortunate to go off and murder/profiteer for them.

[Raster]

68. So true. Manipulation of religious belief has always been a reliable tool to subjugate and inflame

the masses. You don't need logic or fact with religious belief. In fact, blind religious belief tends to wither and die in the face of logic and fact.

[RoccoR5955]

40. I couldn't agree with Jesse more!

Religions have led to more wars than anything else.
Religions are just a way to control the masses.

[AndrewP]

42. Exactly Jesse! Right on!

[valerief]

47. You tell 'em, Jesse!!!!

:applause:

[Sal316]

54. Never thought I'd see the day.....

....when DU'ers would throw in with a 9/11 truther simply because they hate religion.

[rainlillie]

62. Good point.

I like Jesse but can't buy into some of his conspiracy theories.

[Raster]

67. What a silly little statement. "Truther" is a term used to denigrate and marginalize

ANYONE that does not accept the cheney*/bush* account of the circumstances and events of 9/11. And don't look now, but a large amount of educated, thinking persons around the world do not accept the official story. And you can denigrate and marginalize all you wish, that will not change.

As for most organized religion: myth and opinion, usually represented as sacrosanct fact and usually defended with denigration and marginalization. And unfortunately, that will not change.

[Sal316]

72. Talk about silly statements....

And don't look now, but a large amount of educated, thinking persons around the world do not accept the official story. And you can denigrate and marginalize all you wish, that will not change.

Are we talking about 9/11 or is this an argument against climate change?

For the truther argument to be valid it would have to be a conspiracy on such a grand scale that it defies imagination and, by extension, reality, similar to other conspiracies such as, oh, the President being some sort of foreign born secret Muslim bent on making Sharia law the law of the land.

It's preposterous on its face.

But, hey, it's a free country, so feel free to jump in league with someone who believes 9/11 was some sort of inside-job, Tom Clancy-esque operation.

Just don't forget that he also said this about religion in his memoir:

"I’d like to clarify about religious people being weak-minded. I didn’t mean all religious people. I don’t have any problem with the vast majority of religious folks. I count myself among them, more or less. But I believe because it makes sense to me, not because I think it can be proven. There are lots of people out there who think they know the truth about God and religion, but does anybody really know for sure? That’s why the founding fathers built freedom of religious belief into the structure of this nation, so that everybody could make up their minds for themselves. But I do have a problem with the people who think they have some right to try to impose their beliefs on others. I hate what the fundamentalist fanatics are doing to our country. It seems as though, if everybody doesn’t accept their version of reality, that somehow invalidates it for them. Everybody must believe the same things they do. That’s what I find weak and destructive."

So, unlike some around here, he can, and has, distinguished between the fundieloons and non-fundieloons, a skill somewhat lacking around here at times.

[rainlillie]

73. Sal316 thanks for posting that statement

Excellent catch and Jesse makes a good point there.

[Raster]

77. You know very well what we were talking about.

The official 9/11 bush*/cheney* version of the events and circumstances of 9/11 is, in a word, bullshit. I didn't bring up Muslims or Tom Clancy. You did. Those that wish to shut down unbiased investigation and discovery wield the "truther" label with disdain, like the search for the truth is some noxious and disingenuous endeavor. Only liars and deceptives fear the truth. I reject your "truther" label. I do not believe the official story and I have no problem saying so. I welcome Governor Ventura's search for truth about 9/11. I hope more persons question the official story and begin their search for the truth, irregardless of labeling and marginalization.

Each person's spiritual journey is a valid exercise in their humanity. But the wielding of personal beliefs and opinions as spiritual weapons and forcing said beliefs and opinions upon others with religious justification is unconscionable and illegal, as the founding fathers stipulated.

The end of the quote you did not highlight: "There are lots of people out there who think they know the truth about God and religion, but does anybody really know for sure? That’s why the founding fathers built freedom of religious belief into the structure of this nation, so that everybody could make up their minds for themselves. But I do have a problem with the people who think they have some right to try to impose their beliefs on others. I hate what the fundamentalist fanatics are doing to our country. It seems as though, if everybody doesn’t accept their version of reality, that somehow invalidates it for them. Everybody must believe the same things they do. That’s what I find weak and destructive."

Please, go in peace. And take comfort in that which brings comfort to you.

[deconstruct911]

78. oh yea after all

"9 11 was a failure of imagination"

source: 9 11 commission

[TwentyFive]

59. Any "Creator" would never use a "Book" to communicate with us.

All religions are based on books. Therefore, religions have nothing to do with any Creator.

As for being evil, just look at all the millions of people tortured, harassed, killed...the billions more kept in spiritual bondage with the unachievable code of ethics that each book says we must follow.

[ooglymoogly]

65. KR and thanx for this post....Goodonya Jesse, the path of a truth teller is

strewn with the cloddy boots of all the goody two shoes who always appose that truth.

[Love Bug]

70. The irony being he's quoting the Bible to say so

but he is only partly right.

This is commonly misquoted, but the actual statement is, "The love of money is the root of all evil."

Greed, whether it's from an individual, corporation, government or religious organization truly is the root of all that is evil in this world.

I think it was during his run for Governor that he said "Religion is for the weak-minded," and hoo-boy, did he catch flak for that! But Jesse will speak his mind and let the chips fall where they may. He truly doesn't give a shit what other people think.