AlterNet: Pope Bendedict Argues Catholic Church 'Purified' Indigenous Peoples

AlterNet: Pope Bendedict Argues Catholic Church 'Purified' Indigenous Peoples: "During his recent trip to Latin America, Pope Benedict XVI offended millions when he arrogantly suggested that Catholicism had purified indigenous populations, and called the resurgence of indigenous religions a step backward. He also said the native populations were longing for Christianity, and had welcomed the Catholic priests at the time of European conquest."

Wow, what history book is this moron reading from? Latin America was destroyed and many of its inhabitants murdered, because they were "longing for Christianity?" Because of the conquistadors, we lost some of the most valuable knowledge of indigenous populations like the Aztecs, the Incas, and the Mayans. These natives were not running around with clubs beating each other over the head, they were far more advanced than they are commonly given credit for.

In the Absence of Reason

In the Absence of Reason: "I earn a modest living by working in a small wood shop specializing in architectural radial millwork. The owner, like most of the employees, considers himself a devout Christian. He is convinced that he is doing the will of his God. My coworkers are good people, but they are sadly misinformed about the world in general, and things political in particular. They have subscribed to the mythos that the United States can do no wrong, and that the actions of the government in the Middle East, and elsewhere, are not only justified, but sanctified by god. That is the thinking behind manifest destiny.

How so many intelligent people could arrive at such an erroneous conclusion is not as mystifying as it might appear. It is the result of an assault on reason that is sweeping the nation and actively promoting ignorance and superstition in place of rational and ethical thought."

Yes, take a tragedy in America and turn it into an excuse to tame or destroy the Muslims. Make sure to mention god a few times, and the sheep will gladly follow you. Sounds a bit like the crusades, does it not?