Comments on: CNN’s “God’s Warriors:” Good Watching, But the Book Is Better

By: Zeynab

Zeynab — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 03:47:02 +0000

Salaam! Good read; I only saw the God’s Warriors about Muslims (and you can TRUST I wrote about in my blog), but I was wondering if CNN did such a shoddy job with Christians & Jews as well.

By: Bassel

Bassel — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 21:01:19 +0000

I watched this show and was so intesrested wanna watch the God’s christian warriors in your program. I think that any religion is based on peace and respect; and only peace will set us free from our own sins..I want to believe in my own God (God of peace). There is no need to be a warrior to prove your cause.

By: Macy

Macy — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:54:06 +0000

The main point that is being missed about the CNN special is the involvement of the religious groups in politics. The presistent view that God’s followers must insert their will on all people through laws that demontrate religious values is what is dangerous about these extremist. We cannot forget that the contitution clearly states “congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free excercise thereof. This country was founded on religious freedom and though people may feel that their religions are being ignored, or that the world is unmoral and too sexually involved, they should respect the views of all religions instead of imposing their views to non christian, muslims and jews. They should guide the lost that seek religious guidance, help the poor and the hungry. Instead congregations have political agendas while poverty is being ignored, put on the back burner. No one has the right to impose any religious laws or morals on me or my family. I want to belive in my own God, follow my own morality guide. That’s why I live in America!

By: Philipp Terry

Philipp Terry — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 05:03:22 +0000

After living in the United States for nearly 40 years, I chose to sever all ties with the US and return to a Europe, thinking it is a more benevolent and mature continent after all to live in. Not only does it have a much higher quality of life but is more enlightened than racist America. What concerns me the most is, that we learned so little from the last centtury that saw two global conflicts develop out of hate and racism. Now this, a few trying to impose their will by brainwashing so many others and no one seems to be able to do anything about. This needs to be a wake-up call and a hearty ‘thank you’ to Christiane Amanpour for her braodcasts.

By: L B

L B — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 19:49:15 +0000

I watched all three with intense curiousity…

I thought the first two were very informative and balanced. And, then, there came the last one.

#1 and #2 did a historical interwoven world-oriented view.

#3 wasn’t even close to the first two.

By: Couple of items « Tariq Nelson

Couple of items « Tariq Nelson — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:23:18 +0000

[...] found the “God’s Warriors” series to be pretty fair and interesting. Many did not like it because she shows that there are terrorists [...]

By: R

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:29:35 +0000

Its fascinating to see that so many believe that Islam is the only religion capable of atrocities and terrorism. the church sanctioned Klu klux klan is an excellent example of what happens when religion and extremism meet. Passages in the Bible were used to Justify the systematic enslavement, torture and often murder of Africans. one of the biggest sore points between Israelis and Palestinians are the “isolated settlers” that illegally take away homes, land and roads from Palestinians. The majority of those settlements are illegal and wrong.

you only have to see hate websites to see the kind of virulence that extremists from all faiths espouse. And those of you who dont think its exists in your own faith tradition, just read a few pages of history, you dont have to look hard.

there are billions of Muslims mostof which want nothing more than we want, to live in relative safety, to take care of their families, and to educated themselves.

By: joe

joe — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 06:47:34 +0000

The only thing worse than God’s warriors would be godless warriors. The program would be more accurate if it also included a section on atheistic warriors. Most of the killings of the 20th century came at the hands of such atheists as Lenin, Stalin, and Mao. How is it that secular atheists get off so easily?

By: Jack Killough

Jack Killough — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 05:49:24 +0000

This site does a great job of expressing the shorcomings of the documentary:
http://www.bloggernews.net/19031

By: Jack Killough

Jack Killough — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 05:44:35 +0000

Nice column, although, in my opinion, Karen Armstrong is biased towards Islam as her not-so-objective books reflect. I have not had time to read all of her books, but the several I have read are very soft on the more radical aspects of Islam and less friendly towards Judaism and Christianity.

I also feel that to suggest a moral equivalency between the dangers of radical Islam today (at least 130 million Muslims who are zealous advocates of the destruction of the non-Muslim world and an unknown percentage who at least sympathize with a radical agenda), as the CNN documentary implies, by giving equal time to each of the Abrahamic religions, and the virtually non-existent threat from “radical” Judaism and Christianity is misleading in the extreme.

I’m glad I discovered your site; I will keep an eye on it. As a professor of world religion and specialist on Islam I am very interested in thoughtful commentary on religious issues.