The War Criminal Within

[grammasanity]

I have spent the last week exchanging views with Mr. Neocon, on the 'why I am disconnecting' thread, and finally have come to an understanding, I think.
Please read his (and my) latest post on that thread. He said 'we didn't invade Iraq, we liberated it'. He says he 'feels better' with Sadam out of power. He says 'America is safer' when we attack others first. He says lets get after Iran and N. Korea, too.
It appears that there is nothing in this man who can relate to another human being having the same feelings cares, and rights as he has. I believe that this country has created a generation of sociopaths who really can't see others as just as important as themselves.
This is what really scares me. Men with no imagination can rationalize any brutality. Is it still possible to reeducate the men and women who come out of the army with such warped priorities?
I tried to respond to this character on that thread, but was unable to. I am running out of ideas to try to get him to think. Anyone else?

[1tinsoldier]

Gram, perhaps we should have warned you that there is no reasoning with Con. He comes to vent and would turn a deaf ear to Jesus Christ himself. In fact, he already has. According to the Bible, Jesus was probably the biggest liberal of all time.

speaking of which...

i started to debate Con regarding his views on the Bible but was getting nowhere fast.

i see from your profile that you are a religious scholar. i would love to dig deeper and you would clearly be a much better candidate for that discussion.

would you like to join me in that debate?

[grammasanity]

Sure! Religion is really my favorite subject. I joined the Sufis in 1978, and have studied all the world religions, to find the common ground among them. I am currently about equal parts Christian, Muslim and Jew, though I practice Reformed Christianity (Presbyterian) as the best way to have a community of faith in the middle of nowhere. Since childhood, I knew somehow that the words in red were the important ones, and that some of the other words didn't go along with the words of Jesus.
I currently am writing a daily scripture meditation, finding parts of the Bible that are puzzling, or that have been ignored by preachers and teachers.
I don't have to 'believe' in God, because I have had a couple of experiences that left no doubt in my mind that the Supreme Being exists. Jesus said, I am the vine, you are the branches, if I am in the father and you are in me, there is no separation between you and the father.
As I live to a greater age, I am more content to just 'be' in the natural world if possible, as well as the human world. Today's lesson was on Job 15:4. I conclude that God is a total mystery, and we are incapable of 'knowing' God with our minds. But as we learn to meditate, without analysis or judgment, God whispers in our ear the bits we don't have words for, inspiring us to larger life.