"Islam is Dominated by Radicals"

A debate on April 15, 2008 hosted by the show Intelligence Squared put forth the premise "Islam is Dominated by Radicals." On the "pro" side appeared Daveed Garten-Stein Ross, Paul Marshall and Asra Nomani. On the "con" were Reza Aslan, Richard Bulliet and Edina Lekovic.

When the audience was polled with the following (paraphrased) question, upon entering the debate, the numbers were thus:

Do you agree or disagree with the statement that Islam is dominated by radicals?

43% agreed
32% disagreed
22% were undecided

After the debate, the numbers stacked up as follows:

73% agreed
23% disagreed
4% were undecided

During the debate, a number of shocking points were made by the "pro" team, using statistics concerning what is actually happening in the world today, including Islamic law in Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as how much money is being spent worldwide to spread "radical" Islamic fundamentalism that abides by these appalling laws. One point raised by Paul Marshall was that Iran has now recently proposed legislation that would make heresy and apostasy a capital offense even outside of Iran, meaning that, in Marshall's words, "Under Iranian law, Barack Obama should be executed as an apostate."

We are reminded that the "radical" Muslims are not only quite willing to kill and die for their cause, but they are "well funded, often by Saudi Arabia." We can look towards Saudi Arabia, in fact, for an example of a "true Islamic state," according to them, of course. There, Marshall informs us, the terms "human rights" and "democracy" are considered to be "un-Islamic terminology." Saudi Arabia's long brutal and oppressive history verifies this notion that human rights in that country are un-Islamic.

Marshall also reminds us that in Iran if you murder someone from an "unrecognized religion," such as the Bahai faith, you will not be punished. The life of a human being who is not a member of a recognized religion is as worthless as that of a dog or cat in Iran.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are in competition to spread their "radical" version of Islam around the world," the Saudis spending at least $3 billion a year on missionary causes.

We also hear about the millions of people who have died in the past few decades because of "radical" Islam being introduced into their countries, such as in Pakistan and Nigeria. This radicalization is happening even in moderate Muslim countries like Malaysia and Indonesia.

As concerns the "cons," one of the first comments out of Reza Aslan serves to establish the superiority of Islam, insulting the intelligence of the people in the audience at the same time (apparently because they are NOT Muslim): "So, I suppose it's not surprising that a large percentage in this room would believe that Islam - unquestionably the most eclectic, the most diverse religion in the history of the world - is dominated by radicals. After all, no field work or research is necessary to come to such a conclusion, just turn on your television...."

Yes, "unquestionably" is the correct term here, since questions are not encouraged within Islam. And how do total submission to Allah and the compulsion to pray five times a day constitute "diversity?"

Moreover, those who are speaking out against Islamic fundamentalism, such as Ayaan Hirsi Ali, have often been in the heart of it, not just sitting in front of the boobtube, mindlessly watching propaganda films.

Aslan continues in the same vein, stating that the cartoons that cause people to riot are "deliberately provocative." (Can't you hear it now: "Your honor, she was wearing a miniskirt, so I had to rape her.") Aslan also calls Geert Wilders a "racist," evidently because he doesn't want "radical" Islam to destroy his country or the world. (Reza apparently does not understand that Islam is NOT a race, as he, a darker-skinned Persian sits next to a white Muslim woman.) As a typical Muslim apologist, Aslan just cannot acknowledge that "radical" Islam is the source of violence and terror the world over. He couldn't possibly answer Marshall's factual recitation with a truly MODERATE statement like, "Yes, that doesn't sound very good, and I do not support those things within Islam." No, he immediately started insulting people, in a typically aggressive Muslim manner.

In the fourth clip, in response to a question by Garten-Stein Ross, Aslan essentially proves the point about every devout Muslim potentially being "radical," when he asserts that Islam is not "just a religion" but an identity, and that an attack on Islam is an attack on him personally which would warrant violence. In his response, in fact, Aslan seems to start shaking with anger at the very thought of "his" religion being assailed.

Re-wording a question from Daveed Garten-Stein Ross to ask, "Should I act violently in defense of my religion," the so-called "moderate" Reza Aslan responds, "ABSOLUTELY."

Is that not radical Islam in a nutshell?

It is my long-held stance that religious fanaticism is a form of psychopathy, and these responses merely verify my position. I personally hold that we are NOT "our" religion - indeed, they are not even OUR religions but are borrowed beliefs extending back to caveman days - and that becoming violent against a living, breathing human being over such an IDEOLOGY is in itself evil. In the end, my constant requests online since 1995 for people to DROP religious "isms" and "i(n)anities," and just be HUMAN BEINGS become even more urgent and meritable.

Back on the pro side, Asra Nomani gives us an insider's view about how even in the U.S. moderate Muslims are now being bombarded by radical Islam calling for the ostracism and oppression of non-Muslims.

Con speaker Edina Lekovic essentially admits that Islam does not belong to the 21st century and that electing a secular government is a good thing, as is "integration" (i.e., assimilation) for Muslims. Indeed, her remarks pretty much prove that Islam IS dominated by radicals, as she puts out the call for help to overpower them.

Daveed Garten-Stein Ross goes into factual detail about the lack of human rights and religious freedoms in Muslim countries, as well as the opinion, for example, of many Muslims in the West that Muslim apostates should be killed. Ross also nails home the point that Saudi Arabia is radical and that its ideology is being pushed all over the world, using oil money. He also addresses the fact that "mainstream" Muslim organizations are now attempting to shut down free speech worldwide, demonstrating their desire for hegemony.

Anyway, I could make comment throughout this debate - and I was doing so as I watched it - but this blog would then become very long.

In the end, the debate here was not whether or not Islam is a "great religion" but whether it is dominated by so-called radicals - who, it should be noted, consider themselves in fact to be the REAL Muslims and are, therefore, not "radical" at all.

The verdict is in: "Islam is dominated by radicals."

Following are some of the clips from this important debate. If you would like to see the rest of the 15 parts, including the free-for-all Q&A at the end, please go to YouTube.

Pro: Paul Marshall



Con: Reza Aslan



Debate: Garten-Stein Ross and Aslan



Pro: Asra Nomani



Con: Edina Lekovic



Pro: Daveed Garten-Stein Ross



For further reading:

'Islam Is Dominated By Radicals'

Note to Commenters: Before you write some hateful spew against Jews, read this website about Islam. If you haven't read my original article above and cannot prove to me that you have, I will not pass through your message. (BTW, mindless hatred of Jews is a sign of RADICAL Islam, so if no one but Jew-haters post here, they will be proving the point that Islam is dominated by radicals.)

Earth Day 2008: Hemp for Food and Fuel!

On this weekend before Earth Day, with celebrations worldwide, we find ourselves gripped globally by a food shortage caused in large part by rising fuel costs. Adding to this problem is the increasingly serious population growth. Indeed, I am reminded during this crisis of two pertinent subjects: Firstly, Paul Ehrlich, who wrote The Population Bomb in 1968, but who was roundly assailed and dismissed at the time. Unfortunately, he is being proved correct, as common sense would have told us all along. The second subject that keeps popping up provides a major solution to the world's food and energy crises. It's been sitting there all along, vilified and suppressed by the ruling elite, who appear to care not a fig for the world's poor and suffering but who only seem to want to make their fortunes off polluting and destroying the earth. What I'm talking about is the prohibition of one of the world's most versatile plants: Hemp or cannabis.

The history of hemp is long and varied, and need not be reproduced here but can be viewed in part in the videos included here. Suffice it to say that, rather than for "moral" purposes having to do with the medicinal or recreational uses of one strain of cannabis, the prohibition of hemp has largely revolved around the desire by the ruling elite to horde and profit off of the resources they have virtually monopolized since the 1930s and earlier. Indeed, in my mind one of the greatest criminals in history is William Randolph Hearst, who, along with his "hired Anslinger," so to speak, almost singlehandedly managed to destroy the American hemp industry. Now, much of the environmental destruction can be placed squarely on the heads of this tiny minority of monopolizers. With hemp, there would have been little need for the oil industry and its attendant globe-destroying pollution and degradation. Another benefit of hemp production and the non-necessity of Middle Eastern oil would have been the lack of funding for "radical" Islamic extremists whose stated goal is total global domination, using billions of petrodollars currently at their disposal.

Instead of a peaceful, clean and well-nourished planet and populace, we are currently poised on the edge of the abyss from which many millions will never recover. The prohibition of hemp constitutes one of the greatest crimes against humanity ever committed. Millions of human beings will now die, millions more will be enslaved under a totalitarian system of government, and the suffering will go on, all for the want of a plant that has more uses than can be listed here.

The people in power who have upheld the criminal hemp prohibition should be ashamed, but I fear that they have no conscience at all - an assertion constantly validated by their actions. If the ruling elite cannot make massive amounts of money off of something, it will not only fall by the wayside, it will be deliberately kicked there. And that relegation is what has happened to hemp, a true gift of nature that could still solve many of our problems globally - if these powermongering sociopaths will step out of the way.

Will humankind wake up and make the necessary changes now that it faces an appalling crisis of a magnitude never before seen? I certainly hope so.

Lift the hemp ban now!

(In 1992, when Jerry Brown was running for President, I stood up at one of his press conferences and asked him, "Isn't it time to look to hemp to solve many of the world's problems?" He blanched, and one of his cameramen groaned and removed the camera from me. Brown deflected the question, answering only my previous question about his international policies. That's the sort of fearful environment we've lived in that has now led us to this atrocious mess.)

Study: U.S. Hemp Ban Hurts Environment, Economy

Hemp Used to Clean Radioactivity

(If you can't see the videos below, try opening this page in Internet Explorer.)

Hemp for Food



Hemp for Victory!



Hemp - The Environmentally Sustainable Alternative



Hemp for Biodiesel Fuel



Hemp to Solve Global Warming



Ron Paul & Cannabis

"ZEITGEIST, Part 1" Debunked? NOT!

"ZEITGEIST, Part 1" - Debunked or Refuted? A Video Response

The intriguing internet movie "ZEITGEIST" has been an astounding hit, with over 15 million views worldwide in English and several other languages. In the past several months, there have been many claims on websites and in forums and videos all over the internet that the first part of ZEITGEIST has been "refuted" and "debunked." Contrary to these claims, the facts continue to demonstrate otherwise.

First of all, let me clarify that I was not involved in the creation of ZEITGEIST, other than providing a few images and consulting on Part 1 at the last minute, the result of which was the final, "Official" version. However, my work did serve as a significant inspiration for Part 1. I had no involvement in Parts 2 and 3, and make no comment thereupon in this article.

Because of my work's influence on Part 1 of ZEITGEIST, a number of the debunking sites have been directed largely at me and my contentions formulated over the past 15 years. While we would expect a debate as to the facts, the vitriolic and bilious nature of these refutations reflects a severe weakness of intelligent argument. Moreover, the detractors - whether theists or atheists and other freethinkers - quite often HAVE NOT ACTUALLY STUDIED MY WORK, and there has not been one "refutation" site to our knowledge that has proceeded from an informed and unbiased perspective, accurately presenting facts based on serious research. Despite pretending to be experts on the subject in general and my work in particular, none of these individuals has given any indication that he or she has read my Companion Guide to ZEITGEIST, Part 1, which already deals with a number of the facts purportedly "debunked" and which sets the tone for further discussion of the claims in ZEITGEIST. Because such individuals are not aware of the facts and evidence in my books, they apparently feel the need to attack me personally, demonstrating a lack of substance and objectivity on their part, despite their pretenses to the contrary.

It should be noted that I am not and have never been adverse to reading Christian material or factual rebuttals to my work or that of anyone else. Over the years, I have continually factored such information into my work. In reality, I was born and raised a Christian, from a family of Christians dating back many hundreds of years. My mother's family landed in America in 1630, as Puritans, and my mother was the longtime secretary, choir director and soloist of our Protestant Congregationalist church. I was also briefly a born-again Christian - I know the material very well. Who could miss Christian proselytizing? In America, it is available all over the place - in our books, newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, movies - we are inundated with Christianity. But if anyone dares to raise their small voice of objection or alternative perspective, they are beaten down with disparagement and vituperation. (Such vitriol, by the way, continues, as several people have attempted to post vicious and insulting comments here - be advised that such posts will not be passed through, but they do prove my point about religious fanaticism causing hatred and incivility towards other human beings.)

In this regard, what I am adverse to is going to a website or video and seeing or hearing libel and defamation against me, as well as the inaccurate portrayal of my work - and so far, none of the Zeitgeist-debunking material we have encountered has been free of this type of invective and abuse.

Unlike my detractors in their refutations, I do not engage in vitriol and calumny in this work. Instead, I provide FACTUAL MATERIAL from primary sources and the work of highly credentialed and qualified scholars. While it is true that ZEITGEIST does not thoroughly identify the various primary-source images it uses in its claims, the important point is that such sources do exist. Furthermore, ZG's creator, Peter Joseph, did not set out to present a scholarly documentary on the topic in the 25 minutes that comprise Part 1. Of course, those who think they can adequately cover the last 5,000 years of religious history in under 25 minutes are free to make their own video.

Despite all the efforts to refute the information and sources in Part 1 of ZEITGEIST, the bottom line will remain the same:

When the subject matter is examined scientifically and in depth, there continues to be no credible evidence for the existence of the gospel character named Jesus Christ, and the preponderance of scientific evidence points to him being as mythical a character as the Greek god Hercules and the many other deities of the Roman Empire of the time.

While people who take such a position are widely subjected to ridicule and derision, based on all the evidence this conclusion is demonstrably the most reasonable and logical. Furthermore, in a truthful world where we should not be compelled to reside in BLIND BELIEF, this perspective should be allowed to exist without its holders being derogated and abused, as well as dunned with impossibly high standards of proof, while claims in the religious arena require little to no proof at all! In addition, rather than attacking living, breathing human beings, in my work I tackle deleterious ideologies that have caused the deaths of hundreds of millions of people.

To demonstrate the utter lack of quality in the assaults on my credibility and character that somehow "prove" the existence of Jesus Christ, I have been labeled not only a "liar," "fraud" and "poor scholar," but also a "Freemason," an "Illuminati," a "CIA agent," a "Mossad agent" and a "Zionist" - utterly ridiculous notions so undeserving of dignifying that I have hitherto not addressed them. Nor am I a member of any Theosophical Society or any organization having to do with Luciferians, etc., ad absurdum - other silliness slung my way. These claims are entirely laughable, needless to say. Not to mention that these folks are BEARING FALSE WITNESS AGAINST ME, which breaks one of the 10 Commandments!

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." (Exodus 20:16; Matthew 19:18)

Rather than providing credible, scientifically valid evidence and proof for their assertions, detractors thus continually engage in an endless stream of ad homs and other fallacies to distract away from the issues raised in "ZEITGEIST, Part 1." One of the contentions constantly bandied about as if it constitutes some great triumph is the notion that Jesus Christ was not born on December 25th or the winter solstice; therefore, the comparisons with other gods are inapt. The fact will remain that many millions of people over the centuries have been taught to believe that a Jewish son of God named Jesus Christ not only existed but was born on December 25th. This straw-man argument merely serves to prove our point that Jesus is not the "reason for the season." This and the equally fallacious "three kings" argument are addressed in my Companion Guide, along with much else.

What it comes down to is this - who has reason, logic and common sense on their side? The people who claim that there is an invisible Jewish guy floating all over the sky, or those who assert that this implausible figure is a myth based on previous myths? And if this story is based on myth - which logic and reason suggest it is - what were the myths? That is all I am doing with my work. No CIA, Illuminati or Mossad is necessary for an individual to have such an understanding and to attempt to share it with others. It is sheer common sense, period.

Not a few of the debunking sites rely on shallow "encyclopedia surfing" that will not reveal pertinent facts because of a well-oiled censorship machine that has been in place since long before the Inquisition and that remains to this day to a large extent - as we can see from these frantic and hysterical attempts at debunking, which rely almost entirely on ignorance based on censorial behavior by authorities over the centuries and millennia. Such censorship is responsible for a massive amount of destruction of primary sources - this shameful, deliberate devastation is what we should recall every time a debunker cries out for "primary sources!" Meanwhile, detractors themselves provide NO primary-source evidence for their own extraordinary claims. Furthermore, much of the pertinent data I provide in my books cannot be found in English but appears in other languages, such as Greek, Latin, German, French, as well as Hebrew and Egyptian, of course. Unless someone can work within these languages, he or she may never encounter this important information.

In addition, scholars in relevant fields operating within mainstream institutions themselves are frequently hemmed in by a variety of factors that will not allow them even to contemplate the data discovered through intensive research into comparative religion and mythology. In previous eras not long ago, one could not only lose one's occupation for delving deeply into the issues and having the audacity to broadcast such discoveries, but one could also be subjected to imprisonment on charges of heresy and blasphemy, among other even less savory situations. Mainstream scholars have also been urged not to "rock the boat," as well as to preserve the status quo - and their livelihoods frequently depend on conformity. Moreover, many scholars these days are so specialized that they do not cover the broad diversity of subjects involved in this particular field of research. Scholars in past eras were less specialized - and they did in fact make these connections within comparative religion, as my research demonstrates.

The Horus-Jesus Connection

Rather than relying on the typical shallow "encyclopedia surfing" of the debunking sites, or scholarship that skims the surface because of prejudices and occupational concerns, if you would like to get a taste of deeper and fascinating research on the subject that BACKS UP THE HORUS CLAIMS OF ZEITGEIST, you will want to read my ebook:

The Companion Guide to ZEITGEIST, Part 1

In this 49-page ebook, I use mostly primary sources and the work of individuals highly credentialed in their relevant fields. This ebook shows exactly where some of the most well-known claims regarding the Egyptian god Horus can be found in ancient testimonies and texts.

If you go to my Zeitgeist page, you will find a series of excerpts that reveal the quality of the material I am presenting in the Guide.

We are also working on a short video on the subject, likewise addressing whether or not ZG, Part 1 has been "refuted" or "debunked." Again, I can assure you that it has not.

In addition, I am also close to finishing a much larger work on the subject that I’ve been diligently laboring upon - Christ in Egypt: The Horus-Jesus Connection. Thoroughly covering every contention found in ZEITGEIST regarding Horus, Christ in Egypt will be well over 400 pages, with dozens of illustrations and, again, mostly primary sources and the work of highly credentialed scholars, comprising a bibliography with over 500 entries. Again, I have managed to dig up some incredibly exciting and important research!

Many of us are delighted by the amazing success of ZEITGEIST, for the major reason that it has generated tremendous interest in what I consider to be some of the most intriguing subjects on the planet - comparative religion, mythology and astrotheology - but what has unfortunately been swept under the carpet for too long, in favor of biased, ethnocentric fallacies reducing the grandeur of the cosmos to petty fish tales.

If you have an interest in the direction humanity is going, you might want to know that I believe and hope it is towards a reawakening of the HIDDEN KNOWLEDGE I and others are bringing to light regarding religion and mythology - and this new development is another major step in that direction.

The Companion Guide to ZEITGEIST, Part 1

Thanks - and enjoy!

Acharya S aka D.M. Murdock

P.S. If you would like to receive news about the forthcoming video on ZEITGEIST or about my book Christ in Egypt, please join my mailing list:

Truth Be Known Mailing List

Interested parties may also wish to peruse the FAQs at my forums.

Amazing Elephant Art!

This is not my usual fare, but it's so astounding I had to share.

If you haven't seen this already, watch the whole thing - it is well worth the time, as you may never have imagined that any non-human animal could be so adroit, graceful and artistic.

Absolutely beautiful image - I'd be pleased to call it my own! (If you are having trouble seeing the videos, trying reloading or using a different browser.)



This particular elephant is a male born in 2002 named "Paya," which means "excellence." He's only been painting for a couple of years.

There is much to learn from this incredible display of intelligence, dexterity and artistic sense by this marvelous elephant and all the others as well.

Here's another beauty:



Now, this is what I'd rather be focused on - appreciating the beauty and wonder of nature!

For more amazing elephant art, see this site:

Asian Elephant Art & Conservation Project

(And, yes, they are trained, of course - but still!)