Why does God need a Star-ship or a car bomb?

While waiting for a fresh pot of coffee to be brewed at my local deli, I took a gander at the latest headlines from the selection of newspapers: 15 Dead in Car bomb, Hamas cowards bomb bus stop, cafe in Israel, Hamas terror strikes 6 hours apart, etc.

The gist: Two separate, but coordinated Palestinian suicide bombers took out a bunch of innocent people in a religiously motivated, terrorist strike. What the fuck, already!?

Here's a link to the "story-of-the-day" that outlines the: Suicide bombs in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv kill up to 15 - Belfast Telegraph

For those interested, this collection details some of the more deadly attacks that have come as a result of religious terrorism: Israel's history of bomb blasts - BBC News - 70 since September 2000

Last week I watched Star Trek V: The Final Frontier again. While this film is widely know to be the worst of the Star Trek offerings, at least writer & director William Shatner understands the ridiculousness of religious fanatics and their belief in "God's calling". When Kirk finally meets the "supreme being" and is instructed to bring the Enterprise closer, he asks the question: "What does God need with a Star-ship?" Indeed!

And I ask the question: Why does God need a car bomb? Why is it that religious nuts always think that God wants them to do something destructive? Obviously, throughout history there have been more deaths at the hands of those acting in the name of God than all natural disasters or disease combined. Are we as humans complete incapable of logical thinking whereby we might understand that using a justification such as religion (a concept designed to keep people from killing each other) for the very purpose of killing each other? And is there a moment of question just before the suicide bomber dies where the paradox flashes before his eyes - that he might not really get a slice of heaven for his actions in the name of God? I just can't understand it.

But, even as a pagan whose belief is "do what you will but harm none", I would feel completely justified in turning the middle east into a parking lot if it was in my power. Before 9/11 I didn't care and figured that eventually the factions fighting over a tiny strip of land, only significant to them, would kill themselves off and life for the rest of us would carry on as normal. But after 9/11, and on the eve of its 2nd anniversary, I am reminded of my fear - fear that these religious zealots, acting in the name of religion and under the belief that terrorism brings one side-by-side with God will affect my way of life; that they will harm me. And everyone knows: the quickest way to deal with a bully is to bloody his nose first. But, shame on me for thinking it. Its not very pagan of me, is it?

On a lighter side: while searching for links to this post I found a website that invites posters to point out the errors in film, such as "out-of-sequence" shots, or wrong color shirt, etc. Check out: The Slip-Up Archive & Star Trek V Mistakes Even non-trekkies will have a laugh.