@Naré Bars That's right. It's "racist" to suggest that there is something about Islam that leads many of its followers to violence. As if Muslims are a race.

@Daniel Bell Fair questions. And you're right -- the term Leftist can be misleading or ambiguous to some. In this case, "they" are the people that do the thing -- that is, use Islam as a tool for political gain by viewing Muslims as a marginalized group to be tethered together with other "marginalized" groups for political power. The people who do this thing are described as Leftists -- people who share an ideological view of the world. In this worldview, people are viewed not as individuals but according to group identity. To Leftists, the individual is incapable of acting as a sovereign being because the individual, in this worldview, experiences the world entirely through the lense of their group identity. When it comes to social and political matters or systems of government, truth or goodness cannot be sought for its own sake, but only for the benefit of one’s own group as individuals are constrained by their group identity. This postmodern worldview (i.e. this "attitude of skepticism") challenges the narrative used to uphold social, political and economic systems by suggesting that the system is only in place because it benefits certain groups. In other words, "they" (Leftists) might say, "you don’t support Western civilization because it is good, but only because it's good for you." This relativist worldview in which human beings are simply groups vying for power, blinded and driven by group identity, underlies today's progressive movement. It is propagated both wittingly and unwittingly, through support of progressive social and political ideology; by those who consciously embrace this worldview and those who are naive to it. Leftism can thus be promoted by people who not are truly "Leftists." Well intentioned liberals, unaware of this relativist ideology that masquerades as compassion, often side with their further left progressive counterparts and participate in the destruction of the West. A good indicator, I think, of a purebred Leftist is someone who has progressive values AND aggressively shuts down dialogue with opposition (because the worldview that underlies the Leftists' social and political views does not allow for good faith dialogue -- again, because it defines human beings according to group identity, which constrains one's ability to reason independently from one’s group identity and drives motives based on the interest of one’s identity group).

This is the accent I heard upon watching this... Rounders Final Scene Hand Flop Nuts Check Check Straight Up Pay That Man His Money Malkovich Damon - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/shorts/L63PUAqQZMI

I understand the concern, based on the verses you quoted. I wish I were more of a Christian scholar so I could respond with substance. This post gives me reason to do research on how the Catholic church interperets these verses. For now, though, it might be worth pointing out that the Catholic church, in the second Vatican council, determined that the Jews' covenant with God is living and valid. Though I imagine you're probably already aware of that. I believe that the second Vatican council also explicitly said that Christians are not to view the Jews as cursed in any way. Also, as a side note, much of my understanding about the relationship between Christians and Jews came from one of my professors who was a Catholic priest. He would run class trips to Israel every year and had only positive words about the Jews -- and he would speak about the Jews often. I suspect these verses should not be taken just literally or without context, but I have to do some research to see why.

@Torah Worldwide I haven't forgetten about this -- I have been mulling it over in the back of my mind amidst a busy week. I will follow-up once I have done the work needed to respond to your specific points.

@Rebecca Abbott Good point.

@Soap Box That's right. And in the case of marriage, it will most certainly morph into other things now that it is no longer about and clearly grounded-in the duality of the sexes.

@Oscar Paez There was no assumption that "tradition" is good. Some traditions are bad and some good. We want to keep the good ones and lose the bad ones. Tradition has nothing to do with it.