Freethought & Rationalism Archive

premjan · 04-16-2007, 11:46 PM

People are violent regardless of religions though religions may sanction their violence to a greater or lesser degree - what are we to make of the Virginia Tech massacre? Which religion is responsible for that?

whichphilosophy · 04-17-2007, 12:07 AM

No religions in themselves are violent. People are violent. Excluded from this list were extremes of Atheism in the communist regimes. They were no less during some points of their history than the religions before them.

Regards,

Clivedurdle · 04-17-2007, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perm

Historically? I'll have to go with xtianity.. they set a more clear precedent with the crusades, imo.

Arguably the Crusades were a reaction to the previous Islamic conquests - attempts to retake land previously lost, but that means thinking about empires, not religions.

Have the crusades been seen as a resurgence of the Western Roman Empire?

A list of who killed whom for what reasons might be very interesting. Mongols?

Maybe religion is actually not that important, and is primarily a tool to get people to go to war.

Spitfire · 04-17-2007, 12:21 AM

A better poll, I think, would be one on which religion is held up to the highest standards by people not of that religion.

But no, I will make no such poll myself, I am too lazy.

adren@line · 04-17-2007, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janus

If I'm asked to demonstrate that Islam, for example, encourages violence, I can show you a dozen verses from the Quran. Likewise, if you want to demonstrate that it was atheism that was responsible for the Communists' atrocities, you simply have to show us which tenet of atheism it is that commands, suggests, or might indirectly influence atheists to kill religious believers.

Good luck!

there was no creed or tenet within the atheistic doctrine of the Chinese that commanded them to kill the Buddhists (that I know of, anyways), but they were killed because they were not atheists, which relates to atheism.

So I don't really know which is worse.

JaronK · 04-17-2007, 12:41 AM

Can I vote for whatever the Incans were worshipping? That was an awful lot of sacrifices.

JaronK

Straight Hate · 04-17-2007, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaronK

Can I vote for whatever the Incans were worshipping? That was an awful lot of sacrifices.

JaronK

Now there's a reconstructionist religion I can dig.

...as an observer, or at least the one doing the sacrificing...

Djugashvillain · 04-17-2007, 01:20 AM

Right now? Islam. Throughout history? Christianity.

Since I assume the question was asking what is the most violent religion today, I voted Islam.

Blui · 04-17-2007, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adren@line

there was no creed or tenet within the atheistic doctrine of the Chinese that commanded them to kill the Buddhists (that I know of, anyways), but they were killed because they were not atheists, which relates to atheism.

So I don't really know which is worse.

Actually from what i read, the communist regime was anti-religious since it borrowed heavily from Marx.

Could someone correct me if im wrong?

Lugubert · 04-17-2007, 03:36 AM

Judging from contemporary actions and views, Christianity as used by the Shrub in Iraq and Afghanistan clearly dwarfs any other effort at violence.

View Poll Results: Which religion is more violent?
Christianity	21	22.83%
Islam	66	71.74%
Asian Religions	1	1.09%
African Religions	0	0%
Native American Religions	1	1.09%
Indian Religions	0	0%
None are violent!	3	3.26%
Voters: 92. You may not vote on this poll

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04-16-2007, 11:46 PM	#21
premjan Obsessed Contributor Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: NJ Posts: 61,538	People are violent regardless of religions though religions may sanction their violence to a greater or lesser degree - what are we to make of the Virginia Tech massacre? Which religion is responsible for that?

04-17-2007, 12:07 AM	#22
whichphilosophy Contributor Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Abu Dhabi Europe and Philippines Posts: 11,254	No religions in themselves are violent. People are violent. Excluded from this list were extremes of Atheism in the communist regimes. They were no less during some points of their history than the religions before them. Regards,

04-17-2007, 12:21 AM	#24
Spitfire Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: The belly of the beast. Posts: 765	A better poll, I think, would be one on which religion is held up to the highest standards by people not of that religion. But no, I will make no such poll myself, I am too lazy.

04-17-2007, 12:41 AM	#26
JaronK Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: California Posts: 1,710	Can I vote for whatever the Incans were worshipping? That was an awful lot of sacrifices. JaronK

04-17-2007, 01:20 AM	#28
Djugashvillain Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NSW, Australia Posts: 1,281	Right now? Islam. Throughout history? Christianity. Since I assume the question was asking what is the most violent religion today, I voted Islam.

04-17-2007, 03:36 AM	#30
Lugubert Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Sweden Posts: 3,684	Judging from contemporary actions and views, Christianity as used by the Shrub in Iraq and Afghanistan clearly dwarfs any other effort at violence.

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