America's problems: Godlessness

**Xoria** · 10-01-09, 11:01 PM

All of the communist/fascist revolutions were technically atheist. Some people like killing those that are different than them, and will find whatever justification they need if they want to do it on a large scale. Darfur isn't/wasn't about religion, more about tribes, and power and money and just because they could get away with it..

Religion is just another justification to hide behind, even if..as Arreo so succinctly stated..almost all of the religions actually preach peace. If there wasn't religion, the major asshats who've done the big bads would've found another excuse.

**Thorsen** · 10-01-09, 11:06 PM

I agree to a point Xoria, but there is a certain part of global violence which is very clearly based off of religion. The Crusades and the Inquisition are two facets of history which are blatantly religious. Terrorism as well is very religiously based. These are things that I would argue would not happen without religion's help.

That's not to say, as you pointed out, that conflict is never secular. There are plenty cases where people kill each other just for material or worldly reasons.

**Xoria** · 10-01-09, 11:17 PM

Understandable...but the Crusades were cooked up by a Pope who was getting hammered over the rampant violence being committed by errant knights who had no one left to fight after the various duchies and such became countries..the heads of state asked him to think of something to keep them from constantly attacking and attempting to take control..and Crusading was born.

The Inquisition was about holding on to power at all costs. The Church ran the world, and the only way such a small group could maintain power was through fear and oppression. It's initial targets were people who were politically threatening, and as a way for the Spanish Church to seize more assets. Of course then it spread and got out of hand and was used to pretty much get anyone who believed in free thought, or who didn't have the money to bribe their way out.

Both were hugely religious, and cloaked heavily in it..but there were major political reasons for both too.

<--was a history major

**Thorsen** · 10-01-09, 11:28 PM

Right. I agree with what you're saying Xoria (I also love history, though I am majoring in it). I'm not saying that these religions necessarily tell their believers to do these things, just that these religions led to this. Whether or not the church was using the inquisition for political reasons, the fact remains that the church wouldn't be there if not for religion.

I'm not really that into throwing blame though. I agree that people will always find reasons to kill each other no matter what. Religion is just one more reason we cooked up.

**Fovezer** · 10-01-09, 11:55 PM

Took some of you guys long enough to realize what I have been saying for a while now.

The guy is a first-class asshole.

**DJ Ms. White** · 10-02-09, 12:05 AM

Humorously enough, 2 freshman walked by my station requesting some 80s/90s rock. They got pissed when I put some Sisters of Mercy on and proceeded to bitch. My secretary asked them if they ever listened to the station. "No". He asked them if they had taken the time to fill out the surveys we do to gauge the general musical tastes of the campus. "No." Then he laughed at them, came back to the booth, ad said he was inspired by that Penn and Teller video. Fun times.

**Fajita!** · 10-02-09, 12:06 AM

Originally Posted by Xoria

All of the communist/fascist revolutions were technically atheist. Some people like killing those that are different than them, and will find whatever justification they need if they want to do it on a large scale. Darfur isn't/wasn't about religion, more about tribes, and power and money and just because they could get away with it..

Religion is just another justification to hide behind, even if..as Arreo so succinctly stated..almost all of the religions actually preach peace. If there wasn't religion, the major asshats who've done the big bads would've found another excuse.

Exactly