NationStates Jolt Archive

As a lead on from the "Murderous church" thread, I observed that people have been comparing the respective body counts of people who were killed in religious conflicts to show how evil the opposition is.

Does that make any sense? If a religion claims that it is absolutely true and preaches love and peace, doesn't the first sign of bloodshed already invalidate its doctrines? Do we have to wait for a million to die first?

Just a thought, my friends.

If a religion claims that it is absolutely true and preaches love and peace, doesn't the first sign of bloodshed already invalidate its doctrines?
Just a thought, my friends.

No.

No.

So you'll wait for the first million bodies to stack up?

While we're at it, we can discuss murderous political philosophies, whether or not the founder of the philosophy intended the system to turn out that way.

If a religion claims that it is absolutely true and preaches love and peace, doesn't the first sign of bloodshed already invalidate its doctrines?

Indeed it does. But unfortunately the problem is inherent in all religions that are based on the Bible (you know, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, etc). Although the Bible always urges people to be "good" humans the protagonists in its stories fail to give the examples. Instead murderers, mass murderes, panderers, and warmongers are those chosen as leaders, even into genocide. Abram, Moses, Joshua, Elijah, David, and Solomon are all very dubious characters, so say the least. In religions where even the worshipped deity has no respect for life and kills everyone who has a slightly different mind, what can you expect of the followers?

While we're at it, we can discuss murderous political philosophies, whether or not the founder of the philosophy intended the system to turn out that way.

The problem with that is the fact that the (supposed) founder of each religion is theoretically the god that it represents - therefore His/Her/Their doctorines are a bit more set than those of your average political movement; I mean, gods are supposed to be infallible after all!! :rolleyes: And if this is the case, shouldn't breaking His/Her/Their rules instantly disbar you from the religion in question? :confused: :headbang:

The problem with that is the fact that the (supposed) founder of each religion is theoretically the god that it represents - therefore His/Her/Their doctorines are a bit more set than those of your average political movement; I mean, gods are supposed to be infallible after all!! :rolleyes: And if this is the case, shouldn't breaking His/Her/Their rules instantly disbar you from the religion in question? :confused: :headbang:

Gosh, how many people were shot in the back of the head because they "broke the rules".

Wasn't Lenin regarded as infallible? Mao? Hitler? Pol Pot? By their followers?

While we're at it, we can discuss murderous political philosophies, whether or not the founder of the philosophy intended the system to turn out that way.

Good call. I am thinking of the unsupported infinitive, start. If the religion has a God that is Omni-whatever, it encourages a strong, often fanatical devotion to the faith. What could be more impressive than infinite power/knowledge/whatever? When two "infinitives" religions collide, it becomes a dickfight bloodfest.

The number of deaths isn't exactly a fair rating system. I could go out and declare a death cult that sought to destroy the entire universe and everything in it for the sake of the powers of darkness and still be dubbed less evil than Christianity, who just want to go somewhere else, simply because they've been around longer.

I think the number of deaths per unit of time would be a better assessment.

The number of deaths isn't exactly a fair rating system. I could go out and declare a death cult that sought to destroy the entire universe and everything in it for the sake of the powers of darkness and still be dubbed less evil than Christianity, who just want to go somewhere else, simply because they've been around longer.

I think the number of deaths per unit of time would be a better assessment.

You'd think that a religion of peace would have a low body count no matter how long they've been around. ;)

As a lead on from the "Murderous church" thread, I observed that people have been comparing the respective body counts of people who were killed in religious conflicts to show how evil the opposition is.

Does that make any sense? If a religion claims that it is absolutely true and preaches love and peace, doesn't the first sign of bloodshed already invalidate its doctrines? Do we have to wait for a million to die first?

Just a thought, my friends.

They just claim that whoever did the killing wasn't a "true" <insert religion here>. Personally, I judge a religion by its adherents (those who claim to follow it) not by any arbitrary definition of what embodies a "true" <whatever>.

The problem with that is the fact that the (supposed) founder of each religion is theoretically the god that it represents - therefore His/Her/Their doctorines are a bit more set than those of your average political movement; I mean, gods are supposed to be infallible after all!! :rolleyes: And if this is the case, shouldn't breaking His/Her/Their rules instantly disbar you from the religion in question? :confused: :headbang:

Extra bolding mine.

Who says? Mine aren't.

While we're at it, we can discuss murderous political philosophies, whether or not the founder of the philosophy intended the system to turn out that way.
That's what I like about you, DK. At least you openly admit that your political philosophy is murderous.

That's what I like about you, DK. At least you openly admit that your political philosophy is murderous.

Most are, but fascism and Communism seem to take the world records.

By comparison, the US doesn't hold a candle to the masters.

Judaism is a religion of peace, but sometimes killing is called for. We DID pretty much wipe out the seven Caananite nations, and we do have the commandment to wipe out Amalek.

Still, by virtue of us not having much power, Judaism has a rather low death toll.

we do have the commandment to wipe out Amalek.

Which you somehow managed to do no less than three times.