NationStates Jolt Archive

It seems that Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are the most fundamentalist religions. They are more closed minded religions with very strict stringent principles that are adhered to or at least given lip service by the majority of their followers, characterized by Holy Books that have mostly the same interpretation by all followers, and the belief that all those who do not follow their beliefs or morality are in some way going to hell.

They also tend to see at least unofficially see the Earth as the center of the universe, and the most important planet. Part of this is that they see their prophets as the only prophets.

The Dharmic religions Hinduism, and Buddhism on the other at least in general think in much more broad terms. They seem to emphasize more the "Universe", and all beings in it. They see cycles of creation, reincarnation, and karma. Their belief seems to be much more developed in what one could say a philosophical sense, much more complex. As well as diverse. Despite having a similar moral code their condemnation is not so exact. Karma seems a more complex concept than an absolute afterlife. The other concepts, especially about Atman and absolute reality are more complex ways of viewing the ultimate rather than just as one "God".

It is truly interesting to me how it has been largely unexplored that the Dharmic religions tend to refer to the "Universe", beings in general, and other things beyond the planet Earth. On the other hand, the Abrahamic religions tend to look at only Earth at least religiously. Of course the Muslims helped develop astronomy, but their religion remains very Earth-centric especially with Mecca etc.

It's a fault with their size and geography, rather than with the religions themselves. Close-minded and bigotted people in the Western world will very likely have been raised as Christian, Muslim or Jew. Thus they will use that as their 'Us' group and get right to work on hating 'Them'(everyone else). And when they start spouting their crap about how they're right and everyone else is wrong we, in the Western world, are more likely to hear it since they too are in the Western world. I'm sure that there are hateful Hindus and Buddishts, as much as there are hateful people in every group of humans. They're just far away, so we hear about them less.

How did the Abrahamic religions become the most fundamentalist and closed minded?They did not become thus, they have always been thus. It's inherent. Just read the Bible.

silly OP all religions are bigoted and have a diploma in meany from Meanyham university

just say to yourself that maybe it could of turned out worse

They're just the most "in your face." India is pretty conservative too, without being christian or jewish (though some are muslim). Bollywood had to cut back heavily on love scenes in the early days because Public Display of Affection wasn't (and probably to some degree still isn't) accepted.

Though Aryavartha probably knows more on that than I do.

They're just the most "in your face." India is pretty conservative too, without being christian or jewish (though some are muslim). Bollywood had to cut back heavily on love scenes in the early days because Public Display of Affection wasn't (and probably to some degree still isn't) accepted.

Though Aryavartha probably knows more on that than I do.

IMS, there's a warrant out for the arrest of Richard Gere for kissing Shilpa Shetty in public in India. If that's not conservative then I don't know what is.

Well, it's my impression (although that might well be due to my living in Western Europe) that the Abrahamic religions are the only ones with claims to a single deity, and claims to unique knowledge about that single deity.
Most other religions on the planet (at least those that I know of) would be multi- or pantheistic, and always have room to accomodate one more god.
Which tends to make them a bit more tolerant towards people who worship other gods.
The Abrahamic religions can't be tolerant, one of the commandments makes sure of that.

Are we talking about the same India that gave us the Karma Sutra here? ;)

I think you may be mistaking cultural prudity with religious zeal here.

Clearly the Indians took 'Get a room' very seriously.

IMS, there's a warrant out for the arrest of Richard Gere for kissing Shilpa Shetty in public in India. If that's not conservative then I don't know what is.

Are we talking about the same India that gave us the Karma Sutra here? ;)

I think you may be mistaking cultural prudity with religious zeal here.

Are we talking about the same India that gave us the Karma Sutra here? ;)

I think you may be mistaking cultural prudity with religious zeal here.

Definitely. India is culturally prudish, but the religion at least is a lot more open. Yes there is a code of morals like every other religion, but they are definitely less "Your not following what I believe, your going to hell."

IMS, there's a warrant out for the arrest of Richard Gere for kissing Shilpa Shetty in public in India. If that's not conservative then I don't know what is.Well, who wants to see disgusting Richard Gere? Kissing or not.

How did the Abrahamic religions become the most fundamentalist and closed minded?By being the most familiar religions to the average agnostic westerner - they spawned him.

As such, the average agnostic westerner knows comparatively little about other religions, and - being annoyed with his native religions - considers the religions he's most familiar with 'Worse' simply because he knows more about their particular brand of fundamentalism.

*Snip*
Um... just out of curiosity, have you met Buddhists before? I mean ones that were raised in a country with Buddhist traditions, not just folks who drifted to it on a quest for Eastern enlightenment? They aren't nearly as nice as you make them out to be.

Um... just out of curiosity, have you met Buddhists before? I mean ones that were raised in a country with Buddhist traditions, not just folks who drifted to it on a quest for Eastern enlightenment? They aren't nearly as nice as you make them out to be.

Yes I have. I know they are human just like everyone else. Some even have a more bleak view of life. I have also met some who are very kind hearted. It depends on the tradition, and sect of Buddhism as well at times.

I am talking about the religion's characteristics, but I may have to create a separate discussion on my why each set seem to have different cosmology views. With the Dharmic religions seeming to emphasize more the "Universe".

Yes I have. I know they are human just like everyone else. Some even have a more bleak view of life. I have also met some who are very kind hearted. It depends on the tradition, and sect of Buddhism as well at times.

I am talking about the religion's characteristics, but I may have to create a separate discussion on my why each set seem to have different cosmology views. With the Dharmic religions seeming to emphasize more the "Universe".
Perhaps you should study the history of them then. Japan had some very bloody battles between Buddhist sects because one sect would not accept the other's point-of-view. You're attempting to give an undeserved halo to groups that really do not differ too much from your original complaint.

Perhaps you should study the history of them then. Japan had some very bloody battles between Buddhist sects because one sect would not accept the other's point-of-view. You're attempting to give an undeserved halo to groups that really do not differ too much from your original complaint.If memory serves me right, Buddhists were also perfectly happy to stamp out more traditional religions in, say, China quite akin to the christian expansion in middle/ northern europe following the collapse of the Roman Empire.

This is not the only thing responsible, but...

Their problem is that they're monotheistic, not polytheistic. Seriously! Just look how the two generally respond to other religions:

Polytheistic: Since they have multiple deities, they generally don't mind adding the deity (or deities) of foreign religions to their pantheon -- when you have twenty deities, a twenty-first won't change much, especially if the new one is a minor deity. Rome, for example, added deities form numerous lands that they conquered.

Monotheistic: They feel that one deity is responsible for everything. Not only do they see a new deity (or even the deification of a human) as highly threatening, but even heretical. If you (for example) tried to tell a christian priest that christians should worship both Jesus and Bahamut, he'll probably look at you like your head's screwed on incorrectly.

Polytheistic: Since they have multiple deities, they generally don't mind adding the deity (or deities) of foreign religions to their pantheon -- when you have twenty deities, a twenty-first won't change much, especially if the new one is a minor deity. Rome, for example, added deities form numerous lands that they conquered.
That was Rome, not every pantheon based religion was as happy to do so, some were very un-happy to do so.

They're just the most "in your face." India is pretty conservative too, without being christian or jewish (though some are muslim). Bollywood had to cut back heavily on love scenes in the early days because Public Display of Affection wasn't (and probably to some degree still isn't) accepted.

Though Aryavartha probably knows more on that than I do.

India is still in "Victorian era". We are a bit late in keeping up with the trends.

Although, it is loosening up at increasing pace of late.

I'm sure that there are hateful Hindus and Buddishts, as much as there are hateful people in every group of humans.

I know someone like that. Replace "god" with "karma" and it's still the same "you'll burn in hell" spiel.

That was Rome, not every pantheon based religion was as happy to do so, some were very un-happy to do so.

True, but Rome wasn't the only one. Greek religion, for example, varied from city to city, and the egyptians resisted very little to adding in christianity and later islam.

I know someone like that. Replace "god" with "karma" and it's still the same "you'll burn in hell" spiel.
Indeed, Chinese Buddhism (And Japanese) have a very interesting hell: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diyu

True, but Rome wasn't the only one. Greek religion, for example, varied from city to city, and the egyptians resisted very little to adding in christianity and later islam.
Kinda hard to, given how they had been defeated. In any case such a generalization really doesn't work.

IMS, there's a warrant out for the arrest of Richard Gere for kissing Shilpa Shetty in public in India. If that's not conservative then I don't know what is.

The warrant was struck down by another superior judge citing it as "silly".

Um... just out of curiosity, have you met Buddhists before? I mean ones that were raised in a country with Buddhist traditions, not just folks who drifted to it on a quest for Eastern enlightenment? They aren't nearly as nice as you make them out to be.

Ethnic Sri Lankans are Bhuddhist chauvanists/supremacists. They supported the attempted ethnic cleansing of tamils and are still one of the hawks opposing peace in the island (of course tamil terrorist groups like LTTE are their mirrors and are not without blame...)

Anyways, if we are taking the "religion is as follower does" then no religion is exempt from criticism and in this era we live in, it's like "same difference".

If we are looking at just the ideology and the "ideal follower", there is a marked difference between Abrahamic and Dharmic religions.

If we are looking at just the ideology and the "ideal follower", there is a marked difference between Abrahamic and Dharmic religions.
Ah yes... Abrahamic: God commands that you do unto others as you would have others do unto you, love thy neighbor, and so on vs Dharmic: Uh... well, karma suggests that you do unto others as you would have others do unto you, love thy neighbor, and so on.

Hmmm.... major differences there then.

The fundamentalism of the Abrahamaic religions is actually quite a new phenomenon. For much of its history, for example, Christianity was phenomenally syncretic, with the merging of countless pagan Middle Eastern, European and Native American traditions into itself. Need I say more than Christmas and Easter, the construction and design of churches and many of the rituals performed. I mean, jeez, look at the physical image we have formed for the Christian god! He's the spitting image of the Greco/Roman Zeus/Jupiter character. He's probably even got lightning bolts sitting around somewhere nearby.

Islam, once upon a time, devoured whole cultures into itself. The ancient Persian cultures were included, and rapidly became a separate form of Islam, Shi'ism. The Mongol invasion of the Middle East brought many of their traditions with it, and many of those were melded into the pre-existing Arab-Islamic customs.

I know someone like that. Replace "god" with "karma" and it's still the same "you'll burn in hell" spiel.

Karma hates fags?

Karma hates fags?IIRC, Homosexuality is considered a criminal offence in India (Albeit barely persecuted), so...

Yes.

It seems that Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are the most fundamentalist religions. They are more closed minded religions with very strict stringent principles that are adhered to or at least given lip service by the majority of their followers, characterized by Holy Books that have mostly the same interpretation by all followers, and the belief that all those who do not follow their beliefs or morality are in some way going to hell.

They also tend to see at least unofficially see the Earth as the center of the universe, and the most important planet. Part of this is that they see their prophets as the only prophets.

The Dharmic religions Hinduism, and Buddhism on the other at least in general think in much more broad terms. They seem to emphasize more the "Universe", and all beings in it. They see cycles of creation, reincarnation, and karma. Their belief seems to be much more developed in what one could say a philosophical sense, much more complex. As well as diverse. Despite having a similar moral code their condemnation is not so exact. Karma seems a more complex concept than an absolute afterlife. The other concepts, especially about Atman and absolute reality are more complex ways of viewing the ultimate rather than just as one "God".

It is truly interesting to me how it has been largely unexplored that the Dharmic religions tend to refer to the "Universe", beings in general, and other things beyond the planet Earth. On the other hand, the Abrahamic religions tend to look at only Earth at least religiously. Of course the Muslims helped develop astronomy, but their religion remains very Earth-centric especially with Mecca etc.

Monotheistic religions spread because polytheistic religion accepts "Their God" as an other God. But once they get used to it they start to believe that it's the only one.

It's about the people that make a religion what it appears on the face.

I would call myself a fundementalist Christian, heck I would even tack the term Zealot on the end of that title. Am I killing the unfaithful? Am I attending anti-gay meetings (do they even have things like that? I assume they must)? Do I hate people of other religions?

No. Going on the fundementals of the Bible (Bible includes both OT, and NT, and Jesus said a lot of things that were not what the OT said), I believe that 'loving thy neighbor' is one of the greatest things we can do, I try to 'bless those who persecute me'. I try to treat others, and their opinions (for the most part, I have heard seom pretty stupid opinions) with dignity, love and respect. I am socially conservative, yet I have what I would call a fairly liberal streak that runs right through me. Why? Because though I know that there is only one God, and that He was made manifest in Jesus Christ, and that He died for the sins of the world, and that He is the only path to redemption, not everyone believes that, and I have a better chance of talking to them respectfully, and with abounding kindness than I do with an iron gauntlet, and hate. I realize that I too, am a sinner, so who can I hate or despise for sinning?

It is all in how some people interpret religion, and how that affects is global image. Christianity is a relationship, and a mission, my faith is between me and my Creator, I do attend church, but that is forf fellowship with those who have a similar relationship with God as myself.

The fundamentalism of the Abrahamaic religions is actually quite a new phenomenon. For much of its history, for example, Christianity was phenomenally syncretic, with the merging of countless pagan Middle Eastern, European and Native American traditions into itself. Need I say more than Christmas and Easter, the construction and design of churches and many of the rituals performed. I mean, jeez, look at the physical image we have formed for the Christian god! He's the spitting image of the Greco/Roman Zeus/Jupiter character. He's probably even got lightning bolts sitting around somewhere nearby.

Islam, once upon a time, devoured whole cultures into itself. The ancient Persian cultures were included, and rapidly became a separate form of Islam, Shi'ism. The Mongol invasion of the Middle East brought many of their traditions with it, and many of those were melded into the pre-existing Arab-Islamic customs.

Umm, Easter is the celebration of Christ's resurrection. The egg aymbolizes the beginning of new life (as opposed to fertility).

The incorporation of pagan faiths though, thats Catholicism, look at the pantheon of saints and you have polytheism's vague mirror. Look to the most blessed Mary the mother of God and you see a distinct Northern European goddess figure, look at all the statues, and opulance adorning many Catholic churches, and you see a form of idolatry.

Agian though, thats Catholicism.

I think it’s safe to say that the big Dharmic religions, along with Taoism, Confucianism and other Eastern religions, have all had periods of militant fundamentalism and oppression.

Take a look especially at China from the 2nd to the 16th century, and Japan during the 1600s.

Umm, Easter is the celebration of Christ's resurrection. The egg aymbolizes the beginning of new life (as opposed to fertility).

The incorporation of pagan faiths though, thats Catholicism, look at the pantheon of saints and you have polytheism's vague mirror. Look to the most blessed Mary the mother of God and you see a distinct Northern European goddess figure, look at all the statues, and opulance adorning many Catholic churches, and you see a form of idolatry.

Agian though, thats Catholicism.

It doesn't devalue Christianity that it is syncretic in its traditions. That as the rapid expansion and integration of European Pagans was occurring it adopted many of their customs and traditions so as to make the transition that much easier on the populace. Utilizing these pre-existing social structures of holidays and festivals, the order and structure of the Roman state and the codification of religion in the form of the canon of the Bible, Christianity proved to be both strong and flexible, which has a lot to do with why there are two billion adherents, 1,700 years later. This flexibility is both pragmatic and idealistic, in that it is rather reflective of the degree of the inclusiveness of the teachings of Christ.

I think it’s safe to say that the big Dharmic religions, along with Taoism, Confucianism and other Eastern religions, have all had periods of militant fundamentalism and oppression.

Take a look especially at China from the 2nd to the 16th century, and Japan during the 1600s.

That's a long-ass time.

It doesn't devalue Christianity that it is syncretic in its traditions. That as the rapid expansion and integration of European Pagans was occurring it adopted many of their customs and traditions so as to make the transition that much easier on the populace. Utilizing these pre-existing social structures of holidays and festivals, the order and structure of the Roman state and the codification of religion in the form of the canon of the Bible, Christianity proved to be both strong and flexible, which has a lot to do with why there are two billion adherents, 1,700 years later. This flexibility is both pragmatic and idealistic, in that it is rather reflective of the degree of the inclusiveness of the teachings of Christ.

I know, I celebrate Christmas for Jesus, but clearly I can see the pagan roots, I was just stating that unless I am wrong, Easter is native to Chrisitanity is it not?

That’s a long-ass time.
Indeed.

But it’s roughly the period in which Confucianism was the top ‘religion’ in what we now know as China, albeit with its influence growing and waning over time.

At certain points, Confucianism dictated almost every aspect of Chinese life, including determining who would run government.

I know, I celebrate Christmas for Jesus, but clearly I can see the pagan roots, I was just stating that unless I am wrong, Easter is native to Chrisitanity is it not?Nyet. Pagan holiday (Start of spring, the nice seasons, fertility, new life & so on).

Not entirely coincidentally similar to the Christian version (Fertility represented by childbirth, new life symbolised by the coming of the messias and so on).

I know, I celebrate Christmas for Jesus, but clearly I can see the pagan roots, I was just stating that unless I am wrong, Easter is native to Chrisitanity is it not?

To a degree, it is, but it's popularity is borne of it's close temporal link with the pagan fertility rites that preceded it, which is evidenced by it's close relation to the symbolism that one sees with these events.

Actually, of the Western Religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), only a tenth of the overall populations of the religions are militant fundamentalist. This tenth or so is also included in a slightly larger slice that included general fundamentalism (the general value I do not know off the top of my head at the moment). This is, of course, looking at all of the sects within each individual religion (e.g. Christianity: Evangelical Christianity, Catholicism, Lutheranism,...; Judaism: Orthodox, Reform,...; Islam: Imam-led, non-Imam led, sects within both...). All of the Western Religions are known as Proclamation religions (that is to say, they have the way to salvation and proclaim it). Of the Western Religions, only Christianity and Islam are Missionary; of the major Eastern Religions, Buddhism is Missionary.

Der Teutoniker: Modern day Evangelical and Protestant Christianity are break-offs from the Catholic church; the newest, of course, is Evangelical Christianity. While Evangelical and Protestant Christianity's traditional views of Easter are that Easter and the egg itself are symbolic of a resurrected Christ, religious tradition is often not synchronous with history.

Historically, Early Christianity went to great lengths to integrate many rituals from both Roman and other Polytheistic (incorrectly dubbed "pagan") religions. As a result of these cross-cultural integrations, Early Christianity overwrote the significance of many of the ritual symbols from other religions and replaced them with their own. It is a distinct possibility (I will not say whether or not it is truth as I have done little research into the subject) that Easter was indeed a polytheistic holiday that was integrated into the early Christian church.

Note, I didn't say Catholic church. Catholicism didn't exist during the days of Early Christianity when much of the cross-religious integration was taking place. There was only the early Christian church along with several cults. (e.g. the Essenes). This means that throughout Christianity in all of it's forms, there are remnants of polytheistic religions and it is a strong possibility that Easter is one of them.

I strongly urge you to do some research on the topic and find out. While I am certainly not disputing your understanding of your tradition, the historicity of the information you are providing may be less than accurate. I know I myself will be doing some searching on the topic when I hit the library next.

India is still in "Victorian era". We are a bit late in keeping up with the trends.

Although, it is loosening up at increasing pace of late.If I tell you, I perceive the Abrahamic Religions as the most close-minded or arrogant ones.. would you say I am off the mark?

If I tell you, I perceive the Abrahamic Religions as the most arrogant ones.. would you say I am off the mark?

Begging the question, though, is it arrogance if half of the world's population happens to believe in a single family of religions?

Or is it just that they are far more centralized and unified than, say, Hinduism, which leads to a greater sense of universalism?

Begging the question, though, is it arrogance if half of the world's population happens to believe in a single family of religions?lol'd, you are making point I was trying to make...

NSG is getting better and better at anticipating my moves :D

lol'd, you are making point I was trying to make...

NSG is getting better and better at anticipating my moves :D

I'm just asking whether there might be grounds under which it is deserved or not, or what causes this to be the case. It's a legitimate question, do the Abrahamaic religions act this way because they're successful, or is it because of how they are structured? Is it a combination of the two factors?

I'm just asking whether there might be grounds under which it is deserved or not, or what causes this to be the case. sometimes a question is an answer to another question.. its all in the words you use..

or maybe you just got lucky.. I might be giving you too much credit, overestimating your debate skills.. :confused:

In short, because the Abrahamic religions always have been. What rendered Judaism and Christianity so irreconcilable to Roman religious policy was that they, unlike almost every other faith and cult, would not tolerate the existence of other faiths.

sometimes a question is an answer to another question.. its all in the words you use..

or maybe you just got lucky.. giving you too much credit? (overestimating your debate skills).. :confused:

:confused:

I'm a caffeine zombie right now, so my reading comprehension isn't functioning entirely properly. Without coffee I'd likely be comatose, but I think we're trying to say that same thing, somehow.

:confused:

I think we're trying to say that same thing, somehow.yes we are.

yes we are.

No wonder it's so cold. Hell is frozen.

The Jews have always been the "chosen people." This is but a single step from being the "one true religion" which both Christianity and Islam claim. Once you buy into those claims you cannot help but become close-minded. To be close-minded is to, eventually, descend into fundamentalism, because, when you are close-minded you only see what you want to see and not what is.

No wonder it's so cold. Hell is frozen.puts some whiskey on your coffee.. thiz shall break the ice :D

Umm, Easter is the celebration of Christ's resurrection. The egg aymbolizes the beginning of new life (as opposed to fertility).

The incorporation of pagan faiths though, thats Catholicism, look at the pantheon of saints and you have polytheism's vague mirror. Look to the most blessed Mary the mother of God and you see a distinct Northern European goddess figure, look at all the statues, and opulance adorning many Catholic churches, and you see a form of idolatry.

Agian though, thats Catholicism.

Oh yes, it's just those dirty, heretical Catholics that incorporate pagan symbology. God-fearing Protestants would never do anything like that -- owning a Christmas tree, for instance.:rolleyes:

How did the Abrahamic religions become the most fundamentalist and closed minded?

It seems that Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are the most fundamentalist religions. They are more closed minded religions with very strict stringent principles that are adhered to or at least given lip service by the majority of their followers, characterized by Holy Books that have mostly the same interpretation by all followers, and the belief that all those who do not follow their beliefs or morality are in some way going to hell.

They also tend to see at least unofficially see the Earth as the center of the universe, and the most important planet. Part of this is that they see their prophets as the only prophets.

The Dharmic religions Hinduism, and Buddhism on the other at least in general think in much more broad terms. They seem to emphasize more the "Universe", and all beings in it. They see cycles of creation, reincarnation, and karma. Their belief seems to be much more developed in what one could say a philosophical sense, much more complex. As well as diverse. Despite having a similar moral code their condemnation is not so exact. Karma seems a more complex concept than an absolute afterlife. The other concepts, especially about Atman and absolute reality are more complex ways of viewing the ultimate rather than just as one "God".

It is truly interesting to me how it has been largely unexplored that the Dharmic religions tend to refer to the "Universe", beings in general, and other things beyond the planet Earth. On the other hand, the Abrahamic religions tend to look at only Earth at least religiously. Of course the Muslims helped develop astronomy, but their religion remains very Earth-centric especially with Mecca etc.

I don't know about the whole most closed minded bit but mainly by being religions

It seems that Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are the most fundamentalist religions. They are more closed minded religions with very strict stringent principles that are adhered to or at least given lip service by the majority of their followers, characterized by Holy Books that have mostly the same interpretation by all followers, and the belief that all those who do not follow their beliefs or morality are in some way going to hell.

They also tend to see at least unofficially see the Earth as the center of the universe, and the most important planet. Part of this is that they see their prophets as the only prophets.

The Dharmic religions Hinduism, and Buddhism on the other at least in general think in much more broad terms. They seem to emphasize more the "Universe", and all beings in it. They see cycles of creation, reincarnation, and karma. Their belief seems to be much more developed in what one could say a philosophical sense, much more complex. As well as diverse. Despite having a similar moral code their condemnation is not so exact. Karma seems a more complex concept than an absolute afterlife. The other concepts, especially about Atman and absolute reality are more complex ways of viewing the ultimate rather than just as one "God".

It is truly interesting to me how it has been largely unexplored that the Dharmic religions tend to refer to the "Universe", beings in general, and other things beyond the planet Earth. On the other hand, the Abrahamic religions tend to look at only Earth at least religiously. Of course the Muslims helped develop astronomy, but their religion remains very Earth-centric especially with Mecca etc.

There has been problems with Dharmic religions in the past. Heard of hindu fascism? After all, it wasn't a Muslim who killed Gandhi...

But yes, as a whole, Dharmic religions have fewer religious strifes than "Abrahamism" (I'm too lazy to write out all the component religions). Buddhism's entire base is nonviolence, and Hinduism isn't so reliant on it's holy books as "Abrahamism", thus leaving it less open to religious strife. If you think about it, most holy wars have been about the validity of a holy book or an interpretation of it.

That's just my guess, anyway.

Ah yes... Abrahamic: God commands that you do unto others as you would have others do unto you, love thy neighbor, and so on vs Dharmic: Uh... well, karma suggests that you do unto others as you would have others do unto you, love thy neighbor, and so on.

Hmmm.... major differences there then.

One-shot (single life) at eternal salvation. miss it - you get eternal hell. Judgement day. Geo-centricism. monotheism. concept of believer Vs unbeliever and apostacy.

Very minor differences there.

"Become"? Was there a time that they weren't? :confused:

"Become"? Was there a time that they weren't? :confused:

Supposedly

:sniper:

It seems that Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are the most fundamentalist religions.

The Desert. Harsh, unforgiving place. It breeds harsh and unforgiving thoughts.

IMS, there's a warrant out for the arrest of Richard Gere for kissing Shilpa Shetty in public in India. If that's not conservative then I don't know what is.they inherited it from 500 years of brown-nosing muslim and christian conquerors. hinduism is not inherently conservative. there are stories in the hindu scriptures about cross-dressing men who sleep with the gods, and in one instance a rapist is punished by being covered head to toe with hundreds of vaginas. shiva is the perfect lover and can maintain an erection for eternity. it's in the scriptures. so is it also written that all religious paths are valid..."Hinduism" is actually something of a western construct, they're really something like 3 major, mutually tolerant traditions, and one smaller, deliberately syncretic tradition that takes the tolerance to a formal equivocation...(Adi Shankara founded the Smarta tradition, which deliberately blends every religion that he knew existed at the time - which is what you're most likely to read about in a western textbook, if it doesn't spout christian-written BS about us worshiping cows) again, India is conservative because of the abrahamic influence.

They aren't. They look like that because they're the ones to which you have had the most exposure.

One-shot (single life) at eternal salvation. miss it - you get eternal hell.
Something only present in a few sects of Christianity and Islam. Judaism barely even has an afterlife, much less a hell.

Judgement day.
That is unique to a few minor sects of Christianity.

Geo-centricism.
Not actually accepted by anyone any longer, and certainly not unique to Abrahamic religions.

monotheism.
Most of the Abrahamic religions are arguably henotheistic. They posit a number of lesser, yet extremely powerful beings, they just don't give them the status as gods.

concept of believer Vs unbeliever and apostacy.
Not even a majority view.

Very minor differences there.
They'd be major if more than a few actually existed.

That is unique to a few minor sects of Christianity.no, Islam has judgment day alright. It's called Qiyamah. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qiyamah) I might also point out that a belief in the bodily resurrection of the dead is in the Apostles Creed and is mentioned in the Nicene Creed...so unless Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, Lutheranism, large chunks of the Methodist and Presbyterian churches, and every other church that recites these creeds are "minor sects" (the first two making up the largest organized religious bodies on earth...), then, no...not really.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

no, Islam has judgment day alright. It's called Qiyamah. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qiyamah)

That is why I should not change my posts at the last minute. I usually end of removing something that was correct.

By being the most familiar religions to the average agnostic westerner - they spawned him.

As such, the average agnostic westerner knows comparatively little about other religions, and - being annoyed with his native religions - considers the religions he's most familiar with 'Worse' simply because he knows more about their particular brand of fundamentalism.

Yeah, that's about the size of it.

But it’s roughly the period in which Confucianism was the top ‘religion’ in what we now know as China, albeit with its influence growing and waning over time.

At certain points, Confucianism dictated almost every aspect of Chinese life, including determining who would run government.

Perhaps especially who would run the government. Confucius was very into being a meritocratic political leader. It was one of his big issues.

The Desert. Harsh, unforgiving place. It breeds harsh and unforgiving thoughts.

An interesting idea. Certainly, the thought of desert-dwellers would have been influenced strongly by the kind of experiences they had.

That is why I should not change my posts at the last minute. I usually end of removing something that was correct.heh, no worries. sorry for kind of jumping on you like that. I'm randomly over-defensive of my eastern religions -_-

I fail to see how Islam is in anyway "fundamentalist".

I fail to see how Islam is in anyway "fundamentalist".
That's not your only fail.

I fail to see how Islam is in anyway "fundamentalist".:rolleyes: I like Islam, I have Muslim friends - I'm helping organize a group visit to the local Mosque (which I have prayed in before), and I love Sufism...I work for a Muslim in a building that houses weekly Muslim (Ismaili) prayer meetings, but I still have to say that, compared to some other traditions, Islam is not especially tolerant. compared to other traditions, it is...but there are still major issues. I'd walk into the local mosque and tell them I was gay to prove my point, but I'd rather not completely destroy any hope of a positive relationship with the people there.

That's not your only fail.

O Rly? what are my others?

:rolleyes: I like Islam, I have Muslim friends - I'm helping organize a group visit to the local Mosque (which I have prayed in before), and I love Sufism...I work for a Muslim in a building that houses weekly Muslim (Ismaili) prayer meetings, but I still have to say that, compared to some other traditions, Islam is not especially tolerant. compared to other traditions, it is...but there are still major issues. I'd walk into the local mosque and tell them I was gay to prove my point, but I'd rather not completely destroy any hope of a positive relationship with the people there.

Sufism is not real Islam.

:rolleyes: I like Islam, I have Muslim friends - I'm helping organize a group visit to the local Mosque (which I have prayed in before), and I love Sufism...I work for a Muslim in a building that houses weekly Muslim (Ismaili) prayer meetings, but I still have to say that, compared to some other traditions, Islam is not especially tolerant. compared to other traditions, it is...but there are still major issues. I'd walk into the local mosque and tell them I was gay to prove my point, but I'd rather not completely destroy any hope of a positive relationship with the people there.

Well, of course not, it is a religion

I fail to see how Islam is in anyway "fundamentalist".

# Don't bother to warn the disbelievers. Allah has blinded them. Theirs will be an awful doom. 2:6

# Allah has sickened their hearts. A painful doom is theirs because they lie. 2:10

# Allah has blinded the disbelievers. 2:17-18

# A fire has been prepared for the disbelievers, whose fuel is men and stones. 2:24

# Disbelievers will be burned with fire. 2:39, 2:90

# Allah stamped wretchedness upon the Jews because they killed the prophets and disbelieved Allah's revelations. 2:61

# Only those Jews and Christians who convert to Islam will be rewarded with heaven. 2:62

# Allah turned the Sabbath-breaking Jews into apes. 2:65-66

# If you believe in only part of the Scripture, you will suffer in this life and go to hell in the next. 2:85

# Allah has cursed them for their unbelief. 2:88

# The curse of Allah is on disbelievers. 2:89

# Jews are the greediest of all humankind. They'd like to live 1000 years. But they are going to hell. 2:96

# Allah is an enemy to the disbelievers. 2:98

# Only evil people are disbelievers. 2:99

# For disbelievers is a painful doom. 2:104

# For unbelievers: ignominy in this world, an awful doom in the next. 2:114

# "And thou wilt not be asked about the owners of hell-fire." (They are the non-muslims.) 2:119

# Disbelievers are losers. 2:121

# Allah will leave the disbelievers alone for a while, but then he will compel them to the doom of Fire. 2:126

# "Who forsaketh the religion of Abraham save him who befooleth himself?"
Cited in the Hamas Charter (Article 27) to condemn the idea of a secular state. 2:130

# Those who reject the proofs, are accursed of Allah. 2:159

# Those who die disbelievers, are cursed by Allah, angels, and men. 2:161

# The doom of the disbelievers will not be lightened. 2:162

# They will not emerge from the Fire. 2:167

# Disbelievers will be deaf, dumb, and blind. 2:171

# Those who hide the Scripture will have their bellies eaten with fire. Theirs will be a painful doom. 2:174

# How constant are they in their strife to reach the Fire! 2:175

# Believers must retaliate. Those who transgress will have a painful doom. 2:178

# Kill disbelievers wherever you find them. If they attack you, then kil them. Such is the reward of disbelievers. (But if they desist in their unbelief, then don't kill them.) 2:191-2

# Fight them until "religion is for Allah." 2:193

# Those who fail in their duty to Allah are proud and sinful. They will all go to hell. 2:206

# War is ordained by Allah, and all Muslims must be willing to fight, whether they like it or not. 2:216

# Those who die in their disbelief will burn forever in the Fire. 2:217

# Intermarriage is forbidden. 2:221

# The disbelievers, they are the wrong-doers. 2:254

# Disbelievers worship false gods. The will burn forever in the Fire. 2:257

# Allah does not guide disbelievers. 2:264

# "Give us victory over the disbelieving folk." 2:286

# Those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah, theirs will be a heavy doom. 3:4

# Those who disbelieve will be fuel for the Fire. 3:10

# Those who disbelieve shall be overcome and gathered unto Hell. 3:12

# Non-muslims will be punished by Allah for their nonbelief. 3:19

# Those who disbelieve, promise them a painful doom. 3:21

# "They [Christians and Jews] say: The Fire will not touch us save for a certain number of days. That which they used to invent hath deceived them regarding their religion." (The Fire will burn them forever.) 3:24

# Let not the believers take disbelievers for their friends in preference to believers. 3:28

# Allah loveth not the disbelievers. 3:32

# Allah will punish disbelievers in this world and the next. They will have no helpers. 3:56

# Don't believe anyone who is not a Muslim. 3:73

# Theirs will be a painful doom. 3:77

# All non-Muslims will be rejected by Allah after they die. 3:85

# Disbelievers will be cursed by Allah, angels, and men. They will have a painful doom. 3:87-88

# Disbelievers will have a painful doom. And they will have no helpers. 3:91

# Disbelievers will have their faces blackened on the last day. They will face an awful doom. 3:105-6

# Those who disbelieve will be burnt in the Fire. 3:116

# Don't be friends with non-Muslims. They all hate you and want to ruin you. 3:118

# The Fire is prepared for disbelievers. 3:131

# Give us victory over the disbelieving folk. 3:147

# We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Their habitation is the Fire 3:151

# "Is one who followeth the pleasure of Allah as one who hath earned condemnation from Allah, whose habitation is the Fire?"
Unbelievers will burn forever in the Fire. 3:162

# Theirs will be an awful doom. 3:176

# Disbelievers do not harm Allah, but will have a painful doom. 3:177

# Disbelievers will go to Hell. 3:196

# Those who disobey Allah and his messenger will be burnt with fire and suffer a painful doom. 4:14

# For the disbelievers and those who make a last-minute conversion, Allah has prepared a painful doom. 4:18

# For disbelievers, We prepare a shameful doom. 4:37

# Allah has cursed them for their disbelief. 4:46

# Those who ascribe a partner to Allah (like Christians do with Jesus and the Holy Spirit) will not be forgiven. They have "invented a tremendous sin." 4:48, 4:116

# Those who invent lies about Allah are guilty of flagrant sin. 4:50

# Jews and Christians believe in idols and false deities, yet they claim to be more rightly guided than Muslims. 4:51

# "Those (Christians and Jews) are they whom Allah hath cursed." 4:52

# Hell is sufficient for their burning. 4:55

# Unbelievers will be tormented forever with fire. When their skin is burned off, a fresh skin will be provided. 4:56

# Those who refuse to follow Muhammad, follow false gods and are deceived by Satan. 4:60

# Those who refuse to believe what Allah has revealed to Muhammad are hypocrites. 4:61

# Oppose and admonish those who refuse to follow Muhammad. 4:63

# The hypocrites refuse to die for Allah and Muhammad. 4:66

# Those who obey Allah and Muhammad are favored by Allah. They are the best company. 4:69

# Allah will bestow a vast reward on those who fight in religious wars. 4:74

# Believers fight for Allah; disbelievers fight for the devil. So fight the minions of the devil. 4:76

# Allah casts the hypocrites back to disbelief. Don't try to guide those that Allah sends astray. 4:88

# Have no unbelieving friends. Kill the unbelievers wherever you find them. 4:89

# If the unbelievers do not offer you peace, kill them wherever you find them. Against such you are given clear warrant. 4:91

# Believers shouldn't kill believers, unless by mistake. If you kill a believer by mistake, you must set free a believing slave. 4:92

# Believers who kill believers will go to hell. 4:93

# The disbelievers are an open enemy to you. 4:101

# For the disbelievers, Allah has prepared a shameful punishment. 4:102

# Relent not in pursuit of the enemy. They have no hope from Allah. 4:104

# Those who oppose the messenger and become unbelievers will go to hell. 4:115

# They (those who ascribe partners to Allah) invoke in his stead only females and pray to Satan. 4:117

# Allah will lead them astray and they will go to hell. 4:119-121

# Those who believe, then disbelieve, then believe and disbelieve again will never be forgiven by Allah. 4:137

# For the hypocrites there will be a painful doom. 4:138

# Allah will gather hypocrites and disbelievers into hell. 4:140

# Allah will not allow disbelievers to succeed against believers. 4:141

# Do not choose disbelievers as friends. 4:144

# The hypocrites will be in the lowest part of hell and no one will help them there. 4:145

# You must believe everything Allah and his messengers tell you. Those who don't are disbelievers and will face a painful doom. 4:150-151

# For the wrongdoing Jews, Allah has prepared a painful doom. 4:160-1

# God will guide disbelievers down a road that leads to everlasting hell. 4:168-169

# Those who deny Islam will be losers in the Hereafter. 5:5

# Disbelievers are the rightful owners of Hell. 5:10

# Allah has cursed the Jews and hardened their hearts. Nearly all of them are treacherous. 5:12-13

# Allah has stirred up enmity and hatred among Christians. 5:14

# Christians are disbelievers for believing in the divinity of Christ. 5:17

# Those who make war with Allah and his messenger will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. That is how they will be treated in this world, and in the next they will have an awful doom. 5:33

# Disbelievers will have a painful doom. 5:36

# Disbelievers will want to come out of the Fire, but will not. Their will be a lasting doom. 5:37

# Cut off the hands of thieves. It is an exemplary punishment from Allah. 5:38

# Allah makes some people sin. He will not cleanse their hearts. They will have ignominy in this world, and in the Hereafter an awful doom. 5:41

# Life for life, eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, and tooth for tooth. Non-muslims are wrong doers. 5:45

# Don't take Jews or Christians for friends. If you do, then Allah will consider you to be one of them. 5:51

# Jews and Christians are losers. 5:53

# Don't choose Jews, Christians, or disbelievers as guardians. 5:57

# Jews and Christians are evil-livers. 5:59

# Evil is the handiwork of the rabbis and priests. 5:63

# Allah has cast enmity and hatred among the Jews. 5:64

# Allah does not guide disbelievers. 5:67

# The Jews rejected and killed Allah's prophets, since "they were wilfully blind and deaf." 5:70-71

# Christians will be burned in the Fire. 5:72

# Christians are wrong about the Trinity. For that they will have a painful doom. 5:73

# Muslims that make friends with disbelievers will face a doom prepared for them by Allah. 5:80

# Disbelievers will be owners of hell-fire. 5:86

# Allah will test believers to see if they are afraid. Those who fail a second test will suffer a a painful doom. 5:94

# Those who deny the truth of Islam will be punished by Allah. 6:5

# "See the nature of the consequence for the rejecters!" 6:11

# "Those who ruin their souls will not believe." 6:12, 20

# Disbelievers will say when they see the Fire that they would have believed if they had known the truth. But they are all liars. 6:27-28

# Allah will torment those how deny his revelations. 6:49

# Stay away from those who "meddle with" or mock the Quran. 6:68

# Those who disbelieve will be forced to drink boiling water, and will face a painful doom. 6:70

# When nonbelievers die, the angels will deliver to them doom and degradation. 6:93

# Stay away from idolaters. 6:106

# Allah confounds the hearts and eyes of unbelievers. 6:110

# Most unbelievers are ignorant. 6:111

# Allah allows some to disbelieve in the afterlife, and to take pleasure in their disbelief, so that he can torment them forever after they die. 6:113

# The worst thing anyone can do is deny the revelations of Allah. Those who do so will be awared an evil doom. 6:157

# Disbelievers lose their souls. 7:9

# Allah has made devils the protecting friends of disbeliveers. 7:27

# Disbelievers choose devils as protecting friends and believe they are rightly guided. 7:30

# Only believers go to heaven. 7:32

# Allah forbids beliefs that he hasn't revealed (i.e., all non-muslim beliefs). 7:33

# Disbelievers are the rightful owners of the Fire. 7:36

# Disbelief is the greatest evil. 7:37

# Disbelievers will be excluded from heaven. Theirs will be a bed of hell. 7:40-41

# Those in the fire will be taunted by those in the Garden. "So how's it going down there? Are you enjoying the warmth of the Fire?" 7:44

# Those in the Fire will cry out to those in heaven, saying: "Pour water on us." But Allah has forbidden that to disbelievers. 7:50

# Those who forget Allah will be forgotten (sent to hell) on Judgement Day. 7:51

# Serve Allah or go to hell. 7:59

# Allah drowned everyone on earth (except Noah and his family) because they disbelieved. 7:64

# Disbelievers are liars. 7:66

# Those who believe incorrectly will face the terror and wrath of Allah. 7:71

# "We cut the root of those who denied Our revelations and were not believers." 7:72

# Allah killed the disbelievers with an earthquake. 7:78

# Allah killed everyone in Sodom and Gomorrah except Lot and his daughters.
7:83-84

# "So the earthquake seized them."
Allah killed the disbelievers with an earthquake. 7:90-91

# "Then We seized them unawares, when they perceived not."
Unbelievers are never safe from Allah's wrath. 7:95-99

# "How can I sorrow for a people that rejected (truth)?"
Shu'eyb tells the Allah's victims that they deserved to die for rejecting Islam. 7:93

# "We drowned them in the sea: because they denied Our revelations." 7:136

# Allah will destroy non-muslim cultures. 7:138-9

# "Those who deny Our revelations and the meeting of the Hereafter, their works are fruitless." 7:147

# Those who worship the calf will suffer terror and humiliation from Allah. 7:152

# "Those who believe in him, and honour him, and help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him: they are the successful." 7:157

# "But those of them who ... changed the word ... We sent down upon them wrath from heaven." 7:162

# "When they forgot that whereof they had been reminded, We ... visited [them] with dreadful punishment." 7:165

# Allah turns Jews into apes! 7:166

# Allah will punish the disbelieving Jews until the Day of Resurrection. 7:167

# Those who deny Muhammad's revelations are like dogs. 7:176

# Those who deny Muhammad's revelation are evil. 7:177

# Stay away from those who blaspheme Allah's names. They will be punished for it. 7:180

# Allah leads astray those who deny his revelations. 7:182-3

# Allah will throw fear into the hearts of the disbelievers, and smite their necks and fingers. 8:12

# Disbelievers will be tormented in the Fire. 8:14

# When you fight with disbelievers, do not retreat. Those who do will go to hell. 8:15-16

# Those that the Muslims killed were not really killed by them. It was Allah who did the killing. 8:17

# "Rain down stones on us or bring on us some painful doom!" 8:32

# Taste of the doom because ye disbelieve. 8:35

# Those who disbelieve will be gathered into hell. 8:36

# Fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. 8:39

# The angels smite the face and backs of disbelievers, saying: "Taste the punishment of burning!" 8:50

# The worst beasts in Allah's sight are the disbelievers. 8:55

# Don't let the disbelievers think they can escape. They are your enemy and the enemy of Allah. 8:59-60

# Exhort the believers to fight. They will win easily, because disbelievers are without intelligence. 8:65

# A prophet may not take captives until he has made a slaughter in the land. 8:67

# Disbelievers cause confusion and "corruption in the land." 8:73

# "Ye cannot escape Allah. Allah will confound the disbelievers." 9:2

# Give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom to those who disbelieve. 9:3

# Slay the idolaters wherever you find them. 9:5

# Those who submit and convert to Islam will be treated well. (Those who don't submit will be killed. See previous verse.) 9:6

# Don't make treaties with non-Muslims. They are all evildoers and should not be trusted. 9:7-9

# Treat converts to Islam well. (Kill those who refuse to convert. See 9:5) 9:11

# Fight the disbelievers! Allah is on your side; he will give you victory. 9:12-14

# Don't let idolaters tend the sanctuaries. Their works are in vain and they will be burned in the Fire. 9:17

# Don't make be friends with with your disbelieving family members. Those who do so are wrong-doers. 9:23

# Allah punished those who disbelieved. 9:26

# Only idolaters are unclean. Keep them away from your places of worship. 9:28

# Fight against Christians and Jews "until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low." 9:29

# Christians and Jews are perverse. Allah himself fights against them. 9:30

# The "Religion of Truth" (Islam) must prevail, by force if necessary, over all other religions. 9:33

# Give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom to the rich and greedy Christian monks and Jewish rabbis. 9:34

# Allah does not guide the disbelievers. 9:37

# Fight for Allah with your wealth and whatever weapons are available to you. 9:41

# Those who refuse to fight for Allah (claiming they are unable) are liars who have destroyed their souls. 9:42

# Disbelievers go to hell. 9:49

# "Allah will afflict you with a doom from Him or at our hands." 9:52

# Pay your contribution willingly. Allah will not accept a contribution from disbelievers or idlers. 9:53

# Those who vex the Prophet, for them there is a painful doom. 9:60

# Allah is only pleased by true believers. 9:62

# Those who oppose Allah and His messenger will burn in the fire of hell. 9:63

# Allah promises hypocrites and disbelievers the fire of hell. Allah curses them. They will have a lasting torment. 9:68

# Fight the disbelievers and hypocrites. Be harsh with them. They are all going to hell anyway. 9:73

# Allah will afflict disbelievers with a painful doom in this world and the Hereafter. 9:74

# God will not forgive disbelievers, so don't ask. 9:80

# Those who refuse to give their wealth and lives to Allah will face the fire of hell. 9:81-83

# Don't pray for dead disbelievers or attend their funerals. 9:84

# Those who refuse to fight for Allah will be treated (along with their children) as unbelievers. 9:85

# For disbelievers there will be a painful doom. 9:90

# Non-muslim who pretend to believe (so they won't be killed by Muslims) are unclean and will go to hell. 9:95

# The unbelieving Arabs will be punished by Allah with an evil fortune. 9:97-98

# "We shall chastise them twice; then they will be relegated to a painful doom." 9:101

# Stay away from non-Muslims. They are all liars. 9:107

# Those that ignore Allah will be thown into the fire of hell. 9:109

# Believers must fight for Allah. They must kill and be killed , and are bound to do so by the Torah, Gospel, and Quran. But Allah will reward them for it. 9:111

# Don't pray for idolaters (not even for your family) after it is clear they are people of hell-fire. 9:113

# Abraham disowned his father for being an enemy of Allah. 9:114

# Fight disbelievers who are near you, and let them see the harshness in you. 9:123

# Disbelievers are wicked and have diseased hearts. 9:125

# Allah turns away those who misunderstand him. 9:127

# Disbelievers will have a boiling drink and a painful doom. 10:4

# Those who neglect Allah's revelations will make their home in the Fire. 10:7-8

# Allah has destoyed entire generations. 10:13

# Denying the revelations of Allah is the worst sin imaginable. 10:17

# On the last day Allah will kill all the disbelievers (and then he will torture them forever in hell). 10:45

# Those who disbelieved will face a dreadful doom. 10:70

# Allah drowned those who disbelieved his revelations. 10:73

# Moses asked Allah to harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they would not believe until they saw the painful doom. 10:88

# If you deny the revelations of Allah, you will be among the losers and will "see the painful doom." 10:95-97

# Disbelievers will end up in the Fire. 11:17

# Those who oppose Islam and disbelieve in the Hereafter are guilty of the greatest wrong. 11:18-19

# Allah sent a lasting doom on those who mocked Noah. 11:39

# Those who drowned in the flood were disbelievers. 11:42

# Allah will send a painful doom on several nations. 11:48

# "What shall be his reward, who wisheth evil to thy folk, save prison or a painful doom?" 12:25

# Disbelievers are the rightful owners of the Fire 13:5

# Allah does not hear the prayer of disbelievers. 13:14

# Those who do not answer Allah's call will go to hell. 13:18

# Disbelievers will be tormented in this life, and suffer even more pain in the Hereafter. 13:33-34

# The reward for disbelievers is the Fire. 13:35

# Woe unto the disbelievers. Theirs will be an awful doom. 14:2

# "Lo! for wrong-doers is a painful doom." 14:22

# "They set up rivals to Allah that they may mislead (men) from His way. Say: Enjoy life (while ye may) for lo! your journey's end will be the Fire." 14:30

# Let the disbelievers enjoy life and let false hope beguile them. They will come to know! 15:2-3

# Iblis will lead humans astray. Only perfect Muslims will be safe from him. The rest will go to hell. 15:39-43

# Those who don't believe in the Hereafter are proud. 16:22

# Allah made a roof fall in to kill unbelievers. "And the doom came on them whence they knew not." 16:26

# Disbelievers are evil and will dwell in hell forever. 16:27-29

# Disbelievers are liars. 16:39

# Theirs will be the Fire, and they will be abandoned." 16:62

# "Theirs will be a painful doom." 16:63

# Allah will add doom to doom for those who disbelieve. 16:88

# Those who oppose Islam will face an awful doom. 16:94

# Those who loose their faith in Islam will face an awful doom. Allah's wrath is upon them. 16:106

# Those who invent lies against Allah will have a painful doom. 16:116-7

# Allah made hell to be a dungeon for disbelievers. 17:8

# Allah has prepared a painful doom for those who disbelieve in the Hereafter. 17:10

# Allah destroyed entire towns. 17:16

# How many generations Allah has destroyed since Noah! 17:17

# Allah intends to burn people in hell. 17:18

# "Set not up with Allah any other god, lest thou be cast into hell." 17:39

# Allah makes it so that unbelievers cannot understand. 17:45-46

# Allah will send disbelievers astray. Then he'll burn them in hell, increasing the flames from time to time. 17:97-98

# "He maketh none to share in His government."
Democracy is heresy. Allah shares his government with no one. 18:26

# Allah has prepared a Fire for the disbelievers. When they want a shower, Allah will give them a shower of molten lead to burn their faces. 18:29

# Christians will cry out to Allah's "partners", but they won't hear them; Allah will send them to their doom. 18:52

# The worst wrong is to forget Allah's revelations. Allah covers their hearts and makes them deaf so that they will never believe the truth. 18:57

# On a certain day, Allah will present hell, in plain view, to the disbelievers. 18:100

# Allah will welcome the disbelievers into hell. 18:102

# The good works of disbelievers are all in vain. They will go to hell anyway. 18:104-105

# Hell is the reward for disbelievers because they made a jest of Allah's revelations and messengers. 18:106

# "Woe unto the disbelievers from the meeting of an awful Day."
Jesus was not the Son of God. Those who say he was (Christians) are going to hell. 19:35-37

# Allah will pluck out from every sect those who should burn in hell. 19:69-70

# Allah will prolong the lives of non-believers so they can see their punishment, either in this world or in the Hour of doom. 19:75

# Allah will record what disbelievers say and then prolong their torment. 19:77-79

# Allah has sent the devils on the disbelievers to confuse them. 19:83

# Allah will "drive the guilty unto hell, a weary herd." 19:86

# Lo! it hath been revealed unto us that the doom will be for him who denieth and turneth away." 20:48

# Those who do not believe Allah's revelations will face doom in the Hereafter. 20:127

# Allah destroyed entire towns, yet the people still disbelieved. 21:6

# "And one of them who should say: Lo! I am a god beside Him, that one We should repay with hell." 21:29

# Disbelievers will not be able to put out the fire on their faces and backs. They will be stupefied and no one will help them. 21:39-40

# The disbelievers will stare in terror at what Allah has in store for them. 21:97-99

# Those who turn from the way of Allah will face ignominy in this world and burning in the next. 22:9

# Whoever thinks that Allah will not give Muhammad victory should go hang himself. 22:15

# Disbelievers will wear garments of fire, boiling fluid will be poured on their heads, their bellies and skin will be melted, they will be tormented with iron hooks, and when they try to escape they will be driven back with the taunt: Taste the doom of burning. 22:19-22

# Allah will provide the disbelievers with a painful doom. 22:25

# Those who disregard Allah's revelations are the owners of the Fire. 22:51

# "Those who disbelieve will not cease to be in doubt thereof until the Hour come upon them unawares, or there come unto them the doom of a disastrous day." 22:55

# Those who disbelieve Allah's revelations will have a shameful doom. 22:57

# Those who disbelieve Allah's revelations will burn in the Fire. 22:72

# Those who don't believe in the Hereafter will receive extreme punishment from Allah. 23:74-77

# Disbelievers will not be successful. 23:117

# Those who traduce virtuous, believing women ... cursed are they in the world and the Hereafter. Theirs will be an awful doom." 24:23

# Disbelievers are miscreants. 24:55

# Disbelievers will never escape the Fire that will be their home. 24:57

# The only true believers are those who believe in Allah and his messenger. 24:62

# Those who deny the coming of the Hour will be chained together and burned with fire. They will pray for their own destruction. 25:11-13

# It will be a hard day for disbelievers and wrong-doers. They will gnaw on their hands and wish they had chosen Islam. 25:26-27

# Those who deny Muhammad's revelations will be destroyed. 25:36

# Allah drowned everyone in the flood of Noah, and has prepared a painful doom for evil-doers. 25:37

# "They [the non-muslims] will know, when they behold the doom, who is more astray as to the road." 25:42

# Don't obey disbelievers. But rather fight against them. 25:52

# Those who cry out to another god with Allah will be tormented doubly in hell. 25:68-69

# Many will not believe until they see the painful doom. 26:201

# Those who believe in another god are doomed. 26:213

# Stay away from poets. The erring follow them. 26:224

# Allah leads those who do not believe in the Hereafter astray by making things work out OK in this life, so that he can torment them forever in the next. They will get the worst punishment and will be the greatest losers. 27:4-5

# But he "saved those who believed." 27:53

# Allah will taunt Christians on the day of their doom, saying: Where are My partners whom ye imagined? 28:62-64

# Never help disbelievers. 28:86

# Those who disbelieve in the revelations of Allah have no hope of mercy. For such there is a painful doom. 29:23

# "Ye have chosen only idols instead of Allah ... on the Day of Resurrection ye will deny each other and curse each other, and your abode will be the Fire, and ye will have no helpers." 29:25

# Only wrong-doers deny the revelations of Allah. 29:49

# Those who disbelieve in the revelations of Allah are the losers. 29:52

# The doom of hell will come upon disbelievers suddenly, when they least expect it. 29:53-55

# The worst thing you can do is tell a lie about Allah. Hell is the home of disbelievers. 29:68

# When the Hour comes, Christians will be divided into two groups: Those who believed Allah's revelations, and those who disbelieved in them. The believers will be happy in the Garden; the disbelievers will be brought to doom. 30:13-16

# Allah does not love disbelievers. 30:45

# Allah seals the heart of disbelievers. (And then he burns them in the Fire.) 30:59

# Those who mislead others from Allah's way and mock Islam will have a painful doom. 31:6-7

# Allah will give disbelievers a little comfort for a little while, and then he'll torment them forever with a heavy doom. 31:23-24

# Allah will fill hell with the jinn and mankind together. 32:13

# Allah: Taste the doom of immortality because of what ye used to do. 32:14

# Those who used to deny the Fire will be tormented in it forever. 32:20

# The worst thing you can do is to deny the revelations of Allah. 32:22

# Don't obey disbelievers. 33:1

# He hath prepared a painful doom for the unfaithful." 33:8

# Allah makes the deeds of unbelievers fruitless. 33:19

# Allah cast panic into the hearts of the disbelievers. He killed some, and enslaved others. 33:25-26

# Ignore disbelievers and their poisonous talk. 33:48

# Those who malign Allah, Muhammad, and Muslims will be cursed by Allah in this life and with doom in the Hereafter. 33:57

# Those who oppose Islam will be slain with a fierce slaughter. 33:60-61

# Allah has cursed the disbelievers, and has prepared for them a flaming fire, wherein they will abide forever. 33:64-65

# The disbelievers will be burned in the Fire with a double torment. 33:66-68

# Those who challenge the revelations of Muhammad will have a painful doom. 34:5

# "They are filled with remorse when they behold the doom; and We place carcans on the necks of those who disbelieved." 34:33

# Those who disbelieve in the Hereafter will be tormented. 34:8

# Those who strive against Allah's revelations will be brought to the doom. 34:38

# Allah hates those who ignore his messengers. 34:45

# Those who ignore Allah's messenger (Muhammed) will face a terrific doom. 34:46

# Those who are cast into hell be terrified when they see that they have no escape. Then they will believe. But it will be too late. 34:51-52

# Those who disbelieve will have an awful doom. 35:7

# Allah hates disbelievers. 35:26

# Disbelievers will burn forever in the fire of hell. Allah will keep them alive so that he can torture them forever. When they repent and ask for mercy, he will ignore them. 35:36-7

# He who disbelieves, his disbelief be on his own head. 35:39

# Allah has blinded the disbelievers so that they cannot see the truth. So it don't bother warning them. They will go to hell anyway. 36:8-10

# Allah will burn the disbelievers in hell. 36:63-4

# Those who refuse to believe in Muhammad's revelations will face a painful doom. 37:31-38

# If you're not favored by Allah, you're doomed. 37:57

# Allah drowned everyone except Noah and his family in the flood. 37:82

# Only the "single-minded slaves of Allah" will be saved from the doom. 37:127-8

# Allah killed everyone in Sodom except for Lot and his family. 37:136

# No one is against Allah, except those who burn in hell. 37:162-3

# Just wait a while and watch. The unbelievers will soon be destroyed in the doom. 37:176-9

# Those who disbelieve are in false pride and schism. 38:2

# Allah has destroyed many generations. 38:3

# Those who doubt will soon taste Allah's doom. 38:8

# Those who deny the messengers deserve doom. 38:14

# Those who wander from the way of Allah will have an awful doom. 38:26

# Those who disbelieve will burn in the Fire. 38:27

# Tell the disbelievers to enjoy themselves now, because later they will be owners of the Fire. 39:8

# Those who disobey Allah should fear his doom. 39:13

# No one will be able to help those that Allah torments in the Fire. 39:19

# Woe unto those who forget Allah. They are in plain error. 39:22

# The doom will come upon those who deny what Allah has revealed. 39:25

# Allah will make non-believers "taste humiliation in the life of the world" and " the doom of the Hereafter" which will be even worse. 39:26

# The worst thing you can do is tell a lie against Allah. The home of disbelievers is hell. 39:32

# Surrender to Allah before he sends the doom upon you suddenly. 39:54-55

# Disbelievers had their chance to believe. They will all suffer in an endless doom. 39:56-59

# Those who lie about Allah will be sent to hell and will have their faces blackened. 39:60

# Losers are those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah. 39:63

# Those ascribe a partner to Allah (like the Christians) will be among the losers. 39:65

# Those who disbelieve will be driven into hell. 39:71-72

# Those who disbelieve are the owners of the Fire. 40:6

# Allah greatly abhors those who disbelieve. 40:10

# Those who ignore Allah's "clear proofs" will be seized and punished severely. 40:22

# Those in hell will beg to be relieved from the Fire's torment for just a day. But the prayer of a disbeliever is in vain. 40:49-50

# Those who bicker about Allah's revelations are filled with pride. 40:56

# Those who scorn Allah will go to hell. 40:60

# Those who deny the revelations of Allah are perverted. 40:63

# Those who deny the Scripture and Allah's messengers will be dragged through boiling water and thrust into the Fire. 40:70-72

# Allah will taunt the Christians in hell, saying: Where are all my parnters that you used to believe in? 40:73

# Thus does Allah send astray the disbelievers (in his guidance). 40:74

# Those who scorn will go to hell. 40:76

# When they see Allah's doom they will believe in Allah. But their faith will not save them. The disbelievers will be ruined. 40:84-85

# Woe unto the idolaters who disbelieve in the Hereafter. 41:6

# The enemies of Allah will be gathered into the Fire where their skin, ears, and eyes will testify against them. 41:19-20

# Non-muslims will be tormented forever in the Fire. Allah will not have any mercy on them. 41:24

# Allah will make those who disbelieve taste an awful doom. Their immortal home will be the Fire, since they denied Allah's revelations. 41:27-28

# "Lo! those who distort Our revelations are not hid from Us. Is he who is hurled into the Fire better?" 41:40

# Those who disbelieve will taste hard punishment. 41:50

# In whatsoever ye differ, the verdict therein belongeth to Allah."
Disputes, whether religious or political, must be decided by Allah. Democracy is not an option. 42:10

# Those who argue about Allah will have his wrath upon them. Theirs will be an awful doom. 42:16

# "And as for disbelievers, theirs will be an awful doom." 42:26

# Allah sends some people astray and then punishes them for it by burning them in the Fire. 42:44-46

# Those who turn people away from Islam will "be sharers in the doom." 43:37-39

# "But they will come to know."
Allah will torment disbelievers forever in hell. 43:88-89

# Those in torment will claim to believe and ask Allah for relief. But he will refuse since they will return to their disbelief. 44:11-16

# "He hath saved them [Muslims] from the doom of hell."
(Everyone else is going to hell.) 44:56

# Those who hear and reject Allah's revelations are sinful liars. Give them tidings of a painful doom. 45:7-8

# Those who joke about Allah's revelations will go to hell. Theirs will be a shameful doom. 45:9-10

# Those who disbelieve in Allah's revelations will have a awful doom of wrath. 45:11

# Those who disbelieve are guilty folk. 45:31

# Disbelievers will be rewarded with the ignominious doom of the Fire. 46:20

# Serve only Allah or face the doom of a tremendous day. 46:21

# If you believe Muhammed, Allah will forgive some of your sins and protect you from the painful doom (that he plans to torture everyone else with). 46:31

# Allah will taunt the disbelievers that he torments in the fire, saying: "Taste the doom for that ye disbelieved." 46:34

# Allah makes the works of disbelievers vain. 47:1

# Those who disbelieve follow falsehood. 47:3

# Smite the necks of the disbelievers whenever you fight against them. Those who die fighting for Allah will be rewarded. 47:4

# Allah will damn the disbelievers and make all their actions fruitless. 47:8-9

# Disbelievers may eat and be happy now, but the Fire will be their final home. 47:12

# Those who turn away from Islam, and obey non-Muslims in some things, have been seduced by Satan. 47:25-26

# Angels will gather them together and smite their faces and backs. 47:27

# Allah will make the actions those who disbelieve fruitless. 47:32

# Those who disbelieve will never be pardoned by Allah. 47:34-35

# Those who think an evil thought concerning Allah will be cursed and sent to hell by him. 48:6

# Allah has prepared a flame for the disbelievers. 48:13

# If you refuse to fight for Allah, he will punish you with a painful doom. 48:16

# "Whoso turneth back, him will He punish with a painful doom." 48:17

# Allah punished those who disbelieved with a painful punishment. 48:25

# Allah will "cause it [Islam] to prevail over all religion." 48:28

# Those with Muhammad are ruthless toward disbelievers and merciful toward themselves. 48:29

# Allah will hurl those who believe in another god into a dreadful doom. 50:26

# Accursed are the conjecturers who ask: When is the Day of Judgment? It is the day they will be tormented by the Fire. 51:10-14

# "We left behind therein a portent for those who fear a painful doom." 51:37

# Woe to the disbelievers. 51:60

# Those who deny the existence of hell will be thrust into its Fire. 52:11-16

# "Their Lord hath warded off from them the torment of hell-fire."
(Everyone else is going to hell -- and the believers are all okay with that.) 52:18

# Those who disbelieve are trapped. 52:42

# Those who disbelieve in the afterlife give female names to angels. 53:27

# Those who disbelieve in the afterlife are only guessing and have no real knowledge. 53:29

# Stay away from non-Muslims, especially those who disbelieve in the afterlife. 53:29

# Allah sent a storm of stones on Lot's folk, killing all but Lot's family. 54:34

# The guilty deny hell. But after they die they go circling between it and fierce, boiling water. 55:43-44

# Those who deny Allah and the Hereafter will eat from the Zaqqum tree and drink boiling water. 56:51-54

# Allah will welcome the rejecters and erring with boiling water and a roasting in the hell fire. 56:92-94

# Those who disbelieve or doubt the revelations of Allah will be face the doom. 57:13-14

# The home of disbelievers is the Fire, a hapless journey's end. 57:15

# Those who disbelieve and deny Allah's revelations are the owners of the fire. 57:19

# For disbelievers is a painful doom. 58:4

# For disbelievers is a shameful doom. 58:5

# Those who disobey Muhammed will go to hell. 58:8

# Don't make friends with Allah's enemies. For those who do so, Allah has prepared a dreadful doom. 58:14-15

# Those who turn others away from the way of Allah will have a shameful doom. They are rightful owners of the Fire. 58:16-17

# Those who oppose Allah and His Messenger will be among the lowest. 58:20

# On the Last Day good Muslims will not love their non-Muslim friends and family members, not even their fathers, sons, or brothers (or their mothers, daughters, or sisters). 58:22

# Allah cast fear into the hearts of the disbelieving People of the Scripture. Their home in the Hereafter will be the Fire. 59:2-3

# "Whatsoever the messenger giveth you, take it. And whatsoever he forbiddeth, abstain (from it)."
Do whatever Muhammad tells you to do. (Or you'll go to hell.) 59:7

# The disbelieving people of the Scripture are liars. 59:11

# The disbelievers fear the believers more than Allah. 59:13

# The devil and disbelievers will be in the Fire. 59:16-17

# The owners of the Garden and the owners of the Fire are not equal. 59:20

# Don't be friends with disbelievers. They are your (and Allah's) enemy. 60:1

# Don't be friends with those who have warred against you because of religion. Whoever makes friends with them is a wrong-doer. 60:9

# Don't be friends with those who disbelieve in the Hereafter. They are Allah's enemies. 60:13

# The worst thing you can do is tell a lie about Allah. 61:7

# Allah gave Muhammad the one true religion and sent him to conquer all other (false) religions. 61:9

# "O ye who believe! Shall I show you a commerce that will save you from a painful doom?" 61:10

# A hypocritical Jew looks like an ass carrying books. Those who deny the revelations of Allah are ugly. 62:5

# Allah seals the hearts of those who believe and then disbelieve so that they can understand nothing. 63:3

# Disbelievers are perverted. They are the enemy, confounded by Allah. 63:4

# Don't bother to ask Allah to forgive the disbelievers. He will never forgive them. 63:6

# Those who disbelieve will have a painful doom. 64:5

# Those who disbelieve are the owners of the Fire. 64:10

# Be stern with disbelievers. They are going to Hell anyway. 66:9

# Disbelievers will go to hell where they will hear its roaring and boiling. 67:6-7

# Who will protect the disbelievers from a painful doom? (Nobody) 67:28

# Refuse to obey the "rejecters" (Non-Muslims?) who seek compromise 68:8-9

# Those who consider the Quran to be "mere fables" will be branded on the nose.68:15-16

# "Shall We then treat those who have surrendered (Muslims) as We treat the guilty (Non-Muslims)?" 68:35

# Those who do not believe in Allah will be chained up and cast into hell-fire where they will eat filth. 69:30-35

# Doom is about to fall on all disbelievers. Only worshippers (Muslims) and those who preserve their chastity (except with their wives and slave girls) will be spared from "the fires of hell" that are "eagar to roast." 70:1-30

# "Lo! the doom of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure" (except for maybe those who are fearful of it). 70:27-28

# Disbelievers will enter hell with frantic with fear, knowing they will be tortured forever by Allah. 70:36, 44

# Allah sent Noah to warn people about the painful doom he was planning to send. (It didn't work out well; Allah sent it anyway.) 71:1

# Noah asked Allah to drown all the disbelievers. 71:26

# The fires of hell will be fueled with the bodies of idolators and unbelievers. They will experience an ever-greater torment. 72:15-17

# Those who disobey Allah and his messenger will dwell forever in the fire of hell. 72:23

# Allah will take care of the deniers. He will tie them up, burn them in a raging fire, and feed them food that chokes them. 73:11-13

# The last day will be a day of anguish for disbelievers. 74:9-10

# Those who are stubborn to Allah's revelations will face a fearful doom. 74:16-17

# Allah has appointed angels to tend the Fire and has prepared stumbling blocks for those who disbelieve. He sends some people (whoever he wants) astray. 74:31

# Those who pay attention to this life and ignore the Hereafter will suffer forever in hell. 75:20-29

# Allah has prepared chains, manacles, and a raging fire for the disbelievers. 76:4

# Don't obey disbelievers. 76:24

# Woe unto the repudiators on that day! 77:19, 77:24, 77:28, 77:34, 77:40, 77:45, 77:49

# Depart unto that doom which ye used to deny." 77:29

# Those who deny the revelations given to Muhammed will burn forever in hell. 78:21-30

# "Lo! We warn you of a doom at hand, a day whereon a man will look on that which his own hands have sent before, and the disbeliever will cry: 'Would that I were dust!'" 78:40

# Those who rebel by choosing this life over the next will go to hell. 79:37-39

# Disbelievers are wicked people. On the last day they will be in darkness and have dust on their faces. 80:40-42

# Those who reject Allah's revelations will burn in hell. 83:10-17

# The disbelievers used to laugh at the believers. But the final laugh will be on them. 83:29-36

# Disbelievers will be given a painful doom. 84:22-24

# Those who persecute Muslims, without repenting, will burn in hell. 85:10

# Allah plots against non-Muslims. 86:16

# "Deal gently with them (non-Muslims) for a while. (How long is "a while"?) 86:17

# Allah will punish disbelievers with the direst punishment. 88:23-24

# Allah poured the disaster of His punishment upon those who rebelled against him. 89:11-13

# Those who disbelieve Allah's revelations will have the Fire placed over them like an awning. 90:19-20

# Those who deny Allah's revelations must endure the flaming fire. 92:14-16

# Allah created humans to be "of best stature" but then reduced them "to the lowest of the low". Except for "those who believe and do good works." But what about those who don't believe but do good works? Are they the "lowest of the low"? 95:4-6

# Allah will grab those who deny His guidance by the forelock and call the guards of hell. 96:13-18

# Those who disbelieve will abide in the fire of hell. They are the worst of created beings. 98:6

# Only religious people help orphans or those in need. 107:1-3

Sufism is not real Islam.

That very much depends on how the individual practices Sufism. Many have practiced it as Muslims, and Sufism has deep roots in Islam. So while some may have taken the Islam out of the Sufism, by and large most Sufis would be Muslims.

-snip-
Thank you for that, but abhorrent suggestions do not themselves a fundamentalist religion make. It is the unquestioning and literalist attitude to such suggestions that makes fundamentalism what it is, and although arguably commonplace in Muslims, it is not actually necessarily innate within Islam itself.

Something only present in a few sects of Christianity and Islam. Judaism barely even has an afterlife, much less a hell.

J, C and I do not believe in re-incarnation.

Reason why missionary zeal is missing in Dharmic religions (except a few sects/orgs formed as reactions to Abrahamic onslaught - ex ISKCON, Arya Samaj etc)

Minor difference, I suppose.


That is unique to a few minor sects of Christianity.

Qayamat (judgement day) is a big thing with muslims. Almost all muslims (sunnis and shias) believe in it.

Not actually accepted by anyone any longer, and certainly not unique to Abrahamic religions.

errrr...Geo-centricism does not mean the physics of flat earth / sun orbiting earth crap.

It is the belief that all there is to creation is with this earth which is going in a linear way.

Time is circular in Hinduism and there are infinite universes created and destroyed all the time....there are several planets within the same universe where souls can go to...according to scriptures (Bhagavatha Purana).

Minor difference, I suppose.

Most of the Abrahamic religions are arguably henotheistic. They posit a number of lesser, yet extremely powerful beings, they just don't give them the status as gods.

Saivites believe in Shiva being the ultimate reality. Vaishnavites believe it is Vishnu. Other than that, there is a huge pantheon of deities...all enjoying status of gods and goddesses. All of them can be prayed to for specific purposes and they are capable of granting boons. Neither Shiva nor Vishnu ask their devotees not to worship other deities.

Minor difference, I suppose.


Not even a majority view.

lol.

What is with the conversion to christianity or conversion to islam then?

What is with heresy and apostacy then?

Why do I have to undergo a ceremony to become a christian (baptism?) or a muslim (proclaiming the shahada and circumcision :eek:) while I can easily go between being a Saivite / Vaishnavite / Advaitin without any "conversion"?


They'd be major if more than a few actually existed.

They are major. Like language groups. It is easy to pick up another language within the same language group than from another language group because of the root words being the same/similar.

It seems that Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are the most fundamentalist religions. They are more closed minded religions with very strict stringent principles that are adhered to or at least given lip service by the majority of their followers, characterized by Holy Books that have mostly the same interpretation by all followers, and the belief that all those who do not follow their beliefs or morality are in some way going to hell.

They're not. Until recently, every Christian movement has been directly connected with reform. For example, the religious revivalism of the early 19th century had a direct impact on abolition, and the Reformation was either the product of or the source of individualism, it depends who you ask. There has always been close-mindedness; for example, the Church's suppression of the ideas of Galileo. But that is the result of a powerful and traditional institution, not the theology itself. (Obviously, since it accepts the heliocentric view now.)
More recently, it seems like there have been waves of fundamentalism all over the world. I attribute this to a cheap trick modern leaders have rediscovered: if you pay lip service, you don't have to follow the actual rules. Because leaders have also known for ages now that fear is a great incentive, the natural conclusion is fundamentalism, which requires almost no real knowledge of the religion, mixes in some elements of us-vs-them, and altogether is very effective at remaining president/prime minister/ayatollah.
Finally, there are more than one billion Christians, and about as many Muslims, about one-third of the world's population. If there weren't close-minded practitioners in the mix, there's brainwashin' afoot.

They all teach that their way is the only way. As a very wise person once said: "There is more than one way up the mountain."

Indeed, Chinese Buddhism (And Japanese) have a very interesting hell: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diyu

Yeah, and would you believe it? The same guy, and a few others, told me up front, that giving to the monks and monasteries, who in their highlighted cases had sprawling monasteries and armed guards to protect from thieves plus thousands of devotees, were better than actually giving to poor people in need.

The reason? "Good karma".

Tell me, isn't that the same bullshit that the churches use? Donate to the church, go to heaven.

Same old, same old pyramid scheme.

Karma hates fags?

Dunno about that. The target of his vehemence were politicians, people on the street and me for disagreeing with his views.

It seems that Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are the most fundamentalist religions. They are more closed minded religions with very strict stringent principles that are adhered to or at least given lip service by the majority of their followers, characterized by Holy Books that have mostly the same interpretation by all followers, and the belief that all those who do not follow their beliefs or morality are in some way going to hell.

They also tend to see at least unofficially see the Earth as the center of the universe, and the most important planet. Part of this is that they see their prophets as the only prophets.

The Dharmic religions Hinduism, and Buddhism on the other at least in general think in much more broad terms. They seem to emphasize more the "Universe", and all beings in it. They see cycles of creation, reincarnation, and karma. Their belief seems to be much more developed in what one could say a philosophical sense, much more complex. As well as diverse. Despite having a similar moral code their condemnation is not so exact. Karma seems a more complex concept than an absolute afterlife. The other concepts, especially about Atman and absolute reality are more complex ways of viewing the ultimate rather than just as one "God".

It is truly interesting to me how it has been largely unexplored that the Dharmic religions tend to refer to the "Universe", beings in general, and other things beyond the planet Earth. On the other hand, the Abrahamic religions tend to look at only Earth at least religiously. Of course the Muslims helped develop astronomy, but their religion remains very Earth-centric especially with Mecca etc.

The religions of Jehovah are based on the teachings of a small, relatively powerless, people looking to justify their continued existence in the presence of far greater terrestrial powers. The Hebrews against the Babylonians, the Christians against the Romans, and the Muslims against the Persians.

This has made them neurotic and aggressive to overcompensate for their insecurity. Like a chihuahua who thinks it can beat up a St. Bernard. It was equipped with that psychology, and then it became a St. Bernard, and the brain is only now starting to catch up in Christianity. Islam is still a Chihuahua, so in many places behaves the same.

Hinduism and Buddhism were created to be a part of the state religion of powerful established empires, India and China. As such, it's practitioners are taught the confidence of a man who knows how to be at peace with his surroundings. Not the frantic self-soothing of a child who desperately wants to believe his parents when they tell him, in spite of all evidence, that there is no monster in his closet.

They all teach that their way is the only way. As a very wise person once said: "There is more than one way up the mountain."

Was he a Bhuddist?

Was he a Bhuddist?

A mountaineer, probably.

How did humans become so fundamentalist and closed minded?

# Don't bother to warn the disbelievers. Allah has blinded them. Theirs will be an awful doom. 2:6

# Allah has sickened their hearts. A painful doom is theirs because they lie. 2:10

# Allah has blinded the disbelievers. 2:17-18

# A fire has been prepared for the disbelievers, whose fuel is men and stones. 2:24

# Disbelievers will be burned with fire. 2:39, 2:90

# Allah stamped wretchedness upon the Jews because they killed the prophets and disbelieved Allah's revelations. 2:61

# Only those Jews and Christians who convert to Islam will be rewarded with heaven. 2:62

# Allah turned the Sabbath-breaking Jews into apes. 2:65-66

# If you believe in only part of the Scripture, you will suffer in this life and go to hell in the next. 2:85

# Allah has cursed them for their unbelief. 2:88

# The curse of Allah is on disbelievers. 2:89

# Jews are the greediest of all humankind. They'd like to live 1000 years. But they are going to hell. 2:96

# Allah is an enemy to the disbelievers. 2:98

# Only evil people are disbelievers. 2:99

# For disbelievers is a painful doom. 2:104

# For unbelievers: ignominy in this world, an awful doom in the next. 2:114

# "And thou wilt not be asked about the owners of hell-fire." (They are the non-muslims.) 2:119

# Disbelievers are losers. 2:121

# Allah will leave the disbelievers alone for a while, but then he will compel them to the doom of Fire. 2:126

# "Who forsaketh the religion of Abraham save him who befooleth himself?"
Cited in the Hamas Charter (Article 27) to condemn the idea of a secular state. 2:130

# Those who reject the proofs, are accursed of Allah. 2:159

# Those who die disbelievers, are cursed by Allah, angels, and men. 2:161

# The doom of the disbelievers will not be lightened. 2:162

# They will not emerge from the Fire. 2:167

# Disbelievers will be deaf, dumb, and blind. 2:171

# Those who hide the Scripture will have their bellies eaten with fire. Theirs will be a painful doom. 2:174

# How constant are they in their strife to reach the Fire! 2:175

# Believers must retaliate. Those who transgress will have a painful doom. 2:178

# Kill disbelievers wherever you find them. If they attack you, then kil them. Such is the reward of disbelievers. (But if they desist in their unbelief, then don't kill them.) 2:191-2

# Fight them until "religion is for Allah." 2:193

# Those who fail in their duty to Allah are proud and sinful. They will all go to hell. 2:206

# War is ordained by Allah, and all Muslims must be willing to fight, whether they like it or not. 2:216

# Those who die in their disbelief will burn forever in the Fire. 2:217

# Intermarriage is forbidden. 2:221

# The disbelievers, they are the wrong-doers. 2:254

# Disbelievers worship false gods. The will burn forever in the Fire. 2:257

# Allah does not guide disbelievers. 2:264

# "Give us victory over the disbelieving folk." 2:286

# Those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah, theirs will be a heavy doom. 3:4

# Those who disbelieve will be fuel for the Fire. 3:10

# Those who disbelieve shall be overcome and gathered unto Hell. 3:12

# Non-muslims will be punished by Allah for their nonbelief. 3:19

# Those who disbelieve, promise them a painful doom. 3:21

# "They [Christians and Jews] say: The Fire will not touch us save for a certain number of days. That which they used to invent hath deceived them regarding their religion." (The Fire will burn them forever.) 3:24

# Let not the believers take disbelievers for their friends in preference to believers. 3:28

# Allah loveth not the disbelievers. 3:32

# Allah will punish disbelievers in this world and the next. They will have no helpers. 3:56

# Don't believe anyone who is not a Muslim. 3:73

# Theirs will be a painful doom. 3:77

# All non-Muslims will be rejected by Allah after they die. 3:85

# Disbelievers will be cursed by Allah, angels, and men. They will have a painful doom. 3:87-88

# Disbelievers will have a painful doom. And they will have no helpers. 3:91

# Disbelievers will have their faces blackened on the last day. They will face an awful doom. 3:105-6

# Those who disbelieve will be burnt in the Fire. 3:116

# Don't be friends with non-Muslims. They all hate you and want to ruin you. 3:118

# The Fire is prepared for disbelievers. 3:131

# Give us victory over the disbelieving folk. 3:147

# We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Their habitation is the Fire 3:151

# "Is one who followeth the pleasure of Allah as one who hath earned condemnation from Allah, whose habitation is the Fire?"
Unbelievers will burn forever in the Fire. 3:162

# Theirs will be an awful doom. 3:176

# Disbelievers do not harm Allah, but will have a painful doom. 3:177

# Disbelievers will go to Hell. 3:196

# Those who disobey Allah and his messenger will be burnt with fire and suffer a painful doom. 4:14

# For the disbelievers and those who make a last-minute conversion, Allah has prepared a painful doom. 4:18

# For disbelievers, We prepare a shameful doom. 4:37

# Allah has cursed them for their disbelief. 4:46

# Those who ascribe a partner to Allah (like Christians do with Jesus and the Holy Spirit) will not be forgiven. They have "invented a tremendous sin." 4:48, 4:116

# Those who invent lies about Allah are guilty of flagrant sin. 4:50

# Jews and Christians believe in idols and false deities, yet they claim to be more rightly guided than Muslims. 4:51

# "Those (Christians and Jews) are they whom Allah hath cursed." 4:52

# Hell is sufficient for their burning. 4:55

# Unbelievers will be tormented forever with fire. When their skin is burned off, a fresh skin will be provided. 4:56

# Those who refuse to follow Muhammad, follow false gods and are deceived by Satan. 4:60

# Those who refuse to believe what Allah has revealed to Muhammad are hypocrites. 4:61

# Oppose and admonish those who refuse to follow Muhammad. 4:63

# The hypocrites refuse to die for Allah and Muhammad. 4:66

# Those who obey Allah and Muhammad are favored by Allah. They are the best company. 4:69

# Allah will bestow a vast reward on those who fight in religious wars. 4:74

# Believers fight for Allah; disbelievers fight for the devil. So fight the minions of the devil. 4:76

# Allah casts the hypocrites back to disbelief. Don't try to guide those that Allah sends astray. 4:88

# Have no unbelieving friends. Kill the unbelievers wherever you find them. 4:89

# If the unbelievers do not offer you peace, kill them wherever you find them. Against such you are given clear warrant. 4:91

# Believers shouldn't kill believers, unless by mistake. If you kill a believer by mistake, you must set free a believing slave. 4:92

# Believers who kill believers will go to hell. 4:93

# The disbelievers are an open enemy to you. 4:101

# For the disbelievers, Allah has prepared a shameful punishment. 4:102

# Relent not in pursuit of the enemy. They have no hope from Allah. 4:104

# Those who oppose the messenger and become unbelievers will go to hell. 4:115

# They (those who ascribe partners to Allah) invoke in his stead only females and pray to Satan. 4:117

# Allah will lead them astray and they will go to hell. 4:119-121

# Those who believe, then disbelieve, then believe and disbelieve again will never be forgiven by Allah. 4:137

# For the hypocrites there will be a painful doom. 4:138

# Allah will gather hypocrites and disbelievers into hell. 4:140

# Allah will not allow disbelievers to succeed against believers. 4:141

# Do not choose disbelievers as friends. 4:144

# The hypocrites will be in the lowest part of hell and no one will help them there. 4:145

# You must believe everything Allah and his messengers tell you. Those who don't are disbelievers and will face a painful doom. 4:150-151

# For the wrongdoing Jews, Allah has prepared a painful doom. 4:160-1

# God will guide disbelievers down a road that leads to everlasting hell. 4:168-169

# Those who deny Islam will be losers in the Hereafter. 5:5

# Disbelievers are the rightful owners of Hell. 5:10

# Allah has cursed the Jews and hardened their hearts. Nearly all of them are treacherous. 5:12-13

# Allah has stirred up enmity and hatred among Christians. 5:14

# Christians are disbelievers for believing in the divinity of Christ. 5:17

# Those who make war with Allah and his messenger will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. That is how they will be treated in this world, and in the next they will have an awful doom. 5:33

# Disbelievers will have a painful doom. 5:36

# Disbelievers will want to come out of the Fire, but will not. Their will be a lasting doom. 5:37

# Cut off the hands of thieves. It is an exemplary punishment from Allah. 5:38

# Allah makes some people sin. He will not cleanse their hearts. They will have ignominy in this world, and in the Hereafter an awful doom. 5:41

# Life for life, eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, and tooth for tooth. Non-muslims are wrong doers. 5:45

# Don't take Jews or Christians for friends. If you do, then Allah will consider you to be one of them. 5:51

# Jews and Christians are losers. 5:53

# Don't choose Jews, Christians, or disbelievers as guardians. 5:57

# Jews and Christians are evil-livers. 5:59

# Evil is the handiwork of the rabbis and priests. 5:63

# Allah has cast enmity and hatred among the Jews. 5:64

# Allah does not guide disbelievers. 5:67

# The Jews rejected and killed Allah's prophets, since "they were wilfully blind and deaf." 5:70-71

# Christians will be burned in the Fire. 5:72

# Christians are wrong about the Trinity. For that they will have a painful doom. 5:73

# Muslims that make friends with disbelievers will face a doom prepared for them by Allah. 5:80

# Disbelievers will be owners of hell-fire. 5:86

# Allah will test believers to see if they are afraid. Those who fail a second test will suffer a a painful doom. 5:94

# Those who deny the truth of Islam will be punished by Allah. 6:5

# "See the nature of the consequence for the rejecters!" 6:11

# "Those who ruin their souls will not believe." 6:12, 20

# Disbelievers will say when they see the Fire that they would have believed if they had known the truth. But they are all liars. 6:27-28

# Allah will torment those how deny his revelations. 6:49

# Stay away from those who "meddle with" or mock the Quran. 6:68

# Those who disbelieve will be forced to drink boiling water, and will face a painful doom. 6:70

# When nonbelievers die, the angels will deliver to them doom and degradation. 6:93

# Stay away from idolaters. 6:106

# Allah confounds the hearts and eyes of unbelievers. 6:110

# Most unbelievers are ignorant. 6:111

# Allah allows some to disbelieve in the afterlife, and to take pleasure in their disbelief, so that he can torment them forever after they die. 6:113

# The worst thing anyone can do is deny the revelations of Allah. Those who do so will be awared an evil doom. 6:157

# Disbelievers lose their souls. 7:9

# Allah has made devils the protecting friends of disbeliveers. 7:27

# Disbelievers choose devils as protecting friends and believe they are rightly guided. 7:30

# Only believers go to heaven. 7:32

# Allah forbids beliefs that he hasn't revealed (i.e., all non-muslim beliefs). 7:33

# Disbelievers are the rightful owners of the Fire. 7:36

# Disbelief is the greatest evil. 7:37

# Disbelievers will be excluded from heaven. Theirs will be a bed of hell. 7:40-41

# Those in the fire will be taunted by those in the Garden. "So how's it going down there? Are you enjoying the warmth of the Fire?" 7:44

# Those in the Fire will cry out to those in heaven, saying: "Pour water on us." But Allah has forbidden that to disbelievers. 7:50

# Those who forget Allah will be forgotten (sent to hell) on Judgement Day. 7:51

# Serve Allah or go to hell. 7:59

# Allah drowned everyone on earth (except Noah and his family) because they disbelieved. 7:64

# Disbelievers are liars. 7:66

# Those who believe incorrectly will face the terror and wrath of Allah. 7:71

# "We cut the root of those who denied Our revelations and were not believers." 7:72

# Allah killed the disbelievers with an earthquake. 7:78

# Allah killed everyone in Sodom and Gomorrah except Lot and his daughters.
7:83-84

# "So the earthquake seized them."
Allah killed the disbelievers with an earthquake. 7:90-91

# "Then We seized them unawares, when they perceived not."
Unbelievers are never safe from Allah's wrath. 7:95-99

# "How can I sorrow for a people that rejected (truth)?"
Shu'eyb tells the Allah's victims that they deserved to die for rejecting Islam. 7:93

# "We drowned them in the sea: because they denied Our revelations." 7:136

# Allah will destroy non-muslim cultures. 7:138-9

# "Those who deny Our revelations and the meeting of the Hereafter, their works are fruitless." 7:147

# Those who worship the calf will suffer terror and humiliation from Allah. 7:152

# "Those who believe in him, and honour him, and help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him: they are the successful." 7:157

# "But those of them who ... changed the word ... We sent down upon them wrath from heaven." 7:162

# "When they forgot that whereof they had been reminded, We ... visited [them] with dreadful punishment." 7:165

# Allah turns Jews into apes! 7:166

# Allah will punish the disbelieving Jews until the Day of Resurrection. 7:167

# Those who deny Muhammad's revelations are like dogs. 7:176

# Those who deny Muhammad's revelation are evil. 7:177

# Stay away from those who blaspheme Allah's names. They will be punished for it. 7:180

# Allah leads astray those who deny his revelations. 7:182-3

# Allah will throw fear into the hearts of the disbelievers, and smite their necks and fingers. 8:12

# Disbelievers will be tormented in the Fire. 8:14

# When you fight with disbelievers, do not retreat. Those who do will go to hell. 8:15-16

# Those that the Muslims killed were not really killed by them. It was Allah who did the killing. 8:17

# "Rain down stones on us or bring on us some painful doom!" 8:32

# Taste of the doom because ye disbelieve. 8:35

# Those who disbelieve will be gathered into hell. 8:36

# Fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. 8:39

# The angels smite the face and backs of disbelievers, saying: "Taste the punishment of burning!" 8:50

# The worst beasts in Allah's sight are the disbelievers. 8:55

# Don't let the disbelievers think they can escape. They are your enemy and the enemy of Allah. 8:59-60

# Exhort the believers to fight. They will win easily, because disbelievers are without intelligence. 8:65

# A prophet may not take captives until he has made a slaughter in the land. 8:67

# Disbelievers cause confusion and "corruption in the land." 8:73

# "Ye cannot escape Allah. Allah will confound the disbelievers." 9:2

# Give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom to those who disbelieve. 9:3

# Slay the idolaters wherever you find them. 9:5

# Those who submit and convert to Islam will be treated well. (Those who don't submit will be killed. See previous verse.) 9:6

# Don't make treaties with non-Muslims. They are all evildoers and should not be trusted. 9:7-9

# Treat converts to Islam well. (Kill those who refuse to convert. See 9:5) 9:11

# Fight the disbelievers! Allah is on your side; he will give you victory. 9:12-14

# Don't let idolaters tend the sanctuaries. Their works are in vain and they will be burned in the Fire. 9:17

# Don't make be friends with with your disbelieving family members. Those who do so are wrong-doers. 9:23

# Allah punished those who disbelieved. 9:26

# Only idolaters are unclean. Keep them away from your places of worship. 9:28

# Fight against Christians and Jews "until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low." 9:29

# Christians and Jews are perverse. Allah himself fights against them. 9:30

# The "Religion of Truth" (Islam) must prevail, by force if necessary, over all other religions. 9:33

# Give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom to the rich and greedy Christian monks and Jewish rabbis. 9:34

# Allah does not guide the disbelievers. 9:37

# Fight for Allah with your wealth and whatever weapons are available to you. 9:41

# Those who refuse to fight for Allah (claiming they are unable) are liars who have destroyed their souls. 9:42

# Disbelievers go to hell. 9:49

# "Allah will afflict you with a doom from Him or at our hands." 9:52

# Pay your contribution willingly. Allah will not accept a contribution from disbelievers or idlers. 9:53

# Those who vex the Prophet, for them there is a painful doom. 9:60

# Allah is only pleased by true believers. 9:62

# Those who oppose Allah and His messenger will burn in the fire of hell. 9:63

# Allah promises hypocrites and disbelievers the fire of hell. Allah curses them. They will have a lasting torment. 9:68

# Fight the disbelievers and hypocrites. Be harsh with them. They are all going to hell anyway. 9:73

# Allah will afflict disbelievers with a painful doom in this world and the Hereafter. 9:74

# God will not forgive disbelievers, so don't ask. 9:80

# Those who refuse to give their wealth and lives to Allah will face the fire of hell. 9:81-83

# Don't pray for dead disbelievers or attend their funerals. 9:84

# Those who refuse to fight for Allah will be treated (along with their children) as unbelievers. 9:85

# For disbelievers there will be a painful doom. 9:90

# Non-muslim who pretend to believe (so they won't be killed by Muslims) are unclean and will go to hell. 9:95

# The unbelieving Arabs will be punished by Allah with an evil fortune. 9:97-98

# "We shall chastise them twice; then they will be relegated to a painful doom." 9:101

# Stay away from non-Muslims. They are all liars. 9:107

# Those that ignore Allah will be thown into the fire of hell. 9:109

# Believers must fight for Allah. They must kill and be killed , and are bound to do so by the Torah, Gospel, and Quran. But Allah will reward them for it. 9:111

# Don't pray for idolaters (not even for your family) after it is clear they are people of hell-fire. 9:113

# Abraham disowned his father for being an enemy of Allah. 9:114

# Fight disbelievers who are near you, and let them see the harshness in you. 9:123

# Disbelievers are wicked and have diseased hearts. 9:125

# Allah turns away those who misunderstand him. 9:127

# Disbelievers will have a boiling drink and a painful doom. 10:4

# Those who neglect Allah's revelations will make their home in the Fire. 10:7-8

# Allah has destoyed entire generations. 10:13

# Denying the revelations of Allah is the worst sin imaginable. 10:17

# On the last day Allah will kill all the disbelievers (and then he will torture them forever in hell). 10:45

# Those who disbelieved will face a dreadful doom. 10:70

# Allah drowned those who disbelieved his revelations. 10:73

# Moses asked Allah to harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they would not believe until they saw the painful doom. 10:88

# If you deny the revelations of Allah, you will be among the losers and will "see the painful doom." 10:95-97

# Disbelievers will end up in the Fire. 11:17

# Those who oppose Islam and disbelieve in the Hereafter are guilty of the greatest wrong. 11:18-19

# Allah sent a lasting doom on those who mocked Noah. 11:39

# Those who drowned in the flood were disbelievers. 11:42

# Allah will send a painful doom on several nations. 11:48

# "What shall be his reward, who wisheth evil to thy folk, save prison or a painful doom?" 12:25

# Disbelievers are the rightful owners of the Fire 13:5

# Allah does not hear the prayer of disbelievers. 13:14

# Those who do not answer Allah's call will go to hell. 13:18

# Disbelievers will be tormented in this life, and suffer even more pain in the Hereafter. 13:33-34

# The reward for disbelievers is the Fire. 13:35

# Woe unto the disbelievers. Theirs will be an awful doom. 14:2

# "Lo! for wrong-doers is a painful doom." 14:22

# "They set up rivals to Allah that they may mislead (men) from His way. Say: Enjoy life (while ye may) for lo! your journey's end will be the Fire." 14:30

# Let the disbelievers enjoy life and let false hope beguile them. They will come to know! 15:2-3

# Iblis will lead humans astray. Only perfect Muslims will be safe from him. The rest will go to hell. 15:39-43

# Those who don't believe in the Hereafter are proud. 16:22

# Allah made a roof fall in to kill unbelievers. "And the doom came on them whence they knew not." 16:26

# Disbelievers are evil and will dwell in hell forever. 16:27-29

# Disbelievers are liars. 16:39

# Theirs will be the Fire, and they will be abandoned." 16:62

# "Theirs will be a painful doom." 16:63

# Allah will add doom to doom for those who disbelieve. 16:88

# Those who oppose Islam will face an awful doom. 16:94

# Those who loose their faith in Islam will face an awful doom. Allah's wrath is upon them. 16:106

# Those who invent lies against Allah will have a painful doom. 16:116-7

# Allah made hell to be a dungeon for disbelievers. 17:8

# Allah has prepared a painful doom for those who disbelieve in the Hereafter. 17:10

# Allah destroyed entire towns. 17:16

# How many generations Allah has destroyed since Noah! 17:17

# Allah intends to burn people in hell. 17:18

# "Set not up with Allah any other god, lest thou be cast into hell." 17:39

# Allah makes it so that unbelievers cannot understand. 17:45-46

# Allah will send disbelievers astray. Then he'll burn them in hell, increasing the flames from time to time. 17:97-98

# "He maketh none to share in His government."
Democracy is heresy. Allah shares his government with no one. 18:26

# Allah has prepared a Fire for the disbelievers. When they want a shower, Allah will give them a shower of molten lead to burn their faces. 18:29

# Christians will cry out to Allah's "partners", but they won't hear them; Allah will send them to their doom. 18:52

# The worst wrong is to forget Allah's revelations. Allah covers their hearts and makes them deaf so that they will never believe the truth. 18:57

# On a certain day, Allah will present hell, in plain view, to the disbelievers. 18:100

# Allah will welcome the disbelievers into hell. 18:102

# The good works of disbelievers are all in vain. They will go to hell anyway. 18:104-105

# Hell is the reward for disbelievers because they made a jest of Allah's revelations and messengers. 18:106

# "Woe unto the disbelievers from the meeting of an awful Day."
Jesus was not the Son of God. Those who say he was (Christians) are going to hell. 19:35-37

# Allah will pluck out from every sect those who should burn in hell. 19:69-70

# Allah will prolong the lives of non-believers so they can see their punishment, either in this world or in the Hour of doom. 19:75

# Allah will record what disbelievers say and then prolong their torment. 19:77-79

# Allah has sent the devils on the disbelievers to confuse them. 19:83

# Allah will "drive the guilty unto hell, a weary herd." 19:86

# Lo! it hath been revealed unto us that the doom will be for him who denieth and turneth away." 20:48

# Those who do not believe Allah's revelations will face doom in the Hereafter. 20:127

# Allah destroyed entire towns, yet the people still disbelieved. 21:6

# "And one of them who should say: Lo! I am a god beside Him, that one We should repay with hell." 21:29

# Disbelievers will not be able to put out the fire on their faces and backs. They will be stupefied and no one will help them. 21:39-40

# The disbelievers will stare in terror at what Allah has in store for them. 21:97-99

# Those who turn from the way of Allah will face ignominy in this world and burning in the next. 22:9

# Whoever thinks that Allah will not give Muhammad victory should go hang himself. 22:15

# Disbelievers will wear garments of fire, boiling fluid will be poured on their heads, their bellies and skin will be melted, they will be tormented with iron hooks, and when they try to escape they will be driven back with the taunt: Taste the doom of burning. 22:19-22

# Allah will provide the disbelievers with a painful doom. 22:25

# Those who disregard Allah's revelations are the owners of the Fire. 22:51

# "Those who disbelieve will not cease to be in doubt thereof until the Hour come upon them unawares, or there come unto them the doom of a disastrous day." 22:55

# Those who disbelieve Allah's revelations will have a shameful doom. 22:57

# Those who disbelieve Allah's revelations will burn in the Fire. 22:72

# Those who don't believe in the Hereafter will receive extreme punishment from Allah. 23:74-77

# Disbelievers will not be successful. 23:117

# Those who traduce virtuous, believing women ... cursed are they in the world and the Hereafter. Theirs will be an awful doom." 24:23

# Disbelievers are miscreants. 24:55

# Disbelievers will never escape the Fire that will be their home. 24:57

# The only true believers are those who believe in Allah and his messenger. 24:62

# Those who deny the coming of the Hour will be chained together and burned with fire. They will pray for their own destruction. 25:11-13

# It will be a hard day for disbelievers and wrong-doers. They will gnaw on their hands and wish they had chosen Islam. 25:26-27

# Those who deny Muhammad's revelations will be destroyed. 25:36

# Allah drowned everyone in the flood of Noah, and has prepared a painful doom for evil-doers. 25:37

# "They [the non-muslims] will know, when they behold the doom, who is more astray as to the road." 25:42

# Don't obey disbelievers. But rather fight against them. 25:52

# Those who cry out to another god with Allah will be tormented doubly in hell. 25:68-69

# Many will not believe until they see the painful doom. 26:201

# Those who believe in another god are doomed. 26:213

# Stay away from poets. The erring follow them. 26:224

# Allah leads those who do not believe in the Hereafter astray by making things work out OK in this life, so that he can torment them forever in the next. They will get the worst punishment and will be the greatest losers. 27:4-5

# But he "saved those who believed." 27:53

# Allah will taunt Christians on the day of their doom, saying: Where are My partners whom ye imagined? 28:62-64

# Never help disbelievers. 28:86

# Those who disbelieve in the revelations of Allah have no hope of mercy. For such there is a painful doom. 29:23

# "Ye have chosen only idols instead of Allah ... on the Day of Resurrection ye will deny each other and curse each other, and your abode will be the Fire, and ye will have no helpers." 29:25

# Only wrong-doers deny the revelations of Allah. 29:49

# Those who disbelieve in the revelations of Allah are the losers. 29:52

# The doom of hell will come upon disbelievers suddenly, when they least expect it. 29:53-55

# The worst thing you can do is tell a lie about Allah. Hell is the home of disbelievers. 29:68

# When the Hour comes, Christians will be divided into two groups: Those who believed Allah's revelations, and those who disbelieved in them. The believers will be happy in the Garden; the disbelievers will be brought to doom. 30:13-16

# Allah does not love disbelievers. 30:45

# Allah seals the heart of disbelievers. (And then he burns them in the Fire.) 30:59

# Those who mislead others from Allah's way and mock Islam will have a painful doom. 31:6-7

# Allah will give disbelievers a little comfort for a little while, and then he'll torment them forever with a heavy doom. 31:23-24

# Allah will fill hell with the jinn and mankind together. 32:13

# Allah: Taste the doom of immortality because of what ye used to do. 32:14

# Those who used to deny the Fire will be tormented in it forever. 32:20

# The worst thing you can do is to deny the revelations of Allah. 32:22

# Don't obey disbelievers. 33:1

# He hath prepared a painful doom for the unfaithful." 33:8

# Allah makes the deeds of unbelievers fruitless. 33:19

# Allah cast panic into the hearts of the disbelievers. He killed some, and enslaved others. 33:25-26

# Ignore disbelievers and their poisonous talk. 33:48

# Those who malign Allah, Muhammad, and Muslims will be cursed by Allah in this life and with doom in the Hereafter. 33:57

# Those who oppose Islam will be slain with a fierce slaughter. 33:60-61

# Allah has cursed the disbelievers, and has prepared for them a flaming fire, wherein they will abide forever. 33:64-65

# The disbelievers will be burned in the Fire with a double torment. 33:66-68

# Those who challenge the revelations of Muhammad will have a painful doom. 34:5

# "They are filled with remorse when they behold the doom; and We place carcans on the necks of those who disbelieved." 34:33

# Those who disbelieve in the Hereafter will be tormented. 34:8

# Those who strive against Allah's revelations will be brought to the doom. 34:38

# Allah hates those who ignore his messengers. 34:45

# Those who ignore Allah's messenger (Muhammed) will face a terrific doom. 34:46

# Those who are cast into hell be terrified when they see that they have no escape. Then they will believe. But it will be too late. 34:51-52

# Those who disbelieve will have an awful doom. 35:7

# Allah hates disbelievers. 35:26

# Disbelievers will burn forever in the fire of hell. Allah will keep them alive so that he can torture them forever. When they repent and ask for mercy, he will ignore them. 35:36-7

# He who disbelieves, his disbelief be on his own head. 35:39

# Allah has blinded the disbelievers so that they cannot see the truth. So it don't bother warning them. They will go to hell anyway. 36:8-10

# Allah will burn the disbelievers in hell. 36:63-4

# Those who refuse to believe in Muhammad's revelations will face a painful doom. 37:31-38

# If you're not favored by Allah, you're doomed. 37:57

# Allah drowned everyone except Noah and his family in the flood. 37:82

# Only the "single-minded slaves of Allah" will be saved from the doom. 37:127-8

# Allah killed everyone in Sodom except for Lot and his family. 37:136

# No one is against Allah, except those who burn in hell. 37:162-3

# Just wait a while and watch. The unbelievers will soon be destroyed in the doom. 37:176-9

# Those who disbelieve are in false pride and schism. 38:2

# Allah has destroyed many generations. 38:3

# Those who doubt will soon taste Allah's doom. 38:8

# Those who deny the messengers deserve doom. 38:14

# Those who wander from the way of Allah will have an awful doom. 38:26

# Those who disbelieve will burn in the Fire. 38:27

# Tell the disbelievers to enjoy themselves now, because later they will be owners of the Fire. 39:8

# Those who disobey Allah should fear his doom. 39:13

# No one will be able to help those that Allah torments in the Fire. 39:19

# Woe unto those who forget Allah. They are in plain error. 39:22

# The doom will come upon those who deny what Allah has revealed. 39:25

# Allah will make non-believers "taste humiliation in the life of the world" and " the doom of the Hereafter" which will be even worse. 39:26

# The worst thing you can do is tell a lie against Allah. The home of disbelievers is hell. 39:32

# Surrender to Allah before he sends the doom upon you suddenly. 39:54-55

# Disbelievers had their chance to believe. They will all suffer in an endless doom. 39:56-59

# Those who lie about Allah will be sent to hell and will have their faces blackened. 39:60

# Losers are those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah. 39:63

# Those ascribe a partner to Allah (like the Christians) will be among the losers. 39:65

# Those who disbelieve will be driven into hell. 39:71-72

# Those who disbelieve are the owners of the Fire. 40:6

# Allah greatly abhors those who disbelieve. 40:10

# Those who ignore Allah's "clear proofs" will be seized and punished severely. 40:22

# Those in hell will beg to be relieved from the Fire's torment for just a day. But the prayer of a disbeliever is in vain. 40:49-50

# Those who bicker about Allah's revelations are filled with pride. 40:56

# Those who scorn Allah will go to hell. 40:60

# Those who deny the revelations of Allah are perverted. 40:63

# Those who deny the Scripture and Allah's messengers will be dragged through boiling water and thrust into the Fire. 40:70-72

# Allah will taunt the Christians in hell, saying: Where are all my parnters that you used to believe in? 40:73

# Thus does Allah send astray the disbelievers (in his guidance). 40:74

# Those who scorn will go to hell. 40:76

# When they see Allah's doom they will believe in Allah. But their faith will not save them. The disbelievers will be ruined. 40:84-85

# Woe unto the idolaters who disbelieve in the Hereafter. 41:6

# The enemies of Allah will be gathered into the Fire where their skin, ears, and eyes will testify against them. 41:19-20

# Non-muslims will be tormented forever in the Fire. Allah will not have any mercy on them. 41:24

# Allah will make those who disbelieve taste an awful doom. Their immortal home will be the Fire, since they denied Allah's revelations. 41:27-28

# "Lo! those who distort Our revelations are not hid from Us. Is he who is hurled into the Fire better?" 41:40

# Those who disbelieve will taste hard punishment. 41:50

# In whatsoever ye differ, the verdict therein belongeth to Allah."
Disputes, whether religious or political, must be decided by Allah. Democracy is not an option. 42:10

# Those who argue about Allah will have his wrath upon them. Theirs will be an awful doom. 42:16

# "And as for disbelievers, theirs will be an awful doom." 42:26

# Allah sends some people astray and then punishes them for it by burning them in the Fire. 42:44-46

# Those who turn people away from Islam will "be sharers in the doom." 43:37-39

# "But they will come to know."
Allah will torment disbelievers forever in hell. 43:88-89

# Those in torment will claim to believe and ask Allah for relief. But he will refuse since they will return to their disbelief. 44:11-16

# "He hath saved them [Muslims] from the doom of hell."
(Everyone else is going to hell.) 44:56

# Those who hear and reject Allah's revelations are sinful liars. Give them tidings of a painful doom. 45:7-8

# Those who joke about Allah's revelations will go to hell. Theirs will be a shameful doom. 45:9-10

# Those who disbelieve in Allah's revelations will have a awful doom of wrath. 45:11

# Those who disbelieve are guilty folk. 45:31

# Disbelievers will be rewarded with the ignominious doom of the Fire. 46:20

# Serve only Allah or face the doom of a tremendous day. 46:21

# If you believe Muhammed, Allah will forgive some of your sins and protect you from the painful doom (that he plans to torture everyone else with). 46:31

# Allah will taunt the disbelievers that he torments in the fire, saying: "Taste the doom for that ye disbelieved." 46:34

# Allah makes the works of disbelievers vain. 47:1

# Those who disbelieve follow falsehood. 47:3

# Smite the necks of the disbelievers whenever you fight against them. Those who die fighting for Allah will be rewarded. 47:4

# Allah will damn the disbelievers and make all their actions fruitless. 47:8-9

# Disbelievers may eat and be happy now, but the Fire will be their final home. 47:12

# Those who turn away from Islam, and obey non-Muslims in some things, have been seduced by Satan. 47:25-26

# Angels will gather them together and smite their faces and backs. 47:27

# Allah will make the actions those who disbelieve fruitless. 47:32

# Those who disbelieve will never be pardoned by Allah. 47:34-35

# Those who think an evil thought concerning Allah will be cursed and sent to hell by him. 48:6

# Allah has prepared a flame for the disbelievers. 48:13

# If you refuse to fight for Allah, he will punish you with a painful doom. 48:16

# "Whoso turneth back, him will He punish with a painful doom." 48:17

# Allah punished those who disbelieved with a painful punishment. 48:25

# Allah will "cause it [Islam] to prevail over all religion." 48:28

# Those with Muhammad are ruthless toward disbelievers and merciful toward themselves. 48:29

# Allah will hurl those who believe in another god into a dreadful doom. 50:26

# Accursed are the conjecturers who ask: When is the Day of Judgment? It is the day they will be tormented by the Fire. 51:10-14

# "We left behind therein a portent for those who fear a painful doom." 51:37

# Woe to the disbelievers. 51:60

# Those who deny the existence of hell will be thrust into its Fire. 52:11-16

# "Their Lord hath warded off from them the torment of hell-fire."
(Everyone else is going to hell -- and the believers are all okay with that.) 52:18

# Those who disbelieve are trapped. 52:42

# Those who disbelieve in the afterlife give female names to angels. 53:27

# Those who disbelieve in the afterlife are only guessing and have no real knowledge. 53:29

# Stay away from non-Muslims, especially those who disbelieve in the afterlife. 53:29

# Allah sent a storm of stones on Lot's folk, killing all but Lot's family. 54:34

# The guilty deny hell. But after they die they go circling between it and fierce, boiling water. 55:43-44

# Those who deny Allah and the Hereafter will eat from the Zaqqum tree and drink boiling water. 56:51-54

# Allah will welcome the rejecters and erring with boiling water and a roasting in the hell fire. 56:92-94

# Those who disbelieve or doubt the revelations of Allah will be face the doom. 57:13-14

# The home of disbelievers is the Fire, a hapless journey's end. 57:15

# Those who disbelieve and deny Allah's revelations are the owners of the fire. 57:19

# For disbelievers is a painful doom. 58:4

# For disbelievers is a shameful doom. 58:5

# Those who disobey Muhammed will go to hell. 58:8

# Don't make friends with Allah's enemies. For those who do so, Allah has prepared a dreadful doom. 58:14-15

# Those who turn others away from the way of Allah will have a shameful doom. They are rightful owners of the Fire. 58:16-17

# Those who oppose Allah and His Messenger will be among the lowest. 58:20

# On the Last Day good Muslims will not love their non-Muslim friends and family members, not even their fathers, sons, or brothers (or their mothers, daughters, or sisters). 58:22

# Allah cast fear into the hearts of the disbelieving People of the Scripture. Their home in the Hereafter will be the Fire. 59:2-3

# "Whatsoever the messenger giveth you, take it. And whatsoever he forbiddeth, abstain (from it)."
Do whatever Muhammad tells you to do. (Or you'll go to hell.) 59:7

# The disbelieving people of the Scripture are liars. 59:11

# The disbelievers fear the believers more than Allah. 59:13

# The devil and disbelievers will be in the Fire. 59:16-17

# The owners of the Garden and the owners of the Fire are not equal. 59:20

# Don't be friends with disbelievers. They are your (and Allah's) enemy. 60:1

# Don't be friends with those who have warred against you because of religion. Whoever makes friends with them is a wrong-doer. 60:9

# Don't be friends with those who disbelieve in the Hereafter. They are Allah's enemies. 60:13

# The worst thing you can do is tell a lie about Allah. 61:7

# Allah gave Muhammad the one true religion and sent him to conquer all other (false) religions. 61:9

# "O ye who believe! Shall I show you a commerce that will save you from a painful doom?" 61:10

# A hypocritical Jew looks like an ass carrying books. Those who deny the revelations of Allah are ugly. 62:5

# Allah seals the hearts of those who believe and then disbelieve so that they can understand nothing. 63:3

# Disbelievers are perverted. They are the enemy, confounded by Allah. 63:4

# Don't bother to ask Allah to forgive the disbelievers. He will never forgive them. 63:6

# Those who disbelieve will have a painful doom. 64:5

# Those who disbelieve are the owners of the Fire. 64:10

# Be stern with disbelievers. They are going to Hell anyway. 66:9

# Disbelievers will go to hell where they will hear its roaring and boiling. 67:6-7

# Who will protect the disbelievers from a painful doom? (Nobody) 67:28

# Refuse to obey the "rejecters" (Non-Muslims?) who seek compromise 68:8-9

# Those who consider the Quran to be "mere fables" will be branded on the nose.68:15-16

# "Shall We then treat those who have surrendered (Muslims) as We treat the guilty (Non-Muslims)?" 68:35

# Those who do not believe in Allah will be chained up and cast into hell-fire where they will eat filth. 69:30-35

# Doom is about to fall on all disbelievers. Only worshippers (Muslims) and those who preserve their chastity (except with their wives and slave girls) will be spared from "the fires of hell" that are "eagar to roast." 70:1-30

# "Lo! the doom of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure" (except for maybe those who are fearful of it). 70:27-28

# Disbelievers will enter hell with frantic with fear, knowing they will be tortured forever by Allah. 70:36, 44

# Allah sent Noah to warn people about the painful doom he was planning to send. (It didn't work out well; Allah sent it anyway.) 71:1

# Noah asked Allah to drown all the disbelievers. 71:26

# The fires of hell will be fueled with the bodies of idolators and unbelievers. They will experience an ever-greater torment. 72:15-17

# Those who disobey Allah and his messenger will dwell forever in the fire of hell. 72:23

# Allah will take care of the deniers. He will tie them up, burn them in a raging fire, and feed them food that chokes them. 73:11-13

# The last day will be a day of anguish for disbelievers. 74:9-10

# Those who are stubborn to Allah's revelations will face a fearful doom. 74:16-17

# Allah has appointed angels to tend the Fire and has prepared stumbling blocks for those who disbelieve. He sends some people (whoever he wants) astray. 74:31

# Those who pay attention to this life and ignore the Hereafter will suffer forever in hell. 75:20-29

# Allah has prepared chains, manacles, and a raging fire for the disbelievers. 76:4

# Don't obey disbelievers. 76:24

# Woe unto the repudiators on that day! 77:19, 77:24, 77:28, 77:34, 77:40, 77:45, 77:49

# Depart unto that doom which ye used to deny." 77:29

# Those who deny the revelations given to Muhammed will burn forever in hell. 78:21-30

# "Lo! We warn you of a doom at hand, a day whereon a man will look on that which his own hands have sent before, and the disbeliever will cry: 'Would that I were dust!'" 78:40

# Those who rebel by choosing this life over the next will go to hell. 79:37-39

# Disbelievers are wicked people. On the last day they will be in darkness and have dust on their faces. 80:40-42

# Those who reject Allah's revelations will burn in hell. 83:10-17

# The disbelievers used to laugh at the believers. But the final laugh will be on them. 83:29-36

# Disbelievers will be given a painful doom. 84:22-24

# Those who persecute Muslims, without repenting, will burn in hell. 85:10

# Allah plots against non-Muslims. 86:16

# "Deal gently with them (non-Muslims) for a while. (How long is "a while"?) 86:17

# Allah will punish disbelievers with the direst punishment. 88:23-24

# Allah poured the disaster of His punishment upon those who rebelled against him. 89:11-13

# Those who disbelieve Allah's revelations will have the Fire placed over them like an awning. 90:19-20

# Those who deny Allah's revelations must endure the flaming fire. 92:14-16

# Allah created humans to be "of best stature" but then reduced them "to the lowest of the low". Except for "those who believe and do good works." But what about those who don't believe but do good works? Are they the "lowest of the low"? 95:4-6

# Allah will grab those who deny His guidance by the forelock and call the guards of hell. 96:13-18

# Those who disbelieve will abide in the fire of hell. They are the worst of created beings. 98:6

# Only religious people help orphans or those in need. 107:1-3

Dang!:eek:

It seems that Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are the most fundamentalist religions. They are more closed minded religions with very strict stringent principles that are adhered to or at least given lip service by the majority of their followers, characterized by Holy Books that have mostly the same interpretation by all followers, and the belief that all those who do not follow their beliefs or morality are in some way going to hell.


It's the holy books. With the presence of a thousands of years old volume of text, it becomes easy to use it as a crutch, the solution to all questions of right and wrong. It becomes easy to say "well god wrote it so it must be true."

Other religions, without having central holy books, are more open to interpretation. All three of the Abrahamic religions have laws written in their holy books. Even though obviously many things have changed since these laws were written, they are difficult if not impossible to change, since the perception by now among their adherents is often that that is tantamount to changing something god wrote, correcting god, which of course is, according to their beliefs, impossible since god is never incorrect.

That's my two cents anyway.

It's the holy books. With the presence of a thousands of years old volume of text, it becomes easy to use it as a crutch, the solution to all questions of right and wrong. It becomes easy to say "well god wrote it so it must be true."

Other religions, without having central holy books, are more open to interpretation. All three of the Abrahamic religions have laws written in their holy books. Even though obviously many things have changed since these laws were written, they are difficult if not impossible to change, since the perception by now among their adherents is often that that is tantamount to changing something god wrote, correcting god, which of course is, according to their beliefs, impossible since god is never incorrect.

That's my two cents anyway.

Um, which of the other religions are you thinking of that doesn't have holy books? Because Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, Baha'i, and Jain all have guiding texts.

It's the holy books. With the presence of a thousands of years old volume of text, it becomes easy to use it as a crutch, the solution to all questions of right and wrong. It becomes easy to say "well god wrote it so it must be true."

Other religions, without having central holy books, are more open to interpretation. All three of the Abrahamic religions have laws written in their holy books. Even though obviously many things have changed since these laws were written, they are difficult if not impossible to change, since the perception by now among their adherents is often that that is tantamount to changing something god wrote, correcting god, which of course is, according to their beliefs, impossible since god is never incorrect.

That's my two cents anyway.
That is a very interesting theory.

I once started (but never finished) an extensive research project on the impact of literacy on religion across human history. I became interested in this topic when a high school history class got to the bit about how the printing press impacted Christianity. For centuries, the written Bible was the exclusive property of the Church, and pretty much the only people who could read were priests, monks, nuns, and a few rich people who'd been educated by the Church. But literacy began to spread, and then along comes the printing press to make it economically possible for average people to own a copy of the Bible.

The Protestant Reformation was, at its most simplistic, about control of knowledge. Do religious leaders and officials retain exclusive control over the reading and interpretation of God's word, or does each individual have direct access to God's word all by themselves?

The printed Bible is kind of a double-edged sword in this respect. On the one hand, it put God's Word into the hands of average citizens, which you might think would make things a bit more democratic by giving everybody an opportunity to read and interpret. On the other hand, it put God's Word--in written form--into the hands of average citizens, and this is quite different from oral traditions or other more fluid forms of religion.

It seems that Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are the most fundamentalist religions. They are more closed minded religions with very strict stringent principles that are adhered to or at least given lip service by the majority of their followers, characterized by Holy Books that have mostly the same interpretation by all followers, and the belief that all those who do not follow their beliefs or morality are in some way going to hell.

They also tend to see at least unofficially see the Earth as the center of the universe, and the most important planet. Part of this is that they see their prophets as the only prophets.

The Dharmic religions Hinduism, and Buddhism on the other at least in general think in much more broad terms. They seem to emphasize more the "Universe", and all beings in it. They see cycles of creation, reincarnation, and karma. Their belief seems to be much more developed in what one could say a philosophical sense, much more complex. As well as diverse. Despite having a similar moral code their condemnation is not so exact. Karma seems a more complex concept than an absolute afterlife. The other concepts, especially about Atman and absolute reality are more complex ways of viewing the ultimate rather than just as one "God".

It is truly interesting to me how it has been largely unexplored that the Dharmic religions tend to refer to the "Universe", beings in general, and other things beyond the planet Earth. On the other hand, the Abrahamic religions tend to look at only Earth at least religiously. Of course the Muslims helped develop astronomy, but their religion remains very Earth-centric especially with Mecca etc.

Best not to put everything under the same umbrella; for example, take Judaism for example and the Mystic branches of Christianity and Islam - they certainly don't fall into the theory you have above.

Dang!:eek:

Why dang? if you take any scripture out of context, you can make it sound as evil as you want it to.

How does the original poster explain this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunta-haji

Defeat the evil man by your goodness and love[4]
Defeat the greedy with your generousity[4]
Defeat the treacherous with your sincerity[4]
Defeat the infidel with your fidelity[4]

Yeah, that sounds evil *rolls eyes*

I do not see how fundamentalism is necessarily a close minded way of doing things. I see nothing wrong with going back to fundamentals in response to impurity that is recognized as such. The best example of this that comes to mind was a German minister who preached a very fundamentalist christian sermon each Sunday. I forget if this guy preached after WWI or WWII but his fundamentalist sermons were in reaction to the "God is on our side" sort of sermons that were common in war time Germany churches. In response to all these sermons he decided quite wisely that it is really not for us to suppose that we know the will of the Lord and it is time to get away from such impure and rather blasphemous "God in our imageism as opposed to us in His Imageism".

Thus every sermon was about three minutes long each week. It was a repetition of 1) Jesus is the son of God. 2) Jesus died for our sins. 3) Jesus is the way to salvation. 4) Thanks for coming, see you next Sunday.

That was pretty much it. If people would come to him with any questions, he would say Ok come back next Sunday if you did not get it yet. Then the next Sunday he would repeat the same sermon.

I do not think that there is anything close minded about this. I suspect that the OP is a gay rights activist and views anyone who is not a gay rights supporter as "close-minded" even if they are open-minded and wise.

The OP also suggested that Jews believe in hell. We do not. We do not really believe in much of an afterlife at all. However, there is a lot of diverse thinking on the subject within Jewish thought. There are Jews who do believe in an afterlife. There are Jews who believe in reincarnation. There are Jews who believe that when you die that is the end. The one thing that we all pretty much agree on is that it is impure to hang out with a corpse like the Goyim do until all the family can assemble for a funeral. Corpses should be buried pretty darn quickly and the body should be allowed to decompose naturally. This really is not so much as a consensus on the afterlife as a consensus on funereal custom probably having at its root public safety concerns.

Most other religions on the planet (at least those that I know of) would be multi- or pantheistic, and always have room to accomodate one more god.
Which tends to make them a bit more tolerant towards people who worship other gods.
The Abrahamic religions can't be tolerant, one of the commandments makes sure of that.

Indeed. The openness of other religions is what led to fascinating syncretic movements, when religions in Africa, the Pacific and the Caribbean decided that their own beliefs were true but that Christianity was probably true as well, and merged it all together. Monotheistic religions have tended to reject others as "incompatible", while other religions have tended to accept new ideas, absorbing and reshaping them.

Why dang? if you take any scripture out of context, you can make it sound as evil as you want it to.

How does the original poster explain this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunta-haji

Defeat the evil man by your goodness and love[4]
Defeat the greedy with your generousity[4]
Defeat the treacherous with your sincerity[4]
Defeat the infidel with your fidelity[4]

Yeah, that sounds evil *rolls eyes*

"Dang" was actually a comment on the length of the post.

But since you seem to care:

All three "religions of the book" seem to be in the habit of ignoring those humane, loving portions of their respective creeds in favor of the those portions that support self-righteous, violent action against others. And it seems that the major thrust of their action is against their brother/sister religions. I'm not opposed to Judaism, Christianity and Islam destroying each other in what appears to be a glorified war of sibling rivalry, I just wish they weren't bent on taking the rest of the world with them.

Although Islam does seem to be the most aggressive, in practice the Islamic countries have mostly been rather tolerant of other monotheistic faiths. However, they have no history of tolerance for animism and polytheism. Under Islamic rule Jewish and Christian communities were allowed to worship and form their own courts for religious matters such as divorce.

Um, which of the other religions are you thinking of that doesn't have holy books? Because Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, Baha'i, and Jain all have guiding texts.

All the Indic/Dharmic (I don't have much knowledge of Tao and Confu) have "holy books" - not a single holy book such as the Bible or the Qur'an which define the religion for Abrahamic religions.

Perhaps that is what the poster meant.

Although Islam does seem to be the most aggressive, in practice the Islamic countries have mostly been rather tolerant of other monotheistic faiths. However, they have no history of tolerance for animism and polytheism. Under Islamic rule Jewish and Christian communities were allowed to worship and form their own courts for religious matters such as divorce.

Jews and Christians are Ahl-e-Kitab (People of the book). They enjoy a better status than us plain kaffirs. :p

All the Indic/Dharmic (I don't have much knowledge of Tao and Confu) have "holy books" - not a single holy book such as the Bible or the Qur'an which define the religion for Abrahamic religions.

Perhaps that is what the poster meant.

Possibly. But neither the Bible or the Koran are a single holy book, seeing as they're compilations of many books, so I'm still not sure what the point was.

Personally, I'd see the common attitude towards the writings of their tradition as being the distinguishing feature of Abrahamic religions in this case, not the fact that they have such writings.

All the Indic/Dharmic (I don't have much knowledge of Tao and Confu) have "holy books" - not a single holy book such as the Bible or the Qur'an which define the religion for Abrahamic religions.

Perhaps that is what the poster meant.

The Bible is many books. I do not know about the Koran though. I also do not see how it matters. I do not see how having one or more books changes anything.

Although Islam does seem to be the most aggressive, in practice the Islamic countries have mostly been rather tolerant of other monotheistic faiths. However, they have no history of tolerance for animism and polytheism. Under Islamic rule Jewish and Christian communities were allowed to worship and form their own courts for religious matters such as divorce.

What I find funny is that looking back the Jews were better treated under Muslims than Christians.

Lets remember folks that the whole concept of anti-semitism is a western concept born out of Christianity and the Priory of Zion - a writing concocted up in Tsarist Russia to use Jews as the scapegoat for all of Russia's mismanagement.

Up until the second Vatican council the Roman Catholic church considered the Jews 'the anti-Christ'; Martin Luther and John Calvin were ranting and raving anti-Semites who spread their vile rantings to whom ever want hear them.

Lets also remember that the Jews invited the 'Muslim invaders' into the holy land to free it from Christian rule.

To think that the 'love for Jews' today by evangelicals of today in the US has any sincere motive, I would be greatly concerned if I was a Jew, having those sorts of allies. Remember folks, these types of people 60 years ago were the same who were lynching blacks and declaring Jews as evil for not accepting Jesus as their Messiah.

True, but Rome wasn't the only one. Greek religion, for example, varied from city to city, and the egyptians resisted very little to adding in christianity and later islam.

I think Iknaten (spelling is wrong) and Tutankaten (later Tutankhamen) would disagree about the acceptance of Egyptians to changes in their religion. Granted this was a switch from their polytheism to monotheism, but the Egyptian priests of old wielded a great deal of political power and simply did not take well to intruders into their pool.

I have to agree with others. Christianity in its early days, and if you actually read the New Testament, is rather pacifistic. However, you then have the church coming in and condoning violence in certain instances. Trouble is, that's a slippery slope and the next thing you know...you have the Crusades.

Because it's just a damn good, and accurate quote:

"Never confuse the faith with the SUPPOSEDLY faithful." -- R. K. Milholland, artist/writer of "Something Positive"

What I find funny is that looking back the Jews were better treated under Muslims than Christians.

Lets remember folks that the whole concept of anti-semitism is a western concept born out of Christianity and the Priory of Zion - a writing concocted up in Tsarist Russia to use Jews as the scapegoat for all of Russia's mismanagement.

Up until the second Vatican council the Roman Catholic church considered the Jews 'the anti-Christ'; Martin Luther and John Calvin were ranting and raving anti-Semites who spread their vile rantings to whom ever want hear them.

Lets also remember that the Jews invited the 'Muslim invaders' into the holy land to free it from Christian rule.

To think that the 'love for Jews' today by evangelicals of today in the US has any sincere motive, I would be greatly concerned if I was a Jew, having those sorts of allies. Remember folks, these types of people 60 years ago were the same who were lynching blacks and declaring Jews as evil for not accepting Jesus as their Messiah.

Anti-Semitism was alive and well in Europe long before the Protestant Reformation. There were a few popes who were nice to Jews but many were not. Even when there were Jew friendly Popes I still think there was a lot of Jew hating going on.

Even today much of the support for Israel by America is there because certain Christian elements believe that Israel needs to be a Jewish state as a prerequisite for the second coming of Jeebus (Sorry I am a Simpsons fan).

There is an interesting theory about religious hatred (in the sense of one religious group hating another) is linked too credit. Apparently, everyone hates the fact that they have to pay their creditors. Under this theory, people will root for bank robbers in movies because they are striking back at the Banks that everyone subconsciously hates because they spend so much of their money on paying back interest on loans. At various times Muslims and Christians refused to extend credit on religious grounds.

Today there are Christian bankers. To a lesser extent there are Muslim bankers but this is only a recent development. When Shakespeare wanted to put a face on nasty lending he came up with Shylock the Jew. When 20th century Arab wackos want to put a face on modern bankers they come up with "The West."

My spin on this is that the Muslim extremists understand the symbolic or other importance of geography. After all, they totally understand that there is something special about Mecca. So to them, goodness or holiness is concentrated in Mecca somehow. Similarly, evil is concentrated in Manhattan because this is the financial center of the world or at least of the hated evil moneylending West.

I think that radical muslims would appreciate a good bank robbery movie. I think that they sort of looked at the attack on the NY World Trade Center in a similar manner.

What I find funny is that looking back the Jews were better treated under Muslims than Christians.

Lets remember folks that the whole concept of anti-semitism is a western concept born out of Christianity and the Priory of Zion - a writing concocted up in Tsarist Russia to use Jews as the scapegoat for all of Russia's mismanagement.

Up until the second Vatican council the Roman Catholic church considered the Jews 'the anti-Christ'; Martin Luther and John Calvin were ranting and raving anti-Semites who spread their vile rantings to whom ever want hear them.

Lets also remember that the Jews invited the 'Muslim invaders' into the holy land to free it from Christian rule.

To think that the 'love for Jews' today by evangelicals of today in the US has any sincere motive, I would be greatly concerned if I was a Jew, having those sorts of allies. Remember folks, these types of people 60 years ago were the same who were lynching blacks and declaring Jews as evil for not accepting Jesus as their Messiah.

Call me crazy but I think it has more to do with these events;


1) Sanhedrin (Jewish high court) holding a sham trial condemning Jesus Christ to death. And after passing their judgement, handing him over to the Romans and exerting pressure on the Romans to execute Jesus Christ.
Albeit this was more a political struggle than true hate crime. But playing such an active role in the murder of the Messiah of the Christians, isn't going to win you many friends.

2) Circa 63, James the Just was stoned to death by order of the High Priest Ananus ben Ananus for transgression of the law, but later public opinion against the act resulted in Ananus being deposed by the new Roman governor Lucceius Albinus.

3) Bar Kokhba persecuted Judeo-Christians who would not renounce their faith in Jesus Christ. Christians insisted that Jesus, rather than Bar Kokhba, was the Messiah and refused to fight. According to Justin Martyr, the consequence of their refusal was that they were "commanded to be punished severely, if they did not deny Jesus as the Messiah and blaspheme him.
In short the Jews massacred Christians during the Bar Kokhba revolts because they did not actively support the revolt due to them saying they could not call Bar Kokhba their Messiah without compromising their faith. These massacre's estranged the Christian and Jewish population, causing the final rift which led to Christians henceforth renouncing all Jewish roots at the times and calling themselves a separate religion. Not wishing to be associated with Jews anymore, after the crimes committed unto them by the Jews.

4) Justin Martyr makes this point on a number of occasions. Tertullian (c. 180) labels Jews “the seed-plot of all the calumnies against us,” and called the synagogues of his day “fountains of persecution.” Origen (c. 250) charges Jews with falsely reporting Christians guilty of cannibalistic practice and sexual orgies. Under Trajan, c 107 AD, Jews may have participated in the death of St. Simeon, bishop of Jerusalem.

5) Many Roman governors that were in doubt if they should persecute Christians (most did nothing against Roman law), got complaints from Jews and Jewish priests when Christians were not persecuted. In the martyrdom of Polycarp of Smyrna there was also hesitation on the Roman side, while the Jews ("and heathen") of Smyrna asked for Polycarp to be eaten by lions and when this was refused, to burn him at the stake. In AD 155 at Smyrna, when Polycarp was condemned to be burned, Jews gathered wood for the fire “as is usual with them.”
In Smyrna a century later, Pionius, burned under Decius, addressed the Jews that derided him before his death in the following terms:

“I say this to you Jews . . . that if we are enemies, we are also human beings. Have any of you been injured by us? Have we caused you to be tortured? When have we unjustly persecuted? When have we harmed in speech? When have we cruelly dragged to torture?

6) The New Testament also records that the first martyr was Stephen, who was stoned by the Jews. The New Testament goes on to say that Paul was himself imprisoned on several occasions by the Roman authorities, stoned by Jews and left for dead on one occasion, and was eventually taken as a prisoner to Rome. Peter and others were also imprisoned, beaten and generally harassed. Because of severe persecution in Jerusalem by Jews, most of the believing Jewish Christians were forced to leave.




I don't know? I suppose all these events the endless persecution the early Christians had to suffer at the hands of the Jews? Who were supposed to be their brothers and were often their blood relatives, played an active role? This caused the rift and caused many Christians to theorize to trust a Jew would mean your downfall and death. Which is perhaps not a modern way of thinking anymore. But you asked for it's roots. Anti-semitism lies in the roots of Jewish efforts to eradicate Christianity through mob violence, massacre's, political pressure, torture and brutal murder.


Does this make anti-semitism right? No. Because this was all ages ago. And these were all people of long forgotten times. But nontheless, people have long memories. Of course Christians now having 2billion+ adherents don't have to fear much from the roughly 18 million Jews left in the world.

Call me crazy but I think it has more to do with these events;


1) Sanhedrin (Jewish high court) holding a sham trial condemning Jesus Christ to death. And after passing their judgement, handing him over to the Romans and exerting pressure on the Romans to execute Jesus Christ.
Albeit this was more a political struggle than true hate crime. But playing such an active role in the murder of the Messiah of the Christians, isn't going to win you many friends.

2) Circa 63, James the Just was stoned to death by order of the High Priest Ananus ben Ananus for transgression of the law, but later public opinion against the act resulted in Ananus being deposed by the new Roman governor Lucceius Albinus.

3) Bar Kokhba persecuted Judeo-Christians who would not renounce their faith in Jesus Christ. Christians insisted that Jesus, rather than Bar Kokhba, was the Messiah and refused to fight. According to Justin Martyr, the consequence of their refusal was that they were "commanded to be punished severely, if they did not deny Jesus as the Messiah and blaspheme him.
In short the Jews massacred Christians during the Bar Kokhba revolts because they did not actively support the revolt due to them saying they could not call Bar Kokhba their Messiah without compromising their faith. These massacre's estranged the Christian and Jewish population, causing the final rift which led to Christians henceforth renouncing all Jewish roots at the times and calling themselves a separate religion. Not wishing to be associated with Jews anymore, after the crimes committed unto them by the Jews.

4) Justin Martyr makes this point on a number of occasions. Tertullian (c. 180) labels Jews “the seed-plot of all the calumnies against us,” and called the synagogues of his day “fountains of persecution.” Origen (c. 250) charges Jews with falsely reporting Christians guilty of cannibalistic practice and sexual orgies. Under Trajan, c 107 AD, Jews may have participated in the death of St. Simeon, bishop of Jerusalem.

5) Many Roman governors that were in doubt if they should persecute Christians (most did nothing against Roman law), got complaints from Jews and Jewish priests when Christians were not persecuted. In the martyrdom of Polycarp of Smyrna there was also hesitation on the Roman side, while the Jews ("and heathen") of Smyrna asked for Polycarp to be eaten by lions and when this was refused, to burn him at the stake. In AD 155 at Smyrna, when Polycarp was condemned to be burned, Jews gathered wood for the fire “as is usual with them.”
In Smyrna a century later, Pionius, burned under Decius, addressed the Jews that derided him before his death in the following terms:

“I say this to you Jews . . . that if we are enemies, we are also human beings. Have any of you been injured by us? Have we caused you to be tortured? When have we unjustly persecuted? When have we harmed in speech? When have we cruelly dragged to torture?

6) The New Testament also records that the first martyr was Stephen, who was stoned by the Jews. The New Testament goes on to say that Paul was himself imprisoned on several occasions by the Roman authorities, stoned by Jews and left for dead on one occasion, and was eventually taken as a prisoner to Rome. Peter and others were also imprisoned, beaten and generally harassed. Because of severe persecution in Jerusalem by Jews, most of the believing Jewish Christians were forced to leave.




I don't know? I suppose all these events the endless persecution the early Christians had to suffer at the hands of the Jews? Who were supposed to be their brothers and were often their blood relatives, played an active role? This caused the rift and caused many Christians to theorize to trust a Jew would mean your downfall and death. Which is perhaps not a modern way of thinking anymore. But you asked for it's roots. Anti-semitism lies in the roots of Jewish efforts to eradicate Christianity through mob violence, massacre's, political pressure, torture and brutal murder.


Does this make anti-semitism right? No. Because this was all ages ago. And these were all people of long forgotten times. But nontheless, people have long memories. Of course Christians now having 2billion+ adherents don't have to fear much from the roughly 18 million Jews left in the world.

Romans killed a lot of Christians but you do not see much of an anti-Roman attitude by Christians these days. I think that the above arguments are just the sort of thing that Christians used as justifications for their harsh treatment of Jews but are not the actual motivations. I think that Jews are hated because they are more or less intellectual in their outlook on life and that clashes with totalitarian regimes where they often inhabit. I also think that the Jewish diaspora made them people who identify more with an idea than with a land and that gets nationalists all worked up. After all, if Bigtopia is the nation state of Bigtopians, why should there be Jews in Bigtopia, dont they know that this is Bigtopian land and not Jewish land? maybe they are here for some nefarious purpose, such as...? I think this is a better explanation, but the whole "The Jews killed Christ." Is what gets used as the moral justification for the harsh treatment.

Furthermore, a lot of the early persecution of Jewish Christians was done by the Pharasees and Sadducees, not by "The Jews". When was the last time you saw a Phariasee or Sadducee?

The Jewish history is full of stories of tyrants who killed Jews and usually in nasty ways under the supposed reason that their ancestors never met the justice they deserved and so the future generations must be punished. Patriarchs like Jacob supposedly did something wrong in the Old Testament, so important rabbis were arrested and tortured to death as punishment. This tendency to punish the Jews for sins of their forefathers is not unique to Christian Anti-Semites.

The Bible is many books.But heavily edited to become one theological claim.

Anti-Semitism was alive and well in Europe long before the Protestant Reformation. There were a few popes who were nice to Jews but many were not. Even when there were Jew friendly Popes I still think there was a lot of Jew hating going on.

I never said they didn't. The Catholic church from the time of Constantine on wards had a pro-active anti-Jew policy.

They were the convienent scapegoat for all of lifes problems.

Even today much of the support for Israel by America is there because certain Christian elements believe that Israel needs to be a Jewish state as a prerequisite for the second coming of Jeebus (Sorry I am a Simpsons fan).

But here is the problem - their view then goes on further that 'all those Jews who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their saviour will go to enternal hell' - ultimately their motives are the same as the Catholics and Protestants of old. When their 'vision' doesn't come true - whose to say they won't 'punish the jews' themselves under the false pretense that 'we need to whipe out the Jews on gods behalf to herald the coming of Jesus'?

There is an interesting theory about religious hatred (in the sense of one religious group hating another) is linked too credit. Apparently, everyone hates the fact that they have to pay their creditors. Under this theory, people will root for bank robbers in movies because they are striking back at the Banks that everyone subconsciously hates because they spend so much of their money on paying back interest on loans. At various times Muslims and Christians refused to extend credit on religious grounds.

Today there are Christian bankers. To a lesser extent there are Muslim bankers but this is only a recent development. When Shakespeare wanted to put a face on nasty lending he came up with Shylock the Jew. When 20th century Arab wackos want to put a face on modern bankers they come up with "The West."

My spin on this is that the Muslim extremists understand the symbolic or other importance of geography. After all, they totally understand that there is something special about Mecca. So to them, goodness or holiness is concentrated in Mecca somehow. Similarly, evil is concentrated in Manhattan because this is the financial center of the world or at least of the hated evil moneylending West.

I think that radical muslims would appreciate a good bank robbery movie. I think that they sort of looked at the attack on the NY World Trade Center in a similar manner.

The problem is that if you look at the Qur'an, too many people link 'Jews' as in 'Judaism' as a whole. In context to the Qur'an the correct way of reading it is "this is a tribe, who happened to be Jewish" rather than "we are fighting the Jews".

So when you read about 'the prophet fights the Jews', what it is really saying is, 'the prophet is going into battle against another tribe who happened to be Jewish". Just as someone says, "we invaded Iraq" rather than "we invaded and did battle with the Muslims" (emphasis on the)

Anti-Semitism was alive and well in Europe long before the Protestant Reformation. There were a few popes who were nice to Jews but many were not. Even when there were Jew friendly Popes I still think there was a lot of Jew hating going on.

I never said they didn't. The Catholic church from the time of Constantine on wards had a pro-active anti-Jew policy.

They were the convienent scapegoat for all of lifes problems.

Even today much of the support for Israel by America is there because certain Christian elements believe that Israel needs to be a Jewish state as a prerequisite for the second coming of Jeebus (Sorry I am a Simpsons fan).

But here is the problem - their view then goes on further that 'all those Jews who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their saviour will go to enternal hell' - ultimately their motives are the same as the Catholics and Protestants of old. When their 'vision' doesn't come true - whose to say they won't 'punish the jews' themselves under the false pretense that 'we need to whipe out the Jews on gods behalf to herald the coming of Jesus'?

There is an interesting theory about religious hatred (in the sense of one religious group hating another) is linked too credit. Apparently, everyone hates the fact that they have to pay their creditors. Under this theory, people will root for bank robbers in movies because they are striking back at the Banks that everyone subconsciously hates because they spend so much of their money on paying back interest on loans. At various times Muslims and Christians refused to extend credit on religious grounds.

Today there are Christian bankers. To a lesser extent there are Muslim bankers but this is only a recent development. When Shakespeare wanted to put a face on nasty lending he came up with Shylock the Jew. When 20th century Arab wackos want to put a face on modern bankers they come up with "The West."

My spin on this is that the Muslim extremists understand the symbolic or other importance of geography. After all, they totally understand that there is something special about Mecca. So to them, goodness or holiness is concentrated in Mecca somehow. Similarly, evil is concentrated in Manhattan because this is the financial center of the world or at least of the hated evil moneylending West.

I think that radical muslims would appreciate a good bank robbery movie. I think that they sort of looked at the attack on the NY World Trade Center in a similar manner.

The problem is that if you look at the Qur'an, too many people link 'Jews' as in 'Judaism' as a whole. In context to the Qur'an the correct way of reading it is "this is a tribe, who happened to be Jewish" rather than "we are fighting the Jews".

So when you read about 'the prophet fights the Jews', what it is really saying is, 'the prophet is going into battle against another tribe who happened to be Jewish". Just as someone says, "we invaded Iraq" rather than "we invaded and did battle with the Muslims" (emphasis on the)

Romans killed a lot of Christians but you do not see much of an anti-Roman attitude by Christians these days. I think that the above arguments are just the sort of thing that Christians used as justifications for their harsh treatment of Jews but are not the actual motivations. I think that Jews are hated because they are more or less intellectual in their outlook on life and that clashes with totalitarian regimes where they often inhabit. I also think that the Jewish diaspora made them people who identify more with an idea than with a land and that gets nationalists all worked up. After all, if Bigtopia is the nation state of Bigtopians, why should there be Jews in Bigtopia, dont they know that this is Bigtopian land and not Jewish land? maybe they are here for some nefarious purpose, such as...? I think this is a better explanation, but the whole "The Jews killed Christ." Is what gets used as the moral justification for the harsh treatment.

Furthermore, a lot of the early persecution of Jewish Christians was done by the Pharasees and Sadducees, not by "The Jews". When was the last time you saw a Phariasee or Sadducee?

The Jewish history is full of stories of tyrants who killed Jews and usually in nasty ways under the supposed reason that their ancestors never met the justice they deserved and so the future generations must be punished. Patriarchs like Jacob supposedly did something wrong in the Old Testament, so important rabbis were arrested and tortured to death as punishment. This tendency to punish the Jews for sins of their forefathers is not unique to Christian Anti-Semites.


Show me existing Roman Pagans and Roman Imperialists in this day and time, and I am sure you'd find they wouldn't be too high up on the list of people respected by Christians.

Show me existing Roman Pagans and Roman Imperialists in this day and time, and I am sure you'd find they wouldn't be too high up on the list of people respected by Christians.Christians only respect Christians. Preferably of the same denomination. What are you talking about? And they find Buddhists trendy.

Anti-Semitism was alive and well in Europe long before the Protestant Reformation. There were a few popes who were nice to Jews but many were not. Even when there were Jew friendly Popes I still think there was a lot of Jew hating going on.

I never said they didn't. The Catholic church from the time of Constantine on wards had a pro-active anti-Jew policy.

They were the convienent scapegoat for all of lifes problems.

Even today much of the support for Israel by America is there because certain Christian elements believe that Israel needs to be a Jewish state as a prerequisite for the second coming of Jeebus (Sorry I am a Simpsons fan).

But here is the problem - their view then goes on further that 'all those Jews who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their saviour will go to enternal hell' - ultimately their motives are the same as the Catholics and Protestants of old. When their 'vision' doesn't come true - whose to say they won't 'punish the jews' themselves under the false pretense that 'we need to whipe out the Jews on gods behalf to herald the coming of Jesus'?

There is an interesting theory about religious hatred (in the sense of one religious group hating another) is linked too credit. Apparently, everyone hates the fact that they have to pay their creditors. Under this theory, people will root for bank robbers in movies because they are striking back at the Banks that everyone subconsciously hates because they spend so much of their money on paying back interest on loans. At various times Muslims and Christians refused to extend credit on religious grounds.

Today there are Christian bankers. To a lesser extent there are Muslim bankers but this is only a recent development. When Shakespeare wanted to put a face on nasty lending he came up with Shylock the Jew. When 20th century Arab wackos want to put a face on modern bankers they come up with "The West."

My spin on this is that the Muslim extremists understand the symbolic or other importance of geography. After all, they totally understand that there is something special about Mecca. So to them, goodness or holiness is concentrated in Mecca somehow. Similarly, evil is concentrated in Manhattan because this is the financial center of the world or at least of the hated evil moneylending West.

I think that radical muslims would appreciate a good bank robbery movie. I think that they sort of looked at the attack on the NY World Trade Center in a similar manner.

The problem is that if you look at the Qur'an, too many people link 'Jews' as in 'Judaism' as a whole. In context to the Qur'an the correct way of reading it is "this is a tribe, who happened to be Jewish" rather than "we are fighting the Jews".

So when you read about 'the prophet fights the Jews', what it is really saying is, 'the prophet is going into battle against another tribe who happened to be Jewish". Just as someone says, "we invaded Iraq" rather than "we invaded and did battle with the Muslims" (emphasis on the)

They are the harebrained cults of petty, ignorant barbarian sand people living in mud huts but they have pretensions of being something better, and this causes conflict.

The Bible is many books. I do not know about the Koran though. I also do not see how it matters. I do not see how having one or more books changes anything.

It is still one Bible (well many versions..I guess) which is revealed by a prophet and marks the beginning of the religion. We hear stuff like Jesus gave Bible and those who believe in it are called Christians and those who don't are called unbelievers who have to be "saved". Ditto with Moh'd, Qur'an and Islam.

But then these are "minor differences" as correctly said by Nervun. :D

Christians only respect Christians. Preferably of the same denomination. What are you talking about? And they find Buddhists trendy.

Right? Ha ha?

I am pretty sure I am a Christian of some sort.
I respect some people who are not Christian..

Maybe I am not Christian..

Um, which of the other religions are you thinking of that doesn't have holy books? Because Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, Baha'i, and Jain all have guiding texts.

Do they all claim to have been basically dictated by God? Do they all say "This is God's word, it's perfect"?

All the Indic/Dharmic (I don't have much knowledge of Tao and Confu) have "holy books" - not a single holy book such as the Bible or the Qur'an which define the religion for Abrahamic religions.

Perhaps that is what the poster meant.

Indeed. Though Judaism has multiple holy books, from what I understand, the main one is the Torah. All three have their holy texts filled with tons of laws as well, often times many of the very same ones.

And though the bible is technically many books, it's usually treated as one holy bigass god-given tome.

And of course, so much of it is laws, mostly the Old Testament, which also filled with "God smote these folks because he didn't like how they were doing such and such obscure crime that shouldn't matter."

Do they all claim to have been basically dictated by God? Do they all say "This is God's word, it's perfect"?

No. Hence my take on the issue, from earlier in the thread.

Personally, I'd see the common attitude towards the writings of their tradition as being the distinguishing feature of Abrahamic religions in this case, not the fact that they have such writings.

"Sufism is not real Islam"

No true Scotsman fallacy, Sovietstan.