Thank You! Finally, someone said it clearer than I.

 

But they did use them to justify mass killings at certain ponts in history. And yes, these were comands given at a specific time...but the command said to kill everyone who didn't beleive, so is it really a specific command then?


Look, I know what you're all getting at and I agree that right now, Christians don't kill in the name of their religion (at least not overtly enough to be noticed like Muslims are). But this whole thing started because Hella quoted the Qu'ran and he and Oaf asserted that Islam as a whole is out to get everyone who isn't Muslim. I felt that it was important to point out that all western religions have in their roots and in their teachings the desire to rid the earth of all non-believers and make everyone believe the same 'correct' religion. Just trying to make sure you all see that all religions are equally flawed and corrupt, and that demonizing Islam is not going to solve anything because that only results in an even deeper rift between Muslims and Christians.

Considering this thread did not start about religion, and I did not bring religion into it at all, I think some of you are very defensive about being Christians...and I beleive that's because you do see the similarities between christianity and the 'evil religion of islam' that you've been conditioned to see.

 

Its a knee jerk reflex I suppose for those in favor of any religion, or even those against organized religion for that matter.

 

Religion at its best should teach you when to tolerate those that do not believe as you, and when (if ever) its a good idea to kill them.

 

Religion is supposed to make good people, which means it should teach to accept (not just tolerate) and never to kill, ever. No exuses. Ever.


If you allow one single reason that makes killing a human ok, the religion will always be tainted.

 

OK.............. So, we should accept everything? And religion should teach us how to do that? That is not a very mature or realistic view of religion. Religion is all about faith. Believing that doing one thing is paramount to doing another thing. AKA right and wrong. Some things are "wrong" and should not be tolerated, some things are "right" and should be promoted because you belive doing so is beneficial. Religion tells us what those things are.

Sometimes killing someone is the right thing to do and is completely justifiable, that belief is nearly universal. If you are going to kill me for crack money, and the only way I can stop you is to kill you..... in my mind killing you is a perfectly reasonable thing to do. Any religion that teaches otherwise, I'm not inclinded to agree with. My life is worth more than crack money may be to you. If you believe otherwise and try to kill me you may be subject to forfeiting your life in the process. How that belief would taint a religion and what that religion would be tainted with is beyond me.

 

Religion should teach people how to make themselves live happily. I accept that other people do not believe as me, and I tolerate their views. There is an importand distiction there. Religion doesn't make people do anything, it offers them a choice. Do as this religion says and be happy, do not as this religion says and suffer the consequence.

 

Legitimate points, I think we have a more similar view than can be seen here. I just started with the assumption that all people are good until bad things happen; you assumed that there always has been and always will be people who do wrong.


Either way, you're right that there are times when killing justifiable...maybe my point was more to say that any religion that claims 'thou shalt not kill' is just fooling the s*** out of itself...

 

I think we understand eachother. Its easy to oversimplify something as complex as religion, the reasons for religion and religions place in a society.

 

Definatly.

 

But it did. Muslims kidnapped the peace activists, no? (You aren't saying that Bush and the evil conservatives did it, are you?)

I do see some parallels in The Old Testament regarding sacrifices, violence, and so on, but none that drive Christians to murder. You do get the demarcation point that occured during the life of Christ, right?

I must admit, you'd make a good lawyer because you can compellingly argue a fallacy.

 

Hahaha, thank you I think. The life of Christ obviously changed things, I just think he may have forced the religion to be quite a bit more hypocritical and elitist than is healthy. Oh well, that's all opinion...you clearly understand what I'm saying at this point, and I understand what you're saying.


I guess this thread did start out with religion huh...well, I hope they all (every religion )turn out to tell every follower that if they ever killed someone in the name of their religion they will go to whatever hell the religion has conjured up.

 

Actually I have read the Quran and the Bible several times. Could it be my Roman Catholic roots have taught me something. To say I have not read either is ludicrus and to say that one religion is the religion of peace then ignore those that use it for killing individuals is ludicrus. You are making the assumptions that every single Muslim takes what is said in the Quran as literal and is out their killing all non- believers. Which is blantely not true. If you still don't understand this, Salty and Oaf, then you both have a serious mental deficiency. You are once again catogorizing a whole religion for the actions of a few if look at the amount of Muslims in this world. And that just isn't smart.

As a side note, my father was a Roman Catholic priest and has study the Bible for most of his adult life. He has told me time and time again that if you really want to you can change the Bible to say what YOU want it to say. Any of you remember the Crusades? And the list goes on.

P.S. MVWRX is pretty much saying exactly what I mean.