Quote by yothsothgothFirst... I think this might get more posts and be more
appropriate in the Religion-Science
Forum.
I don't think you're "evil". Asking people if you're 'evil' is like asking someone if
you're 'human'... whether you have a religion or not. I think you're opinionated... and there is
nothing wrong with that. I do think that you might want to check out a few of the other threads in the Religion/Science
forum too. I have a post in the Which is more Important? Science or Religion thread you might want to check out CLICK
HERE. About half way through the page I wrote about how religion isn't the basis for all wars, people are...
and with some references. (You are free to agree or disagree... I explain that I believe wars are caused by
people's want for things and their desire for power.)
Quote: Many aspects of religion lead to altercations with persons of
different life styles ((e.g. homosexual people, people from different countries, people with different beliefs, et
cetera...)). These same people could be relatively innocent, yet are still discriminated... even killed for their
different beliefs ((The Roman citizens persecuted the members of the Christian cult because the Christians mocks the
Roman Emperor, claiming that there is one power mightier that he, their God)) These problems lead to bloody conflict and
even bloodier grips of hate.
Quote by yothsothgoth
This is true. My beliefs are that... it is not my place to judge others, it is my God's. So, I don't condemn
the people... I condemn the actions that go against my beliefs. I do not persecute those people... its not my place to
do so. No one is perfect.
That is little different from persecuting a bird because its feathers are red.
Seeing as your are okay with that, there's no stopping you.
Quote: In a turn of power, when Christianity becomes a "real"
religion and a one of the most powerful in the world. With the newfound power, Christians literally force their faith
unto others ((Burning heathens alive, stoning even children of different faiths to death, etc...)) and persecuting those
who they claim are evil ((so-called witches, people that believed in scientific evidence, etc...)). They even go so far
as casting away Roman technologies... a costly choice that brought about the Dark Ages and the Plague. ((Christians cast
away many of the Roman technologies that we put to use to this day: Plumbing, Central Heating, Roman Architecture,
Aqueducts, Sanitation Facilities(!), Arithmetic(!), Piston Pumps(!), and so much more...))
Quote by yothsothgoth
Ok. Religious persecution happens in every religion. Usually, from the different religious books I've read (ex.
Bible, Koran, some of the Talmud), I get the understanding that, to some... "if you don't believe the way that
they do... you're better off dead." People in the Dark Ages (all over the world) ...and even now... might have
thought they were doing the nonbelievers a favor by killing them if they had interpreted their faith like this. (I do
not believe in the previous statement with justifying killing people because they don't believe as I do. That is
VERY wrong...) Also, remember that people are flawed. No one is perfect.
Of course people are flawed. Perfected is an eternally elusive dream. But,
because we chase an impossible, later generation are less flawed than the
elder blood.
Quote by yothsothgoth
I've read in history books that it was the killing of cats (because of witch persecution) that led the rat
population to rise and allowed for the fleas to overpopulate... spreading the virus and starting the plague. Not all
scientific advancement was considered evil. Architecture and aquaducts were not considered evil, that I remember reading
about in my history classes. Islam/Judasiam are also large 'real' religions of the world. (I think you need to
make examples of a few religions to really bring things into prespective as a whole if you're going to get a major
point across.)
I specifically choose Christianity because it is the most popular in the World.
It makes a perfect example, in my opinion.
Quote: Such problems are rooted in religious beliefs. To that effect,
Christians today... are even "real" Christians. Bogus fanatics that warp, bend, and, at times, deny the words
of the God that claim to serve.
Quote by yothsothgoth
Where is your proof of this? There is no legitimacy to this claim (for Christians or any other religion). Please read a
religious book, ask someone who is a Doctorate of Theology... something. Please do not judge Christianity or any other
religion on the basis that you have seen someone not be very religious. That is unfair, judgmental (like you've
called others in this thread), and biased.
It is not just a few people I've seen... but a great majority of people in the
America. Many prisoners are of Christian faith. Preachers and the like
rob donations from their church for their own ends. The most powerful and
dangerous gangs in America are self-proclaimed Christians. I move that my
statements have solid ground.
Quote by yothsothgoth
To get back to your, "am I evil?" question. The answer I want to give (my opinion based on your lack of facts
and raw judgments) is that your unfounded beliefs are 'evil'. However,
that is my opinion. Take it as you will. I would appreciate it if you'd read a little more before making
assumptions. Thank you very much for your time in reading my long post. I do not want to come across as rude in any way,
shape, or form. I only wish to help you open your mind to others and their opinions/comments/suggestions and ask for you
to review some things before judging others in the future. Thank you for reading. :)
I've done my fair share of reviews and studies. These statements are a fraction
of my work, years in the making. I do believe I've noted that I'm quite open
to comments and opinions. I'll say I respect your opinions as I do any persons,
but according to my experiences, roughly 90% of Christians will not respect
mine. I suppose that's a given...
merged: 06-10-2007 ~ 05:47am
Quote by BlueSkyNope not evil
at all as far as i can see.
As stated above this is more a Religion-Science Forum thing.
Over all your argument is trivialized due to a lack of research tho.
For example: Roman technologies weren't cast off because of of religion. The roman empire collapsed (at this time
it was a Christian empire), and with it's fall people cared more about feeding them selfs then things like
plumbing.
The dark ages are really hard to define as well. Even during the worst of it new innovations did come to pass. All be it
none of them as grand and gaudy as before but still.
The Plague may have been helped a little by religion. But over all it was the introduction of infected vermin to densely
populated areas that did the bulk of it. And a disbelief in gems by the medical society witch persisted till the
1800's if i recall right.
Most major religions are far from evil if followed with conviction. For example with Christianity you have the
commandment about not killing. And a lovely story about "letting he who is without sin cast the first
stone"
I've done much research, in fact. You are free to doubt.
Roman technologies were, indeed, cast off. My information has been
discovered in recent years, so it would help to read more up-to-date
books.
The Black Plague was introduced my rodents from Asia. Well... not the rodents
exactly, but the parasites they carried. Asia to had its case of the Black Plague,
but the losses were considerable less, proportion-wise, because Asians included
bathing in their habits, unlike the dominantly Christian Europeans.
Besides Christianity, the Shiite and Sunni Islam are also objects of my convictions.
They've been killing each other for centuries over one lone question, which
leader should they pray to: Muhammad or his descendants. Other than other
smaller differences, there is no other reason. I find that wrong... but that
is my opinion, alone.
For the record... if I were to choose a faith, it would be the Shinto Religion, also
know as the Religion of Life and Happiness.