is their a correlation between religious persecution and believing that your religion is the only path?

Question

Why is it that the vast majority of Religious persecution in history has been done by groups with the belief that if you do not believe in our fundamental principals you will burn in hell. Namely Christianity and Islam. Why is it that the examples of Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, or Pagan persecution are few and far between if they exist at all?

Is their any other explanation?

Answer 1

Part 1 of your Question:
Yes, there is a correlation. Religions that feel that 'their way is the only way' usually are forceful & result to violence.

Scare tactics & violent actions have proven to work in the military, secret governments, militias and in religion. That is your correlation.

Christianity, unfortunately, has a history of violence. Just read a bible. Or maybe the witch hunts, where proclaimed Christians were killing innocent women & children in the name of God.

And still today, we have cultures that continue to kill in the name of their God.


Part 2 of your Question:
The latter religions that you mentioned have been more peaceful. The key is that they don't go out & recruit believers. So in truth, which of the relgions that you have mentioned, is the cult?

A cult, by defintion, is a sect of individuals that set rules up for the control of people. Whether it be by force, violence or scare tactics.


Need I say more.............

Answer 2

The correlation that you speak of DOES exist, but not in a way that lends itself to comparison within other religious practices. You believe in one thing, and are persecuted for it. That is one point. Whether or not other religions outside of Christianity have a similar facet to their history is another matter. And that is because of HOW the religion is practiced, not so much of WHERE. The proponent idea behind Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, etc. is of the large picture, without a supreme god, and everyone is a small peice of the whole. If that is the case, where are the grounds for persecution? If I am included as one of those pieces of the whole, it seems illogical for me to persecute another part of what might be 'me'. I wouldn't include Judaism in with the others you listed, since they have monotheistic beliefs, but that Jesus was simply a prophet, and they are still awaiting the arrival of the savior.
So, then, Christianity says that every, single person is a separate, special entity, granted the gift of life and the choice in that life to make some major decisions about what happens after they die. There is no resurrection, coming back as something else, or being another spoke on the Wheel of Life. That sense of individuality and specialness is fodder for those who don't believe that to feel lesser-than, or that Christians are "holier than thou" in their beliefs. THIS is the foundation for that persecution of which you speak. And since Jesus said that persecution should be welcomed, because it only validates further your steadfastness in your beliefs... then that only backfires on whoever does the persecution.
Now, the correlation exists there, not about the only 'path', but about the only religion. Christianity is very different from all the others for this, and a couple of other, major reasons (the others include the fact that God came down as a human and walked the earth, and told everyone that He was the Son of God, and secondly, that He died and rose from the dead).
All of these concepts create huge chasms between all other religions and Christianity... and that can ONLY bring persecution, since now others have to consider that what they believe might not be correct.

Answer 3

Well, lets start with the last, the Pagans of old where literally wipe out by all the other beliefs of the times. The Jews are still being persecuted because they have the gall to tell the world that they are Gods chosen, the Hindu are being eliminated as we speak by the Muslim world as infidels, and the Buddhist, are not that big of threat because of their small numbers in the world of ideology. Now to the Christians and Islam.

Even among the Christians, the Roman Catholics/ Eastern Orthodox, doctrine clash, claim the other is wrong, and that those who don't come to Christ in their way, well...they will not make it into heaven. The there are those thousand of different Christa ins, with their different names, claiming the same way...its my way or the by way. Islam as religion all bundled up into on doctrine...so they say...tell that to a Sunni, but anyways, the consider EVERY other religion wrong...and so...they are to be converted or wipe out.

So yes...there is a big correlation to religious persecutions and believing that "your way is the only path."

Answer 4

The Monotheistic Religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism) believe in one God (hens the name).

If there is only one God, but other religions believe in other gods or practice differently it means that the theory of the one true religion is not perfect.

If the one and true religion will convert everybody it will make it perfect and total and true and right.

The proof in their eyes is that all humanity had to be converted to that true and one God.

As appose to the monotheistic religions, there are other ways or philosophies involves way living, or thinking - Taoism, Buddhism. Sometimes its more than one deity such as Paganism, Hinduism. When the religion is not that total, it gives more options and freedoms.

The reason why Judaism, although monotheistic, didn’t persecute people for their beliefs is because it was never a big, strong winning religion. It never had an appeal to the masses because it’s too demanding. Since it’s a small group (compared to the others) it never even had the corrupting powers to achieve it.

Answer 5

Christianity and Islam Battle's where in a specific area they only went as far as frontier town along the silk road were Buddhist were tolerant of other religion same as Hindu, Jewish and pagan read the old testament......////..

But is all about controlling the masses the world we live in when it comes to religion FROM ROME to AMERICA is a BUSINESS

Answer 6

Exactly!! People get caught up in proving they are right instead of seeing the big picture. As a Christian myself, I didn't realize there were so many bigots claiming to represent all of us, until I came on here. Of course, we all know the major faces, that go on TV and rant but I guess I always thought they were just nuts and nobody really listened to them. But just the persecution among Christians themselves is insane! Let alone towards the other groups. If I didn't firmly believe in Christ, I would honestly be ashamed to be part of this group. That really hurts me to say.

Answer 7

You make sweeping claims without basis of fact. If you want to see Hindu persecution look at the partition of India and Pakistan and the creation of Bangaladesh.
Admittedly Christians have persecuted at times. But we follow a man who rode into Jerusalem as king but on a donkey. He went to a cross. True Christians follow him. It is the Christian societies that have created the great lands where freedom abounds today.

Answer 8

The vast majority (numerically) has occurred at the hands of those who do not believe in Hell. Specifically the communists in the Soviet Union and China and the Nazi's.

Today, China, an officially atheist state, kills and imprisons far more for religious reasons that any other country.

Just one thing to remember. It is safer to be an atheist in the Bible belt than to be a Christian in China.

Answer 9

There wouldn't be a whole lot of reason or grounds for persecution if someone else could be right.

I think the big characteristic is that the persecuting religions have all been dominant. Thus, powerful.

Answer 10

But of course! Why else did the christians or muslims invades other countries in our history? It is to convert and to spread their religious beliefs to other nations. That is why the world is in turmoil then as it is now! If we can eliminate religions, maybe this world will be a peaceful place to live in!