Atheists keep saying that religion is evil and dangerous, that religion is the cause of many wars--if not all wars. Atheists seem to have a particular dislike of Christianity. Islam comes in for a lot of atheist criticism too. But Christianity and Islam are heirs to Judaism.
Do atheists blame the Jews for the vast majority of evil in today's world?
2006-08-30 06:30:05 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
devlsadvoct: How is asking a serious question an ad hominem?
2006-08-30 07:01:18 · update #1
Actually, as an atheist, I can say that no most atheists don't even believe religion is evil in itself, dangerous yes, but atheists don't usually believe in objective evil, so they can't actually say that religion is evil.
The stance of most atheists like myself is that religion is dangerous when mixed with politics, something that atheists try to combat both in this country and others around the world. The only country though in which Judaism mixes with politics significantly though is in Israel, and considering that the same problem is occuring in all the surrounding countries, Israel itself can't shoulder the blame for the conflict, although it's religious politics have contributed significantly to the problems in the region.
As for personal belief, atheists do generally believe people would be better off if they didn't have blind faith in religion. However, no atheist would believe an individual Christian, Jew or Muslim is either evil or dangerous except maybe by actions that have little to do with religion.
So the short answer is that Israel as a somewhat religious state have brought about some instability in the world, but alot of other countries have brought about much greater evils through religious influence over history, so really Judaism doesn't take the blame for much. And if Judaism didn't exist, some other religion other then Christianity would have dominated instead, so nobody really blames them for spawning other religions as they were created from a vacuum of a need to believe in the first place.
2006-08-30 06:48:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not all atheists say that religion is evil and dangerous...only the people who follow those religions CAN BE evil and dangeous...you probably see more criticism from atheists against Christianity and Islam because those religions are more assertive and forceful about their beliefs...
To close, I must quote something George Sanders said to Marilyn Monroe in the movie "All About Eve": "You have a point...an idiotic one, but a point."
2006-08-30 06:39:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well first off you are making generalizations. Not all atheists believe that religion is evil or dangerous. Do not let a select few cause you to misconstrue an entire belief. I am not a Christian, nor am I an atheist. However, I do not think you'll get many answers if any if you approach an atheist that way.
2006-08-30 06:35:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I myself am an Atheist and no, I do not believe that Jews or Judaism are responsible for the vast majority of evil in today's world. However, I do believe that organised religion is the contributing factor to war. There is no other stronger or more potent factor than religion when it comes to the catalyst of conflicts. Examples as such are: The Crusades, World War II, the so-called 'War on Terror', etc...
2006-08-30 06:35:33 · answer #4 · answered by placebo_effect 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't think atheists blame Jews. I am an atheist, but I like Jewish people. Atheists are just a group of people that think outside an unseen spiritual world. Everyone has questions, but it is too easy to say that the answers lie in the spiritual.
2006-08-30 06:38:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Huh? Does not follow. Illogical.
The past history is just that: past history. It has no bearing on responsibility for current behavior.
It would be like saying the British are to blame for all wrong-doings by the United States, because the U.S. grew out of the British Empire.
Sounds silly, but substitute "Christian" for U.S. and "Jews" for British, and that's the reasoning you're suggesting. I imagine very few Atheists would accept such reasoning.
2006-08-30 08:19:15 · answer #6 · answered by Zhimbo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course not. Atheists tend to respect religions. If they didn't respect other religions, they would be doing what some religious people do, discriminate others for their religion!
2006-08-30 06:42:06 · answer #7 · answered by Ale 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why, do you?
During the time that I called myself an aithiest, I personally didn't BLAME religion for anything. I just said, "It's not for me. Do what you like."
It would be nice if more christians would do that, too.
2006-08-30 06:36:25 · answer #8 · answered by yossarius 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's not been my experience. And even religion by itself isn't a problem so long as religious people don't insist on forcing their views on others.
2006-08-30 06:36:17 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope, although Christians have been beating the Hell out of Jews for Milena while blaming them for... pretty much everything.
2006-08-30 06:34:09 · answer #10 · answered by Blackacre 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋