From a secular point of view, has Christianity, Judaism, and Islam done more harm than good?

Question

By this, I mean to ask, is the total amount of destruction and total amount of murders committed by members of the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths in the name of God greater or or not as great as the lives saved, and good done for the world? How did you measure?

Answer 1

I don't know how you would add up all the harm.

Then again, why should you need to add it up? I say that one war started, one innocent murdered, one scientist threatened, one child abused, one pensioner defrauded, one liar trusted because he wears a clerical robe -- any of these is enough to cancel out all the cathedrals and hospitals and schools ever built.

Answer 2

Regretably, religiosity is the bane of mankind.

Of the groups you mentioned, only Christianity is a faith evincing peace and love. Judaism and Islam (and Mormonism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Wicca, etc.) are religions.

You'll note the proclaimation of Muslims, who suggest when Islam is the only remaining religion (athesim, of course, is a religion) that there will then be peace.

Apparently, Islam has declared war on the other religions and faiths of the world, and will not be satisfied until those adhering to other views are either killed or converted to Islam.

Of all religions, Islam is the most barbaric and inhumane; it is yet a threat against all mankind who would live peaceably with those having alternative views. Islam has never saved anyone, but has caused -- and today yet causes -- innumerable deaths.

Although Judaism has saved no one, it is (unlike Islam) not a militant, violent or hate-driven belief system. Whether Judaism was usurped by a nefarious and unfaithful crowd, and illegitimately blamed for the atrocities of its past is a subject of debate.

However, the harm done allegedly in the name of Christianity has come only from heretical factions obsessed with religion and not understanding anything about the nature of the character of Christ.

Because Christianity is internally communist and externally socialist, and because every aim of Christianity is altruistic, and because Christianity tolerates (but does not necessarily agree with) every other view, the number of persons saved on account of Christianity is incalculably great.

The total number of all persons killed or physically, emotionally or otherwise injured by Christianity is zero.

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Answer 3

It is really hard to say. There have been some really awful thing and some good things from all three. The first two have largely reformed and in general do much more good now. But if you had to total it all up, it would be close.

Islam has not yet reformed itself and is really pushing the word toward war. I do think the sum total here is negative, and has the potential to be a huge negative if it keeps going. The countries that are Islam run still live like it is the fourteenth century.

I am an atheist for background.

Answer 4

There has been more bloodshed and death for the three Abrahamic religions than for any other reason in recorded history. It's hard to talk numbers regarding murder and lives saved. And I'm not sure I'm objective enough to make a judgement what good religion has done for the world. I mean - there are some good things about religion - especially those who help the poor and sick etc... But what is that against thousands of people murdered for political reasons or as a conversion tactic. I am inclined to believe it's done more harm than good, but I'm certainly no expert.

Answer 5

The ideals that behind the "Christian" crusades are the ideals of men thirsting for power, plain and simple! People are still trying to link certain world leaders to their so called religion but these men are only out for their own interests. By reading the Bible you will see God's character and know that this was not what he wanted.

Yeshua's main message was to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. The impact the church has made on the world in a positive way in helping people of all races and nationalities can not be overestimated. The people doing God's work and living for him have made this world worth living in from helping during natural disasters and feeding the homeless to counciling drug addicts and teen mothers.

I am not talking about the church as an institution, which has its own problems. I am talking about the church as individuals living for God.

Providing for our fellow man should be our first priority when it comes to actions. This is doing the will of God.

I do not see Buddhists or Hindus trying to make a better place for their fellow man. I have never heard of a Buddhist homeless shelter. These religions and philosophies are concerned with only the individual. Christian's are concerned about man's health and well being and making a difference in their lives.

Answer 6

How many times have this question been asked...and how many times I have given the same answer.

Religion do not cause wars...only the people of the religions do. There were very many wars fought in the name of Religion...but if we look closely at why Muslims waged wars on other peoples after the death of Mohammad, or why the Pope called for a holy war, or why the Jews persecuted the Palestinians; this had nothing to do with God; it was all political.
If there were no religions; if humans did not believe in a God; they would invent another reason to fight and kill each other.
Fighting and killing are deeply embedded in the beings of humanity.

Answer 7

Jews: wipe them out. Christians: wipe them out. Jesus: no longer the son of God, basically a prophet and pronounced somewhat some issues and stood for somewhat some issues than what the Bible archives. unique Sin: no thought despite the fact that if it thinks rattling close to each trifling concern is a sin yet has little subject with rape and homicide and pedophilia. Trinity: would not have faith in it. you relatively prefer help ? whinge to your college board which you even might desire to try this project. you at the instant are not allowed to tell the certainty (that Islam is an abomination) and that constitutes a violation of the separation of church and state.pass forward and attempt the ACLU yet they are going to merely overlook approximately you. God forbid they might desire to offend the Muslims. to boot, till you honestly turn in a paper asserting that Islam sucks and it extremely is graded, you will no longer have a case. or merely take the F. Public college is a humorous tale besides. you will no longer get held lower back b/c they do no longer try this anymore---too adverse for your self-worth. no longer that your self-worth ought to be contingent on their judgment besides. ---atheist

Answer 8

I don't agree with you
All these religions were sent to human kind to make them better and help them improve themselves in front of temptation and evil.
They came in an order meant by God, from Judaism to Christianity to Islam, all parts of the same message of love and faith, fulfilled by the last prophet Muhammad (sws).
As for the massing around, I think only human being is responsible. Destruction through the history of man kind was because of human thirst for power or money.
and when you're looking for power with no consideration for ethics or faith you'll use even God to justify what you did.

Answer 9

Look at the influence Christianity has had on the spread of Western civilazation through the centuries. The concept of grace runs all the way though it, though there has certainly been a lot of ungrace. Grace is the source of freedom, for it is a graceous thing to permit the freedom the American experiment has entrusted to its people from a founding group of fathers who were largely Christian.

Answer 10

God is sick and tired of people using His name to kill others.

"Thou shall not kill!" Does that ring a bell? Well it should. God commanded it. He didn't ask us to think about it...He commanded it. Seems like some just don't listen.

Hopefully we (Christians) are saving lives...we will find out when we reach Heaven.

(Smile)