In human history, what religion do you think has been used to justify the most murders?

Question

I think when you add together the crusades, the inquisition, colonizing of asia, africa and the americas the clear 'winner' is christianity.

Answer 1

It's possible it's Christianity. But that includes the fact that during the Christian heyday the world has far more people in it. It would be unreasonable to ignore the brutality of present-day Islamic nations like Saudi Arabia or Iran. It would be to ignore the fact that although far fewer people were involved, the Aztecs routinely skinned sacrificial victims and then WORE those skins at later rituals. It ignores the murders carried out by the Pagan Romans or the Hebrew Kings. It ignores the murders carried out in the name of Communism, which was in religious terms, atheistic. I doubt there has been any period in human history when some organized zealots weren't dispersing death and destruction upon the innocents they encountered, of all persuasions.

The problem is not religion, it is faith - faith in some bizarre god or gods, faith in a political party or idea, faith in one's own certainty. It is possible to have faith and not be that dangerous. But it is not possible to be that dangerous without faith.

Answer 2

No actually it isn't, the actual death count? The Christians lost the crusades to the Islamic religion and were slaughtered.
the Muslims were the clear winners. Almost wiping out a whole country. The Christians came home with their tail between there legs.
Then was sent back again to face another horrible defeat.
Better read your history books.
Muslims were the clear winners can't have it both ways.
They fought but lost and there was great loss of life.
The inquisitions was also done on a larger scale by Muslims.
They chopped off the hands and feet of the infidels.
More colonizing of Asia and Africa is done by Islamic religion.
Christians are a small minority in those countries. But a huge population of Islamic religion has been conquerors there.
Read a population chart, what is the most prominent religion in both of those countries.
There is a handful of Christians to almost total Muslim population.

Answer 3

If you look at the last 1000 years, I would have to agree with you. But we really do not have the tools for exact measurement because the numbers of dead have been estimated very differently. As an example, I've been told that as many as 20 million died over the 200 year period that the Inquisition took place. That number seems excessive given the technology of the time, when compared to the Christian Hitler who only managed to murder 10 million in the death camps. Unfortunately, we will never know with any certainty just how many innocents died at the hands of militant Christians. Also...

What about the time prior to the growth of Christianity? In honesty, it really didn't become a religion until Constantine and that was approximately 350 years after the death of Jesus. How many were killed in the name of religion prior to Constantine? The answer to this question will never be completely known or understood.

All we really know with any certainly is the fundamental flaw inherent in Christianity. Being, the idea that Christian believers are superior because theirs is the only way to god and the kingdom of heaven. This superior, arrogant attitude is the poisoned well from which all heinous, murderous Christian activity springs.

Answer 4

Christianity

Answer 5

Paganism. They hate that one, but they fought wars over dominance and used their gods as an excuse, and paganism has been around 100s of 1000s of years longer than any group religion. And human sacrifice, as well as animal sacrifice is ABOMINATION to the Creator of all Life!
Isaiah 66.

Answer 6

I agree on some factors, faith is tossed into lots wars that are brought about by using human nature, yet morals have not something to do with faith. elementary morals , like thou shalt not homicide, existed wayyyy in the previous religions popped up. yet, writings like the bible indexed those morals and extra a number of their very own ( ex: homosexuality is an abomination)

Answer 7

Have to agree with you here. Christianity has brought on by FAR the most murders and wars. When you boil it down (and yes, I AM a Christian), you could make a pretty convincing point for Christianity driving our current global conflicts as well.

Answer 8

You're grouping all Christian religions together. Jehovah's Witnesses, who are Christian, refuse to participate in wars or even to retaliate when persecuted. In fact, we're persecuted by "Christians" all the time. Since true Chrisians are identified by the love they display among themselves as well as to their neighbors (regardless of their religion), its important to remember that the majority claiming to be Christian are not demonstrating the love Christ said would identify them as his followers and thereby prove that they are not Christian at all.

Answer 9

Well, yes, the reason for the missionaries not feeding the people who are starvign while they snack on poptarts are brutally evil.

And they think that god's the only way? That's just stupid.

You forgot to mention the Aztecs and the Mayans, as well as the people who "discovered" King Tutankhamen's tomb and died.

And stuff.

Answer 10

Specifically Catholicism. I just read a book about the Conquistadors and what they did in Latin America amounts to genocide and it was all sanctioned by the Vatican.