How relevent is it, really?

Question

Does the number of people murdered by any particualr faith have any relevence today?

Does it *matter* whether atheists or Christians are responsible for more deaths?

Why or why not?

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Excellent answers!

You guys are HOT tonight! : )

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Answer 1

It isn't really. It is a way for people to feel better about atrocities of the past, I guess; "My team was pretty bad, sure, but look at these guys, they were way worse!" It gets even sillier when people start making stuff up just to make themselves feel better.

Answer 2

It matters if the same patterns are continuing today. If people haven't learned from the past, they need to be reminded of it.

The trouble, too, is that some silly Xians think they can discount anyone who doesn't disagree with them from being Xian. Thereby adding their crimes to the toll for "the other side". Dishonest to say the least. I wasn't aware that your average Joe-Blow was allowed to excommunicate people from the church.

Answer 3

"The past is the past" is never an argument. We should not forget those who were killed at the hands of others. As to whether it's down to particular faiths, no, it doesn't matter. Fanatics are fanatics in any creed. I think it's pretty foul to pretend, though, that one can manipulate the figures to make one's own ideology's track record less offensive. I think it's called bearing false witness.

Answer 4

Considering the numbers of people slaughtered in the name of religion, and the numbers dying every day in sectarian warfare, any religion claiming to be "pro-life" is profane, at best. As long as there are those who will kill in the name of their faith, it is relevant. We will never mature as a species and achieve real progress until we surrender our mythologies.

Answer 5

It doesn't really matter, but it is interested to look at a man like George W Bush who claims to be a born again Christian who God speaks to and who is responsible for this horrible war/religious war. It seems to show that God is not helping him. So from the point of view of someone who might be considering Christianity it might matter.

Answer 6

The number killed in the name of Christianity by those who claim to be Christian but who are not truly bought and delivered is very relevant.

Answer 7

Only historical relevance, and it can have present relevance when members of particular faiths show ignorance. I judge the individual, not the group.

Answer 8

it depends on whom i am speaking to as to weather or not something is revelant in any conversation that i am in.

to me, i really dont care much about what happened 2000 years ago. i enjoy the history. but the cloak of violence that drapes the christian religion can become very revelant when speaking to a fundamentalist that is trying to have your rights removed in favor of his religion. and it can become very revelant in speaking to people about the types of things that these people have done in the past. the ammount of lies that can be traced back to the hirearchy of the christian church, and their history of pollitical manipulation can also become revelant when dealing with either side.

the same can be said about every religion.

Answer 9

It does matter, because it gives an indication of the validity of the fundamental principles of the religion. So far, the Catholic Church is ahead, with an estimated 250,000 murders to its "credit".

Answer 10

not respecting the beauty of life murders more than any belief system - if there is such a thing as hell; then the reality of hell is not knowing that you are in it, but a greater 'sin' might be ignoring the suffering of those who are in it...