2007-03-19 07:54:32 · 7 answers · asked by hptz1000 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Please use more than just yes and no answers.
2007-03-19 07:56:53 · update #1
Actually I would say that there is a correlation between aggression in human history and fanaticism of any kind.
Human beings in general tend to act more aggressively in groups, religious groups included. The larger and more influential the group, the more its members believe that it is their right to impose their influence on everything around them.
Its happened with fanatical Pagans, Christians, Jews, with Communists, soccer fans, football fans, etc. etc. with almost every group of fanatics that has ever existed. That is the nature of human beings.
2007-03-19 08:06:31 · answer #1 · answered by jennette h 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is there a correlation to water and getting wet?
Fanaticism in all its forms is dangerous (whether it be religious or having to do with soccer teams). Especially religious however, it let's people see folks different from them as less human. If I can see you as sub-human, then it makes it easier for me to hurt you or subjugate you. Religion makes a convenient handle for saying 'he doesn't believe as I believe so he is less human than I am and God does not favor him.' Religion (or rather the blind adherence to its tenets) has been used to justify slavery (some people say with a straight face that dark skin is the Mark of Cain), murder, crusades, jihads, fatwas, and all other manner of abuses.
Hope this helps
2007-03-19 08:16:10 · answer #2 · answered by LX V 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
While religion is certainly not the only source of death and destruction in the world, it has often been used that way. Of course there is a correlation! There are too many wars to list- but we could start with a few hundred years of the Crusades.
2007-03-19 08:01:42 · answer #3 · answered by Morey000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not necessarily. The Romans were extremely aggressive and religion was a very small part of their society - they were not fanatical about it. The Babylonians and the Assyrians were as well. All had religions of course but they did not function the way they do now.
2007-03-19 08:21:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Conquistadors were religious fanatics and mass murderers. Crusaders likewise were religious fanatics and mass murderers. There's a clear pattern throughout history that shows a link between religious zeal and crimes against humanity.
2007-03-19 08:13:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You mean like Pol Pot and the killing fields? Or Mao and the Cultural Revolution? Or Stalin and the Russian genocide?
2007-03-19 08:02:56 · answer #6 · answered by Frak 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You mean like Hitler and the Holocaust?
2007-03-19 07:59:29 · answer #7 · answered by photogrl262000 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋