I wonder, over the course of history, if more Christians have been killed for their beliefs or have more people been killed by Christians for not believing?
Which do you think it is? Cite references if possible!
2007-06-08 15:37:39 · 15 answers · asked by ? 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I mean specifically Christians dying for being Christian vs. Non-Christians killed by Christians for not believing.
The slave trade was horrible and a lot of people died, but it was economically driven not religious. Good old fashioned greed isn't what I'm asking about here.
2007-06-08 15:45:46 · update #1
Apparently the catholic inquisition murdered some 68 million people over a 27 year period, and I can only imagine (from my readings, anyway) that alot of true christians who refused to worship the caesar/pope and embrace catholicism in the image of the pope's idea of "religion", were among the first ones thrown to the lions and burned at the stake. Who do people think the Romans were doing this to? They certainly weren't pagans or atheists.
2007-06-08 15:44:23 · answer #1 · answered by RIFF 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well,that depends. If you are talking about since the dawn of time, then probably pagans simply because they have been around longer, and life was kill or get killed way back then.
In recent history, as in the last few thousand...I have to say Christianity, but I don't have numbers so I don't know. I know the Crusades, the Inquisition, the witch burnings, and the slavery of African and the Native Americans took out a bunch of people.
2007-06-08 15:42:43 · answer #2 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think more people were killed by christians for not believing. And not just killed but tortured. I do know that christians were persecuted in the beginning but I doubt it was to the extreme that the Pagan religions of Europe were persecuted in the middle ages. Watch the video "The burning Times" (I think that's what it's called) it gives a lot of information on the witch burnings that took place in Europe.
2007-06-08 15:55:06 · answer #3 · answered by MoonWater 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christians have killed more people. The Inquisition, the Crusades, Hitler...maybe a few did get fed to the lions, but seriously, that doesn't compare to the number of people who have been killed in the name of religion.
The only book the slaves were allowed to read was the Bible, which should tell you something about the kind of people who were running the show.
2007-06-08 15:46:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't let a title fool you. Satan kills. Just because someone calls themselves Christian, Protestant or Catholic, doesn't mean they are.
Just take a look around you today for a good representation of what people who are called Christian go through. Not in the U.S. but in Africa and all over Asia. You don't even need history as a guide. It's taking place right in front of your eyes.
2007-06-08 16:00:24 · answer #5 · answered by JohnFromNC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't have the exact numbers but I think it is the second one.
Just looking at the number of years christianity was trying to find its roots when christians were being suppressed (about 300 years) and the number of years christianity called the shots (about 1200 years) I can imagine the second.
That christianity took more victims than lost.
2007-06-08 15:45:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can't think of one time ever in history when a "christian" (one who has a heart for Jesus Christ and has excepted God's forgiveness for his sins and is living to know God and make him known) has killed someone for not being a christian. Let me know if you can find any? The whole concept of Christianity lies in this statement "To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and to love you neighbor as yourself." As such, such an act should be repulsive to a Chiristian. However, there are times when a so-called christian may commit such an act. Thanks, hope this helps!
2007-06-08 15:44:34 · answer #7 · answered by derric i 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was the catholics who killed people,not the Christians.The catholics tortured and killed many Christians during the 1500's.People were put to death for everything from being re-baptized (Anabaptist) to because they had a Bible.Pope John Paul made comment about the church doing this and said he regretted it.
2007-06-08 16:07:53 · answer #8 · answered by don_steele54 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends on what version of history you are reading.
Religious history focuses on the Christians who have been killed.
Secular history tells a very different story.
Love and blessings Don
2007-06-08 15:42:22 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The question is not always not believing. During the inquisition, people were put to death for adultery, for teaching science that contradicted the bible, for witchcraft, etc. This is not due to lack of faith but rather for superstition on the part of the church.
I think you may have a difficult time having such a broad question answered. You may want to revise it later.
^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^
2007-06-08 15:46:09 · answer #10 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋