How can you have order in a state without religion? For, when one man is dying of hunger near another who is ill of surfeit, he cannot resign himself to this difference unless there is an authority which declares, "God wills it thus." Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet.
— Napoleon Bonapart (1769-1821) Emperor of France
2007-07-06 10:59:39 · 11 answers · asked by HawaiianBrian 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
SusiB: Only if you dress up as Maid Marion
2007-07-06 12:18:43 · update #1
Try changing 'without religion' to 'with religion' and give it some thought.
The church ruled the roost for centuries, yet the rest of the statement holds fairly true. Holy wars, excommunication, holy wars, defender of the faith, did I mention holy wars?
People starved while the church grew fat and tyrannical. And it had to be the fault of the one who suffers, as God would not punish the righteous. Keeps 'em in line and paying for forgiveness.
Napoleon may have been many things, but one thing he was great at was recognizing what made the populous tick.
You don't have to have religion to keep people in line, just a system that blames the blameless and then offers them a way out. How do you think he recruited the army that he did?
2007-07-06 13:05:28 · answer #1 · answered by harleygr62 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Napoleon probably came up with that by "borrowing" the following quote from Irish political philosopher Edmund Burke ( who died in this late 60s when Napoleon was still a very young man): "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Relative to your question: As long as most people are satisfied to eat popcorn in front of their flat-screen while allowing scheming politicians and unscrupulous "business" people to degrade the lives of (and at times literally kill) the middle class.....we are all pretty much screwed.... .
2016-05-20 01:01:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remember, Napoleon also unseated the Papacy and removed its political power in 1798. The Pope dieing in exile. Thus delivering its deadly wound, but the deadly wound is now healed.
2007-07-06 11:07:34 · answer #3 · answered by shovelead 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Yea, back then religion was great at keeping the peace. If you committed a crime the church would torture you and then kill you.
Hmmmm I think I would be a good person and quiet to lol.
2007-07-06 11:04:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Wasn't Napolean forced into exile because he was essentially a tyrant? Conincidence?
edit: I am not sure what "ftmfw" designates. I am guessing there is a "mofo" in the middle there, but beyond that, I am lost.
2007-07-06 11:07:29 · answer #5 · answered by randyken 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
How true. It also worked to keep women in their place.
2007-07-06 11:18:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That wasn't a compliment to religion.
2007-07-06 11:08:07 · answer #7 · answered by Jess H 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Would you like to play Robin Hood?
2007-07-06 11:04:15 · answer #8 · answered by Me 6 · 0⤊ 4⤋
completely agree
religion is a powerful tool to control and manipulate people
2007-07-06 11:05:56 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 3⤋
That's a big no.
randyken ftmfw!
2007-07-06 11:03:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋