In the past has christianity been the most sadistic religion with witch hunts, stake burnings, torture etc?

Question

Why could God not give them a clue - hey, this isn't the way it should be done.

Ryan - have you any details

What caused it to be so sadistic?

Tapestry - it is not some people who called themselves christians who engaged in it - It came from the very top - the pope - the rock on which jesus built his church

Answer 1

if not the worst, definitely in the top 5

♂♂

Answer 2

I am a Christian and I have read up on my history to understand these things better. I am also of German extraction, and I have read about Hitler and what he has done. What happened with the extermination of Jews ought never to have happened, but this WWII history lesson teaches us of what people are willing to do when they elevate a man too highly.

The stories of the witch hunts, Crusades, and Inquisition teaches us the necessity of knowing the difference between knowing religion and knowing God, and making the Bible as readily available as possible so the common folk can see that the religious and political leaders are wrong when they propose a venture on the basis that it will honor God. In those times, the people could not read or write, so many missionaries have gone out to teach the remote peoples how to create their own language, then they helped to write the Bible in their own language. Christianity has done more to spread reading and writing around the world than any other force.

All these atrocious events in religion's past are proof that religion will be used and corrupted by wicked men. It is God alone who can change their hearts to love Him and obey Him in love.

Though I am a German in ethnicity, I do not take the blame for what happened in WWII. Though I'm a Christian, I don't take responsibility for the Crusades and witch hunts. If you were an Atheist or humanist, would you take the blame for Pol Pot and Stalin? Would you read the stories of these men's atrocities and decide that you would never become a humanist?

Answer 3

If you are talking about the Crusades...they did not come from the Pope. Many of the crusaders were not even Christian. They were greedy men who found out that you got the land, the money etc. when you killed for Christ. So they took up the cause so to speak.

The fight for the Holy Land has been back and forth. Christianity has been no worse then any other. The only difference now is that Christianity is no longer doing that...but some others are. http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2006/0601fea3.asp

Witch burning etc. are all examples of zealots gone bad. They were right...witchcraft is wrong and dangerous. They took it to an extreme. It was the mass hysteria mentality. That is why we need to always keep ourselves in check.

God did give them a clue...witch burning is no longer allowed. So it has stopped.

Answer 4

Since christianity was spread all over the world, it has not been a sadistic religion as you claimed. Non-religous people are sadistic, witch murderers, robbers, and all crimes committed in society.Religious people who follows the law of God are good people and loving people.

This is how the bible describe mankind who do not believe in God and who do not have religion.

2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
2Pe 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2Ti 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
jtm

Answer 5

Your question makes a very valid point. I see many Christians who will say that those people were not "true" Christians or other such nonsense. These people obviously have not studied the history of their faith.

I believe that the rest of the world is now being punished for the way Christians have treated people in general. Face it, the Muslims are not just attacking the US, they are attacking against the suppression they have experienced. This suppression happened because Christian laws put it in motion.

It's time for Christians to get a clue. Your faith has damaged many, many, many people. Maybe it isn't "true" Christians doing the harm. Regardless, until Christians start policing their own, all Christians are responsible for the actions of a few. That's just the way I see it.

Answer 6

Christianity has brought so much good to this world. If it were not for the millions upon millions upon millions upon millions of Christians in this world, we would be in a much worse position. Think of Florence Nightingale and her work in the Crimean war, tending to the needs of the soldiers, Abraham Lincoln who campaigned tirelessly to abolish slavery, Pope John Paul II who positively touched the lives of billions of people on this earth, John and Charles Wesley, the founders of Methodism who were involved in countless charity work, the great scientist Isaac Newtown, Emmeline Pankhurst and Emily Davison, both women's rights activists, and countless other Christians who brought a major positive change to society.

I am the first to accept that many self-styled Christians have murdered and tortured many, most notably at the Crusades, the troubles in Northern Ireland, and the witch hunts. However, millions upon millions have been murdered in the name of aetheism also, for instance, Adolf Hitler and Pol Pot, who are two of the most notorious leaders in history.

This is not a lecture, but it is just another answer to your question. I hope it is of help.

Answer 7

In ancient times Jews persecuted those around them and were persecuted. Pagan Egyptians kept the Jews in bondage. Romans burned and slaughtered Druids in their conquest of Gaul and Briton. The ancient German tribes fought bloody battles against the Romans. The Native Americans committed what we would call atrocities upon each other in intertribal warfare. The Romans burned Christians at the stake.

And yes, Christians have committed atrocities against non-Christians and other Christians as well.

This is because we are human. Part of our survival instinct has been to be afraid of what is different. It is a good survival strategy that sometimes has woefully horrible consequences. Hopefully, we will one day figure out how to temper our natual fear of what is different with our ability to rationalize situations. Then we can approach each other with mutual respect and dignity instead of the sword and bloodshed.

Answer 8

God did give them a clue - he sent them Jesus.

Christians are followers of Christ. Jesus never commanded anyone to conduct witch hunts or torture people.

The people who did those things were Christians in name
only - they were not true followers of Jesus and if the
Church encouraged or condoned these atrocities then
it is not the true Church.

Answer 9

True- but it has evolved and changed its ways.

What of Islam burning to death blasphemers?

Hindus burning muslims in India?

I don't think Christianity is the black sheep of the religion family. Thheir are other religions far worse than Christianity- like African spirit worship currently practiced in South Africa (something like hoodoo).

Did you know the SA police have a Witchery-death Investigations Dept.?
True.

Answer 10

Back up here. Not Christianity but tortured souls who tricked others into thinking faith had to be "pure" as they defined it. All religions can be twisted for personal gains, be they financial or otherwise. The Inquisition was a power play, not a path to salvation. Al Qaeda and Islamo-fascists are similar constructs: thugs masquerading as believers.

Answer 11

can you please suggest a method of measuring sadism? a method for assessment and some statistical data might be good start.
your question is a statement.

there is enough sadism in the old testament to explain the amount of sadism in the catholic church.

there is no way a ranking can be made about sadism in religions.

are you familiar with the history of religion in asia or africa? they know probably more about sadism than you ever dream of.

Get up, take a walk, it is a lovely day, if it is not, make one.