I normally read a 300 or so page book in a week, but this one took me a month. Why? Because the factual accounts of Christianity and other religions are so morbid, violent and sickening that at times I could only read a few pages at a time before I had to put the book down.
I truly, honestly do not understand how a religious person can read this book and STILL be religious. Its sick and disgusting what religion has done and continues to do to our world and society.
Anyone else read this book? Any thoughts?
2007-10-08 18:14:25 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
How old are you and where have you been? Do you not know that religion has caused all this conflict in the Middle East? It's not just the western world's lust for oil. Little Bush was so stupid, he thought he could force democracy on centuries of belief. If we had just turned the other cheek after 9/11, we wouldn't be so hated around the world. But, then that would not have served little Bush. They let this happen to us and all those who died that day. Have you noticed how out of control the world is since this happened. It would have been so much better just to sit back and take it. I got arressted for throwing water in my husbands face after I caught him cheating on me with our neighbors wife, a young girl gets handcuffed, punched and peppered sprayed for violating curfew, kids at school are having their mouths taped with duct tape, a young boy is put in a choke hold and passes out at school, a woman died at an airport because she didn't understand what was happening to her, I can go on and on; just watch the news everyday! This war has done nothing but escalate violence against innocent people and give bully men an excuse to be even more cruel. Men rule this world, sure sometimes women have some power over a man, but they can only take so much and then they end up alone with kids to take care of. We can't do this anymore. We can't save men that don't want to have any rules.
2007-10-08 18:22:03 · answer #1 · answered by dotell 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I haven't read the book nor do I intend to read it.
See, it's like this. If your mind is filled with the right kind of knowledge you don't want to go over something that may be true but useless to dwell on. Just because certain religious groups have misused religion does not mean that religion itself is bad, just like people dying from car crashes does not mean that cars are bad. What about the atrocities committed under the atheistic communism? Blaming religion may be easy but the alternative isn't particularly attractive. Moreover, this defaming of religion can be allowed only in a society where religion is permitted. I doubt if religion would be permitted in an atheistic society. It is better to have religion (I mean Christianity and not Islam) and have freedom than to have no religion and no freedom.
2007-10-08 18:41:18 · answer #2 · answered by Andy Roberts 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No, I haven't read the book but I can add a thought. Christians are certainly not perfect. When I look at the History of the church I'm sickened too. However, it isn't God's fault. It is our sickened deprived minds that think we are doing something in the name of God. 1 Corinthians 13 tells us what a Christian ought to be. If we have not love we are noisy gong and a clanging symbol...but these three remain, Faith, Hope, Love but the greatest of these is love. Most so called Christians are not Christ followers they are religion followers with a whole list of do's and don'ts. There is no Grace and Grace is coupled with Love. True religion is giving to the poor and the needy and loving one another as Christ loved.
Christ came to love and forgive not hate, murder, envy etc. That is Satan working in the church. If we Christians would immitate Christ. Wow, the world would be a better place.
2007-10-08 18:24:48 · answer #3 · answered by Joy 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Have not read the book you mentioned, yet neither do I support religion in any form. I love God because He first loved me and has been demonstrating that love to me for over twenty years. Along the way, He has shown me straight from His Word, how to live and love others according to it. I agree, many horrible, unmentionable atroscities have been committed, in the name of religions. God will put an end to them all when He returns, to establish His own kingdom on this 'God forsaken' planet. Truth is religion does not define or express the true nature of God. His character is better revealed by His creation and the life and love of Jesus. It is because of satan that we have religions in the first place. They produce division and strife, pride and hatred. These are not characteristics of the God I know and love. Religion has polluted our society with it's rules and regulations. When only one thing is truely needed,... it is LOVE. For God and one another! That is God's true 'so-called' religion. To care for the orphans and look after the widows. I could not read a book such as you described, the images would become permanantly embedded on my mind, tormenting me without relief! Might I suggest, that you rent and watch a wonderful movie called JOSHUA. It will bless and soothe your soul. (it's a contemporary film of a modern day expression of the love of God)
2007-10-08 18:43:49 · answer #4 · answered by God's Fountain Pen 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think Christopher Hitchens is a global treasure and this book only underscores this. It explodes the myth of religions. With books like this there is yet hope that the human race will finally grow up and leave its childhood fantasies behind.Religion's penchant for establishing holy and sacred places and things that serve as roadblocks to peace is revealed in Hitchen's usual great writing. We needed a Christopher Hitchens for a long time.
2007-10-08 18:41:01 · answer #5 · answered by jatinchopra30 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
The problem is that communism is yet another ideology-atheism is only incidental. Any time ideology (religious or otherwise) is placed higher than reason or morality you have problems.
I've read Hitchens' book. Personally I liked Dawkins' book better, but that was primarily my preference for his writing style. Hitchens is a bit too pretentious for my tastes.
2007-10-08 18:48:51 · answer #6 · answered by Bob C 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
this book is partially true to an extent.
i interpret it as saying everything mankind has ever created, no matter how pure, holy or religious will eventually fall to the evil and cruel way of mankind, eventually becoming a 'poison' as the book says and from that little grain of poison it spreads out and seeps into other's minds. soon in at least 500 years in my estimate, religion, no matter which one will eventually destroy itself in a war of some kind, similar to the second coming but it will be the last ever event in any relgious history
thats my opinion if it helped :)
cheers!
2007-10-08 18:23:58 · answer #7 · answered by Man 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I read the book this summer. It only took about two weeks. I was disgusted by what he wrote about it. In one of my classes this year, I had to read an article about the mutilation of female genitalia in Africa and the Middle East, and was I disgusted! My heart started beating faster. People do so many atrocious things out of love for religion that religion itself disgusts me. Hitchens is right: Religion poisons EVERYTHING. Name me one benefit that religion possesses over atheism or agnosticism after reading this book. Exactly.
2007-10-08 18:19:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 2⤋
i do no longer want confirmation of what i understand. faith is undesirable, yet faith is earthly and actual and took part in via human beings that don't understand the factor. plenty if no longer all of religion is an attempt for organic guy to "ape" enlightened guy. The earthly remnants of enlightened adult males are seen "Holy" or "divine" their words taken actually with out know-how or know-how. faith is wholesale superstition. Spirituality is the adventure of exploring God from interior of your self. in case you seek for thought from faith then save it at a distance with the aid of fact's a "tar infant" and does greater to entrap and cut back than it does to disencumber you. once you "Get it" no longer something will marvel you.
2016-10-08 21:17:44 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can't answer for the book and I can't answer for other religions. But for me...I know Christianity has had some very ugly times. TImes when people are looking more at the God of the Old Testament who can be angry and ask the Jews to wipe out entire races.
But there is so much hope in the New Testament...that is why it is NEW! It was to replace the old way God did things with the way God always wanted us to relate to him: As a father who longs to love his children and bless them.
I can't answer for mankind. We are not perfect and our own lusts and desires take our faiths and turn them into spear heads to hurt our neighnbors. But for me...personally... I really try to be what Christ was...kind, loving, patient, generous - to women and men...no matter their social class.
THe hope is there...in Him.
I'm sorry you had such a horrible experience with the book. But I hope you won't lose all faith and perhaps maybe we got it wrong as people. Remember faith should be grounded in something HIGHER than man...that is how I can believe and not be plunged into despair.
I hope my answer can help.
2007-10-08 18:23:52 · answer #10 · answered by Astra_Dreamer 2 · 2⤊ 4⤋