are christians more prone to violence than atheists?

Question

Given the Spanish Inquisition,Salem Witch Trials and too many other historical examples of the hatred,torture,and execution of people differant from themselves,I am of a mind christians are more confrontationalists than pacifists,even though Christ himself advocated love,peace,and self-restraint.What do you think?

Also,it seems when you point out scientific evidence of our creation,instead of an appreciation of the facts I get alot of hostility

Answer 1

It would be a mistake to make such a conclusion. Violence is an individual thing and crosses all philosophical boundaries.

Answer 2

The churches became institutions of power and this is what led to conquest through the excuse of conversion, subjugation of populations to religious authority, etc. Some of the religions that Christians came upon were no peacemakers themselves. One may have to look to Islam for any comparison of damage done to others. It is important to see how the superstitious beliefs that predated Christianity made it into the Christian ideology in a subverted form. From this we get witch trials and the like. This is also probably not province of Christian history alone.

Answer 3

The USSR was officially an atheistic state. As is China. Over the last century, I'm afraid atheists have been a good bit more violent than Christians. It isn't legitimate to try to compare the two before the last century as atheists before this last century weren't a noticeable portion of the world's population.

Answer 4

I think that Christianity is like anything else in this world--some people do it very right, and others do it very wrong--and that it would be terribly wrong to stereotype an entire group because of the mistakes of a few (and besides, as far as we know, Jesus was the only one who was ever perfect at it). As far as atheism goes, when you don't believe in anything, what is there to fight for?

Answer 5

Maybe simple-minded atheists, but not Communist and National Socialist totalitarian atheists of the 20th century:
http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/

Btw, it is illogical to claim "God is not," as that amounts to claiming proving a universal negative, an impossibility without Omnipresence.

Seems like any misuse of power accompanies fallen humanity, not to mention Islam and "post-Communist" PRC.

"Climb the Highest Mountain," Mark Prophet, is an interesting perspective on this.

Answer 6

You are forgetting Stalin by all account out did Hitler and he was an athesist.

There as been lots of death and torture and people done in the name of religion and non-religion.

This is very old line and you guys are wearing it out.

Answer 7

yes they are more prone to violence