The Crusades, the Inquisition, the Holocaust... am I the only one convinced that we have enough reason to drop the arrogance and just accept each other and celebrate our differences?
2007-12-19 08:51:51 · 12 answers · asked by xx. 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
My point is that people have killed because they wanted to be right, and the "I have to be right" mentality is STILL alive and well in the 21st century... it's insane! I see people on this board proclaiming that their religion, and theirs alone is the only true one- how far are they willing to go to be right?
2007-12-19 09:05:31 · update #1
Maya: I'm fully aware that there's never just one reason for historical events. The point is that people were targeted based on their religion a lot of the time.
2007-12-19 11:39:19 · update #2
I think a section of humanity, for whatever reason, ignorance, boredom, economics, who knows, are predisposed to go to war, and they are whipped up by their governments/rulers to do so. Using religion as a reason allows them to feel justified. Much better to say I'm doing this for God, rather than I'm doing it because I'm stupid, easily manipulated and for someone else's pride or greed.
2007-12-19 12:23:45 · answer #1 · answered by DavinaOpines 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It was politics.
Let me dig up a source and I'll be right back....
Ok so there was a huge debate on this on a Heathen board I go to and the arguement went back and forth on whether we were "converted" by the sword or not. There are far more arguements AGAINST that then for it. While yes in some places it was bloody (Patrick Charlemagne and Olaf for example) in other places it wasn't (Iceland VOTED in about 1000 CE). It was a slow process that went over a few hundred years.
The sources cited on this debate (Of which I did not post or read, I'm just passing on another arguement) are
History of the Christian Church, Volume IV: Mediaeval Christianity. A.D. 590-1073.
Philip Schaff (1819-1893)
Einhard: The Life of Charlemagne
translated by Samuel Epes Turner
(New York: Harper & Brothers, 1880
The spread of Christianity in the first four centuries - William V. Harris
The rise of Christianity in Northern Europe (300-1000) - Carole Cusak
Read that and take it all as you will. But we also need to keep in mind that we are getting a persecution complex over this. Chances are, MOST of my ancestors were't converted by the sword. And even if they WERE it was over 1000 years ago. All I can do is rebuild where they left off. I'm okay with that.
2007-12-19 11:28:55 · answer #2 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your lack of historical knowledge is obvious. The answer is: very few. Most wars are waged with respect to economic and political goals,although religion may be demed an exploitable asset by war planners. The Crusades were a millenium ago and the inquisition almost half a millenian. You mention the holocaust. I see no connection to religion; Hitler viewed jews as a race and couldn't have cared less if they were atheists,agnostics or converts to christianity. Racism has always and continues to play a profound role in war; jewish hatred of Arabs for example,or American hatred of Persians. Most civil wars are based on ethnic differences.
2007-12-19 11:32:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would tend to agree with the majority of the posters here. The purposes were greed, xenophobia, power, and plain old desire to kill. Religion was the tool that was used to "pump up" the fervor. If Religion were out of the picture then the powers that be would have found some other excuse to go on their barbaric rampages of History.
Brightest Blessings,
Raji the Green Witch
2007-12-19 17:13:30 · answer #4 · answered by Raji the Green Witch 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hope you are the only one but I fear we may not see it in our life time. Not when a Presidential candidate in the US wants to "win back America for Christ." Or Muslim leaders want a "holy war" against the ungodly infidel.
When religions teach that their religion is the only correct one and that all others are of the devil or "false gods" - they've license to "take a stand for their religion" even to the point of violence rather than tolerate other religions having the same rights as theirs.
We can hope though.
2007-12-19 11:22:08 · answer #5 · answered by Aravah 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I completely agree with you.
I am a Pagan. I have been for 8 years and have never been happier. I try not ti bash anyone's religion even though mine probably gets bashed the most. Its uncivilized in my opinion, and should be frowned upon by EVERYONE.
2007-12-19 08:57:31 · answer #6 · answered by iColorz 4 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Very few.
Crusades? Money.
Inquisition? Controlling the people.
Holocaust? Combination of both, along with a bit of xenophobia and "racial purity"
"God" is a word that the politicians use to get people like me running to the enlisting tents when you need more troops.
2007-12-19 10:07:12 · answer #7 · answered by CanadianFundamentalist 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The point is, it is the evil ones who are doing the killing. Everyone should leave it for YHVH to sort out, as the Messiah YAHOSHUA told them to.
2007-12-19 08:55:36 · answer #8 · answered by hasse_john 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm with u baron... :)
And let me wish a very happy eid to all here!!
2007-12-19 14:58:20 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Far too many
2007-12-19 08:55:58 · answer #10 · answered by Lady Death 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋