Violence

[Angel]

Do you think religion provokes violence ?

[General Lighting]

individual belief - no... (unless they are criminally insane and use "messages from god" as an excuse for committing violence)

organised religion - in many cases yes; where someone has set themselves up as a religious leader and encouraging others to follow the word of deities and take actions in their name - in many cases this is just a way of reinforcing social and power structures.

In ancient times a church. temple or mosque would have been set up by people with power and resources and provided a lot of resources and services that today the public sector provides (such as social care and care of the sick), but is usually open as a public building on condition that you give some support or respect to the beliefs of the people who run it. It also contains resources worth guarding such as religious artefacts made out of precious metal, good quality stone and as such is always subject to the risk of theft and often has to be defended, and people have a group/gang mentality anyway.

The actual nature of the gods or the location in the world where the followers are does not matter - more the belief that their community or religion better than anyone elses idea is what spurs people to fight crusades / jihads.

Also there were disputes between the congregrations of rival churches in different villages; often fights at border areas etc. One of the local history sites I visit mentions how such a dispute (in the 1700s/1800s) in East Anglia escalated into accusations of sexual crimes by the vicar, fights in church and bodies being dug up out of the graveyard and buried elsewhere!

Of course (speaking for Britain) today your local Anglican vicar does not today encourage his flock to physically attack members of rival organisations (although even today there is violence between rival Christian groups in the disputed territory of Northern Ireland) but that is only because they have a position of power and influence within the Government.

If you read British Acts of Parliament (laws) you will still see references to the Lords Spiritual (the heads of the Church of England) as well as the Lords Temporal (the old fogeys in the House of Lords), the church and state here still have many links...

I have an interest in history and for hundreds of years this country was awash with blood due to religious disputes where Protestants and Catholics fought one another; it is literally only in very recent times (I would say the last 30-40 years!) that there has been more religious tolerance in Great Britain.

Only a few hundred years ago in Britain people were being burnt alive by mobs for having the wrong religious beliefs; even for supporting the "wrong form" of Christianity.

[Dr Bunsen]

Originally posted by angel

Do you think religion provokes violence ?

Of course it does, it's one of the worlds greatest ironies really...

[Raj]

how did we get from believe in this god to kill everyone who deos not anyway

[Holeydel]

We've seen Catholics clash with Prosidants in Belfast, whites clash and asians in Bradford, and Millwall football fans clash with Birmingham football fans down South London.

Religion is just another way of drawing sides.

[Angel]

I was brought up to believe that religion was a good thing... Love,mercy,believe,accept other people as they are,forgiveness,charity..

Oh my..was i wrong or what..

Its non of the above,its killing,hurting,destroying,no compassion,no acceptance..

I dont say that ALL religious people are bad people,becauce they are NOT

[Raj]

the ideas behind the religions are usually good

it is the implementation of them which leaves something to be desired and thats down to the people

[titch]

Opps I accidently voted no, when I definitely wanted to YES !

[Angel]

[Shadowkar120c]

We here a lot about Islamic fundamentalists at the moment & even Ruth Kelly MP's links with more unusual Catholic tastes.

We don't here about another high ranking MP who has a child in the Church of England with very extreme Christian beliefs. A person who believes we shouldn't cut our hair or shave our beards etc. & that the sinners who do should be made by force to comply. Sound familiar...

What happend to the good times? Live and let live. The hippy generation & Make Love Not War.

[Angel]

Originally posted by Shadowkar120c

What happend to the good times? Live and let live. The hippy generation & Make Love Not War.

I would to like to know that too..But there have never been periods in the world history where there havent been wars somwhere..

The hippy generation..I believe that most of the world population still want peace not war..

[Shadowkar120c]

Originally posted by angel

I believe that most of the world population still want peace not war..

I believe that too but people sure do love to fight. Even my own family behave in a totally unacceptable way towards each other over religion.

My mother is walking the path to ordination into the Church Of England & most of the rest of the family have let her know exactly what they think about it.Ten years ago I would have done the same thing but I've come a long way since then.

She doesn't agree with my leanings towards eastern philosophies & I don't agree with the way the church does a lot of things but we have interesting discussion rather than argument. There is a mutual respect for the others point of view & complete support & love for each other.

Vive la difference!

The situation in my own family just shows how contentious the subject of religion is even with people of the same blood who are supposed to love each other.

[globalloon]

belief in the spirit is one thing, but to choose a religion, and claim that it is right is nonsense

what if you choose the wrong one and just make god more and more angry every day?

[Vaga]

People commit violence not religions

[globalloon]

Originally posted by Vaga

People commit violence not religions

yeah but people commit acts of violence in the name of their religions

crusades, cathar massacres, inquisition, jihad

obvioulsy religion can't commit acts of violence, religion only exists by it's followers, who are often driven to start wars based on their blind faith