Originally posted by Sadako of Girth
And you have to remember the pages and pages of evidence showing that it is a part of scripture, and therefore the religion is indeed part of the problem.
Well, that depends on the religion. I don't know the teachings of every religion, but I know Christianity doesn't fall into that category. But then, you and I are already having this discussion on another thread.
Originally posted by ADarksideJedi
What does it make it then? The way it is done is violent so it should be consider violent.
What do you mean? If I kill a ton of people and say I did it in the name of Buddhism, does that make Buddhism a violent religion? No, that makes ME a violent and confused person.
I was pointing out the difference between a religion demanding violence from it's followers and a follower performing violence in the name of a religion. That's two separate things, the latter of which is not the fault of the religion.
Originally posted by ADarksideJedi
But if you thought you were doing it for that god then that makes you crazy and a violent person.
Yes it does. But does that make the religion violent? Is it the religions fault that I'm a crazy and violent person and have decided to use it's name to kill people? No, of course not.
Originally posted by ADarksideJedi
It is sounding more and more like you are saying that the religion you are descibing is a cult.
I'm not describing any religion in particular. I'm saying there is a difference between killing in the name of a religion and a religion demanding you kill.
If I went around and killed people in the name of Buddhism, would you get mad at Buddhism? Completely ignoring the fact that Buddhism does not, in any way, require you to kill people for it? In fact, it demands you do the exact opposite?
That's an example of killing in the name of a religion.
Now lets take a cult that demands you kill as part of it's religious views.
That's a religion that demands killing.
You see the difference between the two examples I gave? You cannot fault the religion for the first one like you can for the second, but a lot of people don't see the difference between the two which makes people blame religions where they should be blaming people.
Originally posted by ADarksideJedi
It is if the leader of the Religion is telling you to blow things up and kiill people.
Buddhism? Of course it doesn't. You DO know what Buddhism is, right?
I think you're still missing the point. I wasn't pointing out ANY religion in particular. I only brought in Buddhism as an example.
Are we basically talking about Islam at this end of the thread?
It is a violent religion, but it has as much history of having violence forced upon it as does many others. Not only that, but it is just as contradictory in it's teaching on peace and violence as is Christianity. It's all about venerating a person, real or imaginary, to the point that what he says is absolute, and then putting words in his mouth. Sorry ladies, there aren't many major monotheistic religions with chicks on their bumper stickers.