Religion only seperates people...

[thresixty]

Look at the middle east. Look at the past.Christians persecuted Muslims. Muslims persecuted no one in particular. Now as the time moves forward, Christians have become more tolerant, yet biased still, while Muslims have begun to persecute Jews and Christians. Religion only leads to persecution and death and the ultimate end of the world.

[BobtheWalrus]

Look at the Jewish people, they've been persecuted all throughout history

It's like in John Lennon's "Imagine"

"Imagine no religion"

But you can chose to imagine one, (probably your own) instead

[asuro]

religion does lead to seperation of ppl and has been the cause of half of the world's problems. i would list a bunch but i dont feel like it so if anyone wants me to start listing i will...(if u love me ul believe me and not ask me to)

and when i say half of the worlds problems i dont mean exactly half, i mean a whole lot.

[Jon]

Originally Posted by thresixty

Religion only leads to persecution and death and the ultimate end of the world.

No war does.

[MemphisMasenko]

I dissagree with your title of this thread.
I believe that religion has bought people together
Especially in places where there isn't that much hope.
Sorry if this offends.

[carnealse]

You should read up on your history friend. Youre not accurate on your Islamic history. It is too long to go into, but in a nut shell, Mohammed has two clear seperate part of the Quran, the Meccian and Medenian. To sum it up, he was forceful but not too violent at first, but his persecution by his own people who were polytheistic and he was monotheistic caused him to hearden his ways and he no longer considered killing a sin if the victims were not muslim and/or not willing to accept his message. Those who are against Mohammed are against Allah, and that is a greater transgression than killing. This is still in effect today.
He would have his followers attack caravans on the regular, not targetting Jews or Christians.
Also, at the early point, he did not consider Jews and Christians to be too different as they were the believers in the same God.
Over time that changed. The same time that it changed was the time Islam was being spread through violence. There was of course the Non Muslim tax which would make an individual a Dhimmi and subject to Muslim law, which also made them sub-human in the eyes of the Muslims, and of no worth. But you were not killed.
Alright, that was longer than I wanted, but the Crusades were a defensive attack (an oximoron I know, but it was force to protect their way of life) to stop the violent spread of Islam with violent tactics. Both were wrong in their actions.
Besides, religion is man made. God, who ever he/she is to any given individual, is only interested in a person relationship. Well at least that is how the Catholic/Jewish/Christian God has is laid out.

[nathanlawliet]

No, religion guides people, and helps them do the right things.

Think of people who WOULD go on a school shooting, but DON'T because of religion and fear of going to hell? Religion is a system of beliefs and it helps people through lives. People with good religions may try to do good things because that's what people of their religion do.

As for executing people, don't know/don't care.

[gunshock]

Originally Posted by Jon

No war does.

Religion starts a lot of wars...

But I am christian, and I believe in God etc. I just don't practice it.
The people at most churches I have been to seem like hipocrites.

But who am I to judge?

JUST my opinion..

[ProOne]

People would still be persecuted without religion. Take religion away, and there still is skin color, birthplace, ancestral origins, eye color, clothes, money, associates, enemies, education, sexual orientation, et al.

Most religions teach tolerance, love, peace, belief in a higher power, and an ultimate justice for wrong doing. Even Islam is a peaceful religion when not twisted by radicals, just like Christianity when not twisted by ignorant white racists.

Take away religion and nothing changes, except a lot of people lose hope in life and the hereafter. Whether you belief that religion is nothing but an opiate of the masses or a lifelong journey of obedience and servitude with an eternal reward, it's your choice.

It's still not the only thing that seperate people. People separate because of a million different things and will continue to do until the end of time

[Kryren]

Originally Posted by carnealse

You should read up on your history friend. Youre not accurate on your Islamic history. It is too long to go into, but in a nut shell, Mohammed has two clear seperate part of the Quran, the Meccian and Medenian. To sum it up, he was forceful but not too violent at first, but his persecution by his own people who were polytheistic and he was monotheistic caused him to hearden his ways and he no longer considered killing a sin if the victims were not muslim and/or not willing to accept his message. Those who are against Mohammed are against Allah, and that is a greater transgression than killing. This is still in effect today.
He would have his followers attack caravans on the regular, not targetting Jews or Christians.
Also, at the early point, he did not consider Jews and Christians to be too different as they were the believers in the same God.
Over time that changed. The same time that it changed was the time Islam was being spread through violence. There was of course the Non Muslim tax which would make an individual a Dhimmi and subject to Muslim law, which also made them sub-human in the eyes of the Muslims, and of no worth. But you were not killed.
Alright, that was longer than I wanted, but the Crusades were a defensive attack (an oximoron I know, but it was force to protect their way of life) to stop the violent spread of Islam with violent tactics. Both were wrong in their actions.
Besides, religion is man made. God, who ever he/she is to any given individual, is only interested in a person relationship. Well at least that is how the Catholic/Jewish/Christian God has is laid out.

QFT.

It does seem like religion is the driving force in mos wars, but I've always seen it more of a excuse to pick a fight with your neighbors. Yes, some people might believe that they are going to war in the name of their god, but most of the time the one who started it had other reasons.

[carnealse]

Originally Posted by BigFish129

ur stupid

Wow, said like a true person with nothing to say.
I guess the historical books outlining the roots of Islam, the Crusades, the fundamentals of Muslim beliefs, Christian/Jewish History, all the books must be stupid huh?
Do yourself a favor and read. You read enough books on the topics and you get an overall picture.
The point I was making was that Christians did not up and say lets persecute, as they were not acting according to their own biblical laws and guidance.
The Muslims today are not focused on persecuting Christians either. They are focused on all non Muslims.
Thats all.

Oh yeah, one question. QFT...I think I know what it means, but I am not 100% sure. So...what does it mean?

[EndUnknown]

It means Quote For Tuth

Originally Posted by ProOne

just like Christianity when not twisted by ignorant white racists.

are you racist? why do they have to be white to screw up Gods word?

[gunshock]

Originally Posted by ProOne

just like Christianity when not twisted by ignorant white racists.

What the hell....

[carnealse]

Originally Posted by Dark Whole

It means Quote For Tuth

Thank you for the clarification. I was actually way off in what I thought it was haha.

[asuro]

Originally Posted by Jon

No war does.

and religion has led to war many times....especially in European history.

[Gow616]

Humanity is the cause of all harm.

Even if religion did not exist the harm will not stop. It has brings more together than it separates. When one looks at the worst examples of practised religions that cause harm you also see individuals who are just using religion as a cover or reason for them to cause harm to others.

Religion, philosophy, pscyhology, and more are all forms of thought, belief, and sciene meant to find purpose for humanity's existence and what should they do.

It like any other structure can be manipulated and abused but to claim it is the source for a divide is negating the truth of the entire human history. People don't need religion to kill people, or treat them rotten but religion does try to work to make people better.

Without using an extremist person hiding behind religion, what harm is it doing? Most cases of harm that it may cause can be blamed on the individual.

By the by, missionaries sent to Alaska and other parts never forced any Alaskan Natives to be Christian and the Spanish Dark Age has more to do with greedy privateers than Christian conversion. My ancestor, Cristobal Colón may have wanted to convert Caribbean Indians to Christianity but he did not do it by force.

Jesuit missionaries always get a bad rap that has nothing to do with how they really operate. Probably comes from the history of Tomas Torquemada and Spain plus the Malleus Maleficarum's effect on the rest of Europe.

Jesuits learn as much about the culture they go to as they may teach about Christianity, and probably in fact learn more culture.

Not to mention human history is riddled with attacks by a group of people on another with religion not even involved. Most people only talk about the Crusades when citing stuff against religion without offering examples outside of it. Plus they may or are lacking information on what was behind the Crusades and how it was more than just religion.

[Azraelw3x]

Call me naive, but I don't think religion is what causes wars or separates people - it's human selfishness, fear, and self-interest that does all that. Religion is simply a convenient excuse, something that can be distorted and manipulated to fit one's own agenda.

[asuro]

Originally Posted by Gow

By the by, missionaries sent to Alaska and other parts never forced any Alaskan Natives to be Christian and the Spanish Dark Age has more to do with greedy privateers than Christian conversion. My ancestor, Cristobal Colón may have wanted to convert Caribbean Indians to Christianity but he did not do it by force.

Jesuit missionaries always get a bad rap that has nothing to do with how they really operate. Probably comes from the history of Tomas Torquemada and Spain plus the Malleus Maleficarum's effect on the rest of Europe.

Jesuits learn as much about the culture they go to as they may teach about Christianity, and probably in fact learn more culture.

maybe spanish missionaries did not forefully convert natives of new lands but lets not forget the inquisition...muslims and jews were a vital part of the spanish economy and yet they were still persecuted and kicked out.

and about the Jesuits...even the pope got sick of them intermingling with politics and so he separated them from the catholic church (no longer recievin g funds and such)

im not trying to hate on religion here, but it has caused problems...whether it be just an excuse or at the root of the problem. religion has been a huge part of why ppl dont live peacefully together (not so much now as in the past though)

religion unifies ppl of the same religion...but it creates a split when you think about the entire world. and even within the same religion there are different sects...which also caused many problems in the past.