Sandesh Anvekar <[email protected]> wrote: > >If chiristianity is indeed such a great religion of the world then what >made Voltaire say > >“Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd, and bloody religion >that has ever infected the world” >
Voltaire said it for the same reason that Brihaspati, the founder of the Lokayata philosophy said the following regarding Hinduism: QUOTE When once the body becomes ashes, how can it ever return again? If he who departs from the body goes to another world, how is it that he comes not back again, restless for love of his kindred? Hence it is only as a means of livelihood that Brahmans have established here all these ceremonies for the dead. There is no other fruit anywhere. The three authors of the Vedas were buffoons, knaves, and demons. All the well-known formulas of the pandits, jarphari, turphari, and all the obscene rites for the queen commanded in the Aswamedha, these were invented by buffoons, and so all the various kinds of presents to the priests, while the eating of flesh was similarly commanded by night-prowling demons. UNQUOTE ......Brihaspati, ~600 B.C.E. Both Voltaire and Brihaspati were rationalists and infidels. There is nothing wrong with criticizing religion and religious practices in a secular country, especially when they are harmful. Indeed, I believe it is very important to do such a thing. And by the way, animism is a neutral word that aptly describes the beliefs and rituals of many tribes throughout the world. I do not know who was the first to coin that word, but there is nothing negative about its usage. No church of any denomination is likely to be the first to use a word like that. It is more likely that the Sumerians, ancient Egyptians, ancient Greeks or ancient Indians might be the ones who did it, of course in their own language. Cheers, Santosh Sandesh Anvekar <[email protected]> wrote: >Subject: Re: [Goanet] Relgious Extremism in North Easteastern States of India >(Santosh Helekar & Ors) > >If chiristianity is indeed such a great religion of the world then what made >Voltaire say > >“Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd, and bloody religion >that has ever infected the world” >Any answers? Also I would like to understand the origin of the words >Animism/Fetishism et al. > >It makes me feel that these originated in Church itself and probably it >reflects the attitude of Church towards eastern religions. > >~~Sandesh > --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
