A common belief today is that religion breeds violence. Isn't this like saying politics is violent? I read the below today, and it gave me food for thought, particularly that last sentence:
"Some kill because their faiths specifically command them to do so; some kill though their faiths explicitly forbid them to do so; and some kill because they have no faith and hence believe all things are permitted to them. Polytheists, monotheists, and atheists kill. Men kill for their gods, or for their God, or because there is no God and human destiny must be shaped by gigantic exertions of human will. They kill out of pursuit of universal truths, and out of fidelity to tribal allegiances; for faith, blood and soil, empire, national greatness, "socialist utopia", capitalism, and "democratization". Men always seek gods in who's name they may perform great deeds or commit unspeakable atrocity, even if those gods are not gods but "tribal honor", or "genetic imperatives" or "social ideals" or "human destiny" or "liberal democracy". Then again men also kill on account of money, land, love, pride, hatred, envy or ambition. ... The truth is that religion and irreligion are cultural variables, but killing is a human constant"(*) (*) David Bently Hart, _atheist delusion_ pg 12 http://www.librarything.com/work/book/47946437 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Minds-Eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
