Well. You’ve certainly aligned yourself with the philosophy of the winners of the twentieth century – in the area of body count, that is.

Believe the “officially” godless communist regimes of Stalin, Lenin, Mao, and subsequent communist leaders have amassed such significant body counts that it’s going to take some time for any belief to set some new records.

Was the behavior of these communist leaders the direct results of their philosophy of godless? I don’t know either, but I’d wager it made the killing a whole lot easier.

I noticed in your post regarding some of the biggest mass murderer’s of the 20th century you neglected to mention Adolph Hitler, was that because Hitler regarded himself as a christian and it would have spoiled your post? After all 6 million Jews and how many others killed in Military actions is nothing to sneeze at. Remember the words of Hitler regarding his faith.
“Who says I am not under the special protection of God?”
- Adolph Hitler
I believe today that my conduct is in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator.
- Adolf Hitler
Please don’t try to make us believe that a lack of faith is a requirement for mass killing of others. People who believe themselves to be religious are very capable of ordering the murder of innocent people witness George Bush’s illegal and immoral invasion of Iraq. Which by the way Bush has said God told him to to invade Iraq.

Comment by Keith — October 2, 2007 @ 5:51 pm

It’s true nonetheless. ;)

One could write thousands of pages refuting your argument. Doesn’t the belief that God is on your side justify killing? Christians killed many millions in taking North America, Central America, and South America away from the non-Christians because they wanted that part of the world (mainly for its resources). Just because the racist Mel Gibson put something into a movie doesn’t make it the truth.

The Soviet Union did not start either WWI nor WWII. In fact, they pulled out of war in 1917. Nazi Germany, fascist Italy, and certainly Japan were religious. These wars killed 70 million. The Axis leaders were constantly saying their religion was superior to their enemies.

Today, the White House, al Qaeda, and Israel all say they are religiously superior.

“Christianity is the most perverted system that has ever shone on man.”

“I do not find in orthodox Christianity one redeeming feature.”

“Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burned, tortured, fined and imprisoned, yet we have not advanced one inch toward uniformity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half of the world fools and the other half hypocrites.”

At the rate these so-called Christians are going, I’d rather take a chance on a secular humanist or an atheist.

Comment by Helen Rainier — October 1, 2007 @ 9:51 pm

Well. You’ve certainly aligned yourself with the philosophy of the winners of the twentieth century – in the area of body count, that is.

Believe the “officially” godless communist regimes of Stalin, Lenin, Mao, and subsequent communist leaders have amassed such significant body counts that it’s going to take some time for any belief to set some new records.

Was the behavior of these communist leaders the direct results of their philosophy of godless? I don’t know either, but I’d wager it made the killing a whole lot easier.

I don’t understand why people see Christianity as such a negative influence. I don’t see secular humanist or atheism as improvements, but I appreciate your offering an alternate. Usually on TP everyone knows that some – those who hold to a belief system, for instances, express it less than perfectly, but no one offers any counter suggestions as to a better belief system or how to live a better life. Sort of a criticism without responsibility thing.

Perhaps it’s time to consider how bad it could really be without the influence of Christianity. In other words, Christianity may make it as good as it can possibly get.

Is there any reason to think it would be better if the predominant philosophy were atheism?

Recall the last scene in Apocalypto where the suggestions is that Christianity came and vanquished human sacrifice.

What’s wrong with this strategy is that the evangelicals are pretty scattered at this time. Their mouthpieces haven’t lined up behind any specific candidate, and more than a few might even vote Democratic (!) due to the Iraq war. It will take more than a little Bible thumping to sway them over (especially since Thompson is going after the same voters).

Have any of these right wing nutjobs ever read the Constitution? You know, the actual blueprint for our system of government? Unbelievable.

Then there’s this:
“but no religious test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”
U.S. Constitution, Article VI.

The whole argument is so poor. Are Jack Abramoff, Russ Feingold, Lieberman, Barbara Boxer, and Noam Chomsky the same? Are Jimmy Carter, W, Ted Haggard, MLK Jr., and Eric Robert Rudolph all the same? Of course not!! Everyone just has their own ideas of what one and the other is like. It doesn’t really fit reality.

“Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.”

This is from the Treaty of Tripoli:
http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/treaty_tripoli.html

He also tried lately to show films of him captured in Viet Nam.
McCain could have helped himself by being straight forward…and honest,rather than trying to please the extreme right by fighting the middle,and the left,and by stop making statemnets about winning wars while most people want out of wars.
Now he is not pleasing anybody…