Originally Posted by Pwcca
Originally Posted by CTD
This excerpt is, of course, part of the counter-argument against the bogus old assertion that "religion" leads to violence and war.


That aside, there is no refuting that religion has in many instances led to violence and war;
Interesting... you must not be employing the screwy definition of 'refute' preferred by evolutionism. For they're fond of the watered-down version of the word which merely means "to dispute".

Even so, I think a direct cause/effect relationship would be very, very difficult to establish.

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though I'll agree that it is neither a) the only thing which leads to violence and war, nor is it b) safe to conclude that all religions lead to violence and war - only that some have and can. Moreover, such remarks should not overcloud the violent Balkaniztion within individual religions themselves. I speak, of course, of schisms and fanatics. It's not just one religion oppressing another, it can also be one religion oppressing its minutiae of trivial details upon its own devotees. Again, this is not to say religion is bad in and of itself -- I, myself, am religious, yet I still make these claims -- only that religion (chiefly organized religion) has the propensity towards violence and war (or more accurately put, the people using it as their motive).{snip}
Oh, you were straddling the fence so well for a while... and you had to go and fall on the wrong side. I suggest you a.)read the book, or b.) do your own homework, or c.) redefine 'religion' to include atheism or materialism or something of the sort that actually does have a demonstrable tendency to lead to violence.

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There are a great many things used for violence and war, that does not make them bad. If humans had a tendency to war over which tastes better, Granny Smith apples of MacIntosh, most people would agree it's absurd to say that apples lead to violence and war.
What do you think makes things bad, in that case?

Do you think there is merit in the atheist argument that religion is dangerous and needs to be eliminated? That is what was being discussed. That is what you've typed so many words around, but not about.

I should also point out, just to be fair, that you might consider explaining your links in your other post. My word isn't final. I can even be mistaken. Were those links provided for any actual purpose?

I also note that you don't seem very keen on answering questions. I shall be considering a policy of ignoring your posts due to this trend. (Except as duty requires, of course.)

Last edited by CTD; 11/19/08 09:25 AM. Reason: quote box repair
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