Freedom vs License

[theweatherman]

It is very difficult to seperate religion from politics, especially in the case of the crusades, of jihads. They are one in the same.

Religious beliefs have lead to the slaughter of untold millions but there are very few religions whose tenets include killing others. This implies that it must of been politically convienient to wage holy war, rather than a religious necesity.

[Richard Tanner]

[ QUOTE ]
It is very difficult to seperate religion from politics, especially in the case of the crusades, of jihads. They are one in the same.

Religious beliefs have lead to the slaughter of untold millions but there are very few religions whose tenets include killing others. This implies that it must of been politically convienient to wage holy war, rather than a religious necesity.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh you're totally right, the Crusades for example were just a war waged under a religious banner, but to me, it's always been interesting to think about what people would've done without religion to galvanize them (of course it's equally likely that they would've faught simply because their lord would've kicked them off their land had they not).

Cody

[BadBoyBenny]

I will point out that the regimes in Kurn's post were all atheist. Should we consider atheism part of the reason for their deaths?

[BadBoyBenny]

Kurn where did you get a number of 5 million for Ho? I have never heard that before.

[Richard Tanner]

[ QUOTE ]
I will point out that the regimes in Kurn's post were all atheist. Should we consider atheism part of the reason for their deaths?

[/ QUOTE ]

Nope, but then the Crusades were with the expressed purpose of retaking the holy land. So it's a little different.

Cody

[Dominic]

i think it's fine. Australia is not forcing anyone out, only saying that if you have an extreme religious belief that is not supported by Australia, perhaps you should try elsewhere.