Originally posted by Flores
This is classic hijacking of a religion, but it seems you're not subtle enough to understand the deeper meaning of things.
Well first off, I can't relly see what subtlety has to do with understanding.
Secondly it isn't hijacking religions. People did what they did in the name of god. True, these people may not have always have spoken for the majority. But in the case of the inquisitions, where it was not only authorized by the pope, but created by the pope, I don't see how that isn't a religion backing some very cruel ideas. Because the pope said it, it does go for the whole religion:
"the Roman Pontiff, when he speaks ex cathedra -- that is, when in the exercise of his office as pastor and teacher of all Christians he defines, by virtue of his supreme Apostolic authority, a doctrine of faith or morals to be held by the whole Church ..."
(
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07790a.htm)
See I personally don't have a problem with any religion, and no I'm not atheist. I just thinkits laughable when people assume all religions are nice, happy things can't be blamed for anything bad. The crusades? Yeah, it was people, not the religion. Why did they do it? For religion. Once again iit was the catholic church.
"All crusades were announced by preaching. After pronouncing a solemn vow, each warrior received a cross from the hands of the pope or his legates, and was thenceforth considered a soldier of the Church. Crusaders were also granted indulgences and temporal privileges, such as exemption from civil jurisdiction, inviolability of persons or lands, etc."
(
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04543c.htm)
Hell, that just the newer religions. Lets not get into the ones that called for human sacrifice.
Perhaps you ment the tenants of no modern religions support those ideas. Even then, you would be wrong. Look into religions like satanism and the church of satan (actually two different ideas). Or, perhaps you are just really didn't think about what you were saying. There are alot of religions out there. A few do advocate greed, controlling others and stating superiority.
Don't make broad blanket statements when they aren't true as such.
inquisition:
http://es.rice.edu/ES/humsoc/Galileo/Student_Work/Trial96/loftis/overview.html