Which war was more of a historical disgrace?

[Bob's Orange]

Someone was trying to tell me the other day that more people have been killed in historical wars cause by atheism than by religious 'disagreements'.

I didn't do any study, but surely that can't be true?

The person was 'attacking' me after I had the temerity to question him after the UN's report on the Catholic Church last week.

[Flashheart]

Well Hitler was Christened a catholic and often referred to god in his speeches. Even if he wasn't religious himself then he certainly used religion to help empower himself. I think a catholic's involvement in WWII would sway the numbers somewhat.

Either way, I don't know how that could possibly justify the Catholic Church for covering up kiddy-fiddling.

[Bob's Orange]

Well Hitler was Christened a catholic and often referred to god in his speeches. Even if he wasn't religious himself then he certainly used religion to help empower himself. I think a catholic's involvement in WWII would sway the numbers somewhat.

Either way, I don't know how that could possibly justify the Catholic Church for covering up kiddy-fiddling.

I stupidly got involved when he said he was going to protest at the Scots vote to legalise gay marriage and it kind of spiralled from there.

Sadly I have read some comments from defenders of the Catholic Church who say that 'defrocking' priests for abusing children is punishment enough. Seems some of these people are totally brainwashed.

Anyway, sorry to get away from the thread a little.

[Flashheart]

So he questions the morality of atheists and then tries to defend kiddy fiddlers.

He sounds like a grade A tool to me.

[Tails]

Someone was trying to tell me the other day that more people have been killed in historical wars cause by atheism than by religious 'disagreements'.

I didn't do any study, but surely that can't be true?

The person was 'attacking' me after I had the temerity to question him after the UN's report on the Catholic Church last week.

I've had this debate before, it's not true. Religious types like to use this as a comeback to a jibe from athiests about the suffering and death caused by religion (which in itself does not directly refer to wars). Wars / deaths & violence directly caused by atheism or atheists is extremely minimal. Wars and deaths caused by people who didn't believe in a God have happened, but they didn't do it BECAUSE they didn't believe in a God, they were just power hungry tyrants. Some even believed themselves to be God.

And with regards to Hitler, he wasn't a strict catholic, however he did have a treaty with Vatican City. Not saying that the Catholic Church supported the Nazi's of course, but they certainly didn't seem to oppose them.

[Honkytonk]

Like the Swiss.

I'm sure Hitler sent a gaggle of attractive looking boys to the pope and all was forgiven.

[Bob's Orange]

I've had this debate before, it's not true. Religious types like to use this as a comeback to a jibe from athiests about the suffering and death caused by religion (which in itself does not directly refer to wars). Wars / deaths & violence directly caused by atheism or atheists is extremely minimal. Wars and deaths caused by people who didn't believe in a God have happened, but they didn't do it BECAUSE they didn't believe in a God, they were just power hungry tyrants. Some even believed themselves to be God.

And with regards to Hitler, he wasn't a strict catholic, however he did have a treaty with Vatican City. Not saying that the Catholic Church supported the Nazi's of course, but they certainly didn't seem to oppose them.

This is true, I'm sure there are very few atheist suicide bombers who before they detonate shout 'IN THE NAME OF NO GOD'

[Exiled Bob]

I've had this debate before, it's not true. Religious types like to use this as a comeback to a jibe from athiests about the suffering and death caused by religion....

It would be more correct to say "in the name of religion". A lot of things are justified by some people in the name of religion. It doesn't make them right and it doesn't make that religion wrong.

[horlock07]

It would be more correct to say "in the name of religion". A lot of things are justified by some people in the name of religion. It doesn't make them right and it doesn't make that religion wrong.

Exactly your average nutter needs a cause and religion is a good one, especially as its such a hot potato now you are guarenteed the publicity that is sought.

I fear that any aspiration that less religion means less war is unlikley....

[Flashheart]

It would be more correct to say "in the name of religion". A lot of things are justified by some people in the name of religion. It doesn't make them right and it doesn't make that religion wrong.

Well when you have religious scriptures that actively condone and even encourage the killing of people of different faiths, along with countless other atrocities, it's a tad difficult to exonerate that religion from all wrong doing.

I wonder how many wars have been started 'in the name of atheism'?

[RWB Robin]

Wars are caused by people not things, faiths, systems or anything else....people, and its to do with greed, fear and power

[pauld]

Well when you have religious scriptures that actively condone and even encourage the killing of people of different faiths, along with countless other atrocities, it's a tad difficult to exonerate that religion from all wrong doing.

I wonder how many wars have been started 'in the name of atheism'?

None. However there have been plenty of examples of atheist regimes persecuting, murdering and torturing people who actively profess a religious faith, purely because of that faith. The Nazis are an obvious example, as are most of the various Communist regimes, some of whom are still at it today. As others have said, it's people, not religion or politics per se, that is the problem

[Flashheart]

None. However there have been plenty of examples of atheist regimes persecuting, murdering and torturing people who actively profess a religious faith, purely because of that faith. The Nazis are an obvious example, as are most of the various Communist regimes, some of whom are still at it today. As others have said, it's people, not religion or politics per se, that is the problem

And by the same tolkein you could say that the people were the problem in WWII, not Nazism itself.  *

*No, I'm not trying to say Nazism is OK, incase anybody wants to make that leap of 'logic'

[4D]

That's a he'll of an autocorrect you have on your phone flash

[Flashheart]

That's a he'll of an autocorrect you have on your phone flash

Ooops. That's just a bad hobbit, I mean habit, of mine.