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General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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In Reply to: When you cannot be right at least be nasty.. posted by Norm on April 20, 2002 at 15:53:58:
Like any other (or maybe more than most) emotional motivator (nationalism comes to mind) that can cause large numbers of people to put out huge amounts of energy towrds a goal, religion is a double edge sword.It has provided impetus for great achievements. It was the religious monks who kept knowledge alive, if only by rote, after the fall of Rome. Wester civ came very close to extinction at that point, and it took it over half a millenium before it began to recover.
Religion was one of the forces behind the Age of Discovery, as the Spanish and Portuguese used the energy of their faiths do expand into the new world.
Islam, a religion now in disaray, was a bundle of positve energy when Europe was in the Dark Ages. The first steps towards modern medecine and science, as well as great advances in mathematic were made during this Islamic Renaissance.
Certainly great works of comunal effor from the Pyramids to the great catherdrals, not to mention works such as La Pieta and David, have been motivated by this force.
This is obviously a tiny list of what religion has contributed
On the dark side, religion has brough about some of the most brutal and horrific acts committed by man. The fervor to convert by the Spanish resulted in the deaths of millions (aqlthough to be fair most were killed by deseases such as smallpx).
The 30 years war, a war which had exceeded in brutality previous wars by such a degree at it ushered in a one and a half centurry period of limited ware fare, with proper "rules of engagement" between armies to minimize civialian deaths was caused by strife between Cathloics and Protestants.And, yes, Hitler did intend to eventually replace Christianity but this he did not adress publically. The fact is that hatred he harnessed and directed agaianst the Jews was already there, and had been there for centuries. His was simply the most organized assault on Jews in history. Before him, these were limited local affairs.
Well, I could ramble for hours so I will spare you all.
Remember, the wolrd is not black and white, but shades of grey. There is no human endeavor that does not bring it's share of good and evil with it.excuse typo's I do not have time to spellcheck
KP
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Follow Ups
- Religion has been a double edge sword - The Killer Piglet 04/20/0216:23:34 04/20/02 (0)
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