Thread: "Extremist". Good Muslim or Terrorist?

Originally Posted by ObedientBeast

Extreme Believers would "Not Harm Anyone".
It is the "FANATICS" that KILL in the name of their "Imaginary" God.

Here are 6 historic examples of killing being accepted religious devotions.
In these cited societies these are not actions of "fanatics” or even “extreme believers”, these are accepted religious practices.

Buddhist Burma
Human sacrifices were still occurring in Buddhist Burma in the 1850s. When the capital was moved to Mandalay, 56 “spotless” men were buried beneath the new city walls to sanctify and protect the city. When two of the burial spots were later found empty, royal astrologers decreed that 500 men, women, boys, and girls must be killed and buried at once, or the capital must be abandoned. About 100 were actually buried before British governors stopped the ceremonies.

The Inquisition
The Medieval Inquisition is a series of Inquisitions (Roman Catholic Church bodies charged with suppressing heresy) from around 1184, including the Episcopal Inquisition (1184-1230s) and later the Papal Inquisition (1230s). It was in response to large popular movements throughout Europe considered apostate or heretical to Christianity, in particular Catharism and Waldensians in southern France and northern Italy. These were the first inquisition movements of many that would follow.
Torture was used after 1252. On May 15, Pope Innocent IV issued a papal bull entitled Ad exstirpanda, which authorized the use of torture by inquisitors. The Inquisitors were forbidden to use methods that resulted in bloodshed, mutilation or death. One of the more common forms of medieval inquisition torture was known as strappado. The hands were bound behind the back with a rope, and the accused was suspended this way, dislocating the joints painfully in both arms. Weights could be added to the legs dislocating those joints as well.
The organization is still active today under the name of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Prior to becoming Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Ratzinger was the head of the congregation

The Witch Hunts
When Puritans settled in Massachusetts in the 1600s, they created a religious police state where doctrinal deviation could lead to flogging, pillorying, hanging, cutting off ears, or boring through the tongue with a hot iron. Preaching Quaker beliefs was a capital offense. Four stubborn Quakers defied this law and were hanged. In the 1690s fear of witches seized the colony. Twenty alleged witches were killed and 150 others imprisoned.

Roman Persecution of Christians
Christians were first, and horribly, targeted for persecution as a group by the emperor Nero in 64 AD. A colossal fire broke out at Rome, and destroyed much of the city. Rumors abounded that Nero himself was responsible. To divert attention from the rumors, Nero ordered that Christians should be rounded up and killed. Some were torn apart by dogs, others burnt alive as human torches. Over the next hundred years or so, Christians were sporadically persecuted. Then in the mid-third century, emperors initiated even more intensive persecutions. This, “The Great Persecution”, is considered the largest. Beginning with a series of four edicts banning Christian practices and ordering the imprisonment of Christian clergy, the persecution intensified until all Christians in the empire were commanded to sacrifice to the gods or face immediate execution. This persecution was to be the last, as Constantine I soon came into power and in 313 legalized Christianity.

Islamic Jihads
Islamic jihads (holy wars), mandated by the Koran, killed millions over 12 centuries. In early years, Muslim armies spread the faith rapidly: east to India and west to Morocco. Then splintering sects branded other Muslims as infidels and declared jihads against them. The Kharijis battled Sunni rulers. The Azariqis decreed death to all “sinners” and their families. In 1804 a Sudanese holy man, Usman dan Fodio, waged a bloody jihad that broke the religious sway of the Sultan of Gobir. In the 1850s another Sudanese mystic, ‘Umar al-Hajj, led a barbaric jihad to convert pagan African tribes.

Aztec Human Sacrifice
The Aztecs began their elaborate theocracy in the 1300s and brought human sacrifice to a golden era. About 20,000 people were killed yearly to appease gods — especially the sun god, who needed daily “nourishment” of blood. Hearts of sacrifice victims were cut out, and some bodies were eaten ceremoniously. Other victims were drowned, beheaded, burned or dropped from heights. In a rite to the rain god, shrieking children were killed at several sites so that their tears might induce rain. In a rite to the maize goddess, a virgin danced for 24 hours, then was killed and skinned; her skin was worn by a priest in further dancing. One account says that at King Ahuitzotl’s coronation, 80,000 prisoners were butchered to please the gods.

8 Atrocities Committed in the Name of Religion - Top 10 Lists | Listverse

kokomo,

Do you really think that just because you have managed to write out half a dozen examples of how, men that were ignorant of "The Living God" and his will, imposed there "Own" will on the world around them and destroyed lives, somehow makes it right?

There is no reason that anyone can manifest which makes "Disobedience" to God's will acceptable.

Do you think that Eve is responsible for Adam eating the apple, just because that is the way "Man" wrote it?

All Adam could do was think about that apple, he dreamed about it, imagined how great it would be to know like God does, and was quite likely the whisper behind the serpent that made Eve a "Scape Goat", then once he saw that Eve did not die, he was quick to take "The Bite" heard round the World. Then he said that Eve made him do it, Eve blamed it on the EVIL word she heard, and Man would not own up to his own influence over the "Event".

But God knew exactly who to blame, just like he will in all the "Events" that you listed above, just like he will judge all of us, just before we "Pass On" to whatever "Event" is NEXT.

The Beast

"I might point out that Christianity does not have the motivation to "seize all powers to rule and make laws" in the Judea-Christian influenced legal system that exists in the US today. "

That is becuase Christianity has already done so. During the Age of Exploration, the church had deeply influenced many nations. In Europe they help power and were intrinsically tied with the nobles. They spread throughout the world like a cancer devouring native culture and all in the name of saving their souls from damnation??? Christianity by the 1800s had taken control over most of the world... destroyed the entire continent of the Americans and Africa, caused wars in Japan, China, and India. Christian values and laws were introduced into legal proceeding and have been cemented every since???

"Here are 6 historic examples of killing being accepted religious devotions. In these cited societies these are not actions of "fanatics” or even “extreme believers”, these are accepted religious practices."

Besides the one you mentioned there you can also in include

The Crusades of Europe = Christians vs. Muslims

Persecution of Christian in Japan = Shimabara Rebellion in the 1600s

Persecution of the Worshipers of Thor = Christian vs the Norse Gods in Scandanavia.

The Conquering of the New World = Christians vs Native Americam, Aztecs, and Native Peoples.

Radical Protestant Groups in the US = Cults that are subversive to the government or certain social groups (Phelps cult vs Homosexuals).


Sadly the basis of religion should be tolerance and respect.

Originally Posted by ObedientBeast

But God knew exactly who to blame...

If God is omnipotent God is to blame.

Originally Posted by kokomo

Fundamental means the underlying principles or structure of something.

I'm a fundamental vegan, I only eat fruit that has fallen to the ground and therefore given itself up for consumption.

I'm very hungry

Originally Posted by conclave27

"I might point out that Christianity does not have the motivation to "seize all powers to rule and make laws" in the Judea-Christian influenced legal system that exists in the US today. "

That is becuase Christianity has already done so. During the Age of Exploration, the church had deeply influenced many nations. In Europe they help power and were intrinsically tied with the nobles. They spread throughout the world like a cancer devouring native culture and all in the name of saving their souls from damnation??? Christianity by the 1800s had taken control over most of the world... destroyed the entire continent of the Americans and Africa, caused wars in Japan, China, and India. Christian values and laws were introduced into legal proceeding and have been cemented every since???

You’ve illustrated a strong point, conclave27.

Anytime there is radical differences in cultures - religions - and the basis of governments -
change has been brought about by extremists who gain and exert power either politically or militarily.
As you pointed out, in Europe, Christians helped existing power and were intrinsically tied with the nobles, exerting political power;
and in other parts of the world, exerted military power.
Christianity does not have the motivation to "seize all powers to rule and make laws".
I agree, they already have.
Islam, however, does have the motivation.

Sadly the basis of religion should be tolerance and respect.

Possibly, the basis of religion is social organization.
Tolerance and respect but being only two manifestations shared by any religion;
realistically, incompatible with social change.

Originally Posted by comfortablynumb

If God is omnipotent God is to blame.

Dear Numb One,

You are right, this all God's fault, mankind was a "Waste of Time".

None of us will ever live up to what He expects, even Jesus was a failed attempt at a "FIX".

The flesh makes us weak, and free will makes us stupid.

The Beast

Originally Posted by ObedientBeast

Dear Numb One,

You are right, this all God's fault, mankind was a "Waste of Time".

None of us will ever live up to what He expects, even Jesus was a failed attempt at a "FIX".

The flesh makes us weak, and free will makes us stupid.

The Beast

Is this your judgment of God’s will, ObedientBeast?

Originally Posted by ObedientBeast

Dear Numb One,

You are right, this all God's fault, mankind was a "Waste of Time".

None of us will ever live up to what He expects, even Jesus was a failed attempt at a "FIX".

The flesh makes us weak, and free will makes us stupid.

The Beast

If God is omnipresent... He can't expect anything different from what happens, as to exist as everything, is to exist everywhere, including in time, in every point... If he was omnipotent, he would be able to fix it... Not fail.