Does War Actually Make Money?

Originally Posted by RickWhite

Actually, the opposite is true. While there were religious wars, we are talking about a minuscule amount of deaths that occurred in ancient times. Notice how far back you need to go to find examples - and not all are valid.

The huge mass murders were notably secular in nature. Stalin's killed upward of 20 million people in a distinctly atheist Russia. We all know what Hitler did, but few know he was vehemently anti-religion and that was a big part of his motivation. Then there are the killing fields of Pol Pot and of course the tens of millions murdered by Mao.

Men can be brutal creatures and always seem to find reasons to go to war. Hell, wars have been fought over women. Religion has been one of them, but it has also been a force of great good.

Judging from what the middle East looks like today, what do you think it was like before Moses came down from the mountain? I've got news for you, they weren't all playing kick the can - well maybe with a human head.

Spoken like an ignorant creationist.

You'd think, again, being as smart as you are, you'd know Hitler was a Catholic... (can't wait to see Cracker come in and defend Rick on this one! I've personally seen him [Cracker] argue this exact same point with creationists before, so lets see if he's actually got any balls and whose side he takes on this one, should be interesting!)

And all this bullshit has been repeated dozens of times before, guess by which crowd? Yep, the anti-science crowd, the religious nutjobs, the people pushing for intelligent design in our schools.

And it's pretty well known Stalin executed anyone he viewed as a threat, including the religious, which had nothing to do with actually being religious and more to do with putting the church above the state, which was the highest form of authority in Russia.

History 101.

Originally Posted by Padawanbater2

Spoken like an ignorant creationist.

You'd think, again, being as smart as you are, you'd know Hitler was a Catholic... (can't wait to see Cracker come in and defend Rick on this one!

LOL! You say that as if it is going to be difficult. You mean he was Catholic by birth? How is his religious heritage relevant? If he was black, would that prove that being black was the cause of what he did. Hitler certainly was not a devout Catholic acting in accordance with his faith. In fact, the Catholic Church did more than anyone to resist Hitler and defend Jews from him.


I've personally seen him [Cracker] argue this exact same point with creationists before, so lets see if he's actually got any balls and whose side he takes on this one, should be interesting!)

What is all this about "creationist" and how is it relevant to the issue? I have studied evolution on a molecular level - I am well aware of the science. It sounds like you are trying to change the subject.

And all this bullshit has been repeated dozens of times before, guess by which crowd? Yep, the anti-science crowd, the religious nutjobs, the people pushing for intelligent design in our schools.

Again, this is a straw man. I know you fear and hate religion, but this has nothing to do with the myth that religion has caused most of our wars and killed so many people.

And it's pretty well known Stalin executed anyone he viewed as a threat, including the religious, which had nothing to do with actually being religious and more to do with putting the church above the state, which was the highest form of authority in Russia.

History 101.

That was my point. Stalin's motives were not religious, nor were Hitler's, Pol Pot's or Mao's. The biggest mass murderers in history.

Now where religion is killing boat loads of people is when we look at Islam. Just about every Muslim country is at war with their neighbors and in every case it has to do with Islam having a fundamental requirement to subjugate people of other faiths.

That's true enough. It is the left wing spectrum of the political animal which spills the most blood ... by far...and yes religion is often a victim within the societies mentioned above.

He's right there.

Originally Posted by RickWhite

The huge mass murders were notably secular in nature. Stalin's killed upward of 20 million people in a distinctly atheist Russia. We all know what Hitler did, but few know he was vehemently anti-religion and that was a big part of his motivation. Then there are the killing fields of Pol Pot and of course the tens of millions murdered by Mao. (gee, weren't they atheists, too?)

LOL! You say that as if it is going to be difficult. You mean he was Catholic by birth? How is his religious heritage relevant? If he was black, would that prove that being black was the cause of what he did. Hitler certainly was not a devout Catholic acting in accordance with his faith. In fact, the Catholic Church did more than anyone to resist Hitler and defend Jews from him.









Riiight... You posted that bullshit implying that Hitlers "vehemently anti-religion" stance is what led him to do the things he did which couldn't be any more inaccurate. He used the Catholic Church during the Holocaust as a tool of manipulating the population.

What is all this about "creationist" and how is it relevant to the issue? I have studied evolution on a molecular level - I am well aware of the science. It sounds like you are trying to change the subject.

Striking similarities between you and creationists.

Again, this is a straw man. I know you fear and hate religion, but this has nothing to do with the myth that religion has caused most of our wars and killed so many people.

Why Is War Waged?

Money takes 53% of the vote. I voted for money. I think religion gives people (false) justification for the insane shit they do.


That was my point. Stalin's motives were not religious, nor were Hitler's, Pol Pot's or Mao's. The biggest mass murderers in history.

You said they were "secular" reasons.

Explain what you mean by that.

Now where religion is killing boat loads of people is when we look at Islam. Just about every Muslim country is at war with their neighbors and in every case it has to do with Islam having a fundamental requirement to subjugate people of other faiths.

Fuck Islam. I've said it dozens of times before.

When you rail against religion....you rail against the left. The church is based on socialism as well. Collectivism.

So combining the two together.... we can conclude that the left end of the political ideologies is pretty much responsible for all of man's misery....

The church is socialism.

Not a big Nickelback fan, but this song has a good message.

OK ricky, If religion has nothing to do with mass murders and genocide then please explain to me why the supposed Middle East hates the USA so much? Is it because they hate our freedoms so much? Does it have anything to do with religion or being Muslim? How about having anything to do with getting the infidels out of the holy land?


Religion has its place, for all those people weak of mind and conviction it is a very good crutch, one that can be used over and over to justify the horrors of our bloody deeds.


Man is the only animal that deals in that atrocity of atrocities, War. He is the only one that gathers his brethren about him and goes forth in cold blood and calm pulse to exterminate his kind. He is the only animal that for sordid wages will march out... and help to slaughter strangers of his own species who have done him no harm and with whom he has no quarrel.... And in the intervals between campaigns he washes the blood off his hands and works for "the universal brotherhood of man" - with his mouth. ~Mark Twain

Originally Posted by NoDrama

OK ricky, If religion has nothing to do with mass murders and genocide then please explain to me why the supposed Middle East hates the USA so much? Is it because they hate our freedoms so much? Does it have anything to do with religion or being Muslim? How about having anything to do with getting the infidels out of the holy land?


Religion has its place, for all those people weak of mind and conviction it is a very good crutch, one that can be used over and over to justify the horrors of our bloody deeds.


Man is the only animal that deals in that atrocity of atrocities, War. He is the only one that gathers his brethren about him and goes forth in cold blood and calm pulse to exterminate his kind. He is the only animal that for sordid wages will march out... and help to slaughter strangers of his own species who have done him no harm and with whom he has no quarrel.... And in the intervals between campaigns he washes the blood off his hands and works for "the universal brotherhood of man" - with his mouth. ~Mark Twain

I already said that Islam is the one notable exception. Yes, in the case of Islam, one would have to have his head up his ass not to see the obvious connection.

Don't make the mistake of believing that religion is just a crutch for the weak of mind. A lot of people make assumptions about religion based on their own personal experience which is always minuscule in the grand scheme of things. While religion does give us a good deal of brain dead idiots, it also gives us some amazingly profound philosophy.

You can choose whether you want to focus your energy on blindly condemning religion, or trying to point out flaws, or you can take it for what it is and try to learn what you can from it.

When ever I encounter any religious material I always ask myself what the writing is trying to get across, what I can learn from it and what value it may have. That is a much better way to improve one's understanding of life and to gain wisdom. After all, we clearly learn nothing from simply finding fault with things without giving them a chance.