(November 5, 2014 at 2:18 pm)Pickup_shonuff Wrote:(November 5, 2014 at 10:20 am)Drich Wrote: If not then at that point you can replace the means of justification with anything, like the defense of freedom, or a war on terror, or national security. The net result is the same.Nobody needs an excuse to feel a strong aversion towards policies that are unjust or inhumane, whether it's a religious creed, a government policy, or an individual's bigotry. In my view the point should not be a scapegoat on which we can shift hostilities but an understanding of the causes that underlie them in hopes that we can with greater success create an environment that diminishes unnecessary suffering. Authoritarianism and the example its apologists emulate is no less undesirable to me whether the crown lies in heaven or on earth.
Religion is just a scape goat for those looking for an excuse to hate the religious/God in this instance. Because again, all of the reason I listed (or rather their 1930's German counter parts were used as an excuse to eradicate the jews.) the political justifications, not to mention you seem to miss out on the biggest most recent attempt at genocide, and it's motivation.
God like anyother excuse is just that. An excuse, unless the God in question actually commands it.
That is the crux of the issue... Authoritarianism, and whether or not a religion embodies these policies or not. In the example of biblical christianity authoritarianism is not the role of the church. The fact that it can be found in The church should tell an honest person that the church was used as an excuse for such behavior.
