Jesus and the Witch Hunters

[Unknown Soldier]

All religions and ideologies have done lots of harm. It is the nature of life that most of us do some harm to to others passing through. OTOH, the most harm is usually done by those who become fanatical about their beliefs, no matter what those beliefs may be.

By "fanatical," I assume you mean not able to listen to reason even if harm results or if there is an obvious potential for harm. Many people tend to come along preaching what many people want very much to believe because if what is preached is true, then others think they will greatly benefit. As a result, those believers make the promises they hear their top priority seeking fulfillment of those promises no matter who gets trampled in the process. The "preachers" knowingly add fuel to this fire often avowing the dangers of believing them making out the risks of belief and obedience to be virtues. The obvious result is that believers often do take risks and end up trampling other people because to them the utopia they seek is worth anything to them. Jesus fits this mold of a fanatical and dangerous religious leader in the same league as Jim Jones and David Koresh.

The most common fanatical belief system in the US, at the present moment, is the Dominionism version of Christianity. The sort that Jerry Falwell, Billy Graham, and so forth adhere to. Perhaps we should also admit that harmless, and even beneficial, versions of those ideologies also exist.

Fanatical religions can be harmless and even beneficial if its followers don't take it too seriously or change it to avoid harm and help people. Christians have done so all along. Almost all Christians, for example, ignore Christ's command to be "eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven" or even prohibit the practice of self-castration which they ended up needing to do.

 

[steve_bank]

From a moral perspective yiu may say we all 'murder' but conveintent ignorance.

Your cheap computer mouse made by near slave labor in China and other places.


Thomas Moore wrote in his times that society allows conditions that compel people born into poverty to commit crime to survive, then punishes them for it. Twain in an essay aclled out selective morality.


The majority looks the other way on social and economic conditions that lead to crime and murder. Conservatves hang onto an econmic idelgy that creates conditions for crime.

The grand inquisitor is an extreme example.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

From a moral perspective yiu may say we all 'murder' but conveintent ignorance.

Your cheap computer mouse made by near slave labor in China and other places.

I look at it this way: If some thug decides to murder a person without my putting him up to it or even knowing he did it, loots the body, and then gives me the money so I can buy food and rent shelter that I otherwise could not obtain, then I don't see how I did anything wrong. I'm not a murderer if I incidentally benefit from murder that I never approved of.

Besides, Chinese workers may be exploited, but they're normally not murdered. Yes, we Americans may benefit from harsh labor practices overseas, but what can we do about it? Are you going to return your sneakers to Walmart feeling guilty for wearing them?

Thomas Moore wrote in his times that society allows conditions that compel people born into poverty to commit crime to survive, then punishes them for it. Twain in an essay aclled out selective morality.

Moore was right. Poverty does breed crime, most of us know it, and we generally turn a blind eye to it. Considering that the poor people prosecuted for crimes are not liked or wanted anyway, we can dispose of them that way and look good doing it.

The majority looks the other way on social and economic conditions that lead to crime and murder. Conservatves hang onto an econmic idelgy that creates conditions for crime.

Again, I don't disagree with you. What you say is obvious, and the lies people tell to deny it are obvious too.

The grand inquisitor is an extreme example.

I'm not sure what you're referring to or saying.

Anyway, what does any of this have to do with the topic?