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by albert nonymous "A" nonymous for short. on March 8th, 2009
by albert nonymous "A" nonymous for short. on March 8th, 2009
What is a church pulpit used for?
by Answerbag Staff on April 23rd, 2010
| 7 people like this
If religion teaches everyone to hate evil or wicked things, then why do people pick and choose what evils to hate and what to accept???
by tackystore on May 22nd, 2012
| 4 people like this
Is there a difference between a religion and a cult?.
by jamesross19 on May 21st, 2012
| 1 person likes this
There is 'Practical Atheism' and is there any such thing as 'Practical Religion'?
by aldonoir on May 20th, 2012
| 1 person likes this
Why do you think God views killing as a major sin? People/spirits who kill in war will suffer greater when they return to Hell.
by The Holy Spirit on May 24th, 2012
| 1 person likes this
You're reading Out of any group, have atheists undergone the longest and most persecution?
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Comments
I'm not saying all, but the majority of them today, brought it on themselves.
+6
by Jen-Jen on March 8th, 2009
"The fool has said in his heart: 'There is no God'." Or so says not just one, but two of the oldest Christian psalms. Not to mention the philosopher Socrates, who was condemned to execution for claiming there were no gods, consumed his poisonous hemlock roughly 3,000 years ago. Who knows how many years before that, as it predates recorded history, that atheists were persecuted.
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Let us not overlook the travesties of the crusades, the various inquisitions, witchcraft trials throughout history, or the mass genocide of atheists and "sinners" littered throughout the Old Testament. Christians today can, at least, profess their faith without (much) fear. Where as atheists have always and to this day remain in closets for fear of persecution. Rene Descartes, the atheist famous for "Cogito Ergo Sum," or "I Think Therefore I am," had his epitaph on his tombstone read "those who hid well, lived well."
by Zarathustra on March 8th, 2009
Brought it upon themselves?
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Atheists beckoned for the church to burn them on the pyre for questioning? Atheists requested that they be fastened tightly, as sixteenth century church inquisitors took hot pokers to their extremities.. starting first under the fingernails, then working their way (not too quickly, I might add) to the tongue, then the eyes.. down to the genitalia; in the name of God?
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I'm sure you believe Africans brought slavery onto themselves, as well?
by Zarathustra on March 8th, 2009
Oops, sorry Jen-Jen, you were talking about Christians. Let it be known I was mistaken! And yes, I agree with you. Regardless, most of my points remain.
by Zarathustra on March 8th, 2009
Christians have a history of doing far worse than the Nazis ever had a chance to do, and it *never* ceases to amaze me how many Christians conveniently forget that in their own self-righteousness.
On the other hand, many of the Christians I know are sincerely ashamed of that history. Unfortunately, those reasonable Christians are not the ones making the news or trying to seize the reins of power.
Besides, how can you NOT ridicule someone who loudly proclaims that Tinky-Winky is gay? Anybody who worries about the sexual orientation of a Teletubbie is just asking for it.
by 8 Jan 2004-10 Dec 2009 on March 8th, 2009
Of course, if history only goes back to about 1990 AD then your answer is entirely correct. Personally, I think that history goes back a little further than that though so I can't agree.
by 8 Jan 2004-10 Dec 2009 on March 8th, 2009
Props.
by Zarathustra on March 8th, 2009
There were more than Jews and Catholics in the gas chambers. The Roma lost as large a percentage of their population as the Jews.
by Keysha on March 8th, 2009
I'm sorry Zara,
I'm afraid your ignorance of history is showing through, The Crusades were against Muslims and the Greek Orthodox who were far from atheist as well as some politically motivated attacks, That battle continues to this day with muslims hating Christians and Christians returning the favor. It wasn't about atheism or atheists.
The same goes for the Inquisition which was not implemented by the church but by the king and queen of Spain and targeted primarily Jews. Protestants and Muslims with Jews being the primary victims. In all the inquisition killed a relatively small number (about 2000) compared to Nazi Germany's six million jews and six more million christians.
Again, It was NOT about atheism but more about politics and the King and Queen of Spain used it as a political tool.
The Salem witch trials were a joke and another incident which is totally blown out of proportion.
Of 200 accused there were only 20 actually executed. None of them were atheists and were actaully accused of being Devil worshippers which is not atheism either.
by albert nonymous "A" nonymous for short. on March 8th, 2009
Not sure where you get "Just Jews and catholics"? Catholics were not killed just for being Catholic. The Catholics that were killed were killed for either being of the wrong race or for taking a stand against the Nazi's in opposition to the Catholic Church in Germany which a few individuals did. For the most part, Catholics participated in the slaughter just like most others.
I believe that JW's have been the most persecuted in modern history. http://www.knocking.org/ReligiousPersecutionReport.html
by Texasescimo on December 19th, 2011
Texas, they do not say out of any religious group, they say out of any group period. That puts the Roma solidly at the top.
by Keysha on December 19th, 2011
I know that Roma, Sinti as well as Jews have had more than their fair share of persecution. Far as I can tell, Gypsy's pretty much through out their history. Do they still get persecuted much in the US?
by Texasescimo on December 19th, 2011
They still get it. "Gypsy crime" is an actual designation, even though the sheer volume of crime that gets that label makes it a certainty that the Roma are not doing most of them. There are just not enough Roma in the USA to be doing it all. That is just the tip of the iceberg. Signs warning of them being in town show up at registers in stores, security follows them (Arisztid gets it a lot), and more.
Europe is very, very bad right now for the Roma. To the point of repeated killings of them, by mobs (doing things like firebombing their homes and shooting them as they run out).
by Keysha on December 19th, 2011
That is truly sad. I read an article a while back about some of the history of persecution of Roma:
http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/9435922
I don't think that there are very many around here as I don't know any. I have never heard anyone say anything bad about them other than some westerns on TV showing them getting persecuted in the old West. It's a shame that people can be so mean.
I watched a documentary yesterday that centered around 2 photo albums that someone had mailed in, I believe to the USHMM, or at least that is where they are at now. They were like a photo diary of one of the men in charge in Auschwitz. It was like he was keeping a prideful account of his conquest on human lives.
by Texasescimo on December 19th, 2011
It is sad. When it comes to the Holocaust, I find my anger rise not just on behalf of the Roma. But all the groups that are being pushed aside, in a (to me) subtle and insidious manner. The Holocaust is, and has been for some time, being presented more and more as a Jewish event. It is even often labeled the 'Jewish Holocaust'. When I see that, I pick the Roma to put forth, usually. That reason is manifold. First, percentage-wise, those that are truly informed know that the Roma lost as many, if not slightly more, of their population as the Jews. Second, the Roma are pushed aside from it more so than any others. Not just being touted as 'lesser extents' as many are, but ignored completely. And third, because it seems that no one cares about them. I'm married to one, and see it. It hurts.
Thank you for caring.
by Keysha on December 19th, 2011
You're welcome. I know it's got to be painful for him and others that have lost family or loved ones. It hurts me just knowing that it happened.
by Texasescimo on December 19th, 2011