Nothing is more gratifying to a religionist than to destroy his enemies at the command of God. Religious persecution springs from a due admixture of love towards God and hatred towards man.
Robert Green Ingersoll, “The Gods” (1872)
(First posted on June 15, 2007)
Comments
14 Comments so far. Leave a comment below.Religion not including humanism.
What? What does that mean? Is this some kinda reference to your “UU” church?
Ingersoll scores again, with this quote. A religious person can get no further gratification, than when destroying his perceived enemies, by the words of his god. Hypocrisy, ignorance and violence — that’s what religiosity eventually boils down to.
Humanist churches.. are those the ones with the big ‘H’ on top of the steeple?
Eel, you mentioned UU, I didn’t.
I am a humanist. Humanism is a “faith” that some UUs practice, some don’t. It’s certainly not restricted to UUs.
I am a Humanist. Humanists affirm life above all things, before affirmation of God, if that’s even in the cards of belief at all. The last thing any humanist would do would be to hurt someone in the name of God. So humanists don’t fit Ingersoll’s model at all.
The only argument that could be made is that Humanism isn’t religion, based on the irrelevance of the God question. Some don’t claim to be religionists, especially the militant atheist types, as I myself do.
Please explain how humanism is a faith.
Eel Feather said: “A religious person can get no further gratification, than when destroying his perceived enemies”
This is true. However, a follower of Christ is told to love his enemies.
DaveS sais: “I am a Humanist. Humanists affirm life above all things, before affirmation of God, if that’s even in the cards of belief at all. The last thing any humanist would do would be to hurt someone in the name of God. So humanists don’t fit Ingersoll’s model at all.”
O really? Is this life as it may, or may not be defined?
No, thank you. Notwithstanding my seemingly constant explanation of my faith, religion, philosophy, or whatever you choose to call it, I’m starting to sound like some strange evangelist, and that’s far from me. I won’t mention UU or humanism again. Bye.
“strange evangelist”
You’ve actually been a good spokesman – I’ve learned a bit between what you’ve said and what I’ve googled since we’ve dialoged.
But you’re right. Keep to bashing other religions, especially fundies (since they seem to just be asking for it anyway), and you’ll be safe on this blog.
Today I learned the word, “ADMIXTURE”.
DaveS, 11/06:
“I am a Humanist. Humanists affirm life above all things”
DaveS, 11/05:
“Eel, you’re really an ass, sometimes. Usually.”
“You folks are just as bad as the xtians.”
Life affirming, indeed.
@Eel Feather
Are capitalism, corporatism, and secularism somehow exempt from this charge (not to mention Objectivism)? I’m sure you can demonstrate how the Pope (or some other religious figure) was actually responsible for Nazism, the Khmer Rouge, China’s cultural revolution, the bombings of Nagasaki, Laos, Cambodia, El Salvadoran death squads, et. al.
Seems a little black helicoptery to me. Too many Dan Brown novels or something. But then I am probably just missing all the obvious historical fact supporting these assertions.
ad hominem, simply because religion is not responsible for ALL of the world’s ills, we should not criticize it? We are wrong in condemning it because not everything bad happens due to religion. Is that your reasoning? If so, “wow”.
Eel, when a religion instructs it’s followers that they are soiled and impure at birth (along with everyone else, btw), then self-loathing is almost inevitable, which soon manifests itself in the way these poor unfortunate souls treat others. The most fervent followers seem to smile through clenched teeth, while gleefully condemning those outside their sect to horrors that would make a sadistic atheist cringe.
Without reading the context of Ingersoll’s statement here, I’d say he’s just guessing. After all, it may be that religionists get off even more on drowning cats for Jesus, or raping altar boys. He just can’t know, now can he?
As for the admixture, I think he’s hit the nail on the head. Also, admixture is an awesome word. Props.
@roadgames and brp (my new BFFs)
There are miles between criticize and condemn, que no? Are nihilism and atheism equally interchangeable for you. Also, have you noticed how fuzzy your logic gets when your fan boy sensibilities get tweaked?
Criticize away, but if you are going to condemn all religious people, then you need a more valid and substantial basis.