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I was thinking, Christianity is the ultimate killer of people's culture and heritage.

It wiped out European culture, the culture of the Americas, as well as part of the culture of Asia.

Here's my case, please comment and tell me if you agree, disagree, etc. But ONLY COMMENT on the topic, about culture and heritage.

Europe: Holy Roman Empire. By conquering the different tribes and nations across Europe they wiped out all "heretic/devil" worship and made it so the people they conquered had to convert to their ways.

Americas: New World Conquest. Exploring the New World in search for gold, they came over, made all the natives convert, and burned any trace of their culture since it was "ungodly and inferior". A great example is the Mayan language.

Asia: Less profound since it was so far away, and by the time more exploration was possible, preserving and respecting their custom was more profound.

It wasn't so much as Christianity made the people they conquered convert to their religion and views that ruined the culture, this is common in all great empires. Uniting its territories and making it the same to promote unity and peace. The thing about Christianity is how they insisted on removing all traces of people's culture.

What do you think, is it Christianity's radical followers, or common followers back then, that are responsible for so much of the world's lost culture?

I think every Religion has the same issue, then you get action ask for reaction, it's like cat and mouse game.
Who is to blame? you tell me.

Goseki wrote:I was thinking, Organized Religion is the ultimate killer of people's culture and heritage.

There all fixed.

I'd give religion the benifit of the doubt as it was their radical followers that caused it, then again I don't really care and as asusi said... it's more like cat and mouse game.... there won't be an end to it.

i really dislike organized religion (christianity in the US in particular).

i've sat through countless sermons and went to many christian retreats, stayed at the Y, etc. and it's all a freakshow. good thing i got outta that quickly.

Christ- Oh, you meant to say Organized Religion mixed in with Theocratic rises and fall's in monarchist government and local establishments of law coupled with lack of education, and the state of available resources such as food as one example, and the unstable fluctuation of that resulting in societal, population-shifting panic, war, disease, paranoia, and turn to faith and promises?

I thought so.

Goseki wrote:Asia: Less profound since it was so far away, and by the time more exploration was possible, preserving and respecting their custom was more profound.

At what point in time did religion start destroying stuff for you? If it's like what I think, and you mean stuff like roman empires, crusades, and shit like that, they had a lot more interaction with Asia long before they ever even knew about the Americas. So from my point of view, some of your reasoning doesn't make much sense.

Doppleganger wrote:

Spoiler!

That honestly looks sweet. But can I get a sauce?

Prophet Izaach wrote:

Doppleganger wrote:

Spoiler!

That honestly looks sweet. But can I get a sauce?

i honestly think it ignores a large part of history and gives credit where it isn't due, in fact the ignorance of the chart is very ironic considering its subject matter...

Yup. It's pick-and-choose scenario, and assumes exclusivity and progression of knowledge to different cultures - biased to European ones.

During the Dark Ages in Europe, there were mathematical progresses in medieval Islam - their golden age.

Christianity, among with every other conqueror with whatever random culture and religion, replaced traditions to create unity throughout the empire.
It's like Darwin's theory. The weaker civilizations get conquered and they're replaced by the stronger civilization. This is the way it is and the way it always will be. It's not just Christianity that destroyed cultures; it's every large empire that ever existed.
So don't just point your finger at Christianity, every big empire did it the same way and they all destroyed all other cultures.
That's just how it works with big ass empires. And as with almost all big ass empires, in the end the future generations get to reap the profits. If Europeans didn't went on to discover and conquer 'The New World' a lot of things wouldn't have happened.

Each pro has a con, I don't really think it's fair to appoint blame to just the Christians for destroying cultures. If I were to pick a baddie, a culture destroyer, it would be England for sure.

woutR wrote:Each pro has a con, I don't really think it's fair to appoint blame to just the Christians for destroying cultures. If I were to pick a baddie, a culture destroyer, it would be England for sure.

Erm... why??

Because England is the only country in the world that had colonies in every continent of the world, except Antarctica, where it exercised great influence, enslaved the population, reformed the governmental system, introduced British laws (which to date still apply in many of the countries), introduced their language (hello half of Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and America, and hello to myself and the rest of the world. This discussion is in English for a reason), plundered every country of it's natural resources, AND THEY STILL HAVE THEIR QUEEN ON FOREIGN MONEY. As a matter of Farking fact, even while not present in a lot of countries atm, these countries are still considered a part of the British commonwealth, which basically just translates to: Hey, we Farking owned, enslaved, robbed and raped you a century back, and we still own you, so bow down.

So yeah.. that's why.

If other countries have our queen on their own money then it is their problem, even Scottish notes don't have the queen of England on them

You don't have to speak English..

England is a country and not a religion.. LOL

John_Doe wrote:

Goseki wrote:I was thinking, Organized Religion is the ultimate killer of people's culture and heritage.

There all fixed.

this.


i could easily comment on chirstianity, as i was once subject to its bonds. i will simply say that they have strayed as far from the truth as the east is from the west.

You're preaching to the choir (for the most part); although religion has had its benefits for some.

Do I think we would've done alright without religion?
~Yes.

Do I think things would've been better?
~I don't know - I'd like to say 'yes' but I figured humanity would've just found another excuse to burn women alive and enslave other people anyway.

Goseki, if you have nothing to say, don't say anything.

I can tell where this is going: in the other thread people made fun of a couple of Islamic followers. Now it's aimed at Christianity.

Keep in mind things that happened in the past don't usually relate to how things happen today. Humankind usually learns from its mistakes.

I respect atheist's beliefs on here and don't comment on other's religions. You should try it too.

pr0klobster wrote:Keep in mind things that happened in the past don't usually relate to how things happen today. Humankind usually learns from its mistakes.

This is very untrue. You must be reading a different bible than i. The bible I read shows a stubborn, unrepentant humanity all throughout, from adam - to the book of revalations.

CeLL wrote:

pr0klobster wrote:Keep in mind things that happened in the past don't usually relate to how things happen today. Humankind usually learns from its mistakes.

This is very untrue. You must be reading a different bible than i. The bible I read shows a stubborn, unrepentant humanity all throughout, from adam - to the book of revalations.

Which version?

well...Yes, they all show that, that's why we need God, right?

What I'm saying is things like Nazi Germany - Marxism - the Roman empire - we should learn from those experiences.

pr0klobster wrote:

CeLL wrote:

pr0klobster wrote:Keep in mind things that happened in the past don't usually relate to how things happen today. Humankind usually learns from its mistakes.

This is very untrue. You must be reading a different bible than i. The bible I read shows a stubborn, unrepentant humanity all throughout, from adam - to the book of revalations.

Which version?

well...Yes, they all show that, that's why we need God, right?

What I'm saying is things like Nazi Germany - Marxism - the Roman empire - we should learn from those experiences.

what we should do, and what we DO are 2 totally different things.

Although I'm trying to stay out of these religion threads, I gotta say - I have to agree with Cell. Humanity (well most of its Christian population) might have stopped using the "word of god" as an excuse to exploit other people using the "divine right" or the "manifest destiny" crap but I can hardly believe that ignorance and bigotry has been completely wiped out of these major organized religions - you're still reading the same book aren't you?

Take a look at the Lord's Resistance Army or those Christian groups so determined at spreading hatred across the country against homosexuals, atheists, or people who simply don't believe in their Jesus. Hell, you even get crazy ones that bomb abortion clinics.

I understand that it's the people's actions but what right do you have to tell another Christian not to follow the stuff written in the Bible? If it says there that homosexuals are bad or that stoning people to death is 'ok' then what right do you have to tell them how to follow the same religion you belong to? That whole "times have changed; that's the old Bible" crap is simply another prime example of how blind some people are - they ignore and block off things that are present in front of them for their own convenience.

/rant (my last comment since I already know where this shit's heading)

And uhh..Marxism and Christianity? What?

inky wrote:Although I'm trying to stay out of these religion threads, I gotta say - I have to agree with Cell. Humanity (well most of its Christian population) might have stopped using the "word of god" as an excuse to exploit other people using the "divine right" or the "manifest destiny" crap but I can hardly believe that ignorance and bigotry has been completely wiped out of these major organized religions - you're still reading the same book aren't you?

Take a look at the Lord's Resistance Army or those Christian groups so determined at spreading hatred across the country against homosexuals, atheists, or people who simply don't believe in their Jesus. Hell, you even get crazy ones that bomb abortion clinics.

I understand that it's the people's actions but what right do you have to tell another Christian not to follow the stuff written in the Bible? If it says there that homosexuals are bad or that stoning people to death is 'ok' then what right do you have to tell them how to follow the same religion you belong to? That whole "times have changed; that's the old Bible" crap is simply another prime example of how blind some people are - they ignore and block off things that are present in front of them for their own convenience.

/rant (my last comment since I already know where this shit's heading)

And uhh..Marxism and Christianity? What?

If you don't understand, I really can't explain it. The Old Testament is just that. It has its own lessons to be learned, but some of it should not be read as "literal" or requires context to interpret. No, it's not "ok" to stone someone, show me the verse that states that.

I'm not telling ANYONE to do anything. I'm asking OP to respect my beliefs. I respect his and wish he'd do the same. But simply stating that "Christianity is a killer, oh noes" doesn't wash. It is NOT the same religion of hate and anger everyone seems to think it is, no more than a broad statement that "All Muslims are evil". Extremism is bad, mmmkay?

I don't belong to any organized religion. I read the Bible, I follow God's word as best I can, and I screw up just like any other person does. I ask my God for forgiveness, and we move on.

That's what I believe and now that I look at it, is really irrelevant to the discussion. I just thought the original opinion was hogwash.

Like I have said in the other religious thread, religion is a joke!!

CeLL wrote:what we should do, and what we DO are 2 totally different things.

Hmm...as a group, perhaps. As a person, not so much, I know plenty of people who have learned and do what they "should".

This is heading to a deeper discussion: do morals and the Bible entwine? Where do you get your morals from, etc. But I'll stop here.

Old Testament says *with a rabid look in it's eyes* kill, New Testament says *Farking hippies* love. amidoinitright?

Bastet wrote:Like I have said in the other religious thread, religion is a joke!!

:eyeroll:

Atheism is a joke. All better now?

Bastet wrote:If other countries have our queen on their own money then it is their problem, even Scottish notes don't have the queen of England on them

I was trying to show the amount of influence and cultural change England still inflicts. It's 'their problem' indeed, but who do you think caused it? It's not like Canada thought "Gee, that queen is hot, let's put her on our money!"

Bastet wrote:You don't have to speak English..

Actually I do. Is there any other language we can communicate in? I'm not saying it's a terrible thing, I was just showing, again, the tremendous influence England has had throughout history, and still has.

But no need to go on the defensive, I'm not trying to offend anyone. I was just trying to say there's bigger fish than the Holy Roman Empire. I mean they barely got two continents farked up, England owned the whole world.

pr0klobster wrote:If you don't understand, I really can't explain it. The Old Testament is just that. It has its own lessons to be learned, but some of it should not be read as "literal" or requires context to interpret. No, it's not "ok" to stone someone, show me the verse that states that.

I'm not telling ANYONE to do anything. I'm asking OP to respect my beliefs. I respect his and wish he'd do the same. But simply stating that "Christianity is a killer, oh noes" doesn't wash. It is NOT the same religion of hate and anger everyone seems to think it is, no more than a broad statement that "All Muslims are evil". Extremism is bad, mmmkay?

I don't belong to any organized religion. I read the Bible, I follow God's word as best I can, and I screw up just like any other person does. I ask my God for forgiveness, and we move on.

That's what I believe and now that I look at it, is really irrelevant to the discussion. I just thought the original opinion was hogwash.

so youre saying the only way for you to explain things is for him to already understand??? doesnt this seem to be self defeating?

Barotix wrote:Old Testament says *with a rabid look in it's eyes* kill, New Testament says *Farking hippies* love. amidoinitright?

You know I respect you, so I'm assuming you're halfway serious here.

I don't know the exact truth: It's a spiritual journey and the truth is somewhere in between. It doesn't make sense to kill the people you are talking to or friends with.

It's not up to us to judge either.

anyway. We're way off topic now, but I still state that no, Christianity isn't the killer, but a piece of the entire puzzle that causes hatred and wars, blah blah blah.