Abrahamic religions

but I can assure you they weren't Christians. - not Christians' as you mean, but sadly they described themselves as such and their actions were based on their beliefs.

The Knights Templar lived hundreds of years ago. The Jews were terribly persecuted by those claiming to be Christians throughout history until WW2. But history isn’t relevant now in the sense that Christians are not persecuting anyone now and are actually much more likely to be persecuted themselves. I know Christians are persecuted in Pakistan and I knew a family who were Christian who left their homeland of India because of persecution of people of their faith. I really don’t think bringing up the Knights Templar or the Inquisition is relevant any longer. Nowadays Christians do not persecute others who are not of their faith. Christianity is no longer forced on anyone and therefore people choose to follow the Christian faith and they absolutely do not torture, kill, or persecute anyone.

The Knights Templar were monks and soldiers, formed to protect Christian sites, so hardly representative of the majority of Christians then or now..

Luckygirl3

*but I can assure you they weren't Christians.* - not Christians' as you mean, but sadly they described themselves as such and their actions were based on their beliefs.

"not Christians" as in the meaning of the word, ie followers of Christ.

Some believers have accepted the findings of the scientific enlightenment but many others have not. Religion is a permanent feature of all human societies and in the name of authenticity each person who can should try to find the best way to implement a reasonable religion that does not depend on miracles or threats.

Christianity , because it's founded on the life and work a reasonable sane person not a holy book, has the capability to improve upon what it is now.

So how could Christianity improve, in your opinion, Caleo?

nadateturbe

So how could Christianity improve, in your opinion, Caleo?

Indeed. I’d like to know that too.

Perhaps give the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury some tips?

Christian charities:

Christian Aid
CAFOD
The Leprosy Mission
World Vision
Compassion International
Convoy of Hope
Salvation Army
Hope International
Samaritan’s Purse
The Children’s Hunger Fund
The Church of England’s Children’s Fund

There are many others, many small.

There are of course many Christian charities, just as there are organised by other faiths, and none. I don't think anyone is saying that religions are not capable of doing good; but we cannot ignore the appalling crimes committed in their name either: crimes whose horrors beggar belief.

Luckygirl3

There are of course many Christian charities, just as there are organised by other faiths, and none. I don't think anyone is saying that religions are not capable of doing good; but we cannot ignore the appalling crimes committed in their name either: crimes whose horrors beggar belief.

By man misinterpreting their different faiths.

Are you still talking about the Knights Templar or the Inquisition Luckygirl? Because if you are I really think we need to move on from that. I already mentioned the troubles in NI but cannot think of any other crimes committed by Christians in recent history. The Holocaust was not done in the name of Christianity, the Nazis did not believe in religion of any sort.

Callistemon21

Luckygirl3

There are of course many Christian charities, just as there are organised by other faiths, and none. I don't think anyone is saying that religions are not capable of doing good; but we cannot ignore the appalling crimes committed in their name either: crimes whose horrors beggar belief.

By man misinterpreting their different faiths.

The Knight's Templar was just one example - and it showed how long the violence in the name of religion has been going on.

The point I am making is that if there were no religions there would be nothing to misinterpret - the fact that religion is about fundamentals - why are we here?/ why does the world exist? etc. - means that it has a natural tendency towards fundamentalism. From this flows the evil perpetrated in the name of religion. And we cannot pretend this is a thing of the past - it is alive and well and slaughtering people as we type.

I have said before that the doctrine of simply kindness is where I take my starting point - anything else is window dressing with huge potential for danger.

If there was no religion the fights would be about something else.

I’m still at a loss to understand what evil Christianity is involved in in the world today.
Obviously we are all aware of the current conflict in Israel, but whilst there maybe a few Christians there, they are a tiny minority and this conflict is not being waged because of Christianity. Other factors are at play there.
Where is Christianity causing war, evil, torture in the world today?

Christianity isn't causing war and never did. Religion did and still does, never Christianity.
People confuse the two.

westboro baptist church causes a lot of suffering, esp at military funerals.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protests_by_Westboro_Baptist_Church

I don't think Christ would approve.

nadateturbe

I don't think Christ would approve.

This tendency to decide what a deity might approve or not approve of has been the impetus for much of the control element of religions.

🙄 I give up!

nadateturbe

🙄 I give up!

Don't!

WWJD?

WWJD? - whatever suits the person asking this question!

Please do not say you have never heard of scripture (of whatever religion) being used to justify unacceptable actions? - jihad? - condemnation of gays? - oppression of women? ............

🙊