How can it be that in this, 'The Information Age', 77% of the human population is living in countries with a high or very high overall level of restrictions on religion?
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ibstubro (
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February 26th, 2015
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23 Answers
If it were not for the information age, you would not know this and neither would I. Now.
Excellent point, @rojo.
But doesn’t that also point out how insular and limited “The Information Age” is?
A bubble?
And can it burst?
Religion has caused more death, human suffering and misery than anything else on this Planet.
I totally agree @1TubeGuru but when I say that the die hards really start to freak.
[...the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion…] – Treaty of Tripoli, 1796
Zealots are immune to information, therefore living in “the Information Age” won’t stop religion from doing what it has done for centuries.
Look at what is happening today in the middle east. Religious fundamentalists thrive on ignorance and superstition and the more they can keep information, history, facts etc. away from their flock (or potential flock) the more control they have over them.
Whether it is burning literature, destroying antiquities or beheading those who do not believe as you do, it is all a power play to gain and maintain control.
The religious are not the only ones guilty of this however, merely the most pervasive over time. Anyone who is in power or who wants to be has a vested interest in promoting ignorance in the masses. Keep ‘em stupid, entertained and happy.
Remember, bread and circuses, bread and circuses.
Religion is seen as a threat to government, primarily because in almost all cases religion is promoting a line of thought that the regime does not agree with.
Suppress religion, and the government is stronger.
Except in the US, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, where government and religion are very closely aligned,.
Disagreements (religious, political, economic) these days seem more intense regardless of the issue. Religion has always been contentious so during a time when everything is contentious, it stands to reason, religion would be at the forefront.
The Internet has not made us more understanding but rather allowed us to find others as crazy as we are. And we can use the Internet to call each other names.
“America, “The World Power” was founded on Christianity, and yet Christians remain the most discriminated against.”
That is a staggering load of bullshit, on both counts.
“As in previous years, Christians and Muslims – who together make up more than half of the global population – faced harassment in the largest number of countries. Christians were harassed, either by government or social groups, in 102 of the 198 countries included in the study (52%), while Muslims were harassed in 99 countries (50%).”
@Darth_Algar is now apoplectic.
lol
And yet Christians are hardly discriminated against in America. Quite contrary, Christians are typically the ones who do the most discriminating. Nor was America founded on Christianity. The Founding Fathers made that explicitly clear.
Also, I do not give one single fuck about “In God We Trust” being on money. If Christians insist upon linking their God with Mammon that’s their problem, not mine (and especially their problem if their God actually is real).
You, @Darth_Algar, created the fiction of Christians being discriminated against in America.
”…77% of the human population is living in countries…”
Not to mention the direct quote from the link provided posted jusr above your answer.
@ibstubro – You have to admit that “America, “The World Power” was founded on Christianity” takes some willpower to not comment on. I’d less of a problem with it if it had been worded, “America, “The World Power” was founded on moustaches”.
@ibstubro
Your wording very much suggests the claim that Christians are the most discriminated group in America (a claim often parroted by Christians when they are not allowed to codify their religion into law). You’re being intellectually dishonest here to act otherwise.
Probably a little more complicated than that, @hominid.
Only if you totally ignore both the question and the link, @Darth_Algar, and if you’re doing that, why bother responding?
I don’t understand the tendency to latch onto a misunderstanding and start a war over it.
DA: “Did you mean to imply that American Christians are heavily discriminated against?”
IB: “No, no, no. Not at all, @DA. Sorry if I wasn’t clear. What I meant despite the fact that America is the Superpower today, Christians according to the article are still the most discriminated against, worldwide.
More important to find offense than to have a discussion.
@ibstubro: “Probably a little more complicated than that, @hominid.”
It’s really not that complicated at all. There is no way that “was founded on Christianity” can be interpreted that would be accurate in any way.
”Historian Larry Schweikart notes, “The founding documents of every one of the original thirteen colonies reveal them to be awash in the concepts of Christianity and God.” Youth learned to read using Scripture. Universities were chartered to teach doctrine. Students could not even enter Harvard, Yale or Princeton without assenting to the Westminster Confession.”
@ibstubro , Interestingly the founding fathers seemed to have differed from the general public in their religious beliefs. Quite a number of them, including Washington, Jefferson and Franklin could not be properly called Christian. See, for example, this book
@ibstubro
For future reference try actually saying what you mean and/or clarifying if you perceive a misunderstanding, rather than accusing someone else of “inventing a fiction”. Although any “misunderstanding” here is you shifting your intent after the fact. I do not believe for one moment that even you are obtuse enough to not realize exactly how that initial comment of yours reads.
@Jaxk A rare moment of complete and unconditional agreement between you and I.
Thanks, @LostInParadise. From what I understand, they weren’t willing to openly declare themselves as ‘non-Christians’, either. Your link is a book I would read with interest.
Yamana, yamana, yamana. @Darth_Algar. Redefine the question to suit yourself. Or not. On a good day I’m agnostic.
For future reference, my questions are not a required course.
Cripes. I think I GA both @jerv and @Jaxk!
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