Sounds like BicycleRepairMan fears something he doesnt understand: SOMEONE'S a HUMAN !!!! It looks like Farhad2000 has you beat being from the woods and all, plus he has a diamond with a 500 in it. Plus Muslim is no more maliable to the ways of evil men than Christianity is: this about the Spanish Inquisition or, oh god, the Crusades. Those both dwarf 911 on the scale of atrocities. No?

Religion influencing government is BAD mmkay? Spanish Inquisition, Catholic/Protestants, The Crusades, Nazis vs. Jews, Zionism, etc. etc. etc.
I like my government with a lot less religion please. The idea is that our politicians should be statesmen and should represent their constituants best ideals, not their worst ideas.

This guy needs to STFU.

What I posted above is merely a possible interpretation one can possess in our modern lives about the existence of a God. But I have to ask...

If God is as you say he is: why does an all powerful, loving god, allow evil to occur in our lives?

And am not talking simply of evil that men commits in the form of murders and wars, even though many were carried out in the name of God - Spanish Inquisition, Salem Witch Trials, Crusades and so on covering other religious wars.

But events like famine, hurricanes, storms and other phenomenon that kills hundreds or thousands. Or what about disease? Cancer? Heart attacks? untimely deaths of young ones?

The answer of God works in mysterious ways is a cop out. Saying that all men are to blame because we are all sinners is also preposterous.

Furthermore alot of what you says is rooted in the Bible, but if it really was the word of God it should be infallible, but it's not because its not the word of God, it contains masses of contradictions and passages from the past. A mathematics book is infallible, you can't argue with the Pythagoras Theorem.

But because those are interpretations that Man has created for himself when thinking of his purpose on Earth, trying to relate to a being that has put him there. The thread runs clear from mystical pagan worship of Nature and the lands to symbolic worship of Sun Gods and finally to likeness worship in the shape of Jesus. We went slowly from worshiping unknowns into focusing worship into a shape of a man, something that is easy to relate to us. That's marketing PR 101.

To me man made Religion is a psychological need of a person to know that their existence stretches past and beyond death, that inherently there is a purpose to your life beyond biological need for procreation. It is also a powerful social aspect that unites many in our world. However as time has shown countless times Religions wane in and out of existence. In 2000 years perhaps Christianity will be looked upon like we look on Egyptian religion now, while embracing some new religion of I don't know... Star worship. There is a human psychological need to know that we FIGURED IT out, that we know what this all means.

For me at the end of the day man made Religion has achieved social and thought control with regards to many issues, but has failed to really hammer through the lessons that form the core of each - "Love your fellow man".

For America as a Christian nation with a Christian President still willingly took up the arms of war out of fear, yet all sat in the Church at one point or another. Those in the Middle East still practiced cheating their fellow man, abusing their fellow man and taking arms to secure control but each day went to the Mosque and prayed and proclaiming God's name as they detonated IEDs. In Africa I have seen religion come to substitute effort and thought to merely accepting what God has given, praying for a better tomorrow instead of working towards it. Even though this faith was brought by missionaries, their faith has adopted and changed it to fit their life styles. Wasn't God's basic plan is to make us get along?

Looking at all life with scientific, philosophical and historical awareness I have come to this conclusion. However I don't mind that people still seek out Faith and take up religion, I believe everyone has a right to a subjective view with regards to their existence and what it means to them. But pushing it on others cross the line, I don't mean moderate adherents of the Faith but those who abuse and take the Faith to assume a measure of Power. For example - Will it ever be possible to have a President in the US who doesn't possess a deep religious background? Why is that? Where does ones subjective faith stance factor into being a statesman? Bush is a perfect example for he said 'God told me to invade and free Iraq'. Would God talk to one singular man over others? To push forward inevitable war and suffering on so many others?

Then again only my view.

It includes a painting of waterboarding used during the Spanish Inquisition.

NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency.... Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope Sift.... Our *four*...no... *Amongst* our weapons.... Amongst our weaponry...are such elements as fear, surprise.... I'll come in again.

Tags for this video have been changed from 'monty python, spanish inquisition' to 'monty python, spanish inquisition, fear, surprise, etc' - edited by sbchapm

Already in 385 C.E. the first Christians, the Spanish Priscillianus and six followers, were beheaded for heresy in Trier/Germany
Manichaean heresy: a crypto-Christian sect decent enough to practice birth control (and thus not as irresponsible as faithful Catholics) was exterminated in huge campaigns all over the Roman empire between 372 C.E. and 444 C.E. Numerous thousands of victims.
Albigensians: the first Crusade intended to slay other Christians.
The Albigensians (cathars = Christians allegedly that have all rarely sucked) viewed themselves as good Christians, but would not accept roman Catholic rule, and taxes, and prohibition of birth control.
Begin of violence: on command of pope Innocent III (greatest single pre-nazi mass murderer) in 1209. Bezirs (today France) 7/22/1209 destroyed, all the inhabitants were slaughtered. Victims (including Catholics refusing to turn over their heretic neighbours and friends) 20,000-70,000.
* Carcassonne 8/15/1209, thousands slain. Other cities followed.
* subsequent 20 years of war until nearly all Cathars (probably half the population of the Languedoc, today southern France) were exterminated.
* After the war ended (1229) the Inquisition was founded 1232 to search and destroy surviving/hiding heretics. Last Cathars burned at the stake 1324.
* Estimated one million victims (cathar heresy alone),
* Other heresies: Waldensians, Paulikians, Runcarians, Josephites, and many others. Most of these sects exterminated, (I believe some Waldensians live today, yet they had to endure 600 years of persecution) I estimate at least hundred thousand victims (including the Spanish inquisition but excluding victims in the New World).
* Spanish Inquisitor Torquemada alone allegedly responsible for 10,220 burnings.
* John Huss, a critic of papal infallibility and indulgences, was burned at the stake in 1415.
* University professor B.Hubmaier burned at the stake 1538 in Vienna.
* Giordano Bruno, Dominican monk, after having been incarcerated for seven years, was burned at the stake for heresy on the Campo dei Fiori (Rome) on 2/17/1600.

# 5th century: Crusades against Hussites, thousands slain.
# 1538 pope Paul III declared Crusade against apostate England and all English as slaves of Church (fortunately had not power to go into action).
# 1568 Spanish Inquisition Tribunal ordered extermination of 3 million rebels in (then Spanish) Netherlands. Thousands were actually slain.
# 1572 In France about 20,000 Huguenots were killed on command of pope Pius V. Until 17th century 200,000 flee.
# 17th century: Catholics slay Gaspard de Coligny, a Protestant leader. After murdering him, the Catholic mob mutilated his body, "cutting off his head, his hands, and his genitals... and then dumped him into the river [...but] then, deciding that it was not worthy of being food for the fish, they hauled it out again [... and] dragged what was left ... to the gallows of Montfaulcon, 'to be meat and carrion for maggots and crows'."
# 17th century: Catholics sack the city of Magdeburg/Germany: roughly 30,000 Protestants were slain. "In a single church fifty women were found beheaded," reported poet Friedrich Schiller, "and infants still sucking the breasts of their lifeless mothers."
# 17th century 30 years' war (Catholic vs. Protestant): at least 40% of population decimated, mostly in Germany.

Tags changed from "painter,spanish inquisition,napolean" to "painter, spanish inquisition, napoleon" by gold star member lisacat.

When I look at how many horrible things have been done in the past in the name of religion, I cannot help but question religion in general. The Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, hate crimes of every sort, jihads of all kinds, these have all been justified by or committed in the name of one religion or another.

What sort of deity allows these things to be committed in the name of its religion? Do I want to be even remotely associated with such a diety?

Knowing that there have been MANY religions in the past, all of which believed they were the ONE true religion, most of which are now completely extinct, I cannot help but ask: why should any religion today be right?

"My holy text says it is the one true holy text, therefore it is the single true religion in a sea of failed religions and mislead people."

At some point, one must proceed on faith alone.

Call me crazy, but I don't want to have faith in millenia-old beliefs that, frankly, don't add up.

Take Christianity for example. If the Christian god is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient, why not have your followers just write a bible that was clear, concise, and open to only one interpretation? If the translation into English is the problem, why not just guide translators to give the meaning you originally intended?

Now don't get me wrong here, I'm not saying that all Mormons, or even Mormons in general took these actions or condoned them. But some groups did do these things. (Namely, Mormon fundamentalists.)

My point in that post was that sometimes certain religious leaders lead their people poorly and give a poor example of their church beliefs. However, this should not be taken as a representation of the religion itself. In other words, don't condemn people who believe in Scientology (or dare I say, have been hoodwinked into believing in Scientology) for the actions of the Church of Scientology itself. It's the organization that is responsible for the horrible things referenced in the movie.

The same goes for Mormonism. People who have called themselves Mormons have done horrid things in the past (and some in present day), mostly under guidance of their leaders. However, as you pointed out, these people are not following the principles of Mormonism, but their own misguided interpretation.

I myself am Christian, and I am more than ready to admit that there have been those that call themselves Christians that have done just the same. The Spanish Inquisition is an apt example. However, Christianity should not be defined by what was done during the Inquisition, by those who certainly weren't following Christian beliefs.

Looking on Videosift, you can see all kinds of examples of how Christians are "those wacky, crazy, insane right-wing nutjobs," such as clips from the movie Jesus Camp. But I assure you those are not examples of what all Christians are like. The same goes for saying that all Mormons are polygamists and murderers, and that all Scientologists are there to manipulate the government and financial districts.

In short, I'm on your side here. And please don't make the assumption that I haven't researched deeply into the religions I've set as examples. Other than Christianity, the religions I've most studied are Scientology, Mormonism, and the Muslim religion. (Not with any devout curiosity, I'm afraid. Merely for knowledge.) That's not to say I know everything about them, but I know enough to make a point.

Hopefully that clears things up.

I was so not expecting the car.... It must be like the Spanish inquisition....

"Odds are it is a huge fan of VideoJug.

I don't mind allowing this one to skate by, but how do we know all future submissions won't be from VideoJug. I have a feeling they will be.

At any rate, if this sits in the blog forever, they won't be getting any votes. "

*silvercord- David,

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!

Did you self-link? Hmmmmm?

Do you recant?

DO YOU RECANT????
* what is the hairy eye?
i like the sound of it.

yu want posts? ill get you a toe, i can get you a toe by 2pm.
*davidzanthor- is recant like decant?
i often decant a fine port before destroying it down my gullet

ow does anyone have an opinion on the film at all?
i thought it was alright

choggie


Could not seem to answer a direct question when asked ....try again...*ban

When the misogynists are citing the holy book of the religion as justification, why not? Granted, the Bible has equally misogynistic passages. But both Jews and Christians reject those passages. But there are whole countries that practice sharia law. This is not "some people" - these are entire Islamic states practicing the same level of cruelty as the Spanish Inquisition.

David,

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!

Did you self-link? Hmmmmm?

Do you recant?

DO YOU RECANT????

Well not using the bible. The historical evidence of the way that any religion can be used to start war or cause suffering is huge. The Crusades kill hundreds of thousands, The Spanish Inquisition which contrary to the Monty python view had alot less to do with comfy chairs and more the mass exicution of anyone not catholic. Or the other known facts like that in rome the brothels were owned, run and governed by the Catholic curch. The whores of rome and the Paple Writs (get to heaven with a piece of paper signed by the pope, usualy you gave up your land upon death or "gave" atleast half of your estate to the church) all paid for the work of the era's famous art (michelangelo's david, the sistien chapel, and alot more.) Or hey the forced ignorance it shove in the face of anyone who thinks the world is round, the universe doesnt revolve around us and we go around the sun. they killed or imprisoned anyone who thought that when it was so obvious if you actually checked it out but no you weren't allowed. thats why this bullshit scare's people so much.