Did I say already that religion was child abuse?  

The problem is that people are liable to commit all sorts of atrocities provided that they are sanctioned by some kind of authority. And there's no bigger one than a divine autority, even if it's unlikely to exist.

I agree with you - and it is the fanatics that cause and/or allow kids to do this kind of thing. No matter what the religion there are nut cases in everyone.

...religion, like all things can be abused.. and it is for politics.. a-theism is also a belief and the atrocities carried out by a-theism has racked up quite a total of casualties, from the marxist/darwinian slaughters in the name of commune-ism.. and fascism (which to this day tries to hide its occult leanings behind a so called christianity, or at least history tries to record it that way by some) - I am including the holocaust of the preborn in this casualty count from the a-theistic camp.. I do not, however wish to outlaw a-theism, or jail them or persecute them.. as I still believe in the chrisitian roots of freedom and also free speech, etc..

..even tho a-theism is responsible for the dissolution of society and family.

You may be interested in this link, then:

http://blacktom.blogspot....

And yes, I do agree with you.

..some zealots are easy to spot..

and some hide behind their so called "peacefull faith"

You could have started your post with "and what of gardening?" that it wouldn't have been any more relevant. Don't compare apples and pears, please.

Just re-read the quote I posted at the end of the BBC article:

"Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion."
-- American physicist Steven Weinberg.

Quoting an authority? Prejud-ism in the name of an authority?

Unfortunately, this kid is considered a hero and "the hand of God" by the b@st@rds who made him do such a horrible act. He'll still be marked for life, as taking another human being's life is the most traumatic event anyone can experience. Believe me!

His life is over before it barely had the chance to begin. And I agree with you Thomas. I can't imagine there being a worse traumatic experience. I suppose even true heroes (surgeons, firemen, etc) can go through trauma or feel stained if the lives they are setting out to save are not saved.

I do agree that Christianity has come a long way since the atrocities the Church was regularly performing in the past. It doesn't make it any better, though. This kid has committed an awful deed that will mark him for life. And what for? For some dubious entity he's been made to believe in.

The principle remains the same.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that the Pope telling the Africans not to use condoms -- in countries ridden by AIDS! -- is the latest attempt at mass murder by the Roman Catholic Church.

This one may be born out of stupidity instead of sheer evil, but the result is the same...

ALL religions subvert true humanity!

The hands of Christians are not unsullied by blood. Hate crimes committed by Christians still continue today. Mind you, none of them exist on this scale, but that doesn't excuse the fact that some Christians still hurt and kill others because of their religious beliefs.

Latrivia then they are not true christians for even Jesus said not all who call him christ will be recognised
Matthew 7: 20. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21. "Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22. Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'
23. Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

And yet Muslims who commit atrocious acts are seen as true Muslims? You did know that, like Chrisitians, Muslims too condemn the extremist acts of their brethren, right?
If extremist Christians are not viewed as true Christians, then why are extremist Muslims viewed as the shining example of Islam?

Oh wait...the media, that's why.

One of the most repeated things everywhere these days is that fanatic jihadism is not true Islam.. If we haven't heard that we must be living in a cave.. Anybody using blanket condemnations, is not as wise as they might think they are.. Islamists don't speak out much, cause, well, I wouldn't be sticking my neck out!!

I repeat if a christian ever commited such atrocities as these folk do thewre would be such AN OUTCRY FROM FELLOW CHRISTIANS AGAINST IT WHY CANT ISLAM DO SO ?BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AGAINST IT IS THE ONLY CONCLUSION TO BE TAKEN HERE !

If you haven't heard the outcry of Muslims against Jihadists, then you have either closed your ears to it in order to maintain your narrow minded and prejudiced outlook on Muslims, or you just haven't been paying attention. Maybe you, like so many other people, have boxed yourself away in your own little world, so that nothing outside of it can reach you - not even the truth.
If you don't believe me, go to Google and type in "Muslims against Jihad". This will yield 1,420,000 results. Knowing that there's over a million websites out there all containing information about Muslims against Jihad, I somehow find it hard to believe Muslims are keeping quiet.

You sound awful judgemental for a Christian. Maybe you're not quite the Christian you think you are.

Atrocities are usually committed when the perpetrators are subjected to authority. And what greater authority than a divine one -- even if it doesn't even exist!

You may be interested in this, Ras:

http://blacktom.blogspot....

Interesting point of view, even if I don't quite agree. You may be also interested by the link I posted above.

In reading the link I found the same thing stated in different words:
This research highlights the possible cause of religious extremism and the violent actions that result from selective reading of the scriptures, focusing essentially on retribution instead of absorbing the overall message of tolerance that religions are supposed to convey.
I'm reminded of the old days when it was "Commies" who were the popular American enemy. It wasn't based on a difference of religious beliefs but political/economic. People seem to need some sort of "common enemy" to point at and will use ANY difference they find convenient. Once it was blacks against whites, Communism against Capitalism, today Islam is just the popular target, and tomorrow it may be BLONDES will get fed up with being "oppressed" by all the stereotypes, blond jokes, etc. and rise up! LOL Religion is really irrelevant to it all.

What can you do when you're 12 and people tell you that the god you've been indoctrinated to believe in wants you to chop someone's head off?

ONE WORD HERE "aLLAH""!

"But in any religion this can occur"

My point exactly!

What I wanted to point out was the fact that you can make innocent people do the most horrible things given the proper indoctrination/brain-washing. And this is how I see religion, although I admit that this is an extreme case and most believers -- regardless of their religion -- would not do that. It just made me sick when I read it, and I wanted to share it with you all.