Honestly I think it's a bit of both. Yes, religion has caused wars and endless suffering. The leaders of various religions have all declared their way the one true way, and that all other ways are evil and must be supressed at all costs. I don't exactly think that religion per se has a lot to answer for, but that the leaders of the religions are the ones that have explaining to do. Most of what we know about religion comes from secondary sources, who have in the past twisted and bastardized teachings to the point that what is taught is in direct conflict with what was originally said. The last lines of the song:
He gave his life for us
He fell upon the cross
To die for all of those
who never mourn his loss
It wasn’t meant for us
to feel the pain again
Tell me why, tell me why
Are the most telling sign that this song doesn't condemn religion. It condemns those who twist it so that the common person does what the leaders want. Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure that when Jesus Christ was on Earth, he wasn't intending for Crusades to be fought in his name.
Yes, it's true that the Crusaders committed some despicable war crimes like the Jerusalem massacre. However, I think it's important to remember that the Crusades were originally intended as defensive wars against growing enchroachment by Muslims on Western civilization. Unlike Jesus, Muhammad was a warmonger. "Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into the hearts of the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know." -Qur'an 8:60. Jesus on the other hand, preached, "Love your enemies and...
Yes, it's true that the Crusaders committed some despicable war crimes like the Jerusalem massacre. However, I think it's important to remember that the Crusades were originally intended as defensive wars against growing enchroachment by Muslims on Western civilization. Unlike Jesus, Muhammad was a warmonger. "Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into the hearts of the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know." -Qur'an 8:60. Jesus on the other hand, preached, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." -Matthew 5:44. Muslim Moors were driving up the Iberian peninsula and into France until Charles Martel drove them back at Tours in France, thereby saving western Christendom. That was over three centuries before the first Crusade. If you look up Muhammad's life, he's constantly at war with non-Muslims. The Byzantine Empire fell to Ottoman Turks, who would have taken all Europe had there civilization not begun to decline just as the West was emerging from the middle ages. Islamic terrorists today are just carrying on Muhammad's bloody legacy. You don't see Catholic or Orthodox Christians doing anything like this consistently today.
@Mikeofreak
Actually, Jesus said:
"Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division" (Luke 12:51)
"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34)
@Mikeofreak
Actually, Jesus said:
"Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division" (Luke 12:51)
"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34)
@Mikeofreak You're forgetting how Atheists 'declared their way the one true way, and that all other ways are evil and must be supressed at all costs' as well!
I'm not American, but forcing U.S. schools to take prayer out, suing Christians who don't want to make cakes for a gay wedding, Richard Dawkins' crusades etc...
@Mikeofreak You're forgetting how Atheists 'declared their way the one true way, and that all other ways are evil and must be supressed at all costs' as well!
I'm not American, but forcing U.S. schools to take prayer out, suing Christians who don't want to make cakes for a gay wedding, Richard Dawkins' crusades etc...
@Mikeofreak You're forgetting how Atheists 'declared their way the one true way, and that all other ways are evil and must be supressed at all costs' as well!
I'm not American, but forcing U.S. schools to take prayer out, suing Christians who don't want to make cakes for a gay wedding, Richard Dawkins' crusades etc...
But yes, otherwise I totally agree with you! ;)
@Mikeofreak You're forgetting how Atheists 'declared their way the one true way, and that all other ways are evil and must be supressed at all costs' as well!
I'm not American, but forcing U.S. schools to take prayer out, suing Christians who don't want to make cakes for a gay wedding, Richard Dawkins' crusades etc...
But yes, otherwise I totally agree with you! ;)
Honestly I think it's a bit of both. Yes, religion has caused wars and endless suffering. The leaders of various religions have all declared their way the one true way, and that all other ways are evil and must be supressed at all costs. I don't exactly think that religion per se has a lot to answer for, but that the leaders of the religions are the ones that have explaining to do. Most of what we know about religion comes from secondary sources, who have in the past twisted and bastardized teachings to the point that what is taught is in direct conflict with what was originally said. The last lines of the song:
He gave his life for us He fell upon the cross To die for all of those who never mourn his loss It wasn’t meant for us to feel the pain again Tell me why, tell me why
Are the most telling sign that this song doesn't condemn religion. It condemns those who twist it so that the common person does what the leaders want. Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure that when Jesus Christ was on Earth, he wasn't intending for Crusades to be fought in his name.
I totally agree with you
I totally agree with you
Yes, it's true that the Crusaders committed some despicable war crimes like the Jerusalem massacre. However, I think it's important to remember that the Crusades were originally intended as defensive wars against growing enchroachment by Muslims on Western civilization. Unlike Jesus, Muhammad was a warmonger. "Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into the hearts of the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know." -Qur'an 8:60. Jesus on the other hand, preached, "Love your enemies and...
Yes, it's true that the Crusaders committed some despicable war crimes like the Jerusalem massacre. However, I think it's important to remember that the Crusades were originally intended as defensive wars against growing enchroachment by Muslims on Western civilization. Unlike Jesus, Muhammad was a warmonger. "Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into the hearts of the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know." -Qur'an 8:60. Jesus on the other hand, preached, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." -Matthew 5:44. Muslim Moors were driving up the Iberian peninsula and into France until Charles Martel drove them back at Tours in France, thereby saving western Christendom. That was over three centuries before the first Crusade. If you look up Muhammad's life, he's constantly at war with non-Muslims. The Byzantine Empire fell to Ottoman Turks, who would have taken all Europe had there civilization not begun to decline just as the West was emerging from the middle ages. Islamic terrorists today are just carrying on Muhammad's bloody legacy. You don't see Catholic or Orthodox Christians doing anything like this consistently today.
@Mikeofreak Actually, Jesus said: "Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division" (Luke 12:51) "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34)
@Mikeofreak Actually, Jesus said: "Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division" (Luke 12:51) "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34)
@Mikeofreak You're forgetting how Atheists 'declared their way the one true way, and that all other ways are evil and must be supressed at all costs' as well! I'm not American, but forcing U.S. schools to take prayer out, suing Christians who don't want to make cakes for a gay wedding, Richard Dawkins' crusades etc...
@Mikeofreak You're forgetting how Atheists 'declared their way the one true way, and that all other ways are evil and must be supressed at all costs' as well! I'm not American, but forcing U.S. schools to take prayer out, suing Christians who don't want to make cakes for a gay wedding, Richard Dawkins' crusades etc...
@Mikeofreak You're forgetting how Atheists 'declared their way the one true way, and that all other ways are evil and must be supressed at all costs' as well! I'm not American, but forcing U.S. schools to take prayer out, suing Christians who don't want to make cakes for a gay wedding, Richard Dawkins' crusades etc... But yes, otherwise I totally agree with you! ;)
@Mikeofreak You're forgetting how Atheists 'declared their way the one true way, and that all other ways are evil and must be supressed at all costs' as well! I'm not American, but forcing U.S. schools to take prayer out, suing Christians who don't want to make cakes for a gay wedding, Richard Dawkins' crusades etc... But yes, otherwise I totally agree with you! ;)